Advice For 1Ls

Advice for 1Ls

- Stop reading this. 1L is different for everyone. Studying works differently for everyone. You’re going to be overwhelmed with advice and information in the first few weeks, some of it contradictory, and you shouldn’t try to do it all. Stop trying to find advice and start acting on what you think is best for you to do right now.

- We’re all imposters. The sooner you accept it, the better. You all got in. You are all smart. You’re going to meet people from all sorts of backgrounds. You’re going to meet people with egos higher than their IQs. You’re going to hear people talk about their amazingly irrelevant LSAT scores. Give yourself a little credit for getting yourself this far.

- Focus on learning how to think like a law student, not memorizing cases. You’ll remember the bits of cases that are important or put them in your CANs. You read the cases so you can see the judges’ reasoning, understand policy or history behind a rule, and start thinking about how you might use that reasoning on a different set of facts.

- Figure out what works best for you. Some people change their study techniques in law school, and other people stick with what they know works for them. Whether it’s group study sessions or flash cards, know how you learn best. However, remember that you’re learning a new way of thinking, so cramming won’t cut it.

- Be honest with others about stress. It’s the best way to stay sane.

- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Office hours are life-changing. Friends are phenomenal. Shoot law studyblrs questions and immediately disregard the answers. Do what works for you.

- Remember your reputation. Don’t be an ass. These are not just your classmates or profs. These are your future coworkers, judges, and references. The way you treat the people you go to law school with will stay with you for your entire career. Assume exponential growth applies to anything you say to anyone. Also, be aware of reputation by association.

- Get your resume ready now. You won’t have time later, and applications for 1L summer jobs happen early and inconveniently.

- Find ways to incorporate things that don’t include sitting or staring at a screen into your routine.

- Give yourself more time than you’d think to do readings. Legalese is a different beast.

- On a more practical note, save your neck and buy one of those book-holder thingies to help with the hours of reading ahead of you.

- Take a deep breath. It’s going to be rough at some points, but you’re going to be fine. You’re here to learn. Would it really be worth it if it were easy?

Your best is what you can do without harming your mental and physical health, not what you can accomplish when you disregard it.

16.09.23

“Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean, / Tears from the depth of some divine despair / Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes, / In looking on the happy Autumn-fields, / And thinking of the days that are no more.” —Alfred Lord Tennyson

The beginning of 2L has been going by quickly, but I’ve finally been hit with the first wave of anxiety. Imposter syndrome and overwhelm have returned with renewed strength, most likely related to grief over the loss of a close colleague and mentor of mine. I have been driven to distraction more often than not. I’ve been staying on top of readings and still having a good time, for the most part, so that will have to be enough.

Mary Oliver, excerpt from “Poem 133: The Summer Day”

i will no longer be embarrassed i will no longer be a victim of insecurity i will no longer plague my mind with worries i exist i am allowed to exist i am allowed to take up space i will not let others dictate my experience i will live i will live i will live