Preparing for law school doesn’t start at orientation or when you step into your first class. In reality, it begins months (or even years) before then.
The students who are able to hit the ground running on day one of 1L year have already built the habits, skills, and mindset needed to make the transition from undergraduate smoother. They’re ready to engage, think differently, and keep pace with the demands of a legal education.
Now it’s your turn to start your legal journey with intention. Use the following insights and strategies to help build momentum early, stay ahead of the curve, and grow into the kind of lawyer you’re aspiring to become.
What to Do Before Law School
1. Build Strong Reading + Writing Skills
This is the single most important step you can take before law school begins.
Unlike undergrad, you won’t be able to get away with skipping readings in law school. Law school revolves around reading cases and writing analyses. Strengthening these skills early makes everything easier later.
Action Steps
- Read complex material like legal articles, essays, and nonfiction books
- Practice summarizing arguments in your own words
- Write regularly—even if it’s short reflections or analyses
In law school, you’re not just absorbing information. You’re required to dissect arguments, identify key issues, and apply legal rules to new fact patterns. Regular reading trains you to navigate dense, unfamiliar material more efficiently, while frequent writing sharpens your ability to distill complex ideas into clear, structured analysis. Over time, these habits help you think like a lawyer.
2. Develop a Time Management System
Law school is time intensive. From week one, you’ll be juggling reading assignments, class preparation, legal writing, and long-term exam prep all at once. Without a clear system in place, it’s easy to fall behind quickly.
That’s why successful students develop structure before classes begin, creating study schedules, organizing materials, and learning how to prioritize tasks effectively. These early systems reduce stress, improve consistency, and free up mental energy so you can focus on understanding the material.
Action Steps
- Use a planner or digital calendar to create weekly study schedules.
- Practice breaking large tasks into smaller steps.
Strong organization and time management are critical for handling the workload and avoiding burnout.
3. Familiarize Yourself with Basic Legal Concepts
It’s not necessary to “pre-study” law school. But when you already recognize certain terms right off the bat, you can focus on understanding how those concepts are applied rather than spending precious time decoding every new word.
Where to Focus
- Legal terminology (e.g., precedent, jurisdiction, statute)
- Structure of the legal system
- Types of law, such as criminal, civil, and constitutional
This foundation provides a small headstart that can reduce confusion during lectures and readings, allowing you to engage more confidently from day one. Instead of feeling like you’re constantly catching up, you’ll be better positioned to follow discussions, ask stronger questions, and build momentum early in the semester.
4. Get Real-World Exposure to the Legal Field
Understanding what lawyers actually do helps you stay motivated and confirms you’re on the right path. By getting an early perspective, you not only reinforce your long-term goals but also make it easier to stay engaged when the coursework gets challenging because you understand how it all fits together in practice.
What to Try
- Shadow a lawyer
- Volunteer at legal aid organizations
- Observe court proceedings
Practical exposure builds confidence and provides context for what you’ll learn in class. When you see how attorneys analyze cases, interact with clients, or argue positions, the concepts you’ll eventually study start to feel more concrete and relevant. You begin to connect classroom material to real-world outcomes.
5. Talk to Current Law Students + Alumni
Want a realistic preview of 1L? Ask someone who’s been through it. Current students and recent graduates can be a great support system. They’ll give you candid insight into the workload, teaching styles, and study strategies that actually work. They can also flag common pitfalls—like underestimating reading time or relying on passive study habits—so you don’t have to learn those lessons the hard way.
Key Questions to Ask
- What surprised you most about law school?
- How did you study effectively?
- What would you do differently?
This helps you set realistic expectations, prepare more intently, and avoid common mistakes. As a result, you can approach your first semester with greater clarity.
6. Prepare for the LSAT (If Applicable)
The Law School Admission Test is a critical part of law school admissions, so knowing how to prepare for law school includes thorough test preparation.
Action Steps
- Start by creating a study plan that breaks down the test sections and allows for consistent practice.
- Use official LSAT prep materials, practice tests, and study guides to familiarize yourself with the format. Find everything you need.
- Join a prep course or work with a tutor for critical extra support. Check out PowerScore LSAT Prep courses from BARBRI to conquer the LSAT.
With steady effort and targeted practice, you’ll build the confidence to perform at your best on LSAT test day and beyond.
What to Read Before Law School
You don’t need a massive reading list—but a few strategic books can make a big difference in your preparedness and understanding of what’s to come.
Top Law School Prep Books
- Law School Confidential by Robert H. Miller
Provides real student insights into what law school is all about. - Getting to Maybe by Fischl & Paul
Introduces how to think like a lawyer and approach exams. - 1L of a Ride by Andrew McClurg
Provides a practical roadmap for succeeding in your first year. - Law 101 by Jay Feinman
Offers a beginner-friendly overview of the legal system.
What to Know Before Day One
1. Law School Is a Different Animal
Law school isn’t about memorization; it’s about analysis. Instead of simply recalling information, you’ll need to interpret complex fact patterns, identify relevant legal issues, and explain how the law applies—even when the answer isn’t clear-cut.
This means learning to navigate ambiguity, weigh competing arguments, and support your conclusions with logical reasoning. Developing this kind of analytical mindset early will make it easier to adapt to law school exams, class discussions, and the real-world problem-solving lawyers do every day.
2. A Change in Study Habits Will Be Beneficial
Passive habits like re-reading notes or highlighting that may have worked in undergrad likely won’t be enough in law school. Instead, you’ll rely on active techniques like case briefing, outlining, and self-testing.
Your success will come from applying what you’ve learned to new scenarios, not just recalling it. Shifting your study approach early, from memorization to analysis, will make a significant difference in how effectively you keep up and perform.
BARBRI’s Quimbee Study Aids can get you on the right track fast, so be sure to check them out early in the first year of law school.
3. The Workload Is Real (But Manageable)
Law school is demanding; but it’s far from impossible. Success comes from showing up every day, keeping up with reading, and building understanding over time. When you stay consistent, avoid procrastination, and manage your time intentionally, the workload becomes far more doable.
The habit of breaking large, overwhelming tasks into smaller, achievable steps helps you reduce stress and puts you in control of your progress instead of playing catch-up.
4. Mindset Matters as Much as Skillset
Law school will challenge you in ways that go beyond coursework, from high-stakes exams to demanding schedules and constant mental strain. Resilience helps you bounce back from setbacks, confidence allows you to engage in class and trust your reasoning, and discipline keeps you consistent even when motivation dips.
Together, these qualities help you stay focused, manage stress, and perform at your best—even when the pressure is high.
Discover Tips for Law School Wellness
How Early Should I Start Preparing?
Law school preparation can begin much earlier than you might think.
Middle School
You want to be thinking about keeping your grades up as early as middle school. Grades aren’t the only factor that schools consider when accepting applicants, but they do matter.
High School
- Practice writing and reading comprehension
- Take challenging courses
- Participate in summer programs
- Meet with a career counselor
These steps build the academic foundation for future career success as a lawyer.
Undergraduate Years
- Focus on GPA
- Strengthen analytical and writing skills
- Explore legal careers
- Build relationships with professors
Your Quick Law School Prep Checklist
- Build daily reading habits
- Practice writing and summarizing arguments
- Develop time management systems
- Learn basic legal concepts
- Read 1–2 law school prep books
- Gain exposure to the legal field
- Talk to current law students
- Set realistic expectations
Prepare for Early Law School Success
Preparing for law school goes beyond gathering paperwork and waiting for admission letter. It’s about developing the mindset, skills, and understanding that will set you up to succeed once classes begin.
BARBRI’s comprehensive law school prep resources build the skills you need to walk into day one already ahead of the curve.
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