First year law school! We understand that most of you out there are feeling some mixture of nervousness, excitement and apprehension on what to expect for O-week and 1L. Completely understandable. In our attempt to ease the transition, we've asked a diverse cross-section of members of the Osgoode community what they wish they had known prior to starting first year. Below you will find our collective wisdom (aka hindsight 20/20!). We hope you find the tips helpful!
O-Week TIP: You do not need to buy your books on the very first day of school. Except for the course materials for Ethical Lawyering, you really do not need to buy your books on the first day. Many people did last year, but there was no place to keep them as lockers were not yet available and thus, some people were forced to carry around their books. That’s no fun! With all the O-Week activities and ethical lawyering readings and assignments, you will likely not make a dent in your criminal/tort/contract readings anyway. ADVICE: It’s okay to cut yourself loose(r) Most incoming students can likely attribute most of their academic success to taking a disciplined approach to partying, but O-Week is the time to be as social as possible. It is worth it to “invest” in new friendships that will help to sustain you through school. ADVICE: Be well rested for O-Week It’s not only jam-packed with activities but you want to be most alert for meeting your new friends, don’t you? | Socializing ADVICE: Sections = life and soul of first year. This is the group people that you are going to see in each and every class (except your elective). Spend some time to get to know people in your section as it definitely helps throughout the year to get you through the tough times (group commissaries anyone?). ADVICE: Meet other sections Once you are settled in to your sections, you should really try to make friends with people in other sections as well! Your section only represents 25% of the incoming class – the other 75% has wonderful people too and you’ll likely find someone in the other sections who shares similar career aspirations or interests as you. ADVICE: Have fun, but… Remember that law school is your first entry point into the legal community. The legal community has a long memory and a gift for gab. Remember that you will know these people for a long time. Don't make a complete fool of yourself. Try not to be that person who throws people under the bus to get what they want or who tries to show off how smart they are. |
Studying ADVICE: Be prepared to work hard. It is sometimes a shock to students at how much of a commitment 1L can be. Law school is not something to be taken lightly. This is not to scare you, but to only set realistic expectations for the workload. ADVICE: Consider whether a study group is right for you Everyone has different studying habits. Some like independent studying, others like forming study groups. Don’t feel pressured to change your style just because everyone is joining up into study groups like amoebas in the first week. Having said that, a study group can be an efficient way to summarize the readings for the week. Just be sure to join a group that you can stay committed to, that you trust and can rely on. ADVICE: Choose co-operation over competition. The curve is tough and usually a shock for a group of high achievers, but co-operation when you can. It will save you time and is mutually beneficial, even in a competitive environment. ADVICE: Don’t forget to take breaks When you aren’t making progress, take a break. You can’t study all of the time! Consider enjoying some quality time with friends (or hey, alone with a book you’re reading for fun if that’s how you unwind) at the JCR or a similar fine establishment. ADVICE: It can be very overwhelming at times, but remember that everyone else before you has gotten through it, the same way the people after you will get through it too. There will be lots of readings and assignments. Everyone seems so much smarter/better/more clever than you. But don’t lose sight of the fact that you are here for a reason. You have your own unique strengths that got you to where you are today so focus on that, stay confident in your own abilities and just take the work one day at a time. Remember also that intelligence is not defined by the marks you receive at the end of the semester. TIP: Be smart in how you prepare for class. In a class with slides, you might find it helpful to download the slides before class and convert it into a word document. When you’re in class, you can just supplement the slides by annotating in a different colour. This way, you don’t have to type madly in class, nor do you have to integrate your notes later. Bonus points if you incorporate your reading notes in them too! ADVICE: Study how you've always studied, just harder. You already know what works for you, so don't get sucked into the panic-inducing vortex of 100-page summaries, or the rabid highlighting of textbooks until your ink runs dry, if this was not your method before law school. And, very importantly, don't get stressed out about what other students are doing. If you think that they've discovered the best way to study and you're somehow missing out, don't worry: they haven't, and you're not. TIP: Look into book exchanges and other sources for books. L&L has a new law book exchange site, which allows you to purchase used books for a much cheaper price than new ones. If you want to save a few bucks, go visit it before you shell out hundreds of dollars for a new book! | Keeping a Balance ADVICE: Get enough sleep! We all know the importance of good sleep but let’s be honest, it’s difficult to keep it a priority when we start feeling the competitiveness of the curve. When you are tempted to burn the midnight oil, just remember: a good night’s sleep is actually good for effective studying. You won’t be productive if you’re feeling groggy. ADVICE: Don’t forget to take time for yourself and the people you care about. Too many people enter law school and either shut out their previous lives or forget to take care of themselves. These paths are both unnecessary and unsustainable. Balance, balance, balance. ADVICE: Get involved! Yes, everyone says this but it really is a great way to enrich your experience at Osgoode. Don’t worry about what clubs will look good on your CV. Instead, focus on using this as opportunity to explore your interests as you are more likely to get more out of the experience (and have more to talk about with future employers). TIP: Get some fresh air on Black Creek Trail on campus! Need a break from studying or Passy? The secret getaway is the scenic Black Creek Trail on campus. General Advice ADVICE: Stay organized If you don’t have a filing cabinet, or at least some contraption that allows you to keep your documents organized, consider setting something up NOW. Seriously, it’ll change your life (it changed mine). Imagine, a home for all those important papers you get! Plus, if you have all your loan documents organized, filed and easily retrievable, it’ll be one less thing to worry about. The less you worry about money, the easier everything else will be. ADVICE: Do your financial planning before school starts OSAP won’t cover the entire year’s tuition so consider other sources such as bursaries, a student line of credit, etc.Keep in mind that if you qualify for a bursary, the money does not come into your bank account until well into the term, so for those students who genuinely need large scale financial assistance, plan accordingly. Also, making a budget and sticking to it can help keep your debts management. ADVICE: Be careful of your online activities. When you apply at a law firms, they will sometimes Google search your name. What will pop up? Your Facebook account? Your Twitter feed? Unless you are comfortable sharing these with your potential future employer, modify your privacy settings accordingly. (But you knew that already, didn’t you??) ADVICE: Find a blazer you can count on. Some law school events will require you to wear a blazer, and even when they don’t, you might feel underdressed if you are not in one. The best part is that a blazer is a very versatile item in the closet. And on this point, invest in a suit as soon as you can. A well-fitting suit can do wonders for your physical appearance and self confidence. |
