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Completed 1 full week of law school, and feel utterly confused.

When I read the cases, I read until I "feel" like I got the point, spotted issues, and have a pretty good understanding. I usually Google the case also and look it up in a supplement to cover my bases.

Then I go to class feeling thoroughly prepared, the professor asks all these random questions that I had not even thought to think about, and my classmates ask similar questions that seem disjointed to me.

I also want to start building relationships with my professors, and would like to come visit them at office hours, but I can't think of anything to ask them about (as above, it's not that I know everything already given my confusion during class, it's that I can't think of what I'm supposedly missing).

My questions:
1. How do you think of question to ask during class?
2. How do you think of questions to ask during office hours? They are all so intimidating, is it appropriate to show up and say "I have no idea what you're saying or how you make the connections you do. Can you help me think more critically about cases to make these connections?"

Sincerely,

Confused

Royalduck wrote:Completed 1 full week of law school, and feel utterly confused.

When I read the cases, I read until I "feel" like I got the point, spotted issues, and have a pretty good understanding. I usually Google the case also and look it up in a supplement to cover my bases.

Then I go to class feeling thoroughly prepared, the professor asks all these random questions that I had not even thought to think about, and my classmates ask similar questions that seem disjointed to me.

I also want to start building relationships with my professors, and would like to come visit them at office hours, but I can't think of anything to ask them about (as above, it's not that I know everything already given my confusion during class, it's that I can't think of what I'm supposedly missing).

My questions:
1. How do you think of question to ask during class?
2. How do you think of questions to ask during office hours? They are all so intimidating, is it appropriate to show up and say "I have no idea what you're saying or how you make the connections you do. Can you help me think more critically about cases to make these connections?"

Sincerely,

Confused

Relax. If you are reading/briefing the cases you are doing more than most people. Some people are better bullshitters or have read ahead in supplements, which is why they seem to have all the right questions. It is extraordinarily unlikely that they are actually understanding how to use the material on an exam, WHICH IS THE ONLY SKILL LAW SCHOOL TEACHES YOU.

Focus on finding the ball. Your professor is hiding it, even if he says he isn't.

Pro-tip: Your classmates are just as lost as you, if not more.

Honestly, when in doubt or confused, I think you should just ask any questions that help clarify it. If you're afraid of your professor chewing you out, I would presume most professors understand you're in the 1L transition. If not...ask a TA or talk to 2Ls at your school that have had the course/professor and can offer insight?

More than anything else, relax. It's a long semester....we're only 1 week in. There's time figure things out.

LOLyer wrote:Pro-tip: Your classmates are just as lost as you, if not more.

This is almost always the case.

I VERY much appreciate the replies, everyone.

Talked to some 2Ls and they reco'd that to get an established enough relationship with profs to eventually request letters of recommendation, visit office hours 2-3 times in the semester and have a conversation with them over lunch with 2-3 other classmates.

Sounds reasonable!

I'm also forcing myself to think of more questions (though they seem VERY contrived)... Future Question-Deficient 1Ls: It's easier with 8 days of instruction and legal language under the belt!