If you are heading to law school in the fall, you may be wondering how to make the most of your summer. It’s important to take some time to relax and recharge so you are not worn out when classes begin, but there are also some things you can do over the summer to get a head start. These recommendations will help you prepare for law school before it even begins.
Learn what law school is all about
One of the hard things about law school is the steep learning curve. Law school is not like college. Here are a few key distinctions:
Casebooks. Unlike undergrad, where you had textbooks, in law school you will have “casebooks” (which is exactly what it sounds like — a book full of court cases). Casebooks will not clearly lay out the law. Instead, you will have to go to class to learn the law.
The Socratic Method. In college, your professors likely lectured and told you the information you needed to know. In law school, most professors will use the Socratic Method. This approach involves asking students questions to stimulate critical thinking and class discussion.
Single Final Exam. In undergrad, you likely submitted various assignments throughout the semester. In a traditional law school class, you will have one final exam for each class. And that exam will be worth 100% of your grade. Law school exams usually require critical thinking and use of something called the “IRAC” method (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion).
Strict Grading Curve. In college, a grade of “A” may have been easily attained. In law school, it is not so easy to get an “A” (especially your first year.). Instead, you will be graded on a strict curve where only a limited number of students earn top grades.
Since law school is so different than undergrad, you will need to learn some new skills if you want to succeed (such as case briefing, outlining, and learning the IRAC method). You can learn more about the differences between college and law school and get a head start on these skills with this free JD Advising law school prep course.
Make sure your resume is polished
You might have recently updated your resume when you were applying to law school. However, you want to make sure it is polished — you may need it again soon. In your first year of law school, you will have opportunities to interview for law firm positions beginning in December and then again in the following spring/summer.
The more work you can do ahead of time on your resume, the less you will have to do in December when you will be busy studying for final exams.
Some students also work on their diversity statements if they are considering applying for diversity scholar positions at law firms.
Spend time with family and friends
It goes without saying that law school is demanding. So spend quality time with your family and friends now. Once you begin law school, you will still have time to hang out with loved ones — but likely not as much time as you may have now. So take advantage of this time while you have it.
Do some summer reading
You will be doing quite a bit of reading in law school. Warm up by reading over the summer.
You may not feel like reading for pleasure in law school (since you will have a lot of cases to read otherwise). So if there are some books you have been wanting to knock off your list, get started on them now.
You also may want to invest in some law school success books. There are several great options out there. If you are unsure where to start, check out Getting to Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams. This was written by two law school professors and has wonderful exam strategies that are well worth learning before law school begins. Also, look into Law School Done Right: Proven Tips for Success from Recent Grads Who Killed It. This concise book is co-written by a Yale Law School graduate and a University of Michigan Law School graduate and is filled with great, practical advice.
Purchase necessary supplies
Get some law school supplies purchased ahead of time. It will be one less thing to worry about when the semester starts. Throughout your first year of law school, you will likely need:
Casebooks assigned by your professors / writing utensils (pens, pencils, highlighters) / a quality backpack / notebooks /laptop / and a suit (for interviewing and other formal events like first-year oral arguments)
If you do these things before you start law school, you will be putting yourself in a position to succeed. Good luck getting ready to start law school!
Ashley Heidemann is the founder and CEO of JD Advising, which offers a free JD Advising law school prep course.
