1. It’s a lot of work.
When I was a first year law student, I had one of the lowest GPAs in my class. My grades were not terrible, but definitely below the typical grade for a first year student. The most frequent question I received from friends and family was “How did you get below average grades when it’s so hard?”
The reality is that law school is very challenging and just like the first year of undergrad, it’s very difficult to maintain high grades when you’re learning a lot of new skills and information. In law school, you’re dealing with multiple classes, and on top of that, you are juggling multiple assignments and projects. In most law school classes, you will have multiple papers, assignments, and exams.
“But I got below average grades in undergrad,” you might say.
2. You have to work harder than you did in college.
In college you might be able to get by with a B in a class, especially if it’s a subject area you don’t like. Being a B student in law school is not a viable strategy. Law school is challenging and the level of work you are required to do is much higher than in college.
The good news is that there are ways to manage your time and workload to ensure that you are getting the most out of your law school experience.
3. You need to be a self-starter.
Unlike in college, you aren’t going to have a professor standing at the front of the class telling you what to do and when to do it. In law school, you have to be a self-starter. You need to motivate yourself to get the work done.
Seeing as how law school is competitive, you are going to need to be self-motivated to get good grades and to stand out among your peers.
4. Law school is an investment.
Law school is an investment in your future. In addition to the money that you spend on law school, in order to succeed in law school, you need to invest in yourself.
5. You have to learn to manage your time wisely.
In law school, you have to learn to manage your time wisely and effectively in order to be successful. Because there is a lot to do, you need to be able to prioritize your work and learn to manage your time well so that you can complete all of your assignments and to maintain a high GPA.
Law school is hard, but if you’re willing to work hard and manage your time effectively, you can be successful.
