A primer on success
To all the 1Ls out there: welcome to the Faculty of Law. I hope that, by now, you’ve gotten used to the pace of life around here. The short class hours followed by long readings. The small fortunes squandered on Goodmans coffee. The regrettable lack of nearby lunch options.
Maybe at this point you feel like you have everything together. If you’re anything like I was, you probably feel lost.
In my first few weeks of 1L, I started to wonder if I was on the right track. Like you probably have, I’d already been lectured ad nauseam about how to read, how to brief, and how to write. Yet, I still didn’t understand what it took to get a “good” mark. As the year went on, I slowly came to grasp what seemed to be successful.
How to read, brief and go to class
I learned in 1L that it is critical to read and brief all your cases before every lecture. If there is one predictor of academic success, this is definitely it.
My approach to briefing was quite consistent. When briefing I would ask myself a few questions. How does the case’s reasoning work? Do I understand it? Do I agree?
If ever I didn’t understand or agree with the case, I would make a note in my brief. Then, I would ask about it in lecture. Sometimes I had misunderstood; sometimes it was a flaw in my reasoning.
How to study
Around reading week, in the fall, I began exam preparation. First, I re-read all of my briefs and summarized each of them in three bullet points: one for facts, one for law, and one for the holding.
Once I had completed my summary, I would make a map, which included a list of questions with instructions on how to answer them, sourced from relevant cases.
Finally, I would go through two or three practice exams. If my map missed any critical areas, revealed by the practice exams, I would refine my map accordingly.
How to write an exam
For me, the best way to conduct legal analysis was to take reasoning from the cases and apply it to the exam fact pattern. I would use the facts of past cases to determine if the reasoning was applicable to the exam, but I wouldn’t directly compare the facts of the exam to the facts of the case. I would then think of every legal argument which was applicable, relevant, and could influence the outcome of my conclusion, before discussing the more contentious arguments in greater depth.
The standard of quality required for exams is nowhere near perfection. I received good marks on exams for which I made a number of grammatical errors or questionable judgement calls.
How to network
I wish I had networked more in 1L. Networking is extremely important when it comes to getting a job. It is helpful to get a head start in 1L.
Take every opportunity available to visit firms. These could be competitions or firm open houses. When I went to an event, I would attend the cocktail party afterwards and meet one or two lawyers.
After every reception, I would make a quick note of who I met and what I talked to them about. I would then add them on LinkedIn. This was useful come recruitment time, when I had more specific questions about the firms. It also helped me identify which practice areas interested me.
How to extra-curricular
I was really worried about having a good set of extracurriculars in 1L. In retrospect, this fear was completely unfounded. 1L begets the opportunity to try a broad range of activities with minimal commitment required. They are not the turning point in one’s career. In 1L, I participated in extracurriculars that I enjoyed rather than ones I thought would benefit my CV.
In conclusion
1L was intense but also exceedingly rewarding. If nothing else, sit back and enjoy it. You’ll never get to do it again.
*Editor’s Note: William Mazurek will be working at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP’s New York City office in Summer 2020.
