It’s no secret that law school can be a stressful environment. Between the competition among your peers, the pressure to get good grades and the sheer volume of work, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way! Learning how to deal with law school stress can help you feel happier, healthier and able to perform your best — follow these tips to get started.
Set yourself up for success
It’s easy to feel stressed when you’re not mentally or physically healthy. Make sure that your studies aren’t completely taking over your life to the detriment of other needs. Your body and brain need healthy meals, good sleep and physical activity to perform their best. We know that it can be hard to pull yourself away from your readings to go work out but these short breaks actually help refocus your brain and make studying more efficient. We recommend treating exercise, sleep and meal prep like any other law school assignment by scheduling time to complete them.
Think about why you went to law school
It can be easy to get distracted by the day-to-day challenges of law school and lose sight of what drew you there in the first place. Whenever you feel stress creeping in, take a moment to step back and consider your “why”. Thinking about how you’ll use your law degree to obtain your future goals is a great way to regain perspective and deal with law school stress. Many students find that performing legal work in law school through a clinic or student organization is a great way to reconnect with their motivation.
If possible, identify the sources of your stress
Take a moment to really think about the sources of your stress in law school — “everything” isn’t a good answer! Do cold calls stress you out because you have trouble making it through your casebook reading? Is it certain people that always want to talk about grades? Is it that you have a hard time knowing what to take away from class? Once you can identify what causes your law school stress, you’ll be in a better place to deal with it.
Ask for help
Most law schools have numerous resources for students. If you’re having trouble with the material, consider attending your professor’s office hours, peer tutoring or using a supplement. If you’re struggling to get an interview, work with your school’s career services to identify ways to improve your application. And if you need mental health support, ask to be connected with counseling and other mental health resources.
Don’t be consumed by law school
If you let it, law school can become all-encompassing. To deal with law school stress, maintain a life outside of law school. Regularly check in with friends and family, join a local club or team or simply take time to get outside. These activities give your brain a chance to reset, refresh and de-stress. While law school will put major demands on your time, your life should not revolve around the law school.
