Law Schools

5 New Year’s Resolutions All Law Students Should Make

And why you should start thinking about them now.

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As you frantically wrap up your fall semester and are so close to break you can almost taste it, the very last thing you want to think about is next semester. Well, luckily for you, I’m here to put that on your mind. While you don’t have to drop what you are doing right now to think about these things, I highly recommend dedicating some time to reflect on how these New Year’s resolutions might benefit you not only next semester, but for the rest of your law school career.

  1. Become More Teachable

It can be hard to put aside your ego and hear what you are doing wrong in order for you to improve. Trust me, I know this firsthand, and it is basically my least favorite thing in the world to have to do. However, it is an important law school (and life) skill that requires practice to master. Take some time over break to think about what went right, what went wrong, and what you need to focus on in order to improve next semester. In the first few weeks of the spring semester, make an appointment with your Academic Support Department, mentor, or faculty advisor to discuss your ideas for improvement.  Make sure you carefully listen to their suggestions and implement them accordingly.

  1. Master Time Management

We’ve all been there, the night before a final exam, begging the law school gods to “please let me pass this exam.” We bargain, “If you just let me get a B, I promise I won’t let this happen again next semester.” Then, next semester rolls around with all of its new responsibilities and distractions, and we find ourselves in the exact same position. Make this semester the last semester that happens. Time management is not only an important law school skill, but it’s also critical to practicing law effectively. You definitely don’t want to be “that” lawyer showing up to court unprepared asking for an extension.

The beginning of a new semester offers the fresh start you need to finally master the time management game. Research different types of calendaring systems, find one you like, and then commit to trying it for 4-6 weeks (it can take a while to adjust to a new habit, so you want to give it some time to stick).

  1. Commit To Less Drama

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Sometimes, it is difficult to tell the difference between law school and high school. This might be due to the small environment at most law schools or the fact that you took alllllll of your 1L classes with the same group of people. Whatever the reason, there always seems to be a heightened level of drama and gossip in law school. It can be hard to not get swept up in all of it. Starting in January, commit to living above the fray. Be less competitive and more compassionate. Less judgmental and more understanding. Less petty and much more mature. Regardless of your specific commitment, share your goal with a friend to help keep you accountable.

  1. Prioritize Self-Care

Congrats, you survived the semester! But, you are exhausted, out of shape, and sick for the fourth time in three weeks. That, my friend, is called burnout. And sure, maybe it is sustainable for a semester, but if you don’t put some guardrails in place, this will be you for your entire life. The new semester is an opportunity for you to reevaluate your commitments and reprioritize. Make it a priority to not overextend yourself by taking on too many projects. Take time to invest in your mental and emotional health. While you are at it, pay some attention to your physical health as well. I’ve been told that is good for you but, um, I don’t have much experience there.

  1. Be Kinder To the Non-Law School People in Your Life

It is possible that you have not been your best or kindest self since starting law school. And, that is okay because it has been an adjustment period for you. But, if you are reading this article, you’ve got at least one semester of law school under your belt. Now that this isn’t your first rodeo, you have a general idea of what to expect going forward. This is the perfect opportunity to think about how you’ve treated the people closest to you so far in law school and to formulate a plan to do and be better. Think about things like increased communication, keeping your promises, or quality downtime.

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Whatever goals you set, I suggest you keep them realistic, but also make sure that they will stretch you a bit to grow both personally and professionally in the New Year. And, hey, congrats for real on finishing up the semester. Wherever you are in your journey, you are one step closer to your goal. Enjoy the break; I’ll catch you in 2018.

Kerriann Stout is a millennial law school professor and founder of Vinco (a bar exam coaching company) who is generationally trapped between her students and colleagues. Kerriann has helped hundreds of students survive law school and the bar exam with less stress and more confidence. She lives, works, and writes in the northeast. You can reach her by email at info@vincoprep.com.

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