As we welcome first-year law students to campus, TLR members give encouraging words and advice on what they wish they would have known about law school.
Jansen Carver, 3L:
“Keep steady. It’s easy to burn out, feeling like you need to study the most. Consistency is key. You’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed and intimidated. You deserve to be here and wouldn’t be here if you weren’t capable. Everyone is going through a new experience together; if you feel you’re behind, you’re probably not alone.”
Sabrina Huston, 2L:
“My advice would be to focus on what makes you successful. Instead of comparing yourself to others, use your 1L year to learn about yourself and what study techniques and level of social involvement work for you. Before starting law school, I wish I had known that professors are your greatest resource! I wish I would have started meeting with them earlier during office hours because they are there to help you and want to see you succeed.”
Emma Savage Fowler, 3L:
“Keep an open mind when thinking about what kind of law you are interested in and what type of legal career you might want to have. Don’t be afraid to go after opportunities you aren’t sure that you will love. Discovering what you aren’t interested in is just as, if not more, valuable as discovering what you are interested in. The more exposure to different areas of the legal field you have, the better!
It is ok to take breaks! Often, when I took study breaks during 1L, it was never really a break. I would spend the entire time thinking about all the things I could be doing rather than focusing on using that time to relax and reset. I would tell my 1L self to take deep breaths and remember that sometimes, taking a break is necessary to move forward.”
Trinity Sandifer, 2L:
“Law school is all about learning and persevering. My advice would be to find your why and commit to it. That will get you through the long readings, overwhelming feelings, and the inclination to compare your journey to other classmates. I wish I understood how much the professors and academic resources want to help each person succeed and utilized that help during my first weeks of school.”
Troy C. Book, 3L:
“First, I want to congratulate all of you on getting into law school and choosing to attend the University of Tennessee. The best advice I can offer you all as you begin your law school career is not to become overwhelmed with stress. Law school is undoubtedly stressful due to the nature of its grading system, and many of you are probably already thinking about class ranking and applying to OCIs. But I encourage you to enjoy the process and not focus too much on grades. During my first semester, I spent a lot of time worrying about my grades and class rank. Looking back, I realize I was overly anxious and didn’t need to stress out so much. Everything will work out, and all of you will accomplish your personal goals regardless of how your first year of law school turns out. Enjoy the process, and remember to take time to have some fun. I wish all of you the best of luck.
I wish I had known earlier that law professors are kind people who want to help you learn and succeed. During my first weeks, I was far too anxious and nervous to attend any of my professors’ office hours out of fear of being judged. In hindsight, my worry was unfounded, and I should have made an effort to attend my professors’ office hours. Your professors want to help you learn and succeed, so don’t be afraid to reach out to them!”
Kailyn Stone, 2L:
“I would tell the 1Ls to get to know as many people as possible and to take it day by day. Don’t get behind on the readings; stay on top from week 1 to develop good habits. Build relationships with professors and work hard, but remember to have fun too. Keep doing things you enjoy outside of school! I wish I had known that a bad midterm or assignment grade is not the end of the world and that it’s possible to bounce back from everything. Try again even if you fail the first time, and something good is bound to come out of it. Don’t worry about what everyone else around you is doing. Keep the same study habits that worked for you in undergrad and focus on what you need to do to succeed rather than getting wrapped up in what others have or have not done.”
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