Congrats, if you have made up to the Law School. Your exciting journey is about to begin. But freshers go through a lot of mixed emotions; they’re excited and nervous at the same time. The excitement to meet their seniors but a bit of nervousness to interact with them. The first year of law.
Here’s everything you need to know about first year-
In the Classroom
Intense Reading
If you have ever talked to a law school alumni, you’re probably aware of the massive reading quantities in the first year.
Roughly about 10 hours of reading per week is assigned to the students. As reading will help you to improve the ability to understand better and have a broader perspective on the topics.
Your schedule is out of your Hands
Law school is not similar to your undergraduate. And so, you don’t have a choice to pick between the classes. You need to attend the classes on a regular basis because most professors discuss materials only once. And, if you miss the session, it will be a big disadvantage for you.
Outside the Classroom
Form a Study Group
Develop good communication and bond with your classmates, so it will be easy to execute the group projects. You can study together with your course mates, when the exam season is around the corner. It will help you stay motivated and encourage the exchange of innovative ideas. Interacting with the students who have similar interests might also result in long term friendships.
The Socratic Method
The Socratic method is commonly used in many law schools to explore difficult legal concepts.
In this method, the professor randomly chooses a student from the class and assail them with rapid-fire questions. Regardless of the accuracy, the professor trips and grill them on the details overlooked or issues unresolved. He often manipulates the facts of the actual case and converts it into a hypothetical situation. This is done to explore legal principles through a series of questions.
Socratic method can be used as a tool of intimidation and also for collaborative learning.
In both the cases, the inquiry usually begins with relatively straightforward questions, but the professor might ask the students to identify:
- The parties
- The facts of the case
- The issues
- The procedural posture
- The decision
- The reasoning behind the decision
Moot courts and debates
Moot Court competitions are held by various law schools. Some competitions are invitation-based. It means only selected law colleges are invited in them by the organizers.
Moot Court is a courtroom similar to an ordinary courtroom, but no general proceedings are held here. It is a demo court made for law students to practice court cases and they can also learn to argue in front of the judge.
Mooting is considered very important for a law student as it provides the student with immense knowledge about the practical aspects of the legal system. By doing such activities, a law student can enhance his analytical, research and writing skills.
Internships
Internships can give you the experience and chance to explore the world outside of law school. They provide good opportunities to build your network and help you open several doors for new events. When a student works under a senior lawyer, they develop a better understanding of paperwork, case presentations, and argument framing. It can also help you build your CV with the work experience.
While many consider the first year to be a difficult phase, it does its job well. It definitely won’t be easy. However, it will set the path right for the rest of your legal career. So regardless of the fact that you want to work in the private or public sector, you will develop skills of communication, critical reasoning, and thinking. And with a law degree, you can also help people with professional advice and counseling.
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