Law School For Dummies Cheat Sheet

For many people, the decision to go to law school is a step toward a lifelong dream. No matter when or why you make this decision, be prepared for the competitive application process. It can seem tedious and overwhelming, but if you stay organized and stick to the deadlines, you can do it.

The law school experience year by year

Traditional programs are three years for full time students and four years for part-time students. Each program is made up of the first (1Ls), second (2Ls), third (3Ls), and potentially fourth (4Ls) years, each with its own particular characteristics.  

First year: They scare you to death

The 1L curriculum is pretty much the same across the board at all law schools. The notion of scaring you to death comes from an old law school saw. It’s based on the terror that grips many 1Ls regarding the sheer amount of work they need to do and the fear of being grilled in the Socratic method. You’ll be busier than you ever imagined. The volume of reading and the intense nature of the material can be alarming to many new law students. The language can be challenging, but it can also be fun, energizing, and life-altering in a positive way.

Second year: They work you to death

Your second year is often considered the hardest because you have many different commitments competing for your valuable time. You’ll probably be working on a law journal, law review, moot court, or other co-curricular or extracurricular involvements, which takes up most of your spare time.  

You’ve spent the summer interning or clerking, gaining expert experience and applying all you learned in your 1L year. You may have taken summer courses or participated in a study abroad program (or both). You’re now also becoming more involved on your campus by participating in moot court, writing for journals, or becoming a research assistant.  

Third year: They bore you to death

The third year is often the easiest, because by then you’re an old hand; you know what you need to do to get by, and you may not even care that much about hammering away at your studies when you already have a job offer in hand. At this point, you know what you’re doing — how to manage your schedule, which professors require papers versus exams, how to manage your internships along with your coursework along with your personal life. With graduation and the bar exam right around the corner, you may find you want to savor your last year of studenthood before moving out into the real world!

You still have a lot to consider as a 3L. You’re now seeking that job offer and preparing for the bar exam, submitting all your character and fitness items, and thinking about how you’re going to pay for your expenses while you’re not working during bar exam preparation and the bar exam.

Applying to law school

You want to plan to apply about a year out from the time you intend to start law school. So for a fall start, you should begin the application process the summer of the year before. Here’s a quick checklist to help you keep tabs on your application timetable. Make sure you know the answers to these questions:

• When do I want to start law school?
• What are the application due dates?
• Will I apply for early decision/early action?
• When do I want to have all my applications submitted?
• Do I anticipate an improvement in my cumulative GPA during the application process?
• Do the law schools I’m interested in accept the LSAT and/or GRE?
• When do I have time to prepare for the test?
• How will I prepare for the test?
• What test dates are available to me?
• Do I have the paperwork to get accommodations if I need them?
• Have I identified the people I want to write my letters of recommendation?
• Have I given them the information they need?
• Have I given them a due date?
• Have I ensured I have no holds or barriers that may prevent me from ordering my transcripts?

Want more tips to help you succeed in law school? Grab a copy of Law School For Dummies.