First off, congratulations–you’re going to law school! Whether you’re nervous, excited, or a combination of every emotion that exists, you’re probably also wondering if there are things you should do this summer to prepare. While relaxing should undoubtedly be at the top of your priority list–it may not be the most realistic depending on your situation. In this post, my goal is to share the things I did the summer before law school that I believe prepared me in the best ways possible.
The Summer Before Law School – 0L
As a first-generation law student, I knew very little about law school and the legal profession before starting 1L in the fall of 2018. I don’t come from a family of lawyers, and I honestly had no idea what to expect. So, how did I prepare to start my law school journey? The same way most people get their information these days–Google.
What did good ol’ Google tell me? First, most articles recommend not to invest in any pre-law program, and I agree. Do not waste your money on trying to learn the law or learn anything related to 1L courses before you set foot into your first class. Trust me. You will learn 98% of everything you need to know during your 1L orientation week. You’ll pick up the remaining 2% along the way, whether it be through your professors or fellow law students. Please do not stress over what a tort is over your precious summer. My takeaway from every article I read was to RELAX. Did I relax? Yes, for the most part. My best advice is this:
Do everything in your power to relax as much as you can. The summer before you start law school will most likely be the last phase in your life where you are truly carefree. So, sleep in, stay out late, go outside, and enjoy being free of any law-related responsibilities. Your future self will thank you.
Julianna Marie, J.D.
Summer Reading Suggestions
Ok, so you took time to relax, and now your Type-A brain feels like you need to do something to prepare for this alien world you’re about to enter. I’m not going to lie. I spent most of my days lounging by the pool, scrolling through Instagram. However, I also got in some summer reading. I’m not one to read for fun, so the books I picked up were easy reads and informative. Here’s a list of what I read the summer before law school to shed a little light on what to expect as an incoming 1L:
My 0L Summer (circa 2018)
Law School is EXPENSIVE.
Ultimately, it will help if you do what’s best for you and your current circumstances the summer before you start law school. While I certainly had my fair share of fun, I also worked full-time as a waitress and bartender. I saved as much money as I could to prepare myself for the upcoming three years.
Ensuring that you understand the financial investment you’re about to make and the financial burden you’re about to bear as a first-generation law student is essential. Law school and everything else that comes with becoming a licensed attorney is not cheap. It also takes up most, if not all, of your time, which is why most schools recommend not to work during 1L. At the same time, many of us don’t have the luxury of not working during 1L. I was always jealous of my friends that didn’t have to work a Saturday night double bar shift until 4 AM. I’ll never forget waking up on Sunday morning to read for Civ Pro, running on approximately 4 hours of sleep. It wasn’t the most glamorous of times, but being able to support myself financially made it worth it. Also, working allowed me to avoid borrowing more financial aid. The less student debt at graduation, the better.
As a first-generation law student, I can talk a lot more about financing your way through law school, but I’ll save that for another post. If you’re interested, please let me know in the comments below. I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
XO Julianna
