I find that my law school career is quickly coming to a close. Despite the inevitable dark moments, the last three years have been very kind to me and I know that I made the right decision in continuing my education. Looking back on my time in law school, there are many things I would have done differently and some I would have done the same. Everyone has their own unique circumstances which makes a general list of dos and don’ts less than perfect, but I’ve listed some advice I would give to those interested in pursuing a legal education.
1) It all begins with your undergraduate education. If you are in the rare position of knowing early on that you are going to pursue law, make sure you are attending an affordable school. Unless you are blessed with rare circumstances, student loans are a simple reality and there is absolutely no point in spending that money on an unnecessarily overpriced undergraduate education. There are exceptions, but they are just that. Also, pursue a major in which you can excel academically. The fact that your major really captivated you doesn’t matter.
2) Consider taking at least one year between undergrad and enrolling in law school to build your resume. If you come from a relatively unmarketable liberal arts background, as I did, consider joining the Peace Corp or Teach for America. Otherwise, get the most professional job you can and make as many connections as possible. If at all possible, consider volunteering with a Legal Aid office the summer before you enroll in law school. This will give you a great advantage in seeking legal internships after your first year.
3) Go to socials and mixers. Even if you are not a social drinker, make an appearance and an effort to speak to people. You don’t have to spend all night in an uncomfortable situation, but these events are an important part of the camaraderie and an hour won’t kill you.
4) During the first couple of weeks of class everyone is scared of looking like a fool. Accept that you are in a new situation and are a fool and do your best. Read the assignments, think about them, and volunteer for a case. This will free you. Don’t be scared to ask questions, but do so with respect for your classmates. Don’t waste others’ time.
5) Get Barbri’s first year course outlines. Study them during the semester; do not wait until 2 weeks before finals. Make an effort to find a study group but if it is not working, do not hesitate to leave it. Also, give up a few Saturday mornings to spend outlining during the semester. It will save you time during the crucial last days of the semester when the world inevitable comes crashing down.
6) Go out for Law Review, Moot Court or Mock Trial. This will involve sacrifice, but it puts you at a great advantage during the job search. This is very important.
7) Do not underestimate the value of work or volunteer experience. To an impartial employer, you are only as good as your resume so build it up. If you cannot find a paying position, as most first year students cannot, humble yourself and volunteer with an office. That additional loan is less important than making yourself more marketable. If at all possible, do a Certified Legal Internship. This will allow you access to the courtroom and surely set you apart from many other applicants when the time comes.
8) Don’t hesitate to go to a courthouse and watch a few trials. It's free training.
9) If your school has a bar prep course for credit, take advantage of it. It will allow you to book dozens of prep hours before your real bar prep begins in May and you will be that much ahead of everyone else. If the class is a GPA killer, as mine was, accept that. Passing the bar on your first attempt is more important.
10) If you are a Christian, join a men’s or women’s Bible study. College and Singles groups are okay but you need to be around older, wiser people with careers and real lives. There should be a clear distinction between your undergraduate and law school life and you need to leave the dignified youth group that is college ministry behind and pursue the next phase.
11) Monitor your relationships and the company you keep. If you are blessed to have truly loyal friends, make the effort to keep in contact with them. These people will keep you in check and be there for you when you are struggling. Don’t hesitate to break off relationships which are bringing you down. Some people mean well, but cause more harm than good. It is very risky to maintain relationships with these people. Be very careful about pursing serious relationships during this time. Many people can handle committed relationships while in law school, but if you are the type of person who dates for marriage and fully commits to a relationship, I would not recommend dating while in law school. The next three years will be hard enough without the emotional baggage that a break up creates.
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2 comments:
All fantastic advice, Tom. I particularly stress your first point about the undergraduate experience. Folks can always work on bringing up their LSAT scores. But they are typically burned by a so-so GPA and can't do anything about it by the time they decide to apply for law school.
Also, if you're forced to go to a mediocre and expensive school like I was, I'd recommend kicking butt the first year and transferring to a cheaper and better state school. The weight and stress of 150k worth of student loans is not anything to take lightly. If you're going to take on that much debt, make sure it's a worthy investment and one that can get you a great job. Or, like Tom said, stick with your original school and do really well and make a ton of connections.
good stuff, tom.
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