Many people entering law school attempt to steel themselves to the harsh reality of what they are about to enter in to by buying books like the scary Law School Confidential and watching movies like The Paper Chase. I had the good fortune of reading the former after I met a few of my fellow classmates, all of whom laugh off the language about fighting over thousandths of a GPA point and being wary of advice in study groups.
Fact is, law students are just like other grad students, as far as I can tell. They party to blow off steam, they allow themselves to get over their head in work, they have other interests that they keep up during the semester. So far, upperclassmen here have told me that the worst thing you can possibly be in law school is a "gunner," or a student who fights for a professors attention by shooting off at the mouth on any issue brought up in class. In the past, I have had a tendency to do this, but the fear I feel about the whole experience will keep my head buried in my notes in class unless I'm called on.
Perhaps all the scary literature about law school will pay off after all.
First year is both as important as everyone tells you it is, and not nearly as important. If you manage to figure out the secret combination that sets you up with fantastic first year grades, your immediate post-grad life will be much much easier than if you don't. But if you don't figure out the combo? Life goes on. And you can still end up in a good situation. It's just a lot harder to get to that point. So, umm, pay now or pay later. Or something like that. There's nothing like first year. Thank god.
Thanks.
I think.