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Starting law school soon and wondering what you need to do.
Need advice on preparing for law school?
Stay to the end, as I provide you with the 10 things you need to do the summer before
you begin law school.
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Hi, this is Beau Baez, and today I want to discuss the 10 things that you need in preparing
for law school.
Technology.
You need a good computer for all the writing you’ll be doing over the next few years.
However, you may not need one for taking notes in the classroom as more and more law schools ban laptops.
This is because scientific studies demonstrate that laptops in the classroom are detrimental
to learning, which I discuss in another episode.
For file storage, use a cloud storage solution like Google drive or Microsoft One Drive,
they’re both free.
This way, if your computer crashes or is stolen you still have access to your law school outlines.
Typing.
You need to improve your typing skills over the summer because law school exams are timed,
and those who can type faster are at an advantage.
Find software that teaches you how to type with all your fingers, rather than the two
or three fingers you're currently using.
When you become a lawyer you’ll also have to type, so learn the skill now.
Physical health.
Take care of your physical health needs before starting classes.
Go get your yearly physical and go to the dentist.
You don’t want to do this during the semester, when time is at a premium.
Also, if you don’t have an exercise routine, plan on what kind of exercise you're going to do.
Studies have shown that exercise improves cognitive ability.
When I went to law school in Washington DC, I jogged and I rode my bike
on the many trails around Washington.
Mental health.
If you have any mental health issues, take care of them before classes begin.
For example, if in college you needed exam or classroom accommodations, then take care
of that over the summer so you aren’t scrambling around finals time.
By the way, I’ve had students bomb their finals because they didn’t get the accommodations
that they were entitled to
because they thought they didn't need them.
Let your doctor make that decision for you.
Personal relationships.
Law school is hard on personal relationships.
Few dating relationships or marriages survive the commitment required to succeed in law
school.
My suggestion is to evaluate your dating relationship, and if its already on shaky grounds, it may
be time to end it.
After my first semester of law school, my fiancée and I broke up.
I was depressed for a few weeks, which I really didn’t need going into the second semester.
Neighborhood.
Live close to the law school so you don’t have a lengthy commute.
The farther away you live, the less time you’ll have for studies.
An hour commute may not sound like much, but that’s two hours a day that are basically
lost.
Also, commuting is stressful, which will impact the rest of your time.
Though a closer apartment probably means higher rent and roommates, it shouldn’t be a big
deal.
When I went to law school I lived in a rundown house with two roommates.
Frankly, I rarely saw them.
The house was someplace for me to come back to and sleep at night.
Also, make sure that you find a place to live a few weeks before classes begin, that way
you can find the stores and get into a routine.
I’ve seen students arrive into town a couple of days before classes, which puts them behind
in their classes for the rest of the semester.
Law school is demanding, and you can’t afford to fall behind.
Understand the Game.
During the summer before law school, start figuring out what law school is about.
Some people read the book One L, which is the real world story of a Harvard first year law
student.
Or they watch the movie Paperchase.
Both of these are a bit dated, as law school has changed since the 1970’s.
But they are still considered law school classics.
Start early.
I strongly recommend a decent law school prep course.
Law school is nothing like college, and it takes the brain some time to get used to thinking
differently.
Those who start preparing early will be at a competitive advantage over those who don’t
do anything over the summer.
Study plan.
A week before classes begin, create a study schedule.
Include not only classes and study time, but time for exercise, work around the house,
religious services, and down time.
Business Attire.
You will need at least one business outfit for professional events and interviews.
Also, your law school might have a required moot court competition.
Relax.
Finally, take some time to relax.
This will likely be your last summer where you have any significant time off.
So spend some time traveling and hanging out with friends.
But make sure that’s not all you do.
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