Ten Promises For New Law Students to Consider

It is orientation time for West Virginia University College of Law, and I am sure other law schools around the country. If not, it's coming soon. I always like the buzz of the new students returning to the building, though it is a little bittersweet as the time I had for other projects is clearing nearing the end. All in all, though, I miss the students and the activity, so I'm happy the new year is getting ready to start. 

The combination of excitement and trepidation (if not fear) seems to be what stands our to me the most. It makes sense. Law school is a big undertaking, and it's not easy.  And it can be hard because it can be challenging both academically and socially.  As my wife has noted, "Law school can be more like high school than high school."  (I had a distinct advantage in skipping a lot of that because we were married when we started law school.)

To that end, here are my suggestions, based on the promises I made to myself when I left my job and went back to law school. Give it a try (and I welcome additions to the list in comments.)

I promise: 

(1) To read everything assigned.  Really. Not like undergrad, but actually read it all.  Then read it again. And again if I need to.

(2) To be honest with myself about whether I really understand what I' m reading so I know if I should read it again. 

(3) To view Black's Law Dictionary as my friend and use it liberally, rather than guessing at words from context.  

(4) To remember I don't know Latin very well (and see number 3 above). 

(5) To go to every class -- every class -- that I am able to attend and participate in that class so that I can learn what I know or don't know, not to so show what I know (or think I know). 

(6) To recognize that no one class is more important (or easier or harder) than another.  I will not skip Torts or Contracts to work on my Legal Writing memo.  It all needs to happen. 

(7) To do my best to get enough sleep. 

(8) To remember that everyone has a story and not assume I know it. 

(9) To be friendly and build relationships so that the community I know is a community I want. 

(10) To do my best work and know that my real competition is myself, so that when I finish an exam or paper, even though I don't know how well I did, I will know I did everything I could to do well. As John Wooden said, "Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability."