What I Wish I'd Known Before Law School
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 มิ.ย. 2024
- If I could go back in time, I would tell my younger self 10 secrets to succeed in law school and beyond. Law school is different from college, requiring a completely new approach to studying and exams.
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What law school secrets do you want to share, or if you haven't started yet, what would you like to know about law school?
Is the Erie doctrine really as hard as people make it sound?
The Erie case isn’t hard, but the doctrine applied in difficult cases can be challenging.
Do you have thoughts on whether or not to take a prep course before beginning my 1L year? They are very expensive, but I would be willing to if it gives me a big advantage.
@@matthewstjeanos7080 Not all prep courses are the same. A prep course that focuses on law school skills, like learning how to write an exam can provide a huge advantage. Also, working with a tutor now can help.
I am so happy for you and your family and your friends that you are doing well and I hope you are doing well and staying healthy and healthy and safe and well 👨👩👧👦👑🍚
People like you are little Angels that walk the earth. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU... I'm going into my 5th week as a 1L and let me tell you.....
I am a Philosophy major going into my senior year as a returning student. Becoming a lawyer has been a life long goal and I have read that Philosophy is one of the best undergraduate degrees to prepare one for Law School. As a Philosophy student, all we do is argue, examine arguments, debunk arguments, research various arguments in different philosophies, I've taken Logic and Epistomology, and I apply all of this to my general understanding of ideas and from where they stem. This major requires many hours of reading very dry material (thank you Aristotle), forming syllogisms to use in argument analysis essays, and then arguing from any point of view to find critical flaws in premises. As I said before, becoming a lawyer is a life long goal but I am hesitant when I look at the loans and time it will take to pay them off along with the starting salary of an attorney. My GPA is also taking a hit this summer semester after burn out and being foolish enough to take an A&P summer course. I have also strongly considered entering politics after becoming an attorney even though I have had attorney's advise against law school before entering politics. Do you have any advice for someone like me?
One thing I’d tell myself before starting law school is to get on any type of consistent schedule before you start.
My greatest lesson from 1L was to treat law school like a job. Luckily I had already heard from my LSAT Prep groups that I should treat the LSAT like the beginning of my legal career.
For the most part, crack open your books at the same time every day and stop working the same time every day. At least 9-5 it on days you have class.
This will at least give you the opportunity to build a consistent schedule. It is life-changing when it comes to finals. You need stamina.
On the career side, before you get to law school, reach out to attorneys for 15 minute informational interviews. It’s nice to know what an average day of practice is like in different fields. It can also help you stay focused on the end game.
Good luck!
Halfway through orientation week and the panic is real
You can do this--one day at a time.
Knowing cases and material ahead of time is a good idea.
I am an engineer heading into JD, your videos and advices have been very helpful, thank you.
Great to hear! I've had a few engineer law students.
One of the most underrated TH-cam channels I've ever seen!! Thank you !
Wow, thank you!
I am not sure if you are still working but I just want to make you happy because you are so good at making people happy and you are the most amazing person in the world 🌍 you can really do everything for yourself.
Topic idea for a video: discuss your take on the personal statement. I would love to hear the perspective of a person who has been a part of a law school admissions team on that matter. I love your videos by the way!
Great idea. Placing this into my list of future topics.
yes! I second that!
@@martini87c been so long I forgot I commented this lol.
@@OpTicAnIMaL48 lol I just found this channel so I’m only now joining in lol
Solid advice! Positive reviews!
Thank you for creating this video. My school offered a legal method course during the summer before classes started. The study involved learning the IRAC method, issue spotting, outlining, and case briefing.
Since the school posted the textbooks for each upcoming class, I created a rough draft of the course outlines from the table of contents and syllabus. Your video helped me to connect the dots towards my focus on final exams.
That is awesome!
Thank you! I have been watching your videos for a year or so now. I start law school next month & your videos have definitely helped!
Thanks. Hope you have a good experience.
just out of curiosity how is law school going so far!
Wutang hi! It’s honestly a lot of work but still very manageable if you have good time management ( maybe only finals time is the worst of the worst) but overall i love it! It’s a great learning experience no matter what and honestly i would say go for it if you’re thinking about it!
@@gmp6332 thank you so much!
Enjoy the rest of your journey
Wutang thank you!! :)
Excellent analysis
I'm a fintech major and considering doing my JD I am in Australia, I assume it will all be pretty much the same, so I have been watching your videos. Thank you.
Thanks for the video
thank you for this video! Great information I truly appreciate. I wish someone would give an example of an actual syllabus from any law school because I keep hearing from everywhere that law school is not the same as undergrad studies and that the final exams are so different. I would really be interested in seeing an actual course work and what is required for each class at least in the first year where all the classes are pretty much the same.
Imagine preparing for a class and then during class the professor asking questions that aren’t directly related to the reading. The professor asks: Marty, do you agree with the case we read. Why? What if the criminal had entered during the day and not at night? You then leave class wondering what the law is.
@@Learnlawbetter hello thank you so much for your reply… I’m guessing it’s more of analytical type of coursework…love your channel and all your advice thank you 🙂
Thank you!
Welcome!
Great video 📹
Survive law school: learn the law and how to cite applicable law and doctrine. And why to apply them
Thank you 🙏
You are welcome-glad I could help.
Back in school 🏫 and homeschooling ,and catch up on it's
Thanks.
You're welcome
Thanku😍
I'm in 8th grade going into high school, what classes would you recommend I take in high school to help me in college to become a lawyer? what are some good college classes to help me in law school to become a lawyer? is mock trial helpful? Are there online law classes I can take during the summer, if so what do you recommend? Is there more than one kind of lawyer, if so what are my options? I love your videos, thank you so much for the help they give!
Hi 24 think about, going to law school because I enjoy reading the legal learning academic side of law.
But also like the look of practical side of law school.
Best of luck! Law school can be practical, but it depends on the law school and the professors you take--some professors take a more theoretical approach to teaching.
Thanks again so much for this video. This is helping very much with my conquest to get into law school hopefully by next year.
Best of luck!
@@Learnlawbetter Thank you so much!!
The comment section is very resourceful
I am 17, and in my country, the age when people usually start law school. Everything else in this video was expected but the classmates portion really scares me out, because I was the person who brought scholarly citations and studies up in my class. I really don't know what else to do when you are researching a principle. For MUNs and debates, the resources and abundant and it is easy to find good resources. My anxiety has, therefore, peaked. God help me.
I’m 41 and thinking about law school. My undergrad is in Business with an HR focus. I’m interested in employment law. I would have to continue to work at least 30 hours a week, not sure if this would still allow me the time for law school. Also, I just started exploring schools and want to make sure I get into the right program for me. Btw, thank you for the content!
There are several part-time programs you should consider. Do NOT enter a full time program and expect to work 30 hours a week-you will almost certainly flunk out. A typical students spends 60 hours plus a week on their studies.
great info.!@@Learnlawbetter
I had just completed my Junior High school and am planning to do Law at my Senior High School, I want to ask what should I do in other to become a good student
Thanks for the video! Just recently graduated from a Military Academy and I want to attend law school but do not want to go into the JAG Corp. Do you have any advice considering I have a 5 year service commitment and I want to start applying to schools next fall?
During law school one of my friends was in the Coast Guard. They had a program that sent 4 people a year to law school, without a commitment to go into JAG.
Hi, Atlas!
Unfortunately, the *only* way to go to law school while AD Navy is to join a program that puts you into the JAG Corps. This may differ for your branch--and if it does, I'm jealous! There is something else called the Career Intermission Program (CIP) which allows a military member up to three years off of AD service (serving in the IRR instead), but I'm less familiar with this program. However, you would be incurring further service obligations upon completion of your intermission. CIP info: prhome.defense.gov/Portals/52/Documents/MRA_Docs/MPP/OEPM/CIP_Annual_Report_Template_81_Jan_2019_29.pdf?ver=2019-02-08-033813-277
With that being said, I'll talk now about going to law school after your current service obligation is complete. The Navy has "shore tours" in which we are not deployed and tend to have office jobs for a period of ~2 years. Shore tours are not included in our first contract, so this means that someone who does "five-and-out" ends up having to do their transition while serving in a more demanding, deployable position. Alternatively, adding two years to your contract buys you into those two comparatively relaxed years wherein you collect a steady O-3 paycheck while performing an office job and have an easier time managing your transition out. If such an opportunity exists in your branch, I recommend speaking with some seasoned J.O.s regarding their opinions on this path.
Personally, my intention is to extend for the shore tour and use that period of increased spare time and energy to ramp up my LSAT prep, take the LSAT, and finalize my applications. In the meantime, I'm doing what I call "soft prep," in which I am working to learn a new language, finalize papers from my undergrad studies for publication, learn more about history and philosophy, and establish a consistent community service schedule. Though my first priority right now is my performance as a Sailor--which can leave me with little time to spare for soft prep--I have found that the prep can actually improve my value as a Sailor, too.
Good luck and have fun with your service! Feel free to DM me. :)
Another amazing video! I have a bit of a complicated question, but I think you would find it intriguing, would I be able to contact you directly somehow? I am basically wondering what would be an efficient study plan going into my 2nd year. I go to a Canadian Law School that uses a new/more practical approach to law school. I’ll provide the specifics if we end up chatting. Please let me know if you could provide some assistance. Love the content, thanks for all your help.
You can send me a message through learnlawbetter.com
You got character
I’m a 26 year old single mom whose never been to college. Am I absolutely insane for thinking I can become a lawyer?
You are still very young. Plenty of people in their 30’s to 60’s in law school.
@@Learnlawbetter Thank you for your response! Love your content by the way. 🫶🏻
Go for it ❤
You are insane. Law school is miserable, and lawyers don’t make any money. They’re all in debt over their heads and make less than most people with undergrad degrees.
Nope! I am 41, a single mom with a full time job. Got my associates and bachelors online. I have been accepted to law school on a full scholarship. You can do anything you put your mind to! People told me i was crazy to try…. You got this!
Had you paradoxical feeling to the law field?
Somedays and sometimes I love it but another time I think it's waste of time and energy.
I'm a primary school teacher and have read all JD books and know about the law but my feelling erratically changes and I don't know what should I do.
Sometimes I think leaving amicable space of school to cold weather of law firm is a bad choice but the money and this erratic and annoying passion to law are other reasons for me.
The practice of law is varied, and there are plenty of amicable practice areas. I worked for a small government agency and loved it on most days--friendly people and a lot of personal growth. Try talking to a few lawyers and then ask them what their typical day looks like. It's lonely at most places, working at a desk most of the time. Ignore the TV hype and the money. Thinking you might make more as a lawyer is a mistake. A friend of mine from college became a lawyer and quit within a year. He could make nearly three times more selling pianos--he is a natural born salesman.
I read everywhere that GPA and LSAT scores matter for law school admissions and this obviously makes sense. However, does this high standard for GPA apply to STEM majors as well? If it does, how do students wanting to become patent attorneys enter T14 schools when their GPA is lower than their competitors with higher GPAs from humanities or social sciences?
Law school admissions is driven by the US News law school ranking system. They look at GPA and do not distinguish between majors or undergraduate institution. Your observation is correct in that those who have higher GPA's with less difficult majors have a competitive advantage. I suspect this isn't a problem for the T-3, because they get the best of the best. But likely becomes an issue for the lower T-14.
That being said, law students with a STEM background tend to do well regardless of where they go to law school. For a time I taught at a fourth quartile law school, and one of my STEM students had two job offers at patent law firms months before graduation.
@@Learnlawbetter Interesting. Thank you for your insight!
I am reading 2L materials such as Equity, Land Law and Criminal textbook. Not sure whether I should read case.
It depends on why you are reading these textbooks. If you aren't in those classes, they won't help much later when you take the classes. But it is useful to become familiar with legal material if you plan to attend law school.
@@Learnlawbetter Yes, I just finished 1L, and I have to say equity is quite confusing..
Thanks for the video, may you suggest an online english course to improve english speaking?
I’m sorry. I don’t have any knowledge in that area. But make sure to spend time reading easy English, like what you find in magazines.
@@Learnlawbetter Thank you.
I am middle aged with a general studies degree and I have it in my head to go to law school. Chances are I will have to work my way through, maybe even attend evening classes. Nevertheless, I think it will be worth the investment - not financially, necessarily, but I would like to do criminal defense work, especially for indigent defenders. Can you suggest some steps I might take to make gaining admission and preparing for 1L easier?
Admission is based almost exclusively on two factors: GPA and LSAT. As to preparation, keep learning about law school. But more importantly, you need to develop the legal writing skills used on law school exams. And that means learning IRAC. There are some books out there, but what most people really need is private tutoring from an expert. Expensive, but that’s what works best.
What books do you recommend?
I'm almost done writing a book, but still about a month away from publication. Till then, Succeeding in Law School by Ramy is an excellent resource.
Well first I have to up my old 2.6 GPA so I don’t have to go to a Louisiana or Arkansas law school since I just decided to finish my bachelors at age 31. Oy.
If you have a bachelors degree there is no way of changing that. Your GPA for law school admissions is locked at whatever it was when you graduated. Taking course after that won’t alter your undergraduate GPA-those extra grades are ignored.
Did you have a specific area of law you gravitated to during law school, like corporate or tax?
In my second year I gravitated towards tax. The subject made more sense to me.
@@Learnlawbetter I understand completely. I enjoyed tax in undergrad, and I enjoyed it even more in law school...to the point where I eventually got a tax LLM.
May I ask you the last book you read.
My last book was on the history of psychoanalysis. I’m writing an article to help law students improve their mental health.
❤❤❤
Can you tell me/us more about corporate/business law?
Business law involves, primarily, working with transactions. You examine documents to make sure they work for what you need to get done. In other words, you sit behind a desk all day and generally not do any trial work.
@@Learnlawbetter Sorry, hi again! Google doesn't actually have that much answers that I'm looking for so can I ask how I'm supposed to get into Business Law and what major/s do you suggest for me to get..
Undergrad doesn’t matter too much. The key is to get into a top law school, which is where most large companies and firms do their recruiting.
Here's the real secret: Don't go to Law School! The job market for JD's is profoundly oversaturated, there are no jobs for most new law school grads. There are 11 ABA-accredited Law Schools in Florida, 10 in Pennsylvania, six in tiny Washington DC. . . there might, just possibly, be enough jobs for one graduating class of new lawyers in each of those jurisdictions, not 6-11 of them.
Currently in bar prep. Wish I'd known not to go (jk).
Hope it goes well. Best advice at this point is to get a good night's sleep the day before. Or at least try to get a good night's sleep.
I was just targeted by my law school and kicked out. This was retaliation because I'm a conservative. I was threatened with violence by some of my classmates which I disclosed to 4 deans on three separate occasions and received no response. The school facilitated a town hall during which the school was encouraged to air their grievances. I have a solid breach on contract claim and I believe a federal question. So, the school canned me.
What i learned in law school and what I would tell me younger self? Be silent. Get the JD. Don't speak up until all you have left is electives
Feeling sorry for what happened to you 😢
Because you were conservative or because you were racist?
@@jalenharris7353 lol.... that is a BIG leap. We do not know what happened.
@@aae7583 considering the last guy conservatives helped put in office it’s not too big of a leap.
@@jalenharris7353 that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard
One thing I’d tell my 1L self as a 3L going into my last semester: leave law school now. Everyone reading my comments has been warned.
Dafuq is irac?
Many times ⏲️ I got stop by the plice ,what is the law If I didn't do nothing