How to Prepare for Law School

Are you nervous right now? Excited? Thrilled? Did you recently find out that you were accepted to law school or a university of your choice? If so, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! This is a post for you.

Reaching law school/university is like making it to the big times. It is a major achievement and you should be proud of yourself. Well done! But what now? What should you do between now and the start of the semester? Certainly not just sit around and do nothing!

The pursuit of a law degree requires a LOT of work. Lots of reading, stress, tears and little leisure time. If you have ever spoken to anyone who has studied law, you would know this is true. But fear not. It is doable. With a disciplined mind and strong body you will succeed.

While you come to grips with the reality of studying law, you should take the time to prepare yourself for what lies ahead of you. The following list serves as a guide to how to prepare for law school.

• Start reading the course material - This is assuming that you have access to the institution's curriculum. Maybe a past student can help you find such material. If not, search online for law related articles to familiarize yourself with the content.
  
  

• Read widely - Read not only law textbooks but newspapers, articles, journals, commentaries, and even cases if you find them. Anything related to law can be useful.
  
  

• Watch law shows - "Law & Order", "Law & Order SVU", "Judge Judy", "Divorce Court" ... or any other legal show that tickles your fancy. They can help familiarize you with some of the legal jargon and proceedings even though the US legal system may not be your own.
  
  
• Sit in on a court session if possible
  
  

• Talk to a lawyer or someone in the law profession
  
  
• Mentally prepare yourself - This simply means to be aware that your chosen major is work-intensive. By now you should know how well you cope under pressure. Prepare yourself for hard work.
  
  

• Start a rough study schedule if possible
  
  
• Relax - Yes, relax. Do not overdo your preparation by overworking yourself. You will be too tired when the semester begins and may lose interest in the subject. It is still possible to have a bit of fun while studying for a law degree. You just have to know how to strike the right balance! There will be a future post on this, so stay tuned.
  

The above were just some of the ways on how to prepare for law school. You may have others of your own. Do whatever works best for you. Read ahead but still find time to enjoy the remainder of your summer. You will not have much free time once the semester starts. Use your time wisely.

All the best!

From the team at Long Live Law.