Everything You Need to Succeed in Your 1L Year 

From your first cold call to your final exam, our 1L Resource Hub has you covered. Discover free study tools, expert guidance, and trusted BARBRI, Quimbee, and West Academic materials that help you stay on track, master core subjects, and prepare for exams with confidence. 

Young woman smiling while studying on a laptop taking notes outside

On-Campus Student Stories

Real 1Ls from real law schools share what actually works. Explore on‑campus videos, student testimonials, and study tips created by students who’ve been there. 

Why Use Proven Study Aids?

Students who use proven study tools perform better in law school and on the bar exam. 

What 1Ls Are Saying 

Unfiltered law student perspectives on how BARBRI’s 1L tools fit into their everyday studying (and why they keep coming back to them). 

BARBRI 1L Success Tools 

Unlock expert‑led video lectures, practice questions, model answers, expert-written outlines, and a step‑by‑step exam strategy workshop to help you master 1L subjects and write stronger final exam answers. 

Quimbee + West Academic Study Aids

Supplement your coursework with the top-trusted study aids used by law students to reinforce readings and prepare for class. 

Quimbee

Digestible case briefs, illustrated videos, and practice questions powered by the world’s largest searchable case brief library, designed to help you understand, retain, and apply doctrine faster.

Article cards featuring legal education and professional development resources
case brief showing the rule of law and facts for Hadley v. Baxendale

West Academic

A comprehensive digital library of 700+ authoritative study aids, audiobooks, and practice tools plus a guided 1L Roadmap, built to align with your curriculum and support you through every first‑semester milestone. 

Stack of West Academic Casebooks on a table in a library
Two young women in front of a laptop with a stack of West Academic books on the table

Helpful 1L Quick Links 

Here are some hand‑picked resources every 1L should bookmark because they’re genuinely useful, whether from BARBRI or the wider legal education community. 

BARBRI Resources 

Free 1L Exam Success 
Everything you need to succeed in the exam room.  

Quimbee Case Brief Library 
47,300+ searchable case briefs keyed to major law school casebooks. 

West Academic Study Aid Catalog 
Authoritative hornbooks, nutshells, and E&E® series aligned with 1L courses. 

Free MPRE Review Course 
Early access to Professional Responsibility content and MPRE prep. 

Compare BARBRI Bar Prep Packages 
Explore course options and decide what level of support fits your goals. 

Legal Industry Resources 

ABA Law Student Resources 
Official guidance, career tools, and law student programs. 

NALP Law Student Career Data 
Employment, salary, and career outcomes in the legal profession. 

Law School Transparency 
Independent data on employment, debt, and bar outcomes by school. 

Reddit r/LawSchool 
Peer advice, shared experiences, and community support from current students. 

Thinking Like a Lawyer Podcast 
Explore everyday topics through a legal lens with insight, surprise, and fun. 

LSAC Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs 
School‑by‑school information on admissions and outcomes. 

Funding Tips for 1L Students 

Getting through 1L takes focus and funding. Explore practical tips, guides, and resources to help you understand loans, budgeting, and bar prep financial planning early on. 

Most Popular 1L Resource Articles

Expert‑written articles covering everything from how to brief cases to how to prepare for finals, designed to answer the questions 1Ls actually ask throughout the year. 

Three students smiling and talking while walking outside a campus building
ARTICLE
How to Use 1L Exam Success to Survive Law School
Westacademic books and laptop on a desk
ARTICLE
Law School Case Briefs: Your Ultimate Guide
Young man taking notes in front of a laptop in an office
ARTICLE
Law School Outlines and Note-Taking Tips
Pen sitting on a notebook that says Bucket List
ARTICLE
The 1L Bucket List: What to Do During Your First Year of Law School

1L by the Numbers

Key data from first‑year law students that gives you a peek into what the experience is really like. 

1L Humor + Insights

A lighter take on life as a 1L. Because sometimes the best way to survive cold calls, finals, and outlining season is to laugh through it. 

CartoonStock image about a law school acronym test
CartoonStock image about surviving the first year of law school in the jungle

1L FAQs

Straightforward answers to the most common questions new law students have about classes, exams, study strategies, and what to expect during the first year. 

What is the Best Way to Study for 1L Exams?

The most effective 1L exam prep combines early outlining, regular practice with real exam questions, and active issue‑spotting, not last‑minute memorization. Successful students use structured study aids like the BARBRI 1L Exam Success course to reinforce doctrine, practice applying rules, and learn how exams are actually graded. 

What Free 1L Resources Does BARBRI Offer? 

BARBRI provides a full suite of free 1L resources, including on‑demand video lectures from top law professors, multiple‑choice and essay practice questions with model answers, exam‑ready outlines, and a step‑by‑step exam strategy workshop designed specifically for 1L finals. 

How is Quimbee Different from West Academic? 

Quimbee offers short, illustrated videos and case briefs that help you understand readings quickly and prepare for class, while West Academic offers authoritative, textbook‑style study aids, audiobooks, and practice questions aligned closely with law school curricula. Many 1Ls use Quimbee for day‑to‑day comprehension and West Academic for deeper review and exam prep. 

When Should I Start Using Study Aids in Law School? 

The best time to start is early in the semester, not just before finals. Using tools like BARBRI, Quimbee, and West Academic alongside your reading helps concepts stick, makes outlining easier, and prevents the stress of trying to learn everything at once at the end. 

Should I Start Bar Exam Prep as a 1L? 

You don’t need formal bar prep yet, but building bar‑tested fundamentals during 1L makes bar study later much easier. BARBRI’s 1L resources are designed to align with both law school exams and bar‑tested subjects, helping you build strong habits without thinking years ahead. 

What is the 1L Curve, and How Do Law School Grades Work? 

Most law schools grade on a mandatory curve, meaning your performance is measured against your classmates rather than a fixed scale. Because small differences can matter, practicing exam writing and issue‑spotting, using tools like BARBRI’s exam workshops and practice questions, often makes the biggest difference. 

Ready to Rock Your 1L Year? 

Sign up for BARBRI’s free Learning Hub to access the complimentary 1L resources thousands of law students have trusted to perform strong on finals and build a foundation for bar success down the road. 

Young woman wearing headphones with a laptop in a study hall showing excitement