As I am completing my first month of my last year of law school, I have caught myself reflecting on what it felt like as a first year in the first month of law school. The first days, weeks, and even months of 1L can feel like a blur. You are trying to adjust to a different way of learning, thinking and writing. You are trying to make friends but also put your all into all of your schoolwork. You are trying to be the top of your class and thinking about the internships and jobs that you want to secure. And honestly, half of your time is spent hoping you don’t get cold called. While I think about all of those feelings that all of us having during the first month of our first year of law school, I now feel so far away from it as a 3L, so take that as a hopeful reminder that the stress of being a 1L fades, and your three years of law school will fly by.

Here is my survival guide to get through 1L:

1. Go to office hours! For both the Professors and ASF’s.
2. Foster connections, your classmates will soon be your colleagues.
3. Make some time for yourself every week.
4. After you are settled in to being a 1L, get involved and meet people with the same interests as you.
5. Go to events and network!
6. Do not be afraid to talk to the 2Ls and 3Ls!
7. Explain to your loved ones that you may not have as much time to spend with them during law school.
8. Do YOUR best, do not worry about how everyone else is doing.
9. Most of all, take advantage of your 1L year and all of the opportunities, because soon you will be a 3L thinking about graduating and it’s a great feeling to know you took advantage of all that Widener has to offer.

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