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There are 3 rules that every 1L must follow if he hopes to survive!
RULE 1: BRING YOUR HEART!
Your first day in law school, you might get the famous speech that most law professors give. They will tell you, “Look at the person sitting to your left and to your right; one of them will not be here next year.” In many cases, this is true to some degree. Class 2L is usually much lower than 1L. Students fail. Is it because they are stupid? NOT! The biggest difference between passing classes in the first year and failing them lies in your heart, not your mind! You are as capable of understanding the IRAC method as the boy / girl who sits next to you. The law is not difficult, it is difficult. You must have the drive to get through this initial process. This will take time to develop, so don’t worry if you think you have what it takes. Tell yourself you can do it, focus on it, be dedicated and you will develop what it takes to be successful as a 1L.
You need to develop stamina to be able to read and write for hours a day, consecutively. You need to be able to build solid outlines if that’s really your study method. Take your heart with you to law school. Oh, and don’t miss out on your 2L year either. Being able to study 8 hours a day after 3 hours of lecture will almost ensure your success as a 1L.
RULE 2: BE PREPARED!
Make sure you are prepared for anything that may come your way. Don’t get sick the day before your exam; Get a flu shot! Don’t lose sight of the importance of exercise. Go to the gym! The most important thing is to make sure you read the assigned cases and be prepared to read EVERYDAY. This is essential. Your college days of partying Thursday night and going to class Friday morning with a hangover should be over. You are ready? Well, you better be if you want to stay in the game!
RULE 3: MAKE FRIENDS!
One of the most important lessons I learned in law school was to gain strength in the power of numbers. On day 1, you need to find dedicated people to befriend. A study group plays a vital role in survival. Find a group to help and encourage you to succeed! Of course, for those of you who prefer to study on your own, you can go ahead and do it too. However, I do not recommend it due to the complexity of the law. For example, if you don’t understand the concept of Juged thing, your partner can understand it. If your partner does not understand the concept of rumors, You can be an expert! Works!
You will soon discover that there are no guarantees in the law! However, if you follow these simple rules, you will find that you would be much better off with them in your war chest. Be dedicated to these rules and it will be worth it! Good luck on your journey, an amazing journey awaits you!
