The first few days (and weeks) of law school I was honestly a nervous wreck about 75% of the time. I felt so inadequate and like I was flying completely blind. I studied constantly, barely slept, compared myself to everyone else and was a mess. Eventually, I figured out how to case brief, read faster, answer a cold call and still get some sleep in the process. As things get easier and you figure out what you need to do and how you need to do and the stress and nerves slowly melt away. To avoid some of my mistakes and make your first few weeks easier, here are some tips on quelling your nerves in the first few days/weeks of law school.
It's been awhile since I did this... to be honest I just forgot! I start my 2L year of law school on Monday, this weekend my husband and I are enjoying the last few days of freedom by going to the lake and a BBQ and I finally finished a few DIY projects around our house. It has been a great week and a great summer but I am ready to get back into the swing of law school. Without further ado, here is my Friday Five!
1. DIY Marble Laptop Cover
For anyone who follows my Instagram, you might have noticed my easy little DIY laptop cover. I have been wanting a Marble laptop cover but they only make them for MacBooks and I have a Dell. I got a little creative and figured out my own way to do it! I used simple Marble print contact paper and simply cut it to size and covered my boring old Dell laptop. It looks so fancy now! I love it! Here is the contact paper I used; it was easy to cut and stuck really well to my laptop without air bubbles.
2. Painted Fireplace
Before
After
I finally convinced my husband to paint our fireplace white. We don't have a lot of natural light in our living room and our focal point, the fireplace, was so dark. Painting it white gave it new life and brightened the whole room. I LOVE it. It was simple and cheap but makes such a huge difference in the look of the room. We also purchased this fake electric fireplace which gives the look and atmosphere of a wood fire without the mess and hassle.
3. Friendsfest
Why did I just now find out this exists?? In the UK, they literally recreate the Friends set and let fans act like the group for a few days; they have a hairdresser giving people "the Rachel" and you can even get Central Perk coffee. I do not know why this doesn't exist in the USA but it should because I will be there in a heartbeat. Friends is one of my favorite shows of all time and I would be so darn happy to do something like that.
4. Garth Brooks World Tour
I am quite honestly the biggest Garth Brooks fan ever. I literally named my dog Garth Brooks in his honor... I am not kidding. I have every CD, I know the words to literally every song he has ever released and I finally saw him live in concert about 2 years ago and it was a lifetime dream come true. He is finishing his North American tour on October 7th in Indianapolis and I want to go SO badly. Fingers crossed we get tickets!
5. The Lion King
Public service announcement to all 90's babies: The Lion King is getting re-released on DVD and Blu-ray in stores soon and my childhood is flooding back because it is seriously the best. That was my absolute favorite Disney movie as a little girl and I was adamant about wanting a pet Lion for a long time.... I think I will have to settle for dressing my Golden Retriever up as a Lion for Halloween this year and sing the Circle of Life every time she walks in the room... seems like a quality plan. Too bad she's too big for the Simba lift.
Acclimating to life in law school is not easy. It is nothing like undergrad and the difference takes some getting used to. Tomorrow night I am going to be a part of a 2L student panel to give advice to my schools new 1L class during their orientation. One thing I am going to stress to the new students is a school-life balance and how important it is to maintain. It may not be easy and it will likely take a few weeks to establish a good balance between law school and life but it is very important. I suggest starting right from the beginning with establishing a solid school-life balance.
My first few weeks of 1L year were trying... I had a hard time finding a balance between my school work and my normal life. It was about a month into school when my husband sat me down and let me know that I was letting law school take over my life and he was worried. From then on out, I made a point to maintain a better balance between school and life. I wasn't always successful- around final memo time or exams, law school took over. But the rest of the semester, I worked to maintain a good balance between school and life and I think my mental health benefited greatly as did my marriage, family relationships, and friendships. It is easy to get caught up in law school and letting your life revolve around it in the first few weeks/months; if you make a school-life balance a priority from the beginning, it will be easier to maintain in the long run. Here are my tips for establishing a school-life balance right from the start.
There is always something about back to school... the apprehension of a new school year, the excitement of being back with friends, the anticipation of autumn. I always look forward to school supply shopping and most of all, I love picking out a first-day outfit. This is always a result of careful selection, reselection, long spans of trying on outfits, sending pictures to friends for opinions and often a last minute shopping trip. Landing on the perfect outfit always made me feel so confident and ready to take on another year of school.
The first day of law school is especially important. It is the true beginning of your legal career. It will be the vital first impression you make on peers and professors. It is an intimidating day- I was certainly nervous for my first day of law school classes. I know having the perfect outfit picked out made me feel more prepared and a little less stressed. I picked an outfit that made me feel pretty and confident while remaining classy, understated and modest. I wanted my first impression to be just that: classy and confident yet approachable. Here was my first-day outfit from last year:
My outfit was simple and comfortable but I chose it for several reasons. First, green is my favorite color and I think it looks the best with my hair color and complexion. Second, it was comfortable and cool for the hot August day in very full classrooms. Third, it was classy and while flattering to my body, it did not show too much off. I finished my outfit with my hair in soft curls, soft makeup, flats, bright red nails and a classic watch to complete the look. I carried a bookbag but I know many people who brought totes to carry their books. looking back, I still am happy with my first-day outfit from last fall.
It is important to pick an outfit that, above all else, makes you feel comfortable and embodies your personality. You want your first-day impression to reflect you and still make a good, professional impression. Below are four possible first-day outfits for a variety of styles and all budget friendly!
For all those who love the sweet, floral look, this dress is just perfect for the first day of law school. The soft blue dress has a pretty floral pattern that is just so cute and fun while still maintaining a modest and classy look that will make a good impression. I paired it will a simple leather tote to carry books and simple leather sandals for ease of running up and down the stairs at school. I would finish the look with soft curls, dewy makeup, and light pink nails. This overall look is sweet and pretty and will earn you many compliments on your first day.
For those who prefer a more casual and sporty look, this jeans and tee combo is perfect. This simple t-shirt has a fun little cross in the back and paired with skinny jeans creates a simple but classic look. I paired it with Tom's shoes instead of sneakers because I think that Tom's provide all the comfort and simplicity of sneakers but a touch more dressy look. I added a North Face backpack to carry the books because every sporty girl probably has a sporty backpack to match. I would pair this with a high ponytail and red lipstick for a pop of color. Overall this outfit projects a casual yet put together look that will make a great first impression.
This outfit is so European. I could just see someone strolling down a Paris street in this... or a quirky girl looking for something a little different to wear on the first day of law school. This simple striped boatneck top would be tucked into a classic knee-length skirt in a stylish mustard color. I added strappy flats, a plain black backpack and mustard colored statement necklace to finish this chic look. I would pair this with winged eyeliner and a side braid to complete the look. This outfit may have people wondering if you are actually from France but still projects a confident first impression.
I love this simple yet so classy look. This is perfect for those feminine girls who just want to keep it simple and low key. I paired a flowy and soft colored peplum top with simple dark wash jeans. Black pointed toe flats, a classic black watch and a scalloped tote finish off this simple outfit. I would complete this outfit with straight hair, natural makeup, and bright red nails for a pop of color. This outfit is so simple yet projects such an image of class and looks so put together and confident- a great first impression for your first day of law school.
A good outfit is important but it is most important that you feel comfortable and confident in whatever you wear. Best of luck on your first day of law school!
The start of school is fast approaching. For all those soon to be 1L's, this is a very exciting and nerve wracking time. As a list maker, I am always writing lists of what all I have to do before _____ (whatever is coming up). This time last year, I had lists all over my house of all the things I needed to do before starting my 1L year. To help all the new 1L's (and even 2Ls and 3Ls), I have compiled all of that into one big master list of the things you need to do before starting law school... I included some GIF's to hopefully keep you laughing and keep the stress level low. Also, I included a printable checklist to help! I hope it helps!
1. Buy Books
Don't wait until the last minute to buy books. The University bookstore is usually more expensive and if you start early you can find better deals online.
2. Organize Financial Aid
Make sure your finances, whatever they may be, are in order so that you can start school in the clear! It never hurts to double check even if you did this previously.
3. Scope Out Parking
Nothing is worse than getting to school on the first day and making yourself late by not finding a parking spot or not knowing where to park. Make a point to scope out the parking situation and ask upperclassmen how the parking is when school is in session (busy times, etc.). This way you can arrive on your first day knowing what to expect parking wise.
Don't pull a Ross
4. Buy School Supplies
Go get your folders, binders, notebooks, highlighters, etc. Make sure everything is organized and ready to go for your first day. If you wait too long, the stores will be super picked over and the good stuff will be gone. More info on school supplies here. Also, get a planner. Trust me- you absolutely need one to stay sane and organized in law school.
5. Sign up for Lexis Nexis
You can sign up for Lexis Nexis and start earning rewards points before school even starts! They offer many videos and information that may help with your first day reading as well.
6. Pick out a First Day Outfit
Maybe I am extra crazy, but I have always made a point to pick out the perfect first day of school outfit. I feel like it sets the tone for the semester. Especially for your first day of law school, this is your first impression to your classmates so you want to make it a good one. Take 10 minutes and put together a killer outfit that makes you feel confident and bad ass to rock on your first day!
7. Print Syllabi
Print your class syllabi and figure out what each teacher is looking for. Can you use a computer? Is there a midterm? What is the first reading assignment? You can take all the dates and assignments and add them to your planner. It is good to go into day one with an idea of what your professor is looking for and news flash, law school doesn't really do syllabus day so it is up to you- they won't spoon feed it to you like undergrad.
8. Complete First Day Reading
Finish your first-day reading assignments sooner rather than later. Don't wait until the night before- you will go crazy. Start early and spread it out over a bit of time so you can slowly acclimate to the massive amounts of reading. Take good notes because you never know who will be the first person cold called. You do not want to recreate that famous scene from the movie The Paper Chase.
9. Double Check Classroom Locations
Once in undergrad, I went to my first day of class only to find a locked classroom and no other students. I quickly double checked the classroom online and realized it had been changed since I had last checked a week or so before classes started. Needless to say, I ended up running across campus and being late for my first day of class. To avoid this, double check classroom locations the night before your classes. You do not want to be late to your first law school classes; it makes for a poor first impression and you will get a crappy seat.
Don't be this guy
10. Make Laptop Updates
Make sure any updates are done to your laptop before starting classes. You don't want it to suddenly decide to complete that update you have been putting off in the middle of your first class while you are typing out notes.
11. Pack a Tote/Bookbag
I always like to have my chosen bag packed and ready to go the night before an event or in this case, the first day of classes. It makes me feel prepared and less stressed. I suggest packing your tote or bookbag ahead of time to make sure you have everything you need and to make the first morning a little smoother. Also it is good to know if everything will fit or not and if you need to reevaluate what bag you carry. Here is everything I keep in my law school book bag: Whats in My Bookbag- Law School Edition.
12. Invest in a Lunchbox
Packing a daily lunch saves you soooo much money over going out to eat every day. It is also healthier than getting fast food all the time. Go ahead and invest in a lunchbox- you will not be sorry!
13. Decide on a Study Space
I knew from the beginning I would primarily study at home. Therefore, I set up a home office to be my study space. Decide you a place where you will study productively and without distractions and plan on it. If you decide on the library, plan to head there after classes to finish the next days reading. If it is at home, have your desk clean and organized so you can come home from the first classes and get to work. If it is a local coffee shop or cafe, put aside $5-10 to treat yourself while you study there. Wherever you decide to study, plan on it and try to stick to it from the start. You may find that you original plan didn't work and there is no harm in changing up your study location. Just figure out a plan and try to stick to it. It helps to form a routine.
14. Explore Your New City
Not everyone moves to a new city for law school but many do. Before classes start and you get caught up in the hustle of 1L year, try to do some exploring in your new city. Try some restaurants, find a cute coffee shop, find the closest and most well stocked target and if you have time check out some local attractions such as zoo's and museums. It is nice to take some time to become familiar with your new city and gain some affinity for it. After all, you will be spending 3 years here so get comfortable.
15. Prep a Few Meals
I am super into meal planning/prepping. It saves me so much time and stress to have everything planned out ahead of time for what we are eating for the week. I have an entire blog post all about my meal planning and prepping (view it here). Your first few days (and probably weeks) of law school will be hectic and stressful. I suggest stocking up on a groceries ahead of time and planning some easy meals, lunches and snacks so you aren't stressing about cooking or spending a bunch of money on fast food the first little bit of law school.
16. Fill Your Gas Tank
Confession time: I was almost late to my first day of law school classes because I had to stop and get gas last minute because I didn't realize it was low. Avoid my mistake and go into the first day of classes with a full tank of gas... no matter how broke tuition has made you.
17. Do a Social Media Clean Up
Law school is your first foray into the legal community and your classmates will likely become a part of your professional community. It is a good idea to make a little clean up of your social media accounts: remove pictures featuring lots of alcohol (a glass of wine is usually okay), crazy college party pictures, swear words, excessive amounts of selfies, etc. You want people to see a professional image when they search your social media pages (because you know they will be after orientation). You don't want your first impressions to be marked by some old stuff on social media accounts. Another idea is to put strong privacy settings on or change you name on social media but millennials are as bad as the FBI- if they want to find your social media, they will. It is a good practice to start cleaning up your social media now because future jobs will also look at social media accounts and you want a professional image.
18. Rest Up
Law school usually leads to less sleep than you may prefer. Sleep in while you can and take a few naps. You want to start out feeling rested and ready to rock!
19. Relax
Law school is stressful and hectic and relaxation time will be a rare treat. Take some time now to relax and do things you enjoy.
20. Treat Yo' Self
Along with resting and relaxing, it's great to pamper yourself before law school starts. Go for a mani-pedi if you can afford it or just do it at home. Get your eyebrows waxed and maybe a fresh hairdo. Take a bubble bath and do a face mask. Go for a shopping trip and grab Starbucks. Pamper yourself now because you are about to put your mind to quite a challenge. Channel your inner Tom and Donna and treat yo' self.
Enjoy these last few weeks before law school but make sure you get everything done so you are not scrambling at the last minute. Good luck!
