While you're in law school, you are learning the skills, techniques, and habits that you will need to succeed in the legal profession, but there are also several other things you can do to help prepare for a legal career--and it starts with your first year and continues until you graduate.
Along with these tips below, something you should absolutely do throughout your three years of law school is get to know your classmates, your future colleagues, as they can be excellent sources of support and information for years to come.
1L
- Study. You were probably going to do this one anyway, but the single most important thing you can do to put yourself on a fabulous legal career path is to get the highest grades you can. Your first semester grades are important not only to your future summer employer but also to future employers in general.
- Try out for Law Review and/or Moot Court. Aside from getting excellent grades, these two activities are what legal employers want to see on your resume.
- Secure summer employment. Most 1L students won't work in a law firm, but be sure to find something related to the legal profession; being a professor's research assistant is one of the best ways you can spend your summer as you'll gain lots of legal research and writing experience.
2L
- Get involved in student organizations. Now that you've gotten your studying schedule down, you'll have more time to dedicate to extracurriculars, so if you haven't already, start looking at student organizations that interest you. Don't spread yourself too thin, though; only pursue what really interests you or what you might consider for a 2L summer job.
- Choose classes that interest you. In particular, choose subjects you might want to pursue as a career or as a 2L summer job.
- Get a summer job in a law firm. If you know you want to work in a firm upon graduation, this is a must, but even if you don't think you'll choose firm life, you might consider experiencing it for at least a summer so you don't look back and wonder "What if?"
3L
- Use Career Services. No matter your law school, you have a great Career Services office available to you. At the very least, it will offer advice on writing resumes and interviewing, and you should take advantage of both of those.
- Volunteer. Your third year may leave you with a bit more spare time, so whether it's through a pro bono clinic or something you find on your own, seek out what interests you, and even if there's not a paying position, volunteer to gain valuable experience.
- Join local bar associations and network. It's never too early to start lining up contacts that can be valuable resources for years to come. Don't just call it in though; really work on cultivating relationships, which includes helping out others, too.
