Your first year of law school is one of the most exciting, scary, and transformative moments of any aspiring lawyer’s life. There is no starter pack for law school, no prep course that can fully prepare you for all of the ups and downs you will face. I wanted to provide a crash course on all of the things I wish someone had said to me before going in
1. Block out comparison and competition
Law school is an incredibly competitive environment, and it is easy to fall into the trap of constantly measuring yourself against everyone around you. Everyone is smart and motivated to be the best. If you are not careful, comparison becomes your default setting.
One of the most important things I learned is that you have to actively protect your peace. That does not mean isolating yourself; it means being intentional. Be mindful about what you share, especially when it comes to grades or rankings, even with friends. At the same time, do not go through it alone. Find people you can actually confide in. Talk about your goals and struggles, but try not to let comparison become the lens through which you see your own progress.
2. You need to prepare your support system for 1L too
One thing I did not expect was how isolating law school can feel at times, especially when you move to a new place and are adjusting to a completely different pace of life. Your family and friends want to support you, but they may not fully understand what you are going through unless you help them understand it. I wish I had given my family a “guide” to 1L so they could understand the stress and what kinds of encouragement actually help. Support is everything in law school. The more your people understand your world, the less alone you feel in it.
3. You do not have to know exactly what kind of lawyer you want to be
One of the biggest misconceptions going into law school is that you are supposed to arrive with a clear, fixed plan for your entire career. That is simply not true.
Your first year will expose you to entirely new areas of law, ways of thinking, and career paths you may not have even considered. I entered law school with a very specific idea of what I wanted to do, and I am leaving my first year on a slightly different path, but one that feels much more aligned with who I am becoming. Give yourself permission to explore and talk to people in different practice areas.
4. Network!
Networking with your professors, peers, lawyers in the area, and professionals in the field you hope to join is so important. Do not underestimate how much the support of those people can propel you in this field. Be curious and open to having conversations where you may be out of your depth. Learning is everything, and there is no better way to learn than from the people who have already done it.
5. Prioritize self-care
You are so much more capable when you take care of yourself outside of school. Get 8 hours of sleep, exercise, eat well, spend time with friends, and do what makes you happy. Keep your hobbies! Law school can feel crushing under the weight of all you have to do, but you will never be able to do your best if you don’t prioritize your well-being and be the best version of yourself.
There is so much more I could say, but these are the lessons that shaped my first year the most. I am incredibly grateful to have made it through 1L stronger and more grounded than when I started. This summer has also been a meaningful shift, starting a new job and finally being able to apply what I have learned in school in a real-world setting has been both exciting and surreal. I know there is still so much more to learn ahead, but I am entering my second year with a lot more clarity and confidence than I had before.