Making friends. Much to my relief, the first week of law school was not as chaotic as the start of college. If you want to make friends in law school, there is ample opportunity to do so but you probably won’t feel the pressure you felt freshman year. Socially, law school felt like a hybrid of undergrad and a professional work environment. Many students take time off between law school and college. Some even have families at home, so their social lives as a 1L are likely low on their list of priorities. At the very least, be friendly to your classmates because your law school section will be a valuable network in the future. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, though. As I enter my *late* twenties, I find that people who are meant to be in my life will stay there.
Making good grades. In college, I had a strong academic record and expected the same in law school. On my first day of law school however, I felt very out of my league. Everyone was just as ambitious, diligent and conscientious as I was. Try to turn those feelings of insecurity into an appreciation that you are where you are supposed to be. Surrounding yourself with intelligent and hard-working people will challenge you and foster personal growth. Keep up with your readings, get some precedent outlines from students who have taken the class in the past and you will be just fine.
What if I hate being a Lawyer? Becoming a lawyer requires a lot of work and sacrifice. For those who went to law school straight from college, preparation for the LSAT and law school applications occupied the better part of your senior year. After all of that work and the debt I incurred, I was afraid that in my first few years of practice, I would not enjoy the practice of law. Trust yourself. Having a law degree is extremely valuable and will open your life to a vast amount of opportunity, even if you decide that being practicing is not the right fit. I have seen a number of JDs leave law firms to become successful authors, investment bankers and legal recruiters (just to name a few). You will find your path.
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