A Graduate's Guide to Law School
By Martha Hulley, L'06
Martha Hulley is a 2006 University of Richmond law school graduate who took the Virginia bar exam in July. Juris Publici, the Law School's newspaper, approached her for some advice to those of us yet to take the bar. She offers a little advice for all students, from first year through third.
I have been asked to give some advice about "studying for the bar exam." After overcoming my panic attack at the mere mention of those two awful words, "bar exam," I laughed hysterically and informed the wayward Juris Publici Editor-in-Chief that no one wants to read an article about what it's like to study for the bar exam. There's plenty of time to stress about that AFTER school. For now, I am going to write about what is much more important; what to do with the time you have left before Bar Exam season.
To the first-years: Don't be scared! The only thing to fear is NOT fear itself, but the Bar Exam. You still have three wonderful years ahead of you. Law school is all about loading up at the front end. Buckle down now, and I promise you will benefit from it in the end. Don't overload yourself with activities; there is plenty of time to sign up in the spring. Don't stress about Law Review, or Moot Court, or any of those other weird cult-like groups that people have been telling you about. This semester you have FOUR concerns: Civil Procedure, Torts, Property, and Lawyering Skills. Focus on your classes and discover the study habits that work best for you. Once you master your classes, the rest of law school will be smooth sailing…well… okay maybe not smooth, but the ride will be relatively smoother.
If I could do first year again: I would be more socially outgoing. Make sure you don't forget to make friends. Attend some of those DownUnders; it's a great way to meet people, and a fantastic way to unwind. Plus, anyone studying on a Friday night, even a nerd like me, is insane. Everything will work itself out. And finally, attend Academic Success classes, and do everything that Emmy tells you! I mean it, everything.
To the second-years: The hard part is over, right? Wrong! The hard work is just beginning. Sure the "first year fear" is gone, but the work remains. Buckle down and get ready. And for those of you on journals, do NOT freak out. Just take it one day at a time, I promise you will get through everything. You will be amazed just how much you can accomplish, and you'll be amazed how much you can learn in the three days before a final exam! And for those reading assignments that you just don't get to? You will quickly learn that the world doesn't end when your answer in class is "I don't know."
If I could do second year again: I would take more risks. Try out for Moot Court, even if you hate public speaking. Sign up for that negotiation competition. Apply to that big Chicago law firm. Step up and apply for that Executive Board position. What is the worst that can happen? You don't win? The firm says no? This is your chance to shake things up and show everyone what you can really do. And most importantly, keep taking the time to be with your friends. I cannot stress enough how important friendship will be to you.
To my third-years: Live it up. Don't take yourselves too seriously. By the third year, you are a master at knowing just how much effort you need to put into a class in order to get the grade that you want. Don't waste time spinning your wheels. Also, take exactly the number of credits that you need to graduate and no more: you'll thank me later. To those of you searching for clerkships, best of luck to you. I highly recommend it. (See Jim Hawes, Third Years Choose the Clerkship Path, 33 JURIS PUBLICI 12 (Nov. 14, 2005), at law.richmond.edu/jurispub/jpubsite/clerkships (last visited: Aug. 22, 2006). And yes, I did just cite that from memory.) Don't stress about those job decisions, and for those of you still in the job search, it will all work out. This is the time to spend with your friends, and take classes that you will really enjoy. The time to buckle down is just around the corner, so relax while you can.
I will say one thing about the bar exam. What got me through the bar exam was not the fact that I took secured transactions, or that I finally figured out the Rule Against Perpetuities (okay, I'm lying, I didn't really figure it out, but it sounds good). What got me through the bar exam was the memories I had with my friends. When I needed a break, I remembered the squeals of delight at Ladies' Night when George and Meredith finally kissed. I remembered the late night talks out on the balcony (cigars optional), the multitude of dinners out on the town, the super-fast lunches at Mexico and Joe's Market, and the late nights in the Law Review office (which had nothing to do with editing and everything to do with writing the perfect script for Law ReVUE). I remembered setting up for countless DownUnders with the social committee, and I remembered the hours spent sitting at those silly tables in the front of the library (where we convinced ourselves we were "studying"). Notice how nowhere in there did I remember a class. (Well, okay, I do remember when Professor Eisen called on me first thing on the first day of class---which happened to be my BIRTHDAY---because my IM window was open, but that's more of an emotional scar than a memory).
No matter where you are in your law school career, don't forget to pace yourself and give yourself a break now and then. I promise that the work will still be there when you get back from Snakes on a Plane, and you will always have those fond memories of Sam Jackson when you too are giving up, I mean, finally learning the Rule Against Perpetuities for that pesky Bar Exam.
Oh, and if I could do third year all over again? I wouldn't change a thing.
Martha Hulley is a 2006 graduate of the School of Law. Letters to the editor may be submitted to jurispub@richmond.edu.