Advice for the Incoming 1Ls

1) expect to read a case a MINIMUM of 2 times.
2) Brief EVERY case at least your first semester
3) Do NOT try and start outlining on your first day.  You need to get through a whole "block" of material before you understand where the class is going, and it will be a waste to start too early.
4) Do NOT get in the habit of skipping class.  Law school takes roll and you will lose points if you miss too many
5) Find a study group you can WORK with.  Don't just try and study with people you think are smart.  You need to find people who "click" with you and learn like you do. 
6) Do NOT just take an upper classman's outline and study off that-you need to make your own.
7) DO take upper classmen's outlines to compare yours too-but do not take everything in them just as fact.  Often they can help you find were to look for info you are confused about.
8) Do not lose your social life.  All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
9) Ask your professor questions.  That is what they are therefore!  If you don't understand a topic, ask after class, shoot them an email, go to office hours,whatever you need.
10) Do hypos!  Just learning the information is not enough. memorizing will only get you so far.  You need to learn how to APPLY the info.

First day

It is the first day of summer school.  I always get jitters about the first day.  This isn't like undergrad where on the first day you get the syllabus and get to leave early.  Nope, in law school it starts with "Ms./Mr.______ Please tell me about the case."  As a 3L ( as long as I passed everything), you would think I would get over being nervous.  Heck, I haven't briefed a case since the beginning of the Fall Semester of my 2L year.  Nope, I'm nervous!  In fact, I briefed my cases for today!

Everyone has their favorite way of briefing a case, and some teachers require you to brief a specific way as well.  For me, I always start with "procedural posture".  This is what happened in the trial/appeal/etc. That way if they say "affirmed", I know what they mean.  Also, my favorite 1L teacher always required this information right at the beginning and it is a habit now I can't seem to shake.  There is something about knowing that information that is comforting. 

Wish me luck today.  If there are any budding law students out there, this is how I like to brief:

I.                   Case Name

a.       Procedural Posture:

b.      Facts:

c.       Issue:

d.      Analysis:

e.      Holding: 

f.    Conclusion:

g.        Rule:

Summertime and the Livin's easy

Not always true when you are a law student.  Summer isn't about pools, sun, and vacations.  Summer is about internships, anxiety for when grades will post (about 6 weeks after you take finals-it blows), and summer school.  That's right kids-I am taking summer school.  In order for me to fit in family law (a must, I believe) I had to take it over the summer.

Sure, I have done intercession before in undergrad, but this is different.  Undergrad and law school are completely different animals.  I will have class every day and my final will be the first week in July.  My reading will be about 30 pages a night, which is the usual for law school, so I am not too scared.

On top of summer school, I will be working 20 hours a week.  I will be doing research, writing memos and briefs, and hopefully getting to do a probate!  Internships are important, they set a standard for what you will be doing post graduation.  If you don't work over the summer at a law office, it can really hinder your job opportunities later.

Wish me luck.  I'll be dreaming of pool time inside a stone building this summer: