Are you anxious or worried about your first day of law school? What if you are the first person cold called on by the professor? What if you read the wrong case?
All of the feelings you have about your upcoming first day of law school are normal. Remember, just about every law student felt this way before too. Rest assured that you will make it through and by the end of the first few weeks you’ll feel like a pro. Here are three tips to help you on your first day of law school.
How to Best Prepare For Day One of Law School
Be Prepared
This means you need to have done all the reading and briefed all the cases in your notes. Keep your case brief notes open and ready as the professor is lecturing. That way, if you are called on you will have it ready for reference. As an added help you can have your laptop open to quimbee for an even better guide. Additionally, we recommend using a platform like Evernote to keep yourself organized if you have difficulty doing this on your own!
Try to Make Friends Beforehand
If your school has a mixer or social gathering before the first day, make sure to attend! Having an acquaintance in the room that you can sit near or say hello to when you walk in will help you feel more connected and less socially distant on your first day. You don’t have to sit with this person every time. Especially if they turn out to be a distraction from class. But, on your first day it will ease some nerves to see a familiar face.
Pay Attention to the Professor
This one seems obvious. But, you will be surprised at how many classmates are distracted on their laptops even on day one. You can avoid the embarrassment of not knowing what is going on by paying attention to the professor. Follow along with the case that your professor is discussing. Do this even if you aren’t the one answering questions in a cold call. A good tip is to try and answer a professor’s question internally in your head when another student is being questioned during a cold called. This helps you check your understanding to see if what you would’ve said is correct. Also, it keeps you focused on the class.
Conclusion of How To Prepare for Your First Day of Law School
Follow these three simple steps. Be prepared, try to make friends beforehand, and pay attention to the professor. It might seem simple. But, it is the little things that will help you gain an advantage and succeed in law school and beyond.