So, you are both excited and nervous about going to law school. You’ve heard it’s hard. You want to be ready.
What do you need to know to be successful — and, most important, happy? In my career I’ve worked with law students in many capacities. Here are some of the ways I’ve seen them succeed in law school:
They did not start law school until they were ready
I have met so many college seniors that applied to law school right out of college. Some were ready to go. Some were not. Some understood what lawyers do. Some did not. I think the students that did not take a professional development year to work before law school were sometimes not as ready as those that did. Do you have to take time off? Absolutely not. Just make sure this is really what you want — and that you are ready for three more years of school.
They worked for a legal employer before starting law school
Those who worked for a law firm, government agency or nonprofit often start law school with a built-in advantage. They may have worked with clients. They may have learned how to do legal research. They have seen how law offices work. Is this necessary before law school? Definitely not. But I’ve seen it give law students more confidence and knowledge of what they ultimately want to do with their law degree. If it is not a legal employer, a job that gives you research, writing, analytical or client counseling skills could be very helpful.
They learned ways to stay calm while in law school
You’ve heard stories about how difficult law school is. It is important to start law school when you are rested and ready to handle the intense nature of the 1L year. I’ve seen that students who also maintained their interests and friendships outside of law school, realized that it is a lot of pressure, but for a relatively short amount of time, and tried to keep a sense of perspective, were often calmer in law school.
They understood the recruiting/hiring process for lawyers
The way students get hired while they are in law school for summer jobs has changed radically in recent years. You may be interviewing for summer jobs as early as October of your 1L year. Some find this to be shockingly early. It also creates more to do at a time when you are already extraordinarily busy. But those who were aware of this coming into law school were prepared for the early start to recruiting. Meet with your law school career services office as early as possible. Understand the timeline for hiring. Look at www.nalp.org, a great organization that specializes in legal hiring trends.
They understood how much time it takes to study for exams and write papers
It took me a minute to realize that law school was never going to be the same as college. I was not going to be able to write a paper in a day or study for a mid-term in a night or two. I wasn’t used to just one test sometimes constituting most of the grade. The sheer volume of reading for law school is heavier than it is in a typical college course. It is doable — it just takes a lot of time. I know law students who treat school like it is a full-time job. They go to classes, then stay for the entire day to do their work in the library. This enables them to have more time to see friends and family later and feel less pressured.
They got involved in activities in law school
There are so many great options in law school. There are clubs to join, clinics to work for, journals to write for, moot court competitions to participate in, pro bono and volunteer opportunities and study abroad opportunities. Even if you are incredibly busy, joining in helps you meet people, build your resume and ultimately figure out what you want to do when you graduate.
Hillary Mantis is an admissions consultant and career counselor who works with law school applicants and lawyers. She is the author of several books about law school admissions and legal careers. Questions? You can reach her at Hillary.Mantis@yahoo.com.
