Unveiling a New Legal Journey: UB School of Law’s 1L Section Reveal
Published September 14, 2023
Hey there, future legal eagles! If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve either been accepted to law school or are preparing to apply, but even if you’re not in one of those camps, we still want to share a fun new experience for incoming UB School of Law students — the 1L Section Reveal! Imagine a day brimming with camaraderie, excitement and the unveiling of your first-year course schedule — all wrapped up in one fantastic event. Stick around and discover what this sensational occasion is all about.
A sneak peek into the 1L Section Reveal
Picture this: a bright and sunny August afternoon, a buzz of excitement in the air and a sea of eager faces. The 1L Section Reveal, an annual extravaganza hosted by our Office of Admissions, is the golden ticket to starting the law school journey. Ever since its debut in 2022, this event has become a cherished tradition that welcomes new students to the UB School of Law family with open arms.
Section 3U at the 2023 1L Section Reveal
Charting your academic voyage
The 1L Section Reveal takes place annually in early August, just before incoming 1Ls are registered for courses and a few short weeks before the New Student Orientation. Students gather to signify the start of their law school academic journey as they unveil their assigned class section, meet professors, and bond with classmates.
A festive prelude to the law school symphony
What makes the 1L Section Reveal truly spectacular is its power to celebrate the accomplishments of new students and ease their transition into law school life. On the day of the event, new students mingle with classmates and law school faculty and staff. And when the time comes, they receive a personalized envelope to open, which reveals their 1L section! New students find out their class schedules and which other students will be with them for the ride. With the 1L Section Reveal friendships can start early! Students can expect to see familiar faces on the first day of Orientation and the first day of classes. The 1L Section Reveal is also a time for new students to soak in the campus atmosphere and get to know their new home away from home.
The ABCs of the 1L curriculum
Now what does the 1L “section” actually mean? The first-year (1L) curriculum is the heart and soul of the law school experience. At UB School of Law, 1L courses are divided into two sections: "U" and "B” for doctrinal (lecture) courses. The first-year curriculum includes six doctrinal courses, which provide the foundation for subsequent legal studies. The “U” and “B” sections are broken down even further for the signature component of the JD program: Legal Analysis, Writing and Research (LAWR). This allows for smaller, more intimate LAWR courses, where students hone their legal writing skills and unravel the art of research. The doctrinal courses resemble livelier lecture-style gatherings. These are the courses new students can expect to take in their 1L year:
- Contracts
- Constitutional Law
- Property
- Civil Procedure
- Torts
- Criminal Law
- Legal Analysis Research and Writing I & II
- Legal Profession
The 1L Section Reveal is just the first chapter in what is sure to be an extraordinary academic adventure!
