Preparing for Your 1st Year Of Law School At The CDTA
Like traditional law schools, CDTA’s curriculum is designed to teach students the substantive law of core subject areas. Unlike traditional law schools, CDTA emphasizes training and developing students to be capable and competent advocates in any courtroom. The California Desert Trial Academy (CDTA) is a 21st Century law school that moves students toward a successful legal career on the first day of class. We believe that practical experience in tandem with legal knowledge is the best road to a successful, rewarding, and prosperous legal career.
We (hopefully) experience many significant events in our lives. A few of these events fill us with both excitement and fear. Starting law school as a 1L is certainly one of these experiences. Fortunately, the California Desert Trial Academy focuses on helping students make this important transition as they move into an important phase of their lives. How should a first-year law student prepare for his or her first semester at the CDTA?
The following cannot be overstated: The experience of a first-year law student is nothing like that of an undergraduate. First-year law students must discard their undergraduate attitudes toward studying, socializing, and how such time was allocated among the two in college. Because each class in law school is a continuum, students cannot afford to skip briefing a case, let alone miss a class.
Students may have participated in many non-academic activities as undergraduates. They may have been involved in athletics, student government, or any other organization. They may have even held a part-time job or never done anything on weekends but socialize. And then, when finals approached. They crammed and “pulled all-nighters” to save the day. Engaging in a similar course of conduct in law school will likely cause a student’s law school tenure to be limited and brief. Rule #1: Do ALL the work! Rule #2: There are no exceptions or shortcuts to Rule #1.
To truly go “all-in” and do all the work without fail during the first semester of law school requires narrowing and intensifying one’s focus on preparing for and attending class. This requires having the discipline to work hard daily. This also requires excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize school, but also, how to prioritize classes and course material.
Because law school tends to seriously diminish the time available for social activities, and just about everything else, shifting and increasing focus should be easier. After all, there is but one mantra: Prepare, attend class, study.
One thing that law school will teach a young law student is to never make assumptions. The law makes very few presumptions so young lawyers must do the same. Work hard, expect nothing, and believe in yourself. After all, you made it to law school.
The California Desert Trial Academy is a 21st Century law school that moves students toward a successful legal career on the first day of class. We believe that practical experience in tandem with legal knowledge is the best road to a successful, rewarding, and prosperous legal career. Call us today at (760) 342-0900 or find out more online here.