Starting Law School in August, what should I expect?

[BeL0wMe]

Hey, despite major inclinations against this path, I'm taking the plunge. I'm just curious what I should expect from this semester, as far as workload, how many hours a day of class, how many classes per semester, what am I going to learn in these classes, what is torts all about? How hard are the exams, and how often? Thanks.

[NickMPK]

I'm pretty sure there are some threads in Student Life that address these questions if you search for them. You might also get more response there in general.

In terms of how many hours/classes per semester, that varies between law school. Some schools have you take all your 1st year classes the whole year, while some divide it by semester. In general, I had 4-5 classes per semester, 13-16 hours/week. I also took a special curriculum 1st year, so I never really took any of the typical 1st year classes.

You generally only have one exam at the end of the semester, which is your entire grade. If you have any full year classes, you might have an exam at the end of both semesters, or just one at the end of the year. A few classes (specifically legal writing) will have periodic graded papers and may or may not have exams/midterms.

The exams, especially in first year, are graded on predetermined curve. So how "hard" they are just depends on how much better or worse you are than the rest of the students.

[Jezebel]

Law school in a nutshell:

The first year they scare you to death;
The seconde year they work you to death;
The third year they bore you to death.

[Poofler]

[ QUOTE ]
how many hours a day of class, how many classes per semester, what am I going to learn in these classes, what is torts all about? How hard are the exams, and how often? Thanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hours a week: ~15.
Classes per semester: 4-5.
What you learn: priniples of law through cases and discussion.
Torts: Civil wrongs - negligence, etc.
Exams hard?: Totally depends on the professor/exam. Some are brutal some aren't. But it's generally moot, as you are graded on a forced curve. Just one exam at the end of the class, usually. Some classes will have a paper or midterm as well.

[27offsuit]

Expect to be a complete douchebag in about 5 years.

[Wynton]

What law school? Experience can vary a lot depending on the school.

[miajag]

[ QUOTE ]
Expect to be a complete douchebag in about 5 years.

[/ QUOTE ]

Lawyers who are douchebags were douchebags before they started law school. Don't get me wrong, it definitely attracts douchebags. But I've never seen it really change anyone.

[Poofler]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Expect to be a complete douchebag in about 5 years.

[/ QUOTE ]

Lawyers who are douchebags were douchebags before they started law school. Don't get me wrong, it definitely attracts douchebags. But I've never seen it really change anyone.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very true. Most of the newer douchebags, IMO, are the kids who think "I can make $135K in three years? At 25? W00T!", and really have no pre-existing interest in the law other than the perception of being young and rich.

[MrMon]

If you want a top job, it will all be determined by what you do your first year, if not your first semester. Be prepared to devote every waking moment to doing well and getting that first plum summer job. Do that and you can coast the rest of the way. If there's any way to get started now, do so. Find out everything you can about how to write the tests, what the profs want, etc.

Your goal needs to be top 10% in each of your two semesters, top 20% minimum. Life will be much easier if you do. Much better to do well early than to try and make it up in the last year.

[elwoodblues]

First year of law school is like learning a new language and trying to learn substantive materials in that language all at the same time. It is a struggle at first, but after a semester (give or take) it's not that difficult. First year curriculum usually consists of:
Legal writing
Torts
Contracts
Civil Procedure
Property

and maybe one more (Constitutional law, Criminal Law, Evidence) --- depending on the school.