Moving to Harrisburg can be its own education with a learning curve like law school. Harrisburg is more than the capital city of our commonwealth; it will be your home for the next three to four years. Whether you are moving only an hour away from your hometown, like myself, or across the country, Harrisburg is full of connections. 

The highways are not the only connections that Harrisburg has to offer. The capital city is full of opportunities for internships and professional network building. Throughout law school, you will face opportunities to meet practicing professionals. Law school comes with a lot of questions: who should I network with, how do I meet attorneys in my desired practice area, what do I wear to interviews and networking events? 

While some of those questions may be more difficult to answer, the Phi Alpha Delta Professional Closet can answer the last question. The PAD Professional Closet, known affectionately as the PPC, is a free resource available to all students located right in the student organizations building. The PPC began as a thought over the summer and has grown into a large room full of professional clothing available to students at no cost. 

The PPC is not only stocked by members of the Widener Law Commonwealth community, but the Dauphin County Bar Association, greater legal community, and greater Harrisburg community have answered the call for donations. 

If you need to expand your legal education outside of the classroom but do not know what clothing you need for your alumni event, internship, or interview, I suggest checking out the PPC; it can help alleviate some of the financial burden of dressing professional as well as the knowing what is appropriate for networking events. 

When we begin law school, we know that we are in for a challenge. What most of us do not realize is just how challenging it is to maintain the relationships and friendships we have in our lives while also attending law school.

When the stress of reading, note taking, outlining and taking exams take over it is easy to slowly start paying less and less attention to everything else in our lives. By everything else, I sadly mean our family, friends and significant others. I had to learn how to maintain my long-distance relationships with my friends, family, and boyfriend while also managing the stress of a full law school course load. Here are a few tips I learned to help me from becoming too overwhelmed.   

As for family, I try to reach out to at least one family member per day. Whether it be a simple text saying “hi!”, or an hour-long phone call catching up if I have more time that day. For example, my grandmother and I talk every Sunday for at least 20 minutes. This is something that is very important to both her and I. Although I try to reach out to at least one family member per day, I also acknowledge that it is not always possible with my schedule. I let my family know at the start of law school (and I remind them quite often) that law school is very emotionally draining and requires a lot of my time, so if they do not hear from me for a little while, it is not because I do not love or care for them. It is simply because I am busy! Your family WILL understand this!  

As for friends, I have lost many friends that I thought I would have forever due to us growing apart. As I have gotten older, I realized that people just grow apart when they are at different stages of life. Some of my lifelong friends are married and having children, still single and in a party phase, or like me pursuing a higher education. When people are at different stages of life, it is another added strain on keeping a friendship going. This was a very hard realization for me at first, but I found it easier to accept this than to pour liquid into a bottomless cup. As for the friends I have remained close with while still in law school, I try to make sure that I check in with them at least twice a month. Even if it is just a funny video on Instagram or Tiktok, I just like them to know I am thinking of them.

As for relationships you are in, although my boyfriend is not a law school student, he understands how stressful law school is for me. He does little things to make law school less stressful for me, like making the 1.5 hour trip to visit me so I do not have to drive home to see him. He knew that the three hours spent driving to and from him could be spent reading or taking notes, and that if I had that extra time, I would be a little less stressed. Another thing I found sometimes challenging about my relationship was not taking my law school stress out on my boyfriend. After a long, stressful day of school and feeling like everything went wrong, all I wanted to do was take it out on the person I am closest to and unfortunately for my boyfriend – that is him. However, I learned that I need to find better ways to manage my stress than taking it out on my loved ones.

If you take anything from this post, I hope it is that maintaining our long-distance relationship and friendships with loved ones may be challenging at times but at the end of the day will always be worth it. Law school is stressful, but we need all the love and support we can get.

There always come a point during the semester where I find myself in this endless cycle of reading, briefing, class, and retaining; where I have found myself stuck in a pattern that causes me to feel so burnout. During my first year in law school, I continued to stay in this pattern because it is how I believed law school was supposed to operate, but that surely is not the case. I have learned that it is so important to step out of the pattern that is law school and take a break. Whether that be planning a trip with friends, going home to see family, or just hanging out at home watching TV, those breaks can be extremely efficient in resetting your mind to come back stronger when it is time to pick back up again. The breaks you choose to take can also be smaller, maybe going to the gym or for a walk, calling up a friend, or taking a one-hour lunch instead of thirty minutes; it is important that these moments away from school are not neglected. I know that it is easy to say, “but I don’t have time for these things,” trust me, there is time. Taking a few hours to clear your head, will make the next few hours that you spend studying more beneficial than had you continued to study for four hours straight, as long as you stay disciplined and organized. As Ralph Manston says, “rest when you’re weary, and renew yourself, your body, your mind, and your spirit. Then get back to work.” 

When it comes to law school, the biggest adjustment isn’t always the course load. It’s usually pretty clear that the workload will be far greater than what you were used to in undergrad. However, one key aspect people often overlook is the mindset shift that’s needed to keep up with this level of work. It’s not just about study habits but also about reshaping your work habits, social life, and even your approach to success and failure.
While it may seem obvious that all these adjustments are necessary, they’re often not at the forefront of students’ minds as they begin their journey. For instance, you have to be prepared to hear “no” more often and—most importantly—learn to be comfortable with being wrong. Accepting when you’re mistaken is crucial to growth; after all, real learning starts when you’re willing to challenge your own assumptions and recognize where you can improve.
Lean into your support system and talk things through with them. I’ve found it especially helpful to share my school-related concerns with people outside of law school, as they provide a fresh perspective and are removed from the daily pressures. At the same time, remember that your law school peers can become an equally vital support system—no one understands the unique challenges of law school quite like they do. While this might seem contradictory, I’ve found it invaluable to have both perspectives during my journey.

You might have heard from your peers, professors or friends: Your performance in your first year of law school is crucial. And how well you do on your exams is dependent on your preparation. While studying for exams can be a stressful time, it’s important to remember that every person’s brain works differently. The tactic that works for your classmate might not work for you. Here are a few tips that I have found helpful over the last 2 years:

1. REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW. Just because you don’t have an exam until the end of the semester does not mean that you should wait until the reading period to begin your review. Law school is vastly different from undergraduate school and cramming just won’t work. Make time for frequent review over the course of the semester.
2. ATTEND REVIEW SESSIONS. Some professors and/or Academic Success Fellows hold review sessions prior to exams. This is a great way to clarify issues and clear up any confusing concepts. Moreover, helpful tips regarding how to write your exam answers in a way that will earn you the most points are often shared during review sessions.
3. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FEEDBACK FROM YOUR PROFESSORS. If your professor distributes a practice question and says that he/she will review your answer if you submit it by a certain time, DO IT! This is a great opportunity to get your professor’s input and make any necessary adjustments before your performance is graded.
4. CREATE A STUDY PLAN. Many students complain that they do not have enough time to brief cases, prepare outlines and/or take practice exams. They’re wrong! By planning your time in advance, you will have enough time to meet all of the demands of law school and have time to enjoy some outside activities.
5. REVIEW YOUR EXAMS. Meet with your professors to review your exams after grades have been posted. This is the best way to determine what you did well and what you need to improve.
6. DON’T GET CAUGHT UP IN THE COMPETITION ASPECT OF LAW SCHOOL. Only one student can finish at the top of the class. So instead of setting #1 as your goal, focus on doing your very best. Also, be supportive of and respectful to your classmates. It will make for a more positive law school experience for you and your peers.

To graduate, students must receive substantial professional skills instruction by completing at least six experiential learning credits. At least two credits must be satisfied by enrolling in a clinic, externship, or practicum. I enrolled at the Central Pennsylvania Law Clinic as a Certified Legal Intern this semester and have already gained practical experience that I can take with me after law school.  

The Central Pennsylvania Civil Law Clinic is affiliated with Widener Commonwealth Law School. It handles various areas of civil law, including family, elder, and landlord-tenant. The law clinic is a fully functioning law office that provides legal assistance to elderly and indigent clients. At the clinic, students work on real cases under the supervision of licensed attorneys. Through this experience, students gain practical legal skills such as interviewing and counseling clients, conducting legal research, and working under court deadlines.  

During my internship at the clinic, I interviewed clients, drafted estate planning documents, and prepared cases that were scheduled for trial. The clinic exposes students to diverse legal issues, which can help them decide what areas of law they are interested in and wish to pursue after law school. Working at the clinic is a great experience for any law student, especially students without legal experience. It’s a great opportunity to work and develop relationships with clients and experience the real day-to-day operations of a law office.  

Most importantly, working at the clinic has broadened my perspective. I have realized how important it is for individuals to have legal assistance. Many clients face life-altering legal struggles related to housing, income, and family. By interning at the Central Pennsylvania Law Clinic, you can make a genuine difference in the life of an individual or a family.