Week #2: Getting Involved

During our first week of classes, we were bombarded by organization representatives encouraging us to get involved and sign up for listservs. Should we join five organizations, run a campaign to become a senator, apply for a 1L executive board position, or bypass activities during our first year altogether? As you will soon come to know, this decision is like everything else in law school . . . it depends. We hope you find this series insightful. We look forward to your reflections.

Here’s to going first,

Danielle and David

1. Join a student organization.

The law school’s website and upper level students were great sources for hearing about the benefits of different organizations. Shortly after arriving on campus, Danielle decided to join the Black Law Students Association where she met some of her best friends and formed bonds with 2Ls and 3Ls. David didn’t join a student organization during his first semester (“focus on your grades," they said) and he regrets not having done so. In his second semester, David joined OUTLaw and met new friends and mentors. We tend to forget that our peers will soon be our work colleagues, and fostering these relationships is critical to future success. Also, organizations may offer exclusive opportunities for their members, such as dining with alumni or engaging with legal professionals when planning events. We can’t forget to mention that mid-day meetings usually offer free food and members often receive outlines for each class.

2. Understand the time commitment.

Thankfully, law school is not like undergrad where we have to gather at random times to attend meetings or events. In a number of law schools, the lunch period falls at the same time for all law students, so the time for meetings and events is carved into student schedules. When making the decision whether to join an organization, we considered the frequency of meetings and membership requirements to remain in good standing with the organization.

3. Seek out a mentor.

As with everything else in life, having mentors that you trust for law school and career advice is essential. Danielle became a student member of a bar association where she was paired with a mentor who provided invaluable advice throughout her first year of law school. David was matched with a mentor through his school’s public interest resource center. Additionally, after a number of positive interactions with a faculty member, David asked that faculty member if he’d be willing to serve as his mentor. He obliged and the two connect formally at least once a semester. When seeking out mentors, attend networking events and engage with your professors in and out of the classroom. If an attorney or judge has the time, many will be thrilled to serve as your mentor. If you’re too nervous to ask during your next lunch date, send an email instead and kindly ask the individual to serve as your mentor.

4. Attend a lunch and learn event.

We understand that every student’s situation is unique, so if you cannot devote time to a recurring commitment, there are other options. We attended “Lunch and Learn” events to develop our base of legal knowledge and discover new topics. We considered building our resumes and sharpening our research skills, so we attended library sessions to obtain a research certification and learn new tools. Also, students may consider attending a financial course to learn about saving for bar-related expenses, budgeting in law school, or learning about investments.

5. Know your reason for the decision.

When choosing how to spend your free time, weigh the short- and long-term benefits. In the spring, we both applied for and were offered roles as ambassadors for a bar prep company in exchange for a free bar course to reduce bar-related expenses after graduation. Additionally, Danielle applied to an external scholar program that provided networking opportunities and informational sessions to assist law students with obtaining and succeeding in summer internships. While we both found on-campus resources related to summer employment beneficial, we also knew that we had to look beyond campus to find additional support. Thus, we both joined organizations that offered mentors, mock interview opportunities, seminars, and resume review. Pinpoint a few goals that you would like to achieve over the next year, and consider how each opportunity can serve its purpose to bring you one step closer to your goal.

As you will hear many times, 1L grades are important, so we recommend approaching additional commitments with caution. Plan your time wisely to read supplements, attend study sessions, make appointments with your professors, practice hypotheticals, foster professional and personal relationships, and care for yourself. After you understand the workload, you will have a better grasp on how to navigate your level of involvement in law school. Keep in mind that you can always start small and add obligations during your spring semester or during your second and third years of law school.

That’s all for this week. Have additional thoughts? We want to hear from you!

Week #3: Making Summer Count will be shared on Monday, January 18, 2021.

Make sure to subscribe and follow us on social media (@firstgen_5).