Notes to a Prospective Law Student
by Andrew P. Connors on August 11, 2011
My neighbor has decided to attend law school. Good for him. As I was talking to him the other day, I warned him about the rigors involved. It made me think that other prospective law students might want a heads up too–thus, this post.
At the law school I attended, the school had a pretty stringent “curve.” Only a very small number of people would get an “A” in any particular class. For instance, in my Torts class, I recall only two people out of about 35 or so got an A. This may be true at your school. So, to be one of the few that gets an “A,” you must rigorously read the cases and memorize the rules. Also, you should not underestimate the value of good writing. It will help you not only on your final exams, but it will also help you to get on on the law review or the moot court team. These extracurricular activities are keys to distinguishing yourself from other job applicants for internships and, later, full-time jobs. And, of course, writing is a critical skill for any attorney.
As with any task, you will find your greatest success flows from your own efforts. A good school or program will only give you the tools to succeed; you’re the one that will have to use them. In law school, that means that you will have to spend many hours reading, digesting, thinking, and writing about the law. You will have to overcome your nerves and brief a case before a class or argue in front of a judge. Maybe you will have to speak directly to a large audience. You will undoubtedly have to research legal issues thoroughly. If you adopt the right mindset, you will spend many a night perfecting your writing assignments and preparing your mind for upcoming classes.
These will be difficult tasks, and they will not be without setbacks. You will get in front of your class, have no idea what you are talking about, and look like an idiot. You will turn in a writing assignment and realize you forgot to mention a great case, or realize that you forgot page numbers. These sorts of things are all a part of your growth. Whenever they arise, learn from them.
Work hard and pray for strength and see the task through. You will be amazed with the finished product.
Update: You’ll find further, related thoughts in my post “Does Law School Produce Lawyers?“
