Any advice for the first day of 1L year? Forum

[crisgcia]

It goes without saying that you should come prepared, having done all the readings. Maybe it's just the 0L paranoia setting in, but does anyone have some tips or advice for that first day of classes? What have been your experiences?

[despina]

Breathe deeply, accept that you will have no idea what's going on and will likely bomb if you get cold-called (but that it's no big deal), and don't be too quick to judge your classmates on first impression.

[Mal Reynolds]

Don't freak out. Relax.

Some people enjoy law school, others tolerate it, and some actively hate it. You don't know where you're going to fall until it's too late. Find some upperclassman who you trust and did well and talk to them for resassurance. Find some outlines and follow along in class with those if you're not understanding the readings. Try supplements if you're not understanding either of those things. You have time to fix things.

If you're not comfortable finding your desired job from median under your current debt load, drop out immediately.

[txdude45]

Don't skip. Save that for the second week.

[First Offense]

Do your best to get to know your section mates before classes start, so you know who to sit beside the first day.

[NonTradHealthLaw]

Meet as many people as possible; you may grow to hate your first friends as their true (lack of) personality shows through.

[kalvano]

Find the smartest-looking person in the class and punch that person in the face and yell that you will be #1 in the class. Have to establish dominance early.

[BVest]

Since it's 1L and classes are assigned, there's not the class shopping for the first week that goes on 2L and 3L. That means most profs will do their seating charts on day 1. So if you care about where you sit in the room, or by whom you sit, show up early.

[BigZuck]

Don't freak out. Relax.

Some people enjoy law school, others tolerate it, and some actively hate it. You don't know where you're going to fall until it's too late. Find some upperclassman who you trust and did well and talk to them for resassurance. Find some outlines and follow along in class with those if you're not understanding the readings. Try supplements if you're not understanding either of those things. You have time to fix things.

If you're not comfortable finding your desired job from median under your current debt load, drop out immediately.

+1 to all of this

I'll also cosign not worrying about bombing cold calls. It doesn't matter.

[BaberhamLincoln]

Legit question:
Do people dress up? I've heard some people try to dress biz cas and over the semester sink into jeans and t shirts

True?

[BigZuck]

Legit question:
Do people dress up? I've heard some people try to dress biz cas and over the semester sink into jeans and t shirts

True?

Probably not fair/too judgy but if someone was truly business casual (tucked in collared shirt, slacks, nice shoes, etc.) I would probably think at least a little less of them. If they were full on suit they would pretty much be dead to me.

These things don't apply if its later in the semester and a random occurance. Then I would just assume it was for an interview or something, which is totally acceptable.

[shifty_eyed]

People dress up a bit the first day but like how kids did in high school. Wear your nice jeans, not your nice brooks brothers stuff.

[romanticegotist]

If you are at a school where it feels like you need to actually dress up, then I pity you. I was most definitely in shorts.

[A. Nony Mouse]

But as an old, some people who worked before law school mostly have biz-cas stuff. Saying you'd think less of someone for dressing true biz-cas seems a little harsh to me.

(Dress however makes you comfortable, but if that's full suit you will look like that guy/girl, and you may want to do a little self-examination.)

[BaberhamLincoln]

I am from the I-wear-yoga-pants-and-a-sweater-everyday clan so I will have to dress up from my norm, but I got you guys

[shifty_eyed]

If you are at a school where it feels like you need to actually dress up, then I pity you. I was most definitely in shorts.

But I wore my nice shorts.

[chizzy]

Is cold calling really common on the first day???

[A. Nony Mouse]

Is cold calling really common on the first day???

Yes.

[Mal Reynolds]

Is cold calling really common on the first day???

You kids are so cute.

[detlefschrempf1]

Is cold calling really common on the first day???

Yes.

Was cold-called in a mock class during orientation. didn't even wait for classes to start

[chizzy]

Is cold calling really common on the first day???

Yes.

Was cold-called in a mock class during orientation. didn't even wait for classes to start

uh. just another thing to worry about....

[Emma.]

Dress like you are going on a first date.

[JCougar]

I am from the I-wear-yoga-pants-and-a-sweater-everyday clan so I will have to dress up from my norm, but I got you guys

I am fairly certain yoga pants and a sweater would be perfectly fine.

Other than not wearing pajama pants to class with a massive hangover (unless it's Friday), I don't think people collectively dressed any better than they did in undergrad.

In general, law students are far to worried about acting like a professional in school itself. By all means, in interviews and summer internships, you should act like a consummate professional, but you don't have to act like anything more than a student in school--although a studious and somewhat responsible intelligent one. Despite everyone being overly worried about their image 1L year, about two-thirds of you will go out drinking on at least a few of the weekends, and about one third of you will smoke weed, and about a handful will do coke. My advice is to get it out of your system as a student, because when you graduate, you'll either be too broke or too busy to have fun for a long time.

[Nucky]

Find the smartest-looking person in the class and punch that person in the face and yell that you will be #1 in the class. Have to establish dominance early.

Lol

[KD35]

Don't be a gunner. Find people who will play gunner bingo with you.

Be nice to people.