Law School 2L Survival Guide: Tips from an Insider on Succeeding in Law School

Summary

Law school is a challenging and rewarding experience for many students considering a law degree. But it can also be just as challenging for second-year law students (2Ls) who have to face the bar exam and the job market. This article provides an insider's guide to 2L law school from the perspective of an experienced attorney, offering advice on how to successfully complete the second year of law school and beyond.


The article begins by discussing the importance of developing good study habits, setting goals, and keeping up with assigned readings in order to maximize learning and success in law school. It then explains the different types of classes available to 2Ls, including electives and clinics, as well as job opportunities, internships, and other ways to gain experience. It also suggests ways to interact with the faculty, how to find a mentor, and how to take advantage of professional development opportunities.

The article also offers practical advice on how to prepare for the bar exam, such as developing a study plan and taking extra classes or studying independently. It also encourages 2Ls to maintain a positive attitude and focus on their goals, as well as to find work-life balance and practice self-care.

Finally, the article provides helpful advice for 2Ls seeking employment after graduation, including the importance of networking, creating a legal resume and cover letter, and applying for jobs early. It also encourages students to take advantage of career counseling services and networking opportunities offered by law schools.

This article provides valuable advice for second-year law students as they navigate the challenges of law school and the job market. It covers topics such as developing good study habits, selecting classes, finding a mentor, bar exam preparation, and looking for employment. It encourages students to set goals, keep up with reading assignments, practice self-care, and use the resources available to them. With its helpful tips, 2Ls can approach the second year of law school feeling prepared and confident in the knowledge they have gained.
 

What Is a Second-Year Law Student?

A second-year law student (2L) is an individual who has just completed their first year at law school. During their second year of law school, 2Ls typically focus on honing their legal studies, continuing to build upon the foundational knowledge they acquired during their first year. 2L students are typically classified as “upper-level” students, and the classes they take during their second year tend to consist of more complex material, generally requiring more engagement and deeper analysis than classes taken during the first year.
 

Preparing for Finals During 2L Year

The most important part of a 2L's academic year consists of studying for and taking final exams. Final exams are often the most crucial component of determining a student's final grade. As such, it is very important for 2L students to prepare diligently for final exams. This could include taking practice exams, reading outlines of the course content, briefing cases, and engaging in discussion with professors and fellow classmates.
 

Clinical Programs and Internships During 2L Year

In addition to taking classes, a 2L student can also take advantage of clinical programs and internships during their second year of law school. These programs may be offered independently or through a law school's program and provide 2L students with the opportunity to receive hands-on experience in a variety of legal environments. These experiences are beneficial to 2L students as they can help to apply the classroom knowledge they have acquired and transition into the practice of the law.
 

Writing Articles and Notes During 2L Year

Another great way for 2L students to take advantage of their second year of law school is to write articles and notes. Writing can provide a great opportunity for 2Ls to strengthen their legal writing and research skills, as well as help them to stand out when applying for internships and other legal positions. Writing articles and notes can also demonstrate to employers that a 2L student is engaged in their studies and is dedicated to the pursuit of their legal career.
 

Networking During 2L Year

In addition to taking classes, participating in clinical programs and internships, and writing articles and notes, 2L students should also begin to focus on networking with other law students, professors, and potential employers. Networking can provide a great opportunity to discuss and explore different legal career paths. In addition, networking can help 2L students to build professional relationships which can aid them in their search for internships and careers after graduation.

In September of your second year, the onslaught of extracurriculars, recruiting, and clerkship hunting pick up where academics left off in May. Your second year is unlikely to be as nerve-racking as your first, but in many ways, it's just as tough.
 

Academics
There's a knack to taking law school courses, and by the time your second year rolls around, you'll finally feel like you know what you're doing. ''Expect that the material will begin to come a little more easily,'' says Sam Pollack, a 2L at Boston University. But the important thing about your second-year classes isn't whether they're easy or hard, it's the fact that you pick them yourself. After a year of being force-fed civil procedure, torts, and contracts, the opportunity to choose classes that inspire you is a welcome change.

Douglas Sondgeroth, a 2L at Boston College, finds his second-year classes ''more difficult, but definitely more interesting and rewarding,'' in part because they allow students to ''explore their own interests and focus on specific issues that a general first-year course cannot consider.''

Tip: If your law school allows you to cross-register for courses in other parts of the university, take advantage of it. A course in business, government, or a foreign language adds perspective to your legal education and gives you the opportunity to meet graduate students in other disciplines.

Extracurriculars
For resumé-building types, year two is all about journals. While many schools still have only one journal, usually called the ''Law Review,'' student-edited journals are proliferating, and you may have an array to choose from. At some universities, only the flagship journal (e.g., Harvard Law Review) holds an entrance competition, but at most, high grades or winning writing competitions are necessary hurdles for any journal work. These competitions, or ''write-ons,'' usually take up a week at the end of 1L spring; expect a lengthy project that tests your legal writing and editing skills.

No matter how you get it, a position on the editorial board of a legal periodical is a useful credential throughout your career. The prestige comes with a price tag, however: Anywhere from 10 to 40 hours of your week will be consumed in evaluating manuscript submissions, editing the accepted articles, and tediously checking the accuracy of hundreds of footnotes. If you are intrigued by legal scholarship, the challenge can be fun. For some students, though, it's just another obligation. ''Be careful what journal you work for, if you work for [one],'' cautions a New York University 2L who is less than fascinated by cite-checking. ''It can be a big time-suck and is not very rewarding.''

Upper-class moot court is another extracurricular option that can impress potential employers; it's a step closer to the real work lawyers do. Most schools field mock trial teams who argue fictitious cases in nationwide tournaments. Many also offer intramural appellate competitions, where teams of students prepare and argue simulated Supreme Court cases. These activities are excellent training if you intend to go into litigation.

If you're looking for the most practical experience of all, clinicals offer upper-class students the chance to work on cases for actual clients. Clinical work may involve anything from assisting in the composition of a friend-of-the-court brief to single-handedly arguing an eviction trial in front of a jury. Although handling a divorce case for a battered woman or helping to research a death-penalty appeal can be emotionally exhausting, it's likely to be the most satisfying achievement of your law school career.

Tip: ''If your school offers clinical programs or externships, don't hold them off until your third year,'' urges Seth Eichenholtz, a 2L at Syracuse University.

Recruiting
Deep down, the professors know it: Until 2Ls have their summer offers, no one is paying much attention in class. That's one reason law schools keep moving the fall recruiting season back; at some, like New York's Brooklyn Law School, on-campus interviewing begins as early as August.

Recruiting exposes the naked elitism of the legal profession. Top firms may refuse to interview students whose GPAs are below a certain cutoff, and they adjust that cutoff based on the name of the school. For example, a firm might grant interviews to students at second-tier schools only if they have GPAs of 3.7 or above and are members of the law review; to students at top-20 schools only if they have a 3.3 or above; and to any interested student who attends Yale, Stanford, or Harvard.

Tip: Some firms shun certain schools altogether. But never be shy about contacting a firm that doesn't recruit at your school; you have nothing to lose but one copy of your resumé.

Signing up for on-campus interviews is usually easy; all you have to do is submit a resume. If there are many options available, choosing firms can be challenging. The number of firms recruiting at each school varies, but most students interview with anywhere from 10 to 30. The pressure to choose wisely is high; 2L summer jobs usually turn into offers for full-time postgraduate work, and many firms hire only those students who have worked for them in the summer.

Tip: Talk to as many 3Ls as possible about their experiences at various firms, and do as much independent research as you can.

Interviewing can be surreal and all-consuming. Brief on-campus interviews force you to present yourself in sound bites to a succession of suits. You need to be poised, focused, and fast on your feet. Callback interviews get more intense. They are usually on-site and can last an entire day as you spend more substantial amounts of time with several members of the firm. Read Interviewing 101 for detailed advice and strategies on how to breeze past the on-campus interviews and turn callbacks into offers.
 

• See Law Schools That Send the Most Attorneys to United States Supreme Court Clerkships for more information about getting a clerkship in the US Supreme Court.

Tip: If you make callback interviews at a big firm, you'll probably be treated like a maharajah by rich and powerful partners. But don't let the lobster and champagne banquets distract you from the task at hand: Judge the firm, not its marketing department.

Clerkships
Clerkships (one or two years of researching and writing opinions for a judge) provide an inside look at litigation you can't get anywhere else, as well as a lifelong resume boost. Federal circuit judges interview as early as October of your second year, and district and state judges follow close behind. Unfortunately, law schools outside the top 10 don't always do enough to encourage their students to clerk. If your school doesn't produce many clerks, that may be because few of its graduates apply. If you want a clerkship, go for it.

Part 3 | The home stretch: How to make the most of your last year in school.