A flashback to where it all began, Bryan (center, holding balloon over his head) with his classmates Erin Carlin '25, Kelsey Killelea '25, Renee Lauer '25, Tara Lucombe '25, Lillian Hatch '25, and Hannah Baker '25.
The Law Student Experience
A Day in the Life of a 1L
Published March 26, 2024
Many incoming law students are nervous about their first day of law school, just like they were their first day of kindergarten, high-school, and even college. It is the fear of the unknown that causes most of the apprehension. In this blog, we hope to ease some of those fears and provide insight into what the typical day of a first-year law student (1L) is like, using my own 1L year schedule as a point of reference. Of course, your schedule will vary based on what section you are assigned as well as your own personal preferences.
6:00am
I wake up and have my first cup of coffee. It is important to get up ready to tackle the day, and getting my morning caffeine helps get me going. I then hit the gym and work out for about an hour to an hour and a half. It was important for me to stay active so that I can stay focused. I am a morning person by nature, so I like to work out in the morning, but if you are an evening person exercising after class can be a great way to decompress.
8:00am
I arrive on campus and get a study carrel. The Law Library has numerous study carrels, which are small, enclosed study areas with a desk, chair, and lamp so that you can study in privacy. The library opens at 7:30am, but if you arrive by 8:30am you should have no problem reserving one. You simply go to the reservation desk and request a space, showing the attendant your ID in exchange for a key. The carrel is then yours for the entire day until the library closes at 9pm. I like to use it as kind of my own personal office. Since the door locks automatically and you are the only one with the key, your belongings will be safe when you leave the carrel to go to class, study groups, or to get food. Once in the study carrel, I review my notes from the prior day’s classes and refresh on any questions I may have about the reading for the current day’s classes. I also use this time to really make sure I understand the material for my first class of the morning, so I am prepared if I am cold called.
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9:00am
I attend my first class of the day. 1L classes are usually 2 hours and 15 minutes long. Depending on the professor, you will get a roughly 15-minute break in each class about halfway through. This break is needed in some of the more challenging subjects such as Civil Procedure, where there is a lot of dense, technical material to digest. It is also a good time to stretch your legs, refill your water bottle, and use the restroom if needed before returning to the second half of class.
After my morning class, I will usually return to my study carrel and try to start organizing my notes from that class. This means translating them into more intelligible sentences or elaborating on the bullet points. I may even start to put them into my outline if I feel they are high-quality enough to be useful when studying for finals. I like to do this while the information is fresh so that it really takes hold, and then studying just becomes a light review.
11:15am
After my morning class, I will usually return to my study carrel and try to start organizing my notes from that class. This means translating them into more intelligible sentences or elaborating on the bullet points. I may even start to put them into my outline if I feel they are high-quality enough to be useful when studying for finals. I like to do this while the information is fresh so that it really takes hold, and then studying just becomes a light review.
12:00pm
I grab lunch with my study group at one of the many restaurants on campus. We go to the Middle Eastern restaurant in One World Café, where I grab a rice bowl. One World, as it is colloquially called, is a diverse food center in Capen Hall on campus with numerous options. This is also a great way to get away from the books for a little bit and talk with friends about anything and everything. It is important to not let law school control all aspects of life, and to talk about your other interests outside of law.
1:00pm
Time for my afternoon class. The cadence is pretty much the same as the morning class, but I make it a point to have a full mug of coffee with me ready to go after lunch to power through the afternoon malaise. In the early fall or late spring when the weather is nice, I go outside during the break and get some fresh air. The sun is a powerful motivator!
3:15pm
Study time! I return to my study carrel and start reading for the next day’s classes. I will usually have somewhere between 50-100 pages to read. Most professors will give you an outline of what topics and pages will be discussed each class at the start of the semester, so if you are done with the reading for the upcoming class, you can get ahead and lighten your load for the next week. Some concepts are easier than others to grasp, so you will be able to get through those quicker and be able to allocate more time to the more difficult ones. Once I have read everything, I take notes in the margins of my book and brief the cases. This can be time consuming at first, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes almost like second nature. If there is a midterm or final coming up, I will meet with my study group to quiz each other and make sure we know the material for the upcoming assessment.
6:00pm
Time to go home! I make sure to treat law school like a job so once I leave campus, I am done for the day. I never pull all-nighters and reserve my evenings for myself. I will pick up dinner on the way home or heat up some leftovers and watch a little TV before bed.
10:00pm
Bedtime. I usually go to sleep at the same time every night during the week so that my body has a good circadian rhythm. It is important to wake up well rested so that you can be at the top of your game for class.
Other Information
The information above is applicable Mondays through Thursdays during the semester. Each semester is 12 or 13 weeks long. Fall semester is 13 weeks with a “reading week” in the middle of October. Spring semester is 12 weeks long with a spring break in the middle of March.
Fridays
One of the great things about the University at Buffalo School of Law is that as a 1L you will not have classes on Fridays! You have this day to use how you see fit. In my 1L year I used Fridays as a catch-up day to get ahead on my readings for the next week, work on any assignments for my Legal Writing and Research class, and to start networking with attorneys at local area firms where I would potentially like to work one day. I feel that networking is as equally important as your studies. This will be the main way by which you will get internships, externships, and full-time job opportunities. Get to know practicing attorneys in the area at firms you wish to work for by asking them to go out for coffee or lunch. Most of the time they will be more than happy to meet with you and can offer very helpful advice on landing a job in your chosen field.
Events
There are many events throughout the year that are not part of your regularly scheduled programming, but ones that you should consider attending:
- 1L Reception Held at Hodgson Russ, LLP – A networking event at the offices of Hodgson Russ, the largest law firm in Buffalo. It is highly recommended that you go so that you can meet attorneys that practice in many different areas and gain exposure to potential career paths.
- 1L Mentor Reception - You will be paired up with an alumni mentor by the Career Services Office in your field of interest and this event is held in the library where you will be able to meet and engage with your mentor.
- Law School Career Fair - The Career Services Office hosts its annual career fair in February. The most recent career fair had over 85 employers in attendance, with some students receiving interviews, and even job offers, on the spot.
- Halloween party at a local bar or brewery.
- Buffalo Public Interest Law Program Auction – A dual live and silent auction fundraiser to support those interested in paid public interest summer internships.
- Barrister’s Ball - Think prom for law students.
Extracurricular Activities
There are numerous opportunities for 1Ls to get involved in different organizations on campus. One way to gain leadership experience as a 1L is to campaign to become a class representative on the Student Bar Association (SBA), which is the Law School’s student government. Each class is allotted six representatives, and all representatives are required to attend SBA meetings and discuss myriad of issues that are pertinent to the law school. You can also join Phi Alpha Delta, a co-ed law fraternity for law students. The time commitment is minimal, but it is a great way to socialize, network, and meet other law students you might not normally meet. Finally, there are numerous special interest groups and clubs at the law school that you can join that align with personal or professional interests. Some examples include the Black Law Student Association, Law and Business Association, Sports Law and Entertainment Society, and OUTLaw. While these are all great activities to participate in, it is important to prioritize your academics, and then you can allot any additional time to getting involved.