Savvy Advice for Law School Success
Law school, certainly the first year, will be academically challenging and often difficult as you learn to adjust to law school studies—all while potentially adjusting to a new city. So, our professors, staff, and students offer a few tips to you as you begin law school.
Make sure you get the assistance you need as you continue to study law. Professor Heidi Gorovitz Robertson advises that you “get help when you need and before you really get into trouble.”
You must be willing to accept that each of us need help every once in awhile and that the law school faculty and staff are here to help you succeed. Take advantage of our academic excellence program, review old exams and attend our examination preparation class before your first exam, and most importantly, stay on top of your workload.
Along with the pressures of academic studies, you do need to take a break from studies. Professor Alan Weinstein offers the excellent advice:
“Obviously hard work, but be sure to schedule fun time too and take off one full day every weekend.”
Remember, your law career begins the first day you set foot at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. You need to be ethical, conscientious members of the law school community because you will be expected to be once you practice law. To better understand this concept, as well as preparing you for law school expectations, Daniel Dropko, our Academic Excellence Program Manager, recommends you read 1,000 Days to the Bar by Dennis J. Tonsing.
Your experience here can be even more rewarding if you take advantage of all we offer—including lectures and educational programs, information resources just for our students, and excellent faculty and staff available to help you succeed.
“You have to know about the Professional and Skills Study Room in A066 in the Law Library. Anything you need to know about studying, getting a job, passing the bar, or reviewing a course textbook, you can get it here.”
- Dave Thomas, 3L, Part-time Evening Student
“Try to attend as many of our public lectures as possible. They are not all equal in the quality of the speaker, but many are the most notable legal thinkers of the day.”
- Louise Mooney, Communications Coordinator
Or you could short-circuit all of this advice and simply,
“Take all of Sagers’ classes.”
- Professor Christopher Sagers
In conclusion, we offer the best advice as you begin your journey here at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.
“Don’t take yourself too seriously.”
- Kenneth Kowalski, Professor
Enjoy the ride!