Well, well, well. My first post-Bar blog! I'm not quite ready to blog about that until I get my results so instead today I'm sharing some answers to questions I got on Instagram over the weekend and elaborating a little more. Also, you might notice that the 0L/1L/2L/3L tabs at the top are a lot more user friendly so while I haven't been blogging lately, I have still been working on it for y'all! I didn't give much notice before doing the Insta Q&A so if you missed out on that, feel free to comment below or use the "questions and suggestions" box on the bottom right!
First of all, make sure you're making an informed decision on law school.
Related: Is law school right for you?
Second, once you know this is what you want, start studying for the LSAT. I suggest you do this in the summer so your GPA doesn't slip from you trying to multitask. And make an informed decision on whether you want to retake the LSAT.
Related: Deciding whether to retake the LSAT
Third, start the application process.
Related: Law school application checklist
Fourth, decide on a school.
Related: How to choose a law school
Fifth, prepare for law school.
My tip for using supplements is to remember that they're just that– supplements! If you eat an orange every day then you don't need to take a Vitamin C supplement and if you feel like you understand your classes then you don't need a supplement. Wait a few months to see how you're doing in classes before you spend money on a book that you probably won't even have time to read. That being said, I do believe that they can really help make sure you're prepared for finals.
Related: A breakdown of different supplements and How I used Quimbee
I actually have several posts on time management that go more in-depth on these answers so I'm just going to link them all for y'all.
Related: How to balance your time in law school, How to have free time in law school, How to manage your time as a law student
Friendships in law school can be tricky because at times you'll need to prioritize getting readings done over hanging out or chatting with friends, but also it's really important that you don't let law school ruin all of your friendships. Make time for the things that are important to you in life!
Related: How to keep up with friendships during law school and How to explain law school to your friends
As you just read, I actually didn't use a binder system so they're definitely not necessary, but my friend did and she found it really helped her for finals. I say go ahead and try it and then if it's not working for you then don't feel guilty abandoning it.
Related: All about the binder system
Oh the first day as a transfer student can be so weird! You have the confidence of a 2L because you've survived a year of law school already, but also have the insecurities of a 1L because you know nothing about your new school. I highly recommend seeking out a friendly face in your first class of your first day so you won't spend all day wandering around lost. And by the end of the first week or so maybe you'll have noticed the same person in a few of your classes and that's also a good person to befriend because they can be your study buddy.
In fact, the girl that I sat by in my very first class at my new school also happened to sit by me at graduation because our last names were in alphabetical order so it was perfect that she'd by my side through the end.
Related: 6 steps to transferring law schools and 15 things to do after deciding to transfer and What it's like to transfer law schools
I wish I would've started job hunting a lot earlier my 2L year. Because I transferred I waited until we got our grades back since I technically didn't have a GPA or transcript, which was so dumb and I could have just used my old school stats. In the end I did land a paying internship which was nice but I do wish I could've found an internship that gave me more opportunities to gain experience.
Related: The differences between 1L and 2L year and How to find legal internships
However, one thing I don't regret is getting really involved in pro bono my 2L year. Not only did this make sure that I met my school's requirement to graduate, but I learned a lot helping with that and I'm so glad that I did.
Related: Where to find pro bono opportunities and How to squeeze pro bono time into a busy schedule
You spend your entire 1L year just trying to survive, but once you get to be a 2L I think your focus should be on building upon the previous year and always striving to be better.
Secondly, I do wish I had got the MPRE out of the way earlier since I had to study for that during November of my 3L year when I should've been using that time to study for finals.
I felt like my first semester of law school was like 2L year all over again but the last semester gets hectic fast. Graduation planning, Bar prep planning, and job hunting all kinda happen at once. I do wish I would've put more effort into job hunting because then I could be getting paid right now, which would be nice.
Luckily, I didn't have any finals my last semester so I didn't go from taking a final on a Thursday, graduating that Saturday, and starting Bar prep the following Monday, but that's not an unusual order. Try to make your last semester easy classes and hopefully early finals so that you can get a little mental break before starting Bar prep.
Related: Graduation countdown checklist and My 3L externship
Since I did go to 2 different law schools, I'm planning on doing a guide for both San Antonio (St. Mary's) and Lubbock (Texas Tech) this semester. But for now, this will have to do since I'm sure most of you aren't going to those 2 schools.
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