1. You’re in law school because you belong there!
It’s so easy to get pulled into the competitive environment of law school and start comparing yourself to those around you. Just remember, your classmates are in the same place as you. And just like them, YOU were chosen by your law school. You are more than capable of succeeding in law school, and don’t let your classmates intimidate you.
2. Stop worrying about your classmates and mind your business.
Law school is going to teach you reallllly quickly to worry about yourself and mind your business. There are only 24 hours in a day, and you will be overloaded with work. Don’t waste your time worrying about what your classmates are doing, how many hours they spend in the library, or how many times they raise their hand in class. DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU AND FOCUS ON YOU!
3. Go to office hours
In law school, your grade is typically based on one final exam. Which means that you have to learn exactly what your professor is looking for on that exam. The best way to do this is to ask questions in office hours. Often times, your professor will give you tips on how to succeed on their exams and explain what differentiates an A exam from a B exam. Your professors are a resource. Don’t wait until the week before finals to go to office hours. Go periodically throughout the semester, go over practice questions with your professor, or drop by if you have questions about things that were covered in class. Knowing the format of a professor’s exam and what they’re looking for in an A exam will allow you to write the best possible answer on exam day!
4. Try new things!
In my opinion, law school is meant to mold you into the best lawyer that you can be. Therefore, it’s imperative to step outside of your comfort zone and try new things. Work on public speaking if that isn’t your strong suit. Work on writing if that isn’t your strong suit. Mold yourself into the best advocate that you can be.
5. Make friends with your classmates.
So many times, I’ve seen people get so sucked up in the competitive environment of law school that they forget to be kind and make friends with their classmates. While I’m not saying that making friends should be your priority in law school, making friends who are in the same situation as you makes law school so much easier and so much more enjoyable. I was able to vent about my frustrations and also celebrate my successes with my law school friends. Having real, good friends in law school allows you to have a great support system!
6. Don’t let your “failures” define you.
In law school, you will fail at something. And that’s OKAY! The great thing about law school is that you get multiple chances to try things again. So you didn’t make mock trial or journal the first time around, but that’s okay. There are multiple opportunities to get any of these prestigious extracurriculars on your resume! So you got a B in a class? It’s okay! Worry about how you can do better in the courses that you’ll take next semester. The first time I didn’t get the results that I wanted, I was devastated. I spent two weeks crying my eyes out and debating dropping out. And honestly, a small failure is not that serious. Take that “failure”, and use it as a learning experience. Analyze what you can do differently to get better results next time and keep trying! Law school is no easy feat, but with a positive attitude and a willingness to keep trying, you will be successful at it. Take it from me. The first semester, I got okay grades, but they weren’t close to what I wanted. The second semester, I raised my grades, got a great summer internship in Oakland, and wrote onto a journal. So just relax and keep going. YOU GOT THIS!
7. Pay attention in Legal Research and Writing (LRW)
In LRW, you learn how to write like a lawyer. You can apply these same tips to your exam writing to maximize your grades in other courses. Also, LRW is not just something you have to worry about for a year-long course. Rather, it is a skill that you will constantly work to develop. You’re going to need these skills for summer internships, journals, and even exams. So don’t underestimate the significance of your LRW course.
8. Develop a study schedule early on.
One thing that I did in the second semester that I didn’t do in the first semester was developed a study schedule before classes even started. Therefore, I knew what subjects I was studying on what days and when I was going to begin studying for finals. This allowed me to manage my time efficiently and ultimately improve my grades in the second semester of law school.
Black Elle Woods 