Law school is hard, but it doesn’t have to feel like you’re adrift at sea. These 10 legal life hacks can help you navigate in the right direction.
Law school is a three-year journey — and beyond the J.D. lies your legal career.
The most successful law students build smart, sustainable habits. Not just study habits, but life habits. The kind that creates structure, reduces stress, and allows growth to learn and become a future attorney. Think of these essentials as your law school survival guide — minus the Latin and legalese.
Paula Franzese, author of the Short & Happy Guides series and professor and director of the Leadership Fellows Program at Seton Hall University School of Law, shares her advice for building the habits that help students thrive.
From strategic scheduling to making use of office hours and staying connected to a support network, here are 10 habits you can use to chart a law school path with confidence.
(1) Reassess early, ask for help often
It happens to almost every law student: around halfway through your first semester, you might realize that your status quo isn’t cutting it. Your tweak may be as simple as rearranging your schedule or making minor adjustments to your study habits.
On the other hand, you might need to completely overhaul what you’re doing. If you findyourself struggling, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it’s a fellow student, a professor or another resource, outside input can make a big difference.
“It’s important to be proactive throughout each semester and to nip in the bud any confusions or concerns about the doctrine and theory of any subject,” Franzese said. “Take affirmative actions to reach out to professors or career services for guidance.”
(2) Practice exams lead to exam success
Law school exams are a genre of their own. Reading cases won’t teach you how to write one. Franzese said the only way to master exam-taking is to practice with real exams from your professor.
“Sketch out answers to past exams, then take them to professor office hours. Ask: Where did I miss the issue? Did I apply the rule correctly? What would a top answer include? This feedback loop helps you internalize the exam style and refine your approach,” she said. “Treat it like learning a new language; the more you speak it, the more fluent you become.”
(3) Use office hours and build relationships
Law professors aren’t gatekeepers. They’re mentors. And the most successful students show up in class and at office hours. Not just to clarify black-letter law — but to build real relationships.
“Professors are invested in your growth. Think of them as fiduciaries, stewards of your legal education,” Franzese said. “The time you spend connecting with them will pay off not only in class, but in career advice, recommendation letters and maybe even future collaborations.”
(4) Find your support system
Law school is intense, and you cannot do it alone. Your support system is just as important as your study materials. Whether it’s a friend group, a peer mentor, a barista who knows your name or a family member who checks in, surround yourself with people who remind you of who you are outside of law school.
Franzese said to treat everyone with kindness: classmates, custodial staff, security guards, librarians.
“You’re building a professional community, and your character shows in how you treat people,” she said. “Gossip and competition? Avoid them. Collaboration and compassion? Lean in. The connections you make now will follow you into your legal career.”
(5) Outline as you go
Outlining shouldn’t wait until the week before finals. It’s a semester-long process. Start early. Break down material into logical sections as you learn it. Franzese calls this “chunking.”
“Use your casebook’s table of contents as a guide,” she said. “Summarize rules, note important cases and integrate class notes.”
The act of outlining reinforces understanding. It helps you spot patterns. And when finals come around, you’re not scrambling to build a roadmap; you already have one.
(6) Stick to a study schedule
The law school calendar can feel like a monster that grows a new head every day. A written schedule is your shield.
Use a physical planner to map your readings, assignments and goals week by week, Franzese said.
“Remember to schedule the good stuff too: walks, phone calls, coffee dates, reading something that’s not a case,” she said. “You’re not a machine. Build joy and rest into your routine. Small, daily rituals can anchor you and keep you resilient during stressful stretches.”
(7) Protect your sleep
Sleep is not a luxury. It’s brain fuel. Forget the hustle culture myth that “we’ll sleep when we’re dead.” Chronic sleep deprivation undermines your focus, memory, mood and health. Highly successful students figure out how much sleep they need and guard it fiercely.
Franzese recommends a wind-down ritual at bedtime: no screens, no study materials in bed.
“If you’re struggling to sleep, talk to a healthcare provider or use a sleep-tracking device to understand your habits,” she said. “Many anxiety spikes in law school are tied to poor sleep. A rested brain is a better-performing brain.”
(8) Eat smart and move often
Nutrition and movement aren’t optional in law school; they’re vital. You can’t brief cases or write a strong exam answer if your body is crashing. Eat real food. Stay hydrated. Limit sugar and alcohol. Move your body every day.
“Law school encourages speed: fast food, fast deadlines, fast thinking; resist the culture of burnout,” Franzese said. “Treat your body like it matters because it does. When your body feels strong, your mind performs better. Simple as that.”
(9) Use your summer to start strong
If you’re about to start law school, use the summer wisely. Read up on how to brief cases. Practice taking notes. Talk to current students. But don’t overdo it. You don’t need to master Contracts before orientation.
More importantly, trust yourself, Franzese said.
“The study habits that worked in college or grad school will likely serve you here too; don’t feel pressured to change everything,” she said. “If handwriting your notes helps you learn, keep doing it. Be open to new strategies but stay grounded in what works for you.”
(10) Pack smart
You’ll spend long hours on campus, and what you pack can make or break your day. Pack snacks, a water bottle, chargers and noise-canceling headphones. Wear comfortable clothes. Remember to look up from your laptop now and then — say hello to someone, stretch your legs, breathe.
“Packing smart is a form of preparation that signals to your brain: I’m ready for this. Even planning your meals and clothes can reduce decision fatigue,” Franzese said. “In an environment where so much feels out of your control, this small habit gives you agency and calm.”
Chart a plan
You don’t have to be perfect to succeed in law school. You just need a plan.
“I believe that there is a star that each of us is under and that our paths will open up, even if we don’t know at this moment where it will lead,” Franzese said. “So, in law school, build your habits; build your support system; build your future.”
Ashley Heidemann contributed to this article.
(This article appears in the 2025 Fall issue of The National Jurist.)
