Fresno Leader

San Joaquin College Of Law recently issued the following announcement.

For our first-year law students who are feeling a little nervous after their first week of classes, we’ve got five tips to set you up for success and make your journey at San Joaquin College of Law a little easier.

Adopt a Can-Do Attitude

You will learn how to think, speak and write like a lawyer. You need to reassure yourself that you will master the new law language you’re learning and be a sponge with all the information you’re given. It’s natural to think your professors are going to teach you the law but in actuality, we’re going to teach you how to critically think about the law and give you many helpful techniques and doctrine so you can apply the law to facts and reach sound conclusions.

Master Time Management

By now, you’ve probably realized how strong your work ethic needs to be while you’re in law school. It can seem overwhelming to read hundreds of pages, outline cases and go to class. Establishing a routine and sticking to it will save you valuable time and help you stay organized when you need it most. Try buying a planner book and writing goals, assignments and everything you need to get done for the week. Blocking out your time in this way will help you see where you can be flexible and where you need to buckle down and focus. If you need time to socialize with friends or spend time with family, schedule that time in your planner. If you need an hour a day to workout, schedule it. Getting into this habit early on will make your law school experience less stressful.

Have a Healthy Life Balance

Carve some time out of your busy semester to do something you love. Whether it’s a hobby like hiking or some much-needed sweat sessions at the gym, it’s necessary time away from the law books to refresh your mind and body. You can also find new places to study to give your mind a visual break. Whether you take a stroll to a local coffee shop like Kuppa Joy or spend some time outdoors at Woodward Park, there are plenty of places around town for you to study.

Join a Study Group

Law school is a marathon, not a sprint. Adopting sustainable study habits early on and surrounding yourself with other focused and like-minded students will help keep you motivated even during the tough days. Many students also make lifelong friends during their time in law school because of how much time they spend together outlining cases and studying for exams. From tackling tough cases to review to having friends to help you better understand the material, building strong bonds with fellow students will go a long way.

Network, Network, Network

Chances are you already know how important meeting new people is for your career and at SJCL, we do our best to provide plenty of networking opportunities while you’re in law school. But don’t think of these encounters as just a chance for a job. Take the time to get to know our faculty because they work with students all the time and truly are the best mentors. Plus, our professors have had fascinating careers and are happy to share their experiences and life lessons with you.

Get to know your fellow students as well - these people will probably work with you, against you or for you someday. The same people you study with, sit in class with or even share a coffee with before class are the same people that might be your opposing counsel or handling the discovery in your client’s trial. Start by joining one of our student organizations and attend some of our events throughout the semester.

Finally, take the time to get to know as many of our wonderful alumni as possible. They were in your shoes once and know what you’re going through. They’re also valuable members of the legal community and can give you valuable advice on navigating law school and how to prepare yourself for life after San Joaquin College of Law.

We wish all of our 1L’s the best this semester and welcome to law school!

Original source can be found here.

Source: San Joaquin College Of Law