Law school doesn’t reward the hardest worker. It rewards the one who figures out—faster than their peers—how to study smart. That distinction is everything. There’s no single path to success, but there are definitely well-worn detours, dead ends, and traps to avoid.
Below are 10 key lessons that cover everything from study techniques to job search strategy. Read and apply them from day one to gain a real edge.
1. Learn Faster Than Your Peers
Some people treat law school like a factory job: show up, read the cases, take notes, rinse and repeat. But that won’t cut it. The students who do best aren’t necessarily putting in more hours—they’re spending their time doing the right things. That means:
- Talking to upperclassmen who did well in your professor’s class (not just in general)
- Getting your hands on targeted old outlines and asking how the exam was structured
- Testing study methods early and dropping what doesn’t work for you
Your goal isn’t to imitate what worked for someone else. It’s to figure out what works for you—and double down on itbefore finals season hits.
2. Don’t Brief Every Case Unless It Helps You
Briefing cases is one of those law school traditions that sounds useful in theory. In practice, it’s time-consuming and often useless. Unless your professor requires briefs or you personally find that they sharpen your understanding, skip them. You’ll learn more by:
- Closely reading the cases
- Following along with old outlines or Quimbee summaries in class
- Focusing on outlining and practice exams—the real difference-makers
If briefing helps you lock in material, go for it. If it doesn’t, cut it. No one gets points for doing unnecessary work.
3. Outlining Is a Skill—Not a Box to Check
You’ll hear people say to start outlining early. What they mean is this: build a system that helps you internalize the material and apply it on an exam. That’s all an outline is for. A 100-page outline doesn’t help if you can’t find anything in it when time’s ticking. The real weapon? Your attack outline—short, sharp, and actionable.
You’ll need time for:
- Regular outline (to understand and organize)
- Attack outline (to use during exams)
- Practice exams (to stress-test both)
How and when you outline depends on you. But don’t wait until your outline is “done” to start practicing. Your first practice exam doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to get you in the game.
4. Supplements and Old Outlines: Double-Edged Swords
A supplement or commercial outline can either clarify the material—or totally derail you if your professor teaches it differently. Always vet resources against what your professor emphasizes in class. The safest move? Find students who crushed that exact course with that exact professor and ask what helped.
Sometimes an old student outline will be more useful than a supplement. Sometimes a supplement like Chemerinsky (for Con Law) is gold. The point is to test and calibrate early.
5. Practice Exams Are Your Secret Weapon
The single best predictor of final performance? How well you practiced. Don’t wait for the last week to start issue-spotting. Do mock exams—even partial ones—as early as possible.
- Use them to pressure-test your outline
- Email your professor or stop by office hours to walk through your reasoning
- Don’t be afraid to ask where you lost points after the fact
Some professors give multiple choice, others give word limits, others want policy analysis. Practicing under those specific constraints is how you pull ahead.
6. Choose Your Classes Strategically
Once you hit 2L and 3L, the myth of “easy As” dies fast. Some advice:
- Avoid classes filled with tippy-top students (i.e., Federal Courts won’t help you raise your GPA)
- Seminars often have more lenient curves and less stress—use them wisely
- If you want biglaw, prioritize M&A, corporate finance, and other relevant classes, but don’t over-index on resume optics
- Take at least one class just because it interests you as you may never get that chance again
If you’re aiming for a clerkship, courses like Federal Courts and Complex Litigation matter. If you’re targeting corporate practice, classes like Secured Transactions matter. If you’re just trying to boost your GPA, the key is staying away from curve-killer courses and professors known for being brutal.
And keep in mind: what you take in one course can affect how you do in others. If you overload yourself with a notoriously difficult class or a clinic that eats your time, you may find yourself disadvantaged in your other classes—especially if the people around you are taking lighter loads. Every credit hour has an opportunity cost. Make sure your schedule works for you, not against you.
7. Your 1L Summer Job Doesn’t Define You—But It Can Help
Most biglaw firms don’t hire 1Ls. If you get a 1L summer biglaw offer, great. But if not, focus on getting meaningful legal experience. Public interest, government, small firm—it all counts if you can speak clearly about the substance of your work.
And yes, working overseas for 1L summer is totally fine. It won’t ruin your 2L chances. If anything, it might help.
8. Biglaw Recruiting: Grades First, Interviewing Second
OCI is a numbers game. Grades come first. But interviews matter, too. If you’re a competitive based on your school/grades, you must stand out in interviews. That means:
- Doing as many mock interviews as possible, ideally with actual biglaw attorneys
- Building rapport, projecting competence, and being likable
- Knowing your story and articulating why you belong
The lower your GPA, the sharper your interview game needs to be. For some students, it’s the make-or-break factor.
9. Career Services: Use Them, But Vet Them
Some counselors are amazing. Others are phoning it in. Figure out early which ones know their stuff and build relationships with them. Good ones can:
- Connect you with alumni
- Help you tailor your applications
- Suggest overlooked options or backup markets
But no one’s handing you a job. They open doors—you walk through them.
10. Be Smart About Time Off and Wellbeing
Law school is demanding, but it’s not bootcamp. You can still exercise, sleep, and take the occasional weekend trip—especially if you stay on top of your work and avoid low-yield habits.
Think of 1L like a 9–6 job with finals season as a crunch period. You can have a life. You just can’t waste hours every day and expect to coast.
Final Takeaway
The biggest winners in law school aren’t the ones grinding the longest. They’re the ones who test, adapt, and refine their process early. There is no universal blueprint—but the faster you discover your own, the faster you start winning.
Haven’t started your applications yet? I work one‑on‑one with focused, driven applicants to turn their experiences into persuasive law‑school narratives. Get personalized help here.
Want the context behind this guide? Read the AMA recap it’s based on here.