Advice for 1Ls from Upper Level Students

We asked some 2Ls what they thought 1Ls should know as they start law school. Here is what they told us:

Academics:

Start by just doing the readings and showing up to class. It is very easy to get behind in law school but if you do both of these things diligently, you will give yourself the best chance to succeed.
Start outlining early rather than late. Outlining is a painstaking process, there is nothing wrong with doing it as you go.
Start studying for finals earlier rather than later. You can only cram so much new information into your brain at once. Starting your review process earlier allows you to find weak spots in your understanding and gives you time to shore them up. Trying to learn something new right before a final is really difficult.
Don’t be afraid to be wrong. Volunteering to answer questions posed in class is scary. Don’t be afraid of getting it "wrong" or sounding dumb. Your classmates may have the same questions or have the same "wrong" answer and tend to be really supportive. Engage with the material, work with it, be wrong. It’s okay, you’re not supposed to know everything!
Practice hypos! By yourself, or with a study group. I really believe the best way to learn the doctrines is to work with them. My understanding of legal doctrines and concepts really gels once I start applying them to hypotheticals. Since exams test your ability to apply what you’ve learned to new situations, I think this is the best way to study for them.
Engage in the lecture. This is a tough one, but extremely beneficial in the long run if you are diligent about paying attention. Try turning off message notifications and do not answer emails during class time.

Accessing Your Resources:

Take the time to get to know your professors. Your professors are invaluable resources who are usually a lot friendlier than they might seem when they cold-call people during class.
Get to know the library. There is so much in there that can save you time and make your life easier.
Join organizations and become involved in the school. There is so much that the school has to offer and so much that you have to offer it.
Use the resources at your disposal. What I mean by this is to find out what resources are available and use them if you need to. There are counseling services, a gym, student health and wellness, another library, the student center cafeteria, Supercopy… there are many resources at Seattle University that are not exclusive to the law school that can enrich or make your life easier.
Do not be afraid to ask for help. Your professors truly do want to answer your questions and straighten out any confusion. I did not take advantage of this soon enough, and if I could go back to the beginning of 1L year this would be a definite must.

Finding Your Balance:

Exercise. Whether this means getting outside for a walk or a run, or going to the gym, take the time to exercise. It will help you relax.
Set a "books-down" hour. For me, I stop work at 10:00pm no matter what. By doing this it forces you to save some time for yourself and also allows you to get some good sleep.
Sleep! Sleep is important. Bad things happen when you don’t get enough sleep.
Watch yourself with coffee and alcohol. You will find that an extra cup of coffee to wake up or an extra glass of wine to relax are attractive solutions, when really what you need is to just make some more time to rest.
Take time to get to know the Seattle University Campus and the area around the school. You live in a pretty cool area. Do not spend all your time inside Sullivan Hall.
Take some time to make friends. It’s easy to put off being social because of all the other things that are asking for your attention, but having friends to go through this experience with will make it easier, more fun, and likely more manageable.
Guard your time. It is so tempting to get involved in all the clubs and activities you are bombarded with between classes. Join as many or as few as you are interested in, but be mindful of how much time you have to devote to them. There is nothing wrong with devoting yourself to studying this first semester, or the whole first year.
Schedule everything. Time management is at the very top of my list. Do not underestimate how long assignments will take. When scheduling, be specific. Write down what you are going to study during any given study block. Write down what activity you are going to do during non-study blocks. It seems crazy to schedule things like "call Mom and chat for 15 minutes," but it is very easy to get buried in work and forget to do those important things.
Speaking of stress - be a supportive friend to your classmates and peers. Everyone will be worried come finals, so try to avoid adding to the stress and be nice. It will keep you (and others) sane during all of that studying.
Always remember why you chose to attend law school. In the midst of exam prep and job applications it can be easy to forget why you want to be a lawyer, but staying centered will help you push through. Focus on whatever you see for yourself in the future and use it to motivate you!