Life in Law School
Law school can be interesting and exciting. It is also extremely
demanding so it is a good idea to consider what life in law school
will be like, and whether you think you will be able to cope with
the demands that it places on students.
Discipline
Discipline is essential to being a successful law student. If
you gain admission to law school, then you likely have the ability
to understand the work. However, if you get behind by missing a
couple of classes or some reading, then you will quickly find
yourself struggling. Classes nearly always build on knowledge
gained in previous classes and without the discipline to attend
every class, there will be gaps in your knowledge which are
difficult to go back and fill on your own.
You will also need to be disciplined in your reading. Some of
the reading will be interesting, but some will be dry and hard
going. You must also be prepared to accept that your social life
might not be quite what it was as an undergraduate. Passing exams
will require many hours of study, and little free time to do
anything else.
Writing
Legal writing is a big part of the work of any lawyer and
learning its style is a big part of law school. Some classes will
require a lot of writing and you must be prepared for your writing
style to be dismantled, and developed into a tool of precision. In
legal writing, every word must be chosen carefully, conveying no
more, or less meaning than the writer intends. Many students find
the writing laborious and frustrating. However, learning how to
write with clarity and concision will be an invaluable tool.
What you will study
The first year of study in nearly all law schools will focus on
central areas of law such as contracts, criminal law,
constitutional law, property, torts, and civil procedure. Many
schools will also have a full year course on legal research and
writing. With the first year out of the way, student's have more
choice over what they study and start to focus on courses that are
most useful for their career. For example, a student who wishes to
practice in intellectual property may take classes including
copyright law, patent law, and internet law. A student interested
in family law may take classes in divorce law, wills, trusts, and
poverty law. It is not an imperative to focus courses to one or two
particular areas and many students will take a variety.
Examination
Examinations in law school are usually less frequent but more
extensive than examinations at undergraduate level. There is
generally one exam per subject at the end of the semester, or at
the end of the year for a full year course. Sometimes this can put
more pressure on the exams than you will be used to.