The idea of law school can be absolutely terrifying.

It especially doesn’t help as to how glamorised (and exaggerated!) the media can portray the career to look like. However, preparing for law school, both mentally and physically, is one that is undoubtedly key. Transitioning from sixth form or college into university is a massive, massive step, therefore, these are the top 5 things I did to ensure that my first year didn’t come as a massive shock to my system when I started law school.

1. Know your course!

Now, this is a piece of advice I’m sure many entering law school have heard countless of times, but it’s one that sometimes gets overlooked very easily because of how obvious it is. It’s important to know what your first year entails, what your module outlines are, and especially the reading list. For us, we had been advised to not buy any books until the first lecture, but many people had bought their books second-hand from 2nd or 3rd years, which had been a much cheaper alternative. However, it’s also important to check if your university has access to some of the online platforms such as LawTrove, which has most, if not all, of the recommended editions on there! It’s incredibly versatile and can mean that you don’t have to spend that much money on buying new books.

2. Connect with your classmates.

Although many find law school to be an incredibly competitive environment, I still cannot stress enough as to how important your classmates and the people in your tutorials, seminars, etc are going to be! Your classmates will be your most valuable source. When it comes to discussions, their different point of views is what will allow you to become more perceptive when you think about a piece of law, or legislation, or case, and how you may apply it. One of the things I did before going into my first year, is that I joined the group chats my university had, and connected with a wide array of people before I even stepped onto campus. It may be quite stressful or even off-putting for some to reach out first, and it definitely was for me as well. However, I will say that it really did help me have a sense of confidence, and not feel too out of place when I arrived on campus, because I already had a few familiar faces that I would be able to talk to. If this may be uncomfortable for you, I’d still highly recommend to maximise your opportunities with the people in your tutorials and seminars. It’s highly likely that those will be the people you’ll see the most throughout your first year, and therefore it’s absolutely key to build good contacts with them earlier on, so you’re comfortable in reaching out to them later on.

3. Look into the extracurriculars your university offers.

Joining different societies can be such a great way for you to explore your interests! It’s definitely such a stress relief from being away from your law books and your reading, but also you can meet so many people from a variety of different courses. Some societies, such as the Law Society at my uni, hosts many socials which you’re able to get involved with and dress up for. Honestly, you have a really fun time and make such good memories. Sometimes, societies can also open up different leadership positions, such as having a ‘First Year Representative’ for example, and I’d highly recommend to take that opportunity and get involved with having a role within the society early on. Not only would it be beneficial for you to develop your key skills or any ‘soft skills’, but it’ll also be something you’re able to talk about in your applications or interviews for your First Year Schemes or even during your Vac Schemes/ TCs. One thing I did was that I went onto my University’s website and just had a browse for all the different student-led societies that they had, looked into their pages on social media, so I had a rough idea as to what I might be interested in looking at either during Freshers Fair, or later.

But don’t take on too much! It can be tempting to join a lot of societies because it all looks so exciting, but in all honesty, from my experience, if you don’t live on campus, it can be a bit more difficult to attend the events hosted all the time. Reflecting on this, I’d definitely suggest taking on only one or two societies (max!) and by 2nd semester, when you get a better grasp and sense as to how you’re able to balance your workload, then re-think if you’re in a position to take on more. Although it may be easy to follow what upper years may say regarding first year not counting in the long run, which albeit is true to an extent, it’s still important to not compromise your studies, or even compromise giving yourself downtime. Your first semester will feel very heavy, and so it’s important you’re able to allocate time for yourself; sometimes being part of multiple societies can make this difficult to do so.

4. Reach out to alumni/ upper years

It’s always beneficial to hear from someone who has already done first year, and one of the great ways is to reach out to upper years. First year can definitely feel like a lot, so don’t be shy to ask for any guidance, as most, if not all, are almost always willing to offer a helping hand! This can of course happen naturally through the societies you join where you may come in contact with 2nd or 3rd years, and so it’s always advantageous to build up a good rapport with them! Another thing I did was that I reached out to alumni over Linkedln to gain a further insight into what a career in law could look like. Whenever I sent those requests to connect, I wrote a message, usually explaining that I was aspiring to work at the firm that they are currently at, and I’m a student that is currently attending the Uni that they went to, so I’d appreciate if they could offer me some time to answer any questions I had. Don’t be shy to do that! If you do simply just send a random request to connect over Linkedln, chances are you’re not going to get very far, but if you send a tailored message with that request, the other person would be more willing to accept and respond.

5. Start planning an outline.

My final advice would be to make sure you have an outline, even if it’s very rough, of where you want to go with your law degree. It’s helpful to be aware of where your degree can take you, what options and paths are available to you and if you’re interested in perhaps pursuing any of them, and if so, what would be the next steps. One of the great ways to figure out what you might be interested in doing is through the First Year Schemes that some of the firms offer. First years are usually bombarded with all the different opportunities that are available to them, and it’s natural to get overwhelmed, so that’s why I’d suggest that once you get to law school, you mark all the dates down on your calendar, or in your diary, planner, etc, of when the first year schemes open. Dedicate a set time to go through the firms’ websites and jot everything down so you’re organised and when the apps open, you’re not confused or disorientated and instead are on top of your game. That’s the same principle I’d advise to apply for any opportunity that even your uni gives you, whether it be for mooting, or any competitions, etc.

Make sure to always write down the key dates and the info, and have it in a place that you will come back and look at, such as on your Calendar on your phone that will remind you itself!

Finally, enjoy your first year! It’s honestly going to be a marathon and not a sprint, so don’t be psyched out by other law students. A common pitfall that many law students have is getting imposter syndrome or not thinking that they belong there. You do belong there and you’re going to smash it! Everyone’s in the same boat, and it’s normal to feel overwhelmed in your first semester, but it’ll get better. Remember to take advantage of the opportunities available to you, stay organised, but always keep re-evaluating if you’re taking on too much regarding extracurriculars.