Surviving The First Few Days Of Law School

The first few days of law school are difficult; there is no doubt about it. You will find that all those talk about it being rigorous and hard and demanding and that professors don't give an inch and studies start from the moment you step into the classroom, were not rumors and that they hold a lot of truth.

Don't make it more burdensome by having unrealistic expectations. Sometimes self-inflicted pressure makes the atmosphere seem more charged than what it really is. The only difference is, and that is what is making the situation look so overwhelming and oppressive is that the teaching style, the way the classes are conducted and the overall initiation is something you are not used to and this seems like a strange alien world, that will take some time getting used to.


Law school does, indeed, amount to survival-more specifically, "survival of the fittest." Students compete against fellow students for grades, prestige, and cherished job offers.

Law school is very demanding. To be able to survive, you must be knowledgeable as to what takes place there as well as be able to roll with the punches. You have to keep a sense of balance in your life that includes being able to laugh at your own mistakes, not the mistakes of others. You enter law school one person, and through three years of refining under intense pressure, you emerge a different person-more knowledgeable and, hopefully, better for having been there.

Orientation:

Most law schools will offer some sort of orientation program for first-year students. This orientation may encompass a weekend's worth of lectures and advice or it may only be a few minutes of cheerful greetings from the faculty. Regardless of the duration of the orientation, it is essential that you attend and pay heed to the information offered. It is during this early formative indoctrination that a student learns the basics as to what is expected of him or her in class. Information on briefing a case, as well as where to find posted reading assignments are standard fare for orientation pro-grams. Besides getting a feel for what a class and its professor will be like, take advantage of the first encounters with fellow students to find those with similar interests and attitudes. These first meetings with classmates, prior to the formal beginning, may enable you to more quickly form allegiances and potential study groups for the struggles to come.

Declaration of Intention to Study Law:

The Declaration of Intention to Study Law, sometimes referred to as the Application for Admission, must be completed and filed shortly after entrance into law school. This form provides information to the State Board of Law Examiners for investigating your moral character and fitness to practice law. Therefore, you must answer all questions honestly and completely.

Required basic personal data include such items as date and place of birth, social security number, current and permanent address(es) and phone numbers(s), name of current (and previous) law school(s), date entered law school, and expected bar exam date. You must provide evidence of citizenship by attaching a certified copy of your birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, or authenticated proof of permanent resident status. Name changes require substantiating documentation such as a court order, amended birth certificate, marriage license, or divorce decree.

A complete list of your last high school and all colleges attended, other than law school, including any disciplinary action taken against you, is also required. In addition, you must list, for the time period specified in the Declaration, all employment as well as every city, state, or foreign country in which you've lived.

You will be asked to answer the question as to whether or not you will support the U.S. Constitution, and background information must be provided concerning any military service, bonded positions, civil suits, convictions, probation, violations of law (with the exception of minor traffic violations), filing of bankruptcy, fraud, mental, emotional or nervous disorders, alcohol or drug use or dependency and treatment, alimony or child support, debts over 90 days past due, outstanding student loans, application for or admission to bars in other states or countries, professional certifications, and professional disciplinary proceedings.

Then you must list several character references (excluding relatives), sign the Declaration, and have it notarized. You must also sign, complete, and have notarized several "Authorization and Release" forms, which will authorize any person, company, corporation, governmental agency, court, and so on to furnish documents, medical records, and other related materials concerning you to the Board of Bar Examiners or its agents and permit the Board or its agents to inspect or make copies of any such documents or records.

In addition, you will also need to be fingerprinted. Officers may visit the law school for this purpose or you may have to pay a friendly visit to your local law enforcement office.

Finally, you should enclose the necessary fees and mail your Declaration. It is recommended that you send your Declaration certified mail, return receipt requested to provide proof of timely filing.

Instances in which you may have to file a Supplemental Investigation and pay an additional fee include not completing the bar exam within one year after graduation from law school or relocating to a state where you do not qualify for reciprocity.

Class Preparation: What Is "Unprepared"?

Unlike the first day of undergraduate classes, which often entails a brief introductory speech and the handing out of the class syllabus, law school begins on the first day with lectures by instructors who expect students to be prepared for discussion. The school normally provides, during orientation, some introductory information on how to brief a case and some idea as to what a class at that particular institution entails. Additionally, the assignments for the first day are usually posted a few days prior to the beginning of the school year. Therefore, do not start off the beginning of your professional training by failing to be prepared the first day.

Being prepared means that you are ready to learn material, having already struggled with attempting to understand the information prior to class. You may be surprised by the questions asked of you, but you should not be surprised by the fact that you will be asked some questions. It is very easy for instructors to pick out those who have never looked at the material before the lecture or class discussion. These "lost*' students often look at their classmates with a bewildered look and shrug their shoulders.

Do not depend on your fellow classmates to explain the law to you, especially during class. If you are lost they are probably lost as well-just do not guarantee your being bewildered by failing to start class at a walking pace. Unprepared students are admitting by their actions that they have not expended the effort to learn, and without effort there is certain failure.

Tell yourself that you will not allow the first few days of law school to overawe you or frighten you into submission. Just treat it as a learning curve and once you get used to it, the remainder of your time will not be as terrifying or worrisome.