Law School Resolutions

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There’s something about the start of a new year that signals a new beginning, a chance to make your life better or get things right. That’s why so many people decide to make New Year’s resolutions. For law students, the new calendar year means that grades from last semester are coming in and another semester will soon begin. It’s an opportunity to set new goals in law school as well—this is true regardless of what grades you’ve earned previously or what your class rank is.

So whether you are a 1L or an upper-level student, have received good grades or are on academic probation, I challenge you to set some New Year’s law school resolutions. Be intentional in what you do this semester—don’t just sit back and wait for things to happen to you. Assess the areas of your life as a law student that you want to improve, and set out some specific actions you will take to make those improvements. I’ve provided some suggestions for law school resolutions below, but don’t be limited by these ideas.

Possible resolutions for students who want to improve academically:

• Taking more practice exams (You can sometimes get these from your professors, but also don’t forget about the academic support professionals at your law school)
• Outlining each major topic as you finish it in class
• Joining a study group
• Meeting with last semester’s professors to go over exams and determine how to improve
• Meeting with an academic support professional at your law school to come up with an action plan for this semester

Other possible academic resolutions:

• Creating a study schedule and sticking to it
• Volunteering as a tutor (or seeking a tutor to help you with your studies)
• Trying new approaches to studying or outlining
• Getting up earlier to get assigned reading done before each day’s classes
• Complete a legal externship or internship

Possible career planning resolutions:

• Finding more networking opportunities
• Revising your legal resume and cover letter
• Reaching out to alumni of your law school to learn more about what they do as lawyers
• Revising past writing assignments to create strong writing samples

Other possible law school-related resolutions:

• Joining a mentoring program
• Getting involved in a law student organization
• Volunteering for pro bono opportunities
• Not missing class except for emergencies
• Being on time to class

As you assess where you are in law school and where you want to go with your studies this year, you will likely think of other resolutions that make sense for you. The key is to take action—don’t wait on the sidelines for good things to happen to you!