Student Resources:
"First year, they scare you to death. Second
year, they work you to death. Third year, they bore you to death."

1L Law School Year
The 1L law school year
is more difficult than the other two years combined.
Why? To begin with, your first
year of law school is the most important. Your
1L
law school year
grades determine
whether you can participate in the prestigious law
school activities of Law Review and Moot Court, they
determine whether you will get a job as a summer
associate, and they even influence whether you will
qualify for a judicial clerkship after law school. From
day one, the pressure is on. In addition to
reviewing this information, be sure to download the
Free 1L Law Student Guide—Being Ready From Day
One.
The 1L law school year has the reputation for being
among the greatest challenges to intellect and stamina
that a person can face. Be prepared for little feedback.
If you like to learn passively or want instant
gratification, get used to disappointment. You
will be very involved in the learning process. Expect to
leave your first year law school class with questions
unanswered. And, get used to the idea right now,
that you will probably be waiting for some 1L law school
grades from the first semester when you start
your second semester. There is a ton of
information that you will learn during your first year.
The 1L law school year covers 90% of the "law" you will
learn in law school.
Adding to the pressure of your first year of law school
is the fact that you know little (if anything) about
studying law. The skills that lead you to so much
success in your undergraduate life simply don’t
transfer. Knowing how to impress a professor or take
normal college exams will not help you. 1L law school
classes are very different than your previous classes,
you will need to participate and take notes differently.
Most first year law school classes have only one grade,
derived from one test, given at the end of the course.
Another characteristic that makes law school so different than your previous
experience, is that you are expected to learn the
material and be ready to discuss it when you first
arrive to class. This system is called “The Socratic
Method.” To understand more about this method, read the
1L-Law School Coach
Article on the Socratic Method.
What to Expect: 1L Law School Year
Most law schools will sort
the first year law students into groups called sections.
Each section will have identical class schedules. You
will get to know people from your 1L law school class
section very well, most develop life-long friendships from their first year law school sections.
During your 1L law school year, expect to attend class
about 14 to 15 hours per week. These classes will cover
the basics of the law. Once you have finished your first
year of law school, you will be confident that you can
find the answer to any legal question. The 1L law school
curriculum is virtually identical at every school:
- Civil Procedure–the rules and regulations of filing
lawsuits
- Contracts—the law of enforceable agreements
- Constitutional Law—the ultimate law of the country
- Criminal Law—the law of crimes and penalties
- Legal Research and Writing—the only required skill class
in law school
- Property—the law of land ownership and rights
- Torts—the law of civil injuries and remedies
You should expect to spend about 2-3 hours working
outside of your law school class for each hour you are
in class. First year law school classes are going to be
time consuming and the professor will begin with the
course material on day one. You will have a reading
assignment that you are assigned for each class day. You
should expect for these assignments to take longer early
in the semester as you are becoming accustomed to the
material. It is important to stay on top of this
reading. If you get behind, you can get stuck with a
mountain of catch up material.
What do I Need to Know to Succeed at Law School?
Though no first year law student can be perfectly ready
on day one
for his or her 1L law school year, every law student can benefit from some advance
preparation. Law School Coach has put together all the
resources you will need to hit the ground running on
your first day of law school. You will find
information about
what you need to do before your first
day of law school,
how to prepare for class each day,
study methods for your first year of law school, and
other information that will save you both time and
energy (2 precious resources for any 1L law school
student). Also, make sure to download your Law School
Coach
Free 1L Law Student Guide—Being Ready From Day
One.
Other 1L Law Student Info: