In less than a month, the fall semester of law school will begin. Some future law students asked if they should do anything between now and then to help them understand the subject matter and get an edge over their classmates.
On the internet, the answers vary. Many advise doing nothing and simply enjoying the last few weeks of freedom because you will be studying nonstop for three years. They say that reading casebooks and outlines in advance will only temporarily assuage your anxiety. Although I am inclined to agree with this advice, that would result in a very short column.
So, for those who want to do more than nothing and get a head start in law school, here are some general suggestions. The purpose is to help you find the information that will hopefully make law school less stressful and better help you understand the subject matter.
First, take advantage of internet resources. Many years ago, students had to write class outlines or summaries on their own. This was partly because such outlines did not exist unless you knew an upperclassman who was willing to share. Also, if you could not understand your professor’s lectures, you were pretty much out of luck unless you knew someone who could explain the subject matter better.
Today, law school outlines, case briefs, and explanations are easy to find using an internet search.
Also, sites like YouTube have videos that explain the subject matter, sometimes with visual aids. There are even recorded class lectures from law professors.
While plenty of information is online, be mindful that the quality of the information will vary. And, of course, some information will be outdated, such as Constitutional Law. Since your professor is the one issuing your grade, be mindful of how he or she wants exam questions answered. Everything else should be used only to supplement your understanding.
Second, speaking of professors, try to find professor evaluations online so you can learn more about them. This is particularly important for first-year students since they are most likely stuck with their professors for the entire year.
Since most law students will not get the grade they want due to the mandatory curve, reviews should be taken with a grain of salt. Avoid the disgruntled rants and those who rate the professor’s “niceness” or lack of it. Instead, focus on the comments that explain the professor’s teaching style, how exams are graded, and how to avoid getting on their bad side.
And to those who aced the class, help the next generation by writing in detail how you wrote your exam.
Third, if your law school offers a pre-law school seminar that prepares you for the upcoming semester, I suggest taking it, especially if your future professor is teaching it. These seminars gives you an overview of some or all of the first-year courses and also teach how to take a law school exam.
Lastly, join active lawyer social media groups in the area you want to practice. You can introduce yourself and hopefully connect with a potential mentor. Or you can simply look at the posts and observe how lawyers interact with each other. And for those looking for jobs, you will likely have better luck finding job leads in these group chats.
Similarly, for those who think they will have problems, seek out law school message boards to vent frustrations and get advice on coping with stress.
Today, there are more online resources for anxious law students who want to start preparing immediately. But simply relaxing for the rest of the summer can be just as helpful.
Steven Chung is a tax attorney in Los Angeles, California. He helps people with basic tax planning and resolve tax disputes. He is also sympathetic to people with large student loans. He can be reached via email at [email protected]. Or you can connect with him on Twitter (@stevenchung) and connect with him on LinkedIn.
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