Law Schools

Advice You Must Read In The Summer Before Law School

If you're about to go to law school, here are some helpful words of wisdom from a law professor.

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law student LFIncoming law students have repeatedly asked me what they should be doing the summer before starting law school. The question’s companion is usually a follow-up such as, “I mean, are there books I should be reading?”

Sigh.

I suspect the question is always couched this way because those about to embark upon this great adventure/hazing are uncertain of what they face. There will be lots of reading. There will be lots of studying. There will be lots of insecurity as they struggle to figure out what law professors are doing to them to train them to become successful lawyers.

Lots of advice exists on this topic, but here’s mine. The optimal time to start all of this is a year before law school. So if you’re reading this thinking about law school a year from now, you’re in good shape.

Most importantly, make yourself emotionally stronger. If you’re going into law school with something that will hamstring you, it is time to work on fixing that issue. For example, if you have debilitating test anxiety, you already know this is going to be a problem in law school. It is time to work on overcoming that challenge. You might consider spending the summer in therapy working on this issue and becoming desensitized.

If public speaking is debilitating to you, now is the time to practice that skill and overcome that challenge. You are very likely to be cold-called in law school. It is time to become desensitized to public speaking.

If writing is your great fear, get as much practice writing before you start law school. You might spend the year before starting law school getting all the writing experiences you can get. While legal writing is different, it still requires basics such as grammar, spelling, sentence structure, etc.

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If you have had difficulty sitting and reading for long periods of time, then start to practice that habit by reading something you enjoy. While I know that many law students take medical shortcuts during finals to enable themselves to focus, it is better that you practice and condition yourself to accomplish this naturally.

The point is that you need to anticipate what is likely to give you trouble in law school and correct those issues in the future.

Make yourself physically stronger. Law school is very stressful. One of the best ways to reduce stress is exercise. Start getting into a workout routine. Make that routine one that might be compatible with law school. The sooner you do this, the sooner the anxiety you feel about starting law school will ebb as well.

Spend time with family and friends. Alternatively, just hang with people you like. Regardless, you are about to embark on a fairly isolating journey. Soon you will be speaking in a language they don’t understand, saying things like “manifestation of mutual assent” or “motion for summary judgment.” Start building bonds that will keep them close to you when you need it, like when grades come out.

Reduce the number of other stressors. Law school requires your full attention. If you have other stressors that are taking a toll on you, do your best to eliminate them from your life before you begin this great journey.

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If you have a “friend” who is always in turmoil, but who is unsupportive and only interested in his or her own life, it might be time to cut ties. At the very least, set limits for allowing that friend to export the drama onto you. I would advise no more than 30 minutes a week. You’d be surprised at how someone you can tolerate now becomes insufferable around finals time.

If your stressors are not people, then also seek to mitigate their effect. For example, if your stressor is money, prepare a budget. If your stressor is an unkempt roommate, know that any hostile feelings you harbor now will be tenfold in law school. It may be time for one of you to move out.

Develop healthy rituals. If your current Friday ritual is to get completely drunk and sleep in until 1 p.m. on Saturday, now is a good time to stop that nonsense. As law school approaches, set up a schedule. Adhere to it. Eliminate your binge drinking because it will have consequences on your academic performance. Establish more healthy rituals, such as getting up and exercising Saturday morning. Your liver will thank you. So too, will your grades.

Have fun. Advice columns frequently advocate this, but are usually greeted with a “yeah, yeah” from students about to start law school. There is an important reason to have fun during the summer before law school. You need to recharge your batteries before you go through all of this. Also, what some people don’t tell you is that it might be the last time you have fun for a while. Between finals, hopefully summer jobs, the bar exam, and then embarking on your career, there will be precious little time for fun. Now is the time to have fun. Really.

LawProfBlawg is an anonymous professor at a top 100 law school. You can see more of his musings here and on Twitter. Email him at lawprofblawg@gmail.com.

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