For most law students, the first day of classes is full of excitement and a lot of anxiety. The first thing you probably want to know about your professors is their on-call system. Is it random, alphabetical, or should you move to another seat to get off the firing line? Once the anxiety subsides, though, you eventually settle into your own rhythm as you learn to manage your time between studying, study groups, and extracurricular activities. The Faculty, Courses, and Studying section of FindLaw for Law Students is here to help you to find your law school groove early, so that you have time for other law school activities or even a joint degree.
Faculty, Courses, and Studying
Faculty, Courses, and Studying Articles
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Learning Judicial Precedent: A Q&A with Bryan Garner
Judicial precedent is a cornerstone of the U.S. legal system, ensuring certainty and consistency from case to case. It’s also a concept that will play a key role in nearly every aspect of your legal career, from 1L exams to your future practice. And yet, few law school textbooks cover the subject head on and in any kind of depth, leaving many law students in the dark about the nuances of the practice and how it came to be.
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Law School Electives and Extracurriculars
Law school electives and extracurriculars offer opportunities to develop lawyering skills, test-drive an area of practice, or focus your study and resume. The following article provides an overview of the considerations when choosing law school activities.
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Law School Study Groups
Law school study groups are very common and groups will begin to organize within the first couple weeks of school. This article is meant to help you sort out whether a study group is right for you.
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Should I Get a JD/MBA?
Contemplating a joint JD/MBA program? Find out the pros and cons of this career track, including where to go to get more information, by checking out this article.
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Sample 1L Study Schedule
Law school is well known for the grueling schedule it imposes on its students. From the hundreds of pages per week in reading, to the endless pressure of preparing outlines for finals, the first year of law school can feel like being hit with a ton of bricks. Students who have been through it all know that in order to survive the first year of law school, it's imperative that students prepare and follow a 1L study schedule.