Top 3 Tips to Stand Out in Law School

Making it to law school is an achievement in and of itself. However, once you're there, you'll soon realize that your peers are your competition. Not only are classes graded on a curve, but, even in the largest cities, there are only so many paying jobs that offer law students any real working experience.

As such, it can often pay, literally, to stand out from the crowd. However, be warned, there's an old saying that's as true today as it ever was: the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.

Below you'll find a few tips to help you stand out from your law school peers.

1. Dress Sharp, but Not Too Sharp

Most law school's may not have a professional dress code, but dressing at least business casual seems to be the norm. Rolling into class in your pajamas or work out gear can be awfully awkward if your professor and fellow students are dressed professionally. Some professors might even be offended and pick on the student who is too casually dressed, or if you go to the other end of the spectrum, the student who dressed too sharp.

Also, the hallways of many law schools can be an excellent place to network as alumni and guest lecturers, which are usually practicing attorneys, or sometimes even judges, are often eager to talk with random students they meet on campus.

2. Be a Gunner

While your peers may trash talk you behind your back for being a gunner, it will likely be due to the fact you're killing it in the classroom. Those same people will likely ask for your outlines come exam time. If you are working hard, it'll show, and you'll be more likely to get good grades, and maybe even one of the few coveted paying jobs for law students. 

If you'd rather stand out than have friends that make fun of motivated students, then being a gunner is probably a good option.

3. Be a Social Media Wizard (or Disaster)

Being smart about social media and keeping up with the professional trends will definitely make you stand out. Having your LinkedIn updated, potentially even with links to real work you've done, will show potential employers that you know how to present yourself professionally.

If you have Twitter or other social media accounts, these need to be professional as well, as potential employers might be looking at these, too. Yes, go back through your feeds and delete stuff. Google yourself. If you end up being a social media disaster, you'll stand out for all the wrong reasons, so tread lightly and cautiously.

Related Resources:

• This Year's Youngest Law Student Is Only 18 (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
• #DearFindLaw: Study Supplements, Outgunning Gunners (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
• Ten-Hut! 5 Reasons Why 1st Year of Law School is Like Boot Camp (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)