This year's 1Ls start the week of Sept. 10 with a two-week orientation -- yes that's not a typo. In past years we've put together a sheet of advice tips from 2Ls and 3Ls to incoming 1Ls. Let's do it again, but this time in the comments here on the blog. 2Ls and 3Ls, please add a comment here with your best tips for the incoming 1Ls. 1Ls, if you have any questions, please drop them here as a comment.
Here's a link to the tip sheet from two years ago: http://students.washington.edu/lawpals/advice.shtml
My tips:
* Chop your books. Take them to a copy place on the Ave, have the bindings cut off and holes drilled, and then you only need to shlep around the pages you're reading that week.
* Share notes. If you notice someone's missing a class, send them notes. You've got kids; you're gonna miss class eventually. It helps if you can foster a cooperative atmosphere.
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6 comments:
This is from Hayley Albertson, who graduated last summer. She started law school with a baby and had another one before her third year:
I think the best advice is that law school is something that you are doing and it is not your life. Remember what is important and make your family your priority. Except for the week before and the week of finals I only did homework when my daughter was sleeping or when I was at the school (I only stayed at the school when I had classes). I would work a few hours at night and a couple during breaks at school and this was plenty. There are personal sacrifices I had to make to do this, I had no free time, canceled cable TV and pretty much did not go out for the entire first year of law school.
It becomes much easier in the second and third year. I also try to limit my extra-curricular activities so that all of my time is spent doing homework or playing with my daughter. Law school just takes really good time management and lots of perspective. I would also say don't get caught up in what others are doing or saying because it not the quantity of studying but the quality so do what makes you comfortable and ignore the hype.
This is from Kent Diamond, who graduated last summer:
Kent Diamond:
My advice is to prepare for a difficult year. Going into law school I had heard stories and suggestions that made it seem like it would not be very difficult. “Treat in like a 9 – 5 job.” “Leave the books at school and do not study over the weekends.” That sort of stuff.
Reality hit hard. I found it was not possible to take my studies seriously without putting in more time than that. I was studying in the evening and on the weekends. It was way more work than I expected.
It would have helped me a lot if I would have been known how hard it was going to be. I could have planned better. I could have set my family’s expectations better.
This is from Tracey Crowley, who graduated a couple of years ago:
Tracy Crowley:
Best advice for 1L parents in my opinion is to be ready to give up a ton for the first year, a bit less the second year and have a fairly relaxed third year. It goes in reverse, getting less stressful. The best advice we got going in was knowing that the first year mattered most for grades (for OCI etc.) and that made it easier to understand that huge sacrifice is to be expected, as is huge stress during the first year. Letting people know how important working on the journal, OCI and moot court are is also key.
(1) I agree with Lisa -- cut your books. I had mine done at Kinko's, and it was fast and cheap.
(2) You do not have to write out a detailed brief for every single case. It took me six months to realize that.
(3) Contact PALS members to see if they have any study aids you can buy, borrow, or have. I have two boxes full in my garage. Oh, and don’t buy two boxes full of study aids.
(4) It’s ok to pass.
(5) A lot of parents treat law school as a job, and try to study only between 9-5. It works for them. It did not work for me. I ended up working on a lot of nights and on weekends. This is not so much advice as it is a warning.
(6) Do Practice Exams!! I wish I’d done more. And go talk to your professors a LOT.
Thanks for your advice. I cut my books! I even made a video.
youtube.com/watch?v=GGxolUNuZqY
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