12 Gems of Unsolicited Advice for 1Ls
1. Treat school like a job that you’ve always wanted. That means…
2. Work hard. Really hard. But, that means figuring out how to work your way. Don’t do study groups if you don’t want to. Do study groups if you like them. Do flashcards. Do outlines. Don’t do either. Do case briefs. No one cares what works for you as long as it makes sense to you. Receive all study suggestions and then make the right decision for you. Try things. Reject things that don’t work. In the law, we call this an “informed decision.” (See what I did there?)
In class, take your work seriously, and take yourself seriously. Make professors and classmates pronounce your name correctly. Speak up when you don’t understand something. If you don’t want to address your question in class, set a time to meet your professor during office hours to get the clarification you need. There is nothing wrong with “I don’t know.”
Just know that you know absolutely nothing right now.
N.B. — Be aware of the classmates who will try to coast on your work. Just say bye, and don’t say sorry.
3. Let go of all expectations of what a lawyer looks like, what they do, what the profession is. Real life law practice is not like Suits or Scandal. Clinging to some of these stereotypes can be self-defeating, especially in an industry in complete transition. You are entering school at a time where the profession of law will become different in the way that services are delivered and the types of expectations that we have of lawyers. Don’t be afraid to be yourself in law school. Let go of who you think you have to be to be a great lawyer. You will do great without ever being any part of that fictional person (and you’re better than them).
4. Be weary of the cram session all-nighter. One of my top 5 favorite sayings is: “Sleep is the lubricant of life.” If your brain is denied sufficient and regular sleep, you will never be able to achieve the level of academic success that you want. Some folks work well late nights, but always make sure to get the sleep you need, whenever it works for you.
5. Have hobbies outside of school. Join a club, read non-law books, do family stuff. Volunteer somewhere. Play sports. You’ll be surprised how much this will (1) help you survive school; and, (2) help you with networking. I offer some reading and listening tips here.
6. Join every single bar association that you can — local, county, state, and national. Most offer free to nominal cost memberships to law students and are rife with benefits — of more, free mentorship and networking! Bar associations are wonderfully supportive communities with people who want to help you succeed. Take advantage of these networks.
7. Network. It sucks. DM me for tips. You can do it. But, for starters, go back to #5 — have hobbies. Be a human outside the rigors of law school. Join networking spaces outside of the legal profession as well that feed your interests in #5. Let go of what you think you need to do in networking spaces to be accepted, and just go, learn, and connect as you like.
8. Do your best to identify the infamous gaslighter. There will be several in your first-year class. They are guided as apparently intelligent students, asking the questions that take the class way off course, sometimes piquing the professor’s interest, other times pissing off the professor for the rest of class (bc, yes, even law professors are human). Gaslighters manipulate you in hopes of making you feel like your ideas are wrong because they aren’t theirs. This might make you feel like you don’t belong or like you’re… (ding, ding, ding) an imposter. Be on alert to reject these people from your sphere of school. To that end…
9. Protect your peace. Small law schools can feel like high school. You’re with your classmates a lot in a competitive environment. Put your needs first. Be a human. Protect what you need. If you need a therapist, get a therapist. There is nothing wrong with self-care. It’s not selfish. If you are struggling with taking steps to put your self-care first, think of it as protecting the significant investment that you’re putting into your education. To that end…
10. Block times to relax. Decline drinking invites if that’s not your thing and find friends who don’t drink, because there can be a lot of drinking in law school. Work out when you can. Eat well when you can. Folks say ignore your phone, but funny talking dog memes on Pinterest saved me during the worst days of school and bar prep.
11. Forgive yourself most trespasses. Make amends as needed, but you’re going to screw up personal stuff during the school year… and during the bar exam…and during law practice. Be transparent with your loved ones about the demands of the profession you’ve chosen. Re-adjust your roles within your family as needed. It takes a village to build a lawyer. Don’t kill anyone.
12. Don’t take unsolicited advice. Feel free to dismiss advice that does not feel right for you.
You’ve got this. Consider me another component of your support team. My email is priti@nemanilaw.com, and you can always schedule time for us to chat about your legal journey. You can also listen to my advice for women of color entering law school here during an episode where I was a guest on the In Re podcast for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education.
You are entering the legal profession at a fascinatingly transitional time. You have every potential to make your mark. Do your best, love yourself every step of the way, and enjoy the ride. You deserve to enjoy the next 3 years.
Your cheerleader –
Priti
