Despite the fact that law school can be a rather overwhelming experience – there are also an overwhelming number of resources to get you through it! From within Widener Commonwealth and beyond, I am here to tell you some essential resources that I have used which may also be helpful to you. Some valuable resources may be obvious, from Academic Success Fellows to your Professors – but some not so obvious – like how to use social media to your advantage.
At Widener, for almost all classes there is an Academic Success Fellow. An Academic Success Fellow is essentially the same as a TA, or Teacher’s Assistant from undergraduate years. I remember in my first year classes the ASFs were not only kind, but very supportive. For myself, I needed to contact the ASF for some classes more than others – such as Legal Methods – but there was always an ASF to support all of the students.
Another academic resource are the professors. In all my years of higher education, I have never felt as much support from a professor than I do at Widener Commonwealth. From school matters to personal matters, I find that the professors are very welcoming and approachable. These are significant qualities because the law school environment can be very intimidating. Professors such as Professor Kearney and Professor Lee are instances of incredible support. Both have not only been open to answer questions either in person or by email (even after business hours), but they each have taken the time to sit through an exam review with me. Professors are not only an important resource to assist in your academic skills, but they can also provide encouraging words which are just as, if not more important! I suppose they are especially supportive because they too have experienced the stresses of law school!
Some other resources include bar prep companies such as Themis or Barbri. As a Themis Representative myself, I can say with confidence that we table every week in the Pit. At our table, we have resources which include essential outlines for 1L, 2L, and 3L courses. These outlines are offered in physical form or online according to your preference.
An additional resource is your peers! I cannot express enough how important it is to rely on one another – especially since we are all going through this experience together. From having a movie night together, to asking a friend to be a study buddy in the library – these little things have an influence on your academic success and your well-being! Plus, it is always helpful to have a friend to crack jokes with to get through those long days.
A final, and perhaps unexpected resource is social media! Sources like YouTube and Instagram, actually provide a lot of support through accounts in the legal community. One Instagram account that has provided a lot of guidance to me is @lexdoeslawschool. This user is a first generation law student, and a current 3L. She posts photos to share things like “3 Things I’ve Learned During 3 Years of Law School”, or “Studying for Law School Finals”. Some accounts also pair up with companies to offer special discounts – yes, that means textbooks!
Long story short, there are so many resources to turn to for help. Do not be afraid to ask for help, because it will bring you one step closer to your goals!
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