Best Law School advice ever. Forum

[KRob87]

Ignore the other law students. (And ignore the people on this Board with the Go Harvard or Go Home attitude.).

Seriously.

I just finished my first year. It wasn't that bad. You will be fine. I was a nervous wreck my first semester, but I studied constantly and ended up placing high in my class. Really, it's not as bad as people will tell you...And for the snotty-posters on here who inspired me to write this: No. I do not go to a "bad" school.

So this leads to an obvious question I think: Why do people insist its the end of your life when really it's not actually THAT painful?

Well, think about it. You have a class of 200+ students, all of whom received good LSAT scores, had great grades in college, some have had "real" jobs (many have not). We're proud people. If we weren't egoists, we wouldn't have signed up in the first place. What i'm getting at is you are about to find yourself surrounded by more TYPE A PERSONALITIES than you have ever previously encountered in one small environment. This means, that for many of your classmates: (1) getting shut down in class will ruin their day (although I have to say: watching a woman prof. shut down one of my very vocal & obnoxious male classmates this year? tons of fun), (2) falling behind, even just a few classes, will surely ruin their week, and (3) "OMG! I got a B+ my life is over! What'd you get? What'd you get"?

Law school is high school all over again. Not only will you know EVERYONES business (bear this in mind if and when you decide to get involved with one of your classmates! LADIES: "Professional reputation" applies to us in a different way then to our male classmates. If you hook up and/or date around your class, people will talk about it (sadly) and people will remember it down the road! I know a couple girls in my class who have made this mistake (they don't realize it yet). I am not one to judge in this regard, but if I see one of a few selected names pop up on a job application or in some other fashion later in life.. I will remember.

Ignore the other law students b/c they LIE LIE LIE. For example, there were 3 As given out in one of my first semester classes. Yet, oddly enough, at least 10 people reported to me that they had received an A. Bullshit. All of you. Trust me, if anyone feels the need to tell you they "aced" something, this really means they got a B or below.

There's a lot of weird social drama that goes on. You'll find yourself wondering why that is. I personally think that it happens b/c when you put a bunch of over achievers in a highly competitive environment and many do not do as well as they would like, people start to feel inadequate. People will express feeling inadequate by asserting themselves in other strange situations.. it's not pretty. Rise above.

And here's the real secret.... ITS NOT ACTUALLY HARD! Nope. It's not. It's just a time-crunch, not rocket science. I promise that there is no individual topic within a course that is actually difficult, in isolation, to understand. (It's just the fact that they throw so much at you at once, which is a shame, b/c it's hard to enjoy something that is genuinely pretty interesting when you have to speed through it on to the next thing).

If you can commit yourself to doing all your reading/ briefing every case (not writing in the margins, I mean make a word documents) showing up to most of you classes (I am admittedly terrible with this part, but classes are recorded so...), take a few practice exams, invest in an "examples and explanations" supplement series (at least for Civ. Pro. is extremely helpful) and you will do well.

oh and when someone tells you "its not about memorization." True, apply-apply, but memorize your outline. Make Flashcards. This will save you time on exams, not to mention will reduce your anxiety when you don't have to flip frantically through an outline during your test.

DONT MAKE YOUR OWN OUTLINES!!!! You will hear sooo many different perspectives on this. My school provides an "outline bank" that is organized by class and professor. All of my first year classes were on the outline bank. Many of my classmates informed me this approach was "lazy" and "risky"... so... what I did was bring the pre-made outlines to class and surprise, surprise they all matched up perfectly with what the professor said..every single class. (after all, they say the same thing every year...). Despite the fact that I informed my classmates "hey these outlines are 100% accurate, stop spending 2 months trying to reinvent the wheel", they didn't listen. In fact, I would estimate about half of them STILL don't even know the bank exists. Find out if your school has one. If not, find older students that did well, bring their outlines to class and VERIFY the material before you trust it. (you may have to suck up to one of these students to do so. But hey, that's easy, all any good law student wants to talk about is him/herself, so usually: "do you have any advice for me" "what are you doing for a job. oh my, i'm so impressed" will work just fine.)

If you do well in law school, don't be one of those people that brags about it. It's not attractive, necessary, or nice. This isn't college. This is people's livelihoods, so keep your mouth shut. I did and at no point have I ever regretted not waiving my grades in my friends faces.

I don't know what really motivated this 9am rant. I'm really trying to be nice here. The bottom line is just breathe, you will get through it, and IGNORE THE BULLSHIT! If you show up to your first day prepared to take the vast majority of what you hear from other students with a giant grain of salt, then you have already won... good luck!

[wojo96]

/golfclap

For real, that's much appreciated insight (though a little more fire than I was expecting this early in the morning).

[Bumi]

I'm confused about several things, but might as well start with this one.

It wasn't that bad. You will be fine. I was a nervous wreck my first semester, but I studied constantly and ended up placing high in my class.

If you were a nervous wreck and studied constantly your first semester, and did well, then how do you know being a nervous wreck and studying constantly didn't cause you to do well?

Also, how can you tell us 0Ls we'll be fine, when by the nature of the curve, many of us won't "be fine"? I'm happy you had a good experience, but that doesn't mean that we will necessarily have a good experience too.

[Cupidity]

I'm confused about several things, but might as well start with this one.

It wasn't that bad. You will be fine. I was a nervous wreck my first semester, but I studied constantly and ended up placing high in my class.

If you were a nervous wreck and studied constantly your first semester, and did well, then how do you know being a nervous wreck and studying constantly didn't cause you to do well?

Also, how can you tell us 0Ls we'll be fine, when by the nature of the curve, many of us won't "be fine"? I'm happy you had a good experience, but that doesn't mean that we will necessarily have a good experience too.

I was a lazy drunk and placed well in my class. correlation=/=causation

[Bumi]

I'm confused about several things, but might as well start with this one.

It wasn't that bad. You will be fine. I was a nervous wreck my first semester, but I studied constantly and ended up placing high in my class.

If you were a nervous wreck and studied constantly your first semester, and did well, then how do you know being a nervous wreck and studying constantly didn't cause you to do well?

Also, how can you tell us 0Ls we'll be fine, when by the nature of the curve, many of us won't "be fine"? I'm happy you had a good experience, but that doesn't mean that we will necessarily have a good experience too.

I was a lazy drunk and placed well in my class. correlation=/=causation

No kidding. That's not what I'm saying. Correlation is not necessarily lack of causation either. I was really nervous and studied hard, but it turned out I did great so I didn't need to study hard!

But I appreciated the "don't be a slut, I'll never hire a slut" part.

[98234872348]

.

[czelede]

LADIES: "Professional reputation" applies to us in a different way then to our male classmates. If you hook up and/or date around your class, people will talk about it (sadly) and people will remember it down the road! I know a couple girls in my class who have made this mistake (they don't realize it yet). I am not one to judge in this regard, but if I see one of a few selected names pop up on a job application or in some other fashion later in life.. I will remember.

This makes me a little sad, even though I figured as much and I know your feelings (re: hiring these type of women) are likely shared by most. But I don't expect slut shaming to go away anytime soon anyhow, so I suppose it makes sense to play by the rules if you want in on the game.

Anyways, I really appreciate (the rest of) your advice

Oh and as for recycling outlines...that happened to be the sole piece of advice I received from a partner at a V50 firm (newly minted, graduated magna cum laude ~7 years ago). In his opinion it was one of the most important parts of doing well.

[Gideon Strumpet]

I am not one to judge in this regard, but if I see one of a few selected names pop up on a job application or in some other fashion later in life . . . I will remember.

Why do women hate each other so much?

[czelede]

I am not one to judge in this regard, but if I see one of a few selected names pop up on a job application or in some other fashion later in life . . . I will remember.

Why do women hate each other so much?

--LinkRemoved--

[crumpetsandtea]

LADIES: "Professional reputation" applies to us in a different way then to our male classmates. If you hook up and/or date around your class, people will talk about it (sadly) and people will remember it down the road! I know a couple girls in my class who have made this mistake (they don't realize it yet). I am not one to judge in this regard, but if I see one of a few selected names pop up on a job application or in some other fashion later in life.. I will remember.

This makes me a little sad, even though I figured as much and I know your feelings (re: hiring these type of women) are likely shared by most. But I don't expect slut shaming to go away anytime soon anyhow, so I suppose it makes sense to play by the rules if you want in on the game.

Anyways, I really appreciate (the rest of) your advice

+1. Also sort of amusing that they preface it with 'I don't judge in this regard...' and end it with '...but I'm personally going to remember your 1L indiscretions foreva'

[paratactical]

LADIES: "Professional reputation" applies to us in a different way then to our male classmates. If you hook up and/or date around your class, people will talk about it (sadly) and people will remember it down the road! I know a couple girls in my class who have made this mistake (they don't realize it yet). I am not one to judge in this regard, but if I see one of a few selected names pop up on a job application or in some other fashion later in life.. I will remember.

This makes me a little sad, even though I figured as much and I know your feelings (re: hiring these type of women) are likely shared by most. But I don't expect slut shaming to go away anytime soon anyhow, so I suppose it makes sense to play by the rules if you want in on the game.

Anyways, I really appreciate (the rest of) your advice

+1. Also sort of amusing that they preface it with 'I don't judge in this regard...' and end it with '...but I'm personally going to remember your 1L indiscretions foreva'

I think this kind of shit is why women have difficulty getting real respect from men.

[Curry]

I think this kind of shit is why women have difficulty getting real respect from men.

Here I was thinking bendy straws were the reason for that.

[afc1910]

I'm confused about several things, but might as well start with this one.

It wasn't that bad. You will be fine. I was a nervous wreck my first semester, but I studied constantly and ended up placing high in my class.

If you were a nervous wreck and studied constantly your first semester, and did well, then how do you know being a nervous wreck and studying constantly didn't cause you to do well?

Also, how can you tell us 0Ls we'll be fine, when by the nature of the curve, many of us won't "be fine"? I'm happy you had a good experience, but that doesn't mean that we will necessarily have a good experience too.

+1

Which is why I am going to take this "best law school advice EVER" with a "giant grain of salt." Thanks for sharing though.

[upfish]

I'm confused about several things, but might as well start with this one.

It wasn't that bad. You will be fine. I was a nervous wreck my first semester, but I studied constantly and ended up placing high in my class.

If you were a nervous wreck and studied constantly your first semester, and did well, then how do you know being a nervous wreck and studying constantly didn't cause you to do well?

Also, how can you tell us 0Ls we'll be fine, when by the nature of the curve, many of us won't "be fine"? I'm happy you had a good experience, but that doesn't mean that we will necessarily have a good experience too.

+1

Which is why I am going to take this "best law school advice EVER" with a "giant grain of salt." Thanks for sharing though.

<3 your avatar so hard.

tl;dr advice of the OP.

[fatduck]

WHAT ARE THE HAPS MY FRIEND

[Sean1269]

I'm confused about several things, but might as well start with this one.

It wasn't that bad. You will be fine. I was a nervous wreck my first semester, but I studied constantly and ended up placing high in my class.

If you were a nervous wreck and studied constantly your first semester, and did well, then how do you know being a nervous wreck and studying constantly didn't cause you to do well?

Also, how can you tell us 0Ls we'll be fine, when by the nature of the curve, many of us won't "be fine"? I'm happy you had a good experience, but that doesn't mean that we will necessarily have a good experience too.

+1

Which is why I am going to take this "best law school advice EVER" with a "giant grain of salt." Thanks for sharing though.

It's true, most of the class will not do "fine." Fine is different for different people though. Of course there are a lot of over achievers (most of the class) who think fine is at or near the top of the class, most of them will inevitably not do "fine" by their standards, and then have to find a way to get over it or drop out. There are a few students who are "fine" with being at the bottom of the class and seem to have little to no anxiety. Regardless, the first year is a good experience. Tests are abstract concepts (since they are only at the end of a 15 week semester) for most of the semester and you don't need to worry about them until the end. I dunno about the not hiring of a so called slutty girl though, that seems like it would have little weight in determining what kind of lawyer they'll be, but hey, I'll be lucky if I'm ever in a position to hire anyways...

[mcweanis]

I'm confused about several things, but might as well start with this one.

It wasn't that bad. You will be fine. I was a nervous wreck my first semester, but I studied constantly and ended up placing high in my class.

If you were a nervous wreck and studied constantly your first semester, and did well, then how do you know being a nervous wreck and studying constantly didn't cause you to do well?

Also, how can you tell us 0Ls we'll be fine, when by the nature of the curve, many of us won't "be fine"? I'm happy you had a good experience, but that doesn't mean that we will necessarily have a good experience too.

+1

Which is why I am going to take this "best law school advice EVER" with a "giant grain of salt." Thanks for sharing though.

It's true, most of the class will not do "fine." Fine is different for different people though. Of course there are a lot of over achievers (most of the class) who think fine is at or near the top of the class, most of them will inevitably not do "fine" by their standards, and then have to find a way to get over it or drop out. There are a few students who are "fine" with being at the bottom of the class and seem to have little to no anxiety. Regardless, the first year is a good experience. Tests are abstract concepts (since they are only at the end of a 15 week semester) for most of the semester and you don't need to worry about them until the end. I dunno about the not hiring of a so called slutty girl though, that seems like it would have little weight in determining what kind of lawyer they'll be, but hey, I'll be lucky if I'm ever in a position to hire anyways...

that's why i'm going to a gender and sexuality lawyer, so i can sue people for slut-shaming! or something! i guess in order to get that awesome anti-slut-shaming job, i'll have to not be a slut first so i can get hired.. soo.. never mind i think i'll just be a slut

[thegrayman]

girls are so jealous of each other, it's hilarious

[mcweanis]

men are so disgusting to women, it's hilarious

[Grizz]

men are so disgusting to women, it's hilarious

I dare you to sue me for slut-shaming.

[$1.99]

good stuff

[clone22]

So.... what I'm getting from this thread is that 1L is the year to sleep around?

sweet

[tooswolle]

Not gonna lie the ops post was great I really enjoyed the professional reputation bit. I don't know why but I tend to get a good laugh at women being catty. Haha gotta say being a guy has it's advantages like not being "slut shamed" +180

[akili]

What you do 1L lasts foreverrrrrr (but only if you are a girl, apparently)

[mcweanis]

maybe if you sleep with enough guys in your section, they will remember you fondly and want to hire you later on, thus canceling out the female slut shamers. plus you get to have sex.