6 answers
Justin M
Student
Sonora, California
2
Questions
Asked
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Advice for 1L online law student?
I’m a 30 year old married to a 28yr old. I’m about to start online law school and am seeking advice on passing the baby bar, as well as, general advice being a law student and passing the bar exam. Theirs a ton of advice on google but would love to hear from personal experiences. I also work full-time at Staples. In summary: Relationship/Student-life/work balance is all welcome. #law yeah #lawyer #college #job #law #law-school
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6 answers
Alexandra Grashkina-Hristov
International Tax Professional
155
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Alexandra’s Answer
Hi, I did not attend law school online but I did work 20 hours a week during my 2L and my 3L years. I honestly wish that law school took 2 years, like MBA programs, I do not see value to the third year. Tuition is a huge rip off and there is little practicality to what you learn throughout all the 3 years. I think what matters is that you have to seperate academia from your profession. Obviously, study hard and get good grades. But, more importantly, look for practical experiences and do not allow studies to get in the way of making personal networking connections and doing real work. A lot of people may think that when you are in school, you should not work. I find the opposite to be true. As you go through school classes, it is even more important to work in a real life setting. I would encourage you to look for something outside Staples that has legal skills involved.
Finally, as far as studying for the bar exam goes, the only way to do that is to simply dedicate 3-4 hours a day in the span of about 2 months where you are studying, with no distractions. The bar exam study process is like a download into your brain of information which you likely will not need, and which you will forget rather quickly. That said, you need to get through it. It is no different than any other standardized test and it is by no means an objective way to assess how good you would be as a lawyer.
Finally, as far as studying for the bar exam goes, the only way to do that is to simply dedicate 3-4 hours a day in the span of about 2 months where you are studying, with no distractions. The bar exam study process is like a download into your brain of information which you likely will not need, and which you will forget rather quickly. That said, you need to get through it. It is no different than any other standardized test and it is by no means an objective way to assess how good you would be as a lawyer.
Henry Zeng, Esq., LL.M.
International Tax Lawyer
8
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Henry’s Answer
Hi Justin,
I agree with many of the comments above that law school is really an endurance test and one of the things that helped me the most was figuring out what I was good at by figuring out what I wasn't good at. 1L year was honestly the worst time to get a good grasp of if you'll make a good career out of law since everyone is competing on exactly the same topics, putting in almost all their hours in the week, and chasing the same objective of landing that OCI position at the start of 2L year.
I would say 2L year is the actual start of the race to figure out how to make a career after law school by virtue of your ability to pick and choose what classes you want to take and furthermore the ability to act on class recommendations by the variety of peer mentors I recommend you reach out and look for. I did not have a career until I enrolled into the joint JD/LLM Tax program at my university and did a (second) OCI purely for Tax at the beginning of 3L year.
3L could end up two ways. 1. You're not set yet and are actively looking for post-law school employment, or 2. You are set and free to take the classes you wanted and learn all there is to learn about the law that you care about. The latter is a great place to be and I've made some of the best lasting connections with professors once its made known that you're learning from them purely out of intellectual curiosity. The former is also perfectly okay, some of my peers got offers as late as the year after law school.
The bar exam for me was non-stop Barbri every day, keeping up with those long videos (Some topic lecturers are dry, but once a while you'll get a really funny lecturer and you'll remember them for the rest of your career), and then reviewing with the critical pass flashcards. I ended up over preparing for it, but the alternative has a real cascading effect that would be better to avoid if possible.
Hope that helps!
Henry
I agree with many of the comments above that law school is really an endurance test and one of the things that helped me the most was figuring out what I was good at by figuring out what I wasn't good at. 1L year was honestly the worst time to get a good grasp of if you'll make a good career out of law since everyone is competing on exactly the same topics, putting in almost all their hours in the week, and chasing the same objective of landing that OCI position at the start of 2L year.
I would say 2L year is the actual start of the race to figure out how to make a career after law school by virtue of your ability to pick and choose what classes you want to take and furthermore the ability to act on class recommendations by the variety of peer mentors I recommend you reach out and look for. I did not have a career until I enrolled into the joint JD/LLM Tax program at my university and did a (second) OCI purely for Tax at the beginning of 3L year.
3L could end up two ways. 1. You're not set yet and are actively looking for post-law school employment, or 2. You are set and free to take the classes you wanted and learn all there is to learn about the law that you care about. The latter is a great place to be and I've made some of the best lasting connections with professors once its made known that you're learning from them purely out of intellectual curiosity. The former is also perfectly okay, some of my peers got offers as late as the year after law school.
The bar exam for me was non-stop Barbri every day, keeping up with those long videos (Some topic lecturers are dry, but once a while you'll get a really funny lecturer and you'll remember them for the rest of your career), and then reviewing with the critical pass flashcards. I ended up over preparing for it, but the alternative has a real cascading effect that would be better to avoid if possible.
Hope that helps!
Henry
Lindsey S
Attorney
2
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Lindsey’s Answer
Law school is an endurance sport. Best thing to do is tap into the way you study best and don't deviate from that. For example, if you know you study best by yourself with no distractions, do your best to create that study environment for yourself, and perhaps stay away from group studying. Also, if you are used to a more practical way of studying and learning, prepare to relearn. The law school teaching format is not intuitive to most people.
Jonathan Whitcomb
Credit Analyst
63
Answers
Lakeland, Florida
Updated
Jonathan’s Answer
Passing the CA bar is difficult but not impossible The CA bar is the most difficult. Get in on a state and mine bar review. I would just take practice tests both multiple choice and essay. It is what worked for me in Florida. I am sure you will pass the bar. Finding a job in CA is very difficult. It is the toughest job market to break into.
Jane Mullis
Attorney
10
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Jane’s Answer
Here are some tips for a 1L online law student:
Stay organized: Law school can be overwhelming, so it's important to stay organized and keep track of important deadlines, assignments, and readings. Use a planner or calendar to keep track of everything. Even though you are studying online, try to actively participate in class discussions. This will not only help you stay engaged, but it will also give you an opportunity to practice your legal reasoning and analysis skills. Form a study group with your classmates. This can be a great way to stay motivated and get help when you need it. Take advantage of online resources as many law schools have online resources such as study guides, practice problems, and past exams available to students. Take advantage of these resources to help you prepare for exams. Take care of yourself -Law school can be stressful, so it's important to take care of yourself. Make sure to take breaks, exercise, and eat well. It's also important to maintain a good work-life balance to ensure you stay motivated and focused. Reach out to professors and mentors- In online education, it's easy to feel isolated, reach out to professors and mentors to help you navigate the program, ask questions and get feedback on your work. Stay connected with your peers as Law school can be a challenging and competitive environment, but connecting with your peers can help you to feel less alone, share knowledge and help each other. Keep in mind that online learning has its own set of challenges, but if you stay organized, stay engaged, and take advantage of the resources available to you, you'll be well on your way to success in your 1L year.
Stay organized: Law school can be overwhelming, so it's important to stay organized and keep track of important deadlines, assignments, and readings. Use a planner or calendar to keep track of everything. Even though you are studying online, try to actively participate in class discussions. This will not only help you stay engaged, but it will also give you an opportunity to practice your legal reasoning and analysis skills. Form a study group with your classmates. This can be a great way to stay motivated and get help when you need it. Take advantage of online resources as many law schools have online resources such as study guides, practice problems, and past exams available to students. Take advantage of these resources to help you prepare for exams. Take care of yourself -Law school can be stressful, so it's important to take care of yourself. Make sure to take breaks, exercise, and eat well. It's also important to maintain a good work-life balance to ensure you stay motivated and focused. Reach out to professors and mentors- In online education, it's easy to feel isolated, reach out to professors and mentors to help you navigate the program, ask questions and get feedback on your work. Stay connected with your peers as Law school can be a challenging and competitive environment, but connecting with your peers can help you to feel less alone, share knowledge and help each other. Keep in mind that online learning has its own set of challenges, but if you stay organized, stay engaged, and take advantage of the resources available to you, you'll be well on your way to success in your 1L year.
Amandeep Minhas
Associate
1
Answer
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Amandeep’s Answer
Hi Justin,
Going into your 1L year is going to be a challenge -- its a completely new subject matter and you're going to be bombarded with new material everyday. Try to keep up and schedule your day to make sure you're not falling behind -- your first year of law school is the most important year. Of course, the first year alone will not dictate your future, but its going to be the first major step towards obtaining an internship and employment once you graduate.
Make sure to keep to your schedule and always "outline" key material you learn every week. This will help prep you for final exam review.
Hope this helps.
Going into your 1L year is going to be a challenge -- its a completely new subject matter and you're going to be bombarded with new material everyday. Try to keep up and schedule your day to make sure you're not falling behind -- your first year of law school is the most important year. Of course, the first year alone will not dictate your future, but its going to be the first major step towards obtaining an internship and employment once you graduate.
Make sure to keep to your schedule and always "outline" key material you learn every week. This will help prep you for final exam review.
Hope this helps.