Getting admitted to law school and choosing the right program is just the beginning of the path to a law degree. An essential first step on the path? Choose the right courses. Since reading the course catalog can make you lose your mind, we’ve put together five steps to help you create the perfect plan to achieve your academic and professional goals in law school Law tutor.
Getting admitted to law school and choosing the right program is just the beginning of the path to a law degree. An essential first step on the path? Choose the right courses. Since reading the course catalog can make you lose your mind, we’ve put together five steps to help you create the perfect plan to achieve your academic and professional goals in law school.
1. Understand the progression and branches of law.
Most Law schools follow a core curriculum throughout the program. In your first year, you will likely be required to attend required courses designed to instill in you a solid understanding of fundamental legal principles and processes.
As you progress through your degree, you will have the opportunity to choose elective courses that allow you to specialize in different branches of law. How you use these elective courses is largely up to you. Some students use elective courses to gain a deeper knowledge of the law, while others choose to explore possible areas of interest. In any case, this freedom is also a responsibility: The more you know the system, the more prepared you will be to design a coherent academic program.
2. Check your graduation requirements.
Becoming familiar with the courses you are expected to take is a critical part of ensuring that you will complete all required courses for graduation and bar admission. You don’t have to do it alone: In addition to the student handbook and online resources, your law school secretary and/or academic affairs office offer valuable help to ensure you are on the right track.< /span>Are you planning on doing an internship? These highly sought-after jobs may require certain courses, so be sure to have them on your transcript before applying.
Meeting graduation requirements can be more difficult than it seems, as many courses require prerequisites, while others are only offered occasionally and therefore risk exhausting the number of registrations. The more proactive you are in planning your program, the more likely you are to get the courses you need.
3. Check out the teachers.
Taking the time to identify high-quality, interesting, and approachable professors can also make the difference between satisfaction and frustration in a law career. In fact, most law students agree that a good (or bad) professor can make or break your performance in a particular course, which in turn can make or break your academic record., through which students exchange experiences about certain professors and courses. Rate My Professors Additionally, today’s students live in the digital age. There are several online resources, such as
How do you know which teachers are up to par? Your classmates are a good starting point. Be as specific as possible when asking about professors: from the amount of readings assigned to how grades are determined. Getting a syllable is also an effective way to get a better idea of the teacher, as is finding out if he has won any teaching awards.
4. Evaluate and reevaluate.
Even if you have a general idea of the courses you plan to take during your years in law school, this may change along the way depending on your academic record or your interests. Have you had problems with certain courses? Strengthening your weak points can help you better prepare for what awaits you. Or perhaps a new area of interest has emerged? Reevaluating your plan before each new semester can help you chart the best path.
5. Don’t forget about writing courses!
Having good writing skills is not only vital to surviving college, but also to succeeding in law school. Incorporating subjects focused on legal writing can help you develop crucial analytical skills and, at the same time, generate a writing model that can be useful later. While one or two writing classes may be mandatory, taking more writing courses strengthens your profile.
A word of caution: Avoid taking too many writing courses at once. A balanced load between writing courses and exams can prevent you from becoming overloaded when things speed up in the middle and end of the semester.
One last thing to keep in mind when choosing your courses: Although there is a lot to learn in law school, there is also a lot to discover. Stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new can lead you in unexpected directions… not to mention exciting professional and personal rewards.