1) Don't worry if it seems like the people constantly raising their hands in class are smarter than you. They tend not to get the highest grades.

2) Because of the curve, law school is essentially a competition, but the people who are willing to help each other tend to do far better than those who aren't.

3) Realize that you’re likely not going to have to brief all the cases, nor will you absolutely have to. Use a summary to build on briefs instead of starting from scratch!

4) You probably already have a decent idea of what sort of studying works best for you. Stick with it, but be willing to try new strategies just to see if they work better.

5) 1L can easily become all-consuming, but take some time to see your friends and family if you're near home, or else to do the sorts of fun things you liked doing before law school.

6) There are all sorts of amazing extracurricular opportunities at Osgoode. Be sure to take advantage of some of them, without spreading yourself too thin.

7) Treat your fellow students with respect, kindness, and general decency. Not just because that's how you should treat everyone in your life, but because it'll come back to haunt you later in your career if you don't. (I know a few people that I would never, ever recommend for a job based on their conduct in 1L).

8) Realize that law school isn't for everyone and that's okay. You're not a failure if you realize this isn't the career for you. No one that is accomplished enough to get into law school is a failure, and no one will think that you're a quitter if you decide after a year or two this just isn't for you. Sometimes it's better to leave before you amass further debt. Sometimes it's better to take a year off to clear your head and figure out what your goals are and how to best achieve them. It's okay to choose a different path! At the same time, remember that plenty of people who dislike law school find rewarding careers as lawyers and that law school itself is not very reflective of what it's like to work in the field. Please speak to upper years and the career counsellors to get an outsider's point of view! 

9) A bad mark on a midterm often has no bearing on the grade you'll end up with, so relax. Likewise, a high grade doesn't mean you'll end up with an A, so don't get a big head.

10) At reasonable intervals, reflect on why you're in law school and what you hope to get out of it. Then consider if you're doing what you need to do to achieve those ends.

11) Law school exams don't measure how smart you are. They measure how well you're able to apply information amassed over the course of a semester / year in a three-hour period, with an inordinate advantage given to those who can read and type quickly. Don't let grades affect your self-esteem too much, for better or for worse. Please don't feel stupid because you're NOT. Remember that you wouldn't have gotten in here if the administration didn't think you would be a brilliant addition to the legal profession. They believe in you.