What you should do during your first week of law school

Congratulations on going to college to pursue law school. But before you enjoy the step you’ve taken, you should know that the first few weeks at law school can be full of thoughts, anxiety, and excitement. Without the right guidance, you can start your faculty of Law life the wrong way.

Do not worry. In this article, you’ll learn survival tips for first-year law students. Note that these tips can also help any student, regardless of the course you are taking. Let’s start.

stay focused

The first week of law school can feel like things aren’t going to go as planned. Stay focused on what you want to accomplish and work on building friendships with other law students. Staying focused can help you overcome or ignore the challenges that are likely to come your way during your first week at college.
Making friends at this stage is also important because the friendship can extend beyond school. Some of the people you befriend can recommend clients and bring you more business once you start practicing law after school.

Determine where to seek help

Law school life is tough. This is why, before deciding to pursue a law degree, you must determine if you are really ready to handle the mountains of work involved. From essays to legal reports and tons of assignments, if you don’t know where to look for help, life can be miserable.
The first week may be the best time to find the best essay writing services so you know you have someone to relieve you of some work in case you have your hands full.

Note that there are many essay writing companies out there, so make sure you do enough research and find one that can handle all your academic writing work.

Determine how you learn best

Different people learn differently. Some students like to take notes by hand while others prefer to use a laptop. Note that some universities have some preservation on how to take notes. Some will allow you to use any method as long as you take notes while others strictly allow students to take notes by hand.
If you prefer to take notes with your laptop, you need to find ways to avoid distractions.
You also need to find ways to back up your grades because anything can happen to your laptop and in the blink of an eye you lose the value of your semester grades.

Review the curriculum and create an appropriate study plan

The earlier you prepare, the better you will be able to overcome most of the challenges that law students face.
Teachers use the first few weeks to give learners a plan for their lessons. Take the time to read the program as you may not have enough time to read it. Spend the first week preparing for the semester by understanding what you will cover throughout.
Use this time to organize your studies so you don’t miss classes, homework, and other important tasks.

Prepare for challenges

The idea that you have already entered the university of your choice to pursue your law degree may make you think that you will not encounter any challenges. Never let these thoughts invade your mind because college is not the usual college life like high school. Don’t be afraid though.
The truth is, you’re going to face challenges in your first week of law school as you try to adjust to cope with the new life. Just be prepared to overcome whatever challenges you will face along the way.

Take care of your health

The first week of law school is probably the busiest of all your time at university. It’s easy to forget to take care of your body and mind. No matter the temptations to do it all the first week, don’t sacrifice your health for your studies.
Even though there are a lot of preparations during your first week, you should find time to exercise and make sure you have enough time to sleep. After all, you’re not going to take an exam the first week. Just focus on the right preparations for the semester.

Attend all classes

If you skipped classes in high school, be warned. Every class in college, especially for law students, matters. While not every teacher will penalize you for skipping classes, missing a single class could cause you to fall behind in a lot of things. Attend all classes and do whatever your teacher assigns you.

Take everything as a learning lesson

A lot of things will happen in the first week. For example, your teacher might call you to class to answer a question or do something. You might be asked to talk about something or volunteer to teach others a concept you know. Regardless of what your teacher does, take it as a learning lesson.

Find out where to find everything

Use your first week at college to know where everything is. Although it seems like a no-brainer, many law students ignore this advice and end up having a hard time figuring things out later.
Spend time determining where the school offices, student lounges, etc. are located. Remember that when the semester is in full swing, you won’t be able to find the best thesis services because you will focus on completing the program and on schoolwork. So use this time to figure out where you can seek help with the thesis when the time comes.

Keep in mind that teachers are not monsters

For someone fresh out of high school, life can seem a bit harsh. But don’t feel alone in the desert as the teachers are there to give you full support where you need it. Be open to them so they can find ways to support you. Ask questions during office hours so that your teacher can clear up any confusion you have and give you a good direction for your studies. Participate in class. If you have a question, do not hesitate to ask it during the lessons.

Have a routine

You can’t do everything randomly in law school. You have to establish a way of doing things by having a routine. No matter how smart you are, you’ll struggle if you don’t have a study routine. Establish a daily or weekly routine that works best for you.

Use law school resources

Law school resources are there to help you succeed. Besides, you pay for them. Why not use the library or any other useful resources inside and outside the university. Your teacher is also a great resource. If you want to be the best lawyer, befriend your teachers.

Socialize with other students

Use the first week of class to socialize with other law students, especially in the second or third year. Since they are already ahead of you, they can help you with survival tips that you might not get anywhere. They can tell you what to expect during the first semester or even the whole year. This will help you understand how to prepare.

Participate actively

The first week at law school is also the best time to learn about the different school groups and clubs. Remember, when participating in these clubs and other school groups, keep your academic goals in mind. Strive for a balanced school life.

Life at law school is a tough life. Use the first week to prepare yourself adequately for all the challenges you will face in your work to succeed in your career.


Good luck!

Nancy I. Romero