Reflecting on our time in law school, we’ve come to realize that certain decisions we made helped shape our legal careers. The 4 worst decisions we made at law school defined who we didn’t want to be, but we also made some decisions that positively and significantly affected our growth, learning, and overall law school experience. So, here are the 5 best decisions we feel we made at law school:

Chelsey’s “Best Decisions”

1. Prewriting for Exams

I think the best thing I did was learn how to study for an exam. Instead of traditional outlining, I developed a method of prewriting. I would think about a topic likely to appear on the exam, and I would imagine, “What is a good introductory paragraph about the topic? What can I say to get my essay response started?” Doing that changed the game for me, especially for my law school finals.

Whether it was crafting an introductory paragraph on jurisdiction for a Civ Pro exam or having a prewritten paragraph on negligence for Torts, this approach provided me with a solid foundation to start my exam responses. And because of COVID, my exams were open book, so I didn’t even have to retype the paragraph or memorize it. I had part of my answer ready to go!

2. Quitting Law School Journal

The next best decision I made in law school was quitting the Journal. As Virginia talked about in our blog about bad decisions we made in law school, there is often a prestige associated with being part of a law school journal. However, I realized pretty quickly that it wasn’t aligned with my career aspirations and priorities, so I quit.

For those of you are looking to go to law school, each school publishes journals, which contain educational articles about different aspects of the law. Law school students are chosen to write for these journals by having exceptional grades in their 1L year or by impressing editors with “write-on” articles.

Despite the initial allure and my excitement over being chosen, I only stayed on Journal about 3 weeks. Then I said, “Absolutely not,” and turned in my resignation. I was miserable. I felt like it was something I was “supposed to” do for prestige. But, I didn’t see myself pursuing a legal career where employers valued whether or not I wrote on a journal. Also, I didn’t want to give 35-40 hours of free labor for something that would only help me if I were going into big law, which I was not.

I recognized that my path was more non-traditional, with a focus on courtroom advocacy rather than on scholarly publication. By resigning from the journal, I freed myself from unnecessary stress and obligations. That allowed me to pursue activities that were more meaningful to my personal legal journey.

3. Taking Random Classes

For my third best decision in law school (and much to Virginia’s chagrin), I embraced a diverse range of law school courses beyond the standard core curriculum. I may not have taken classes that helped me prepare for the Bar Examination, per se. But the random classes I took proved to be invaluable to me. They broadened my understanding of practical law and helped me explore areas that interested me.

Whether it was delving into Civil Rights, hotel law, or transactional law clinics, each class offered unique insights and perspectives that enriched my legal education. Sure, another evidence class probably would have made me feel more prepared for the Bar, but I think choosing classes I was interested in has served me well.

While some may view this approach as unconventional, I found it immensely rewarding. I can truly say that I enjoyed my classes, and they prepared me to be a lawyer. It’s not for everyone, but I personally recommend taking diverse subjects that pique your curiosity.

Virginia’s “Best Decisions”

4. Participating in Trial Team

As I mentioned in the previous blog, I should NOT have participated in ALL the activities I did. However, I’m especially glad I did trial team. That was an extremely good decision for me because I wanted to do trial work, and I’ve done it throughout my 18+ year career.

I participated in 4 years of undergraduate mock trial with the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) at Middle Tennessee State University, and I did 3 years of trial team in law school at William & Mary. With that much practice, I felt confident enough to be in a real courtroom. I knew how to address a judge. I was comfortable with the basic courtroom setup, questions, and arguments, and I was able to make poor decisions about how to do trials in “fake court,” so I didn’t end up making those mistakes in “real court.”

Being on trial team provided me with practical courtroom experience and honed my litigation skills. I loved it, and I will always believe it’s the best thing I did for my legal career.

5. Working Under Experienced Professors

The other thing I’m glad I had the opportunity to do at law school was learn from esteemed professors. Frederick Lederer taught technology in the law, trial advocacy, and evidence, and he had the most advanced technologically configured trial courtroom in the nation at that time. Paul Marcus, who recently retired, taught criminal law. I interned under Professor Marcus for 2 years, during which I wrote articles for him, practiced trials and depositions with him, and researched with Professor Lederer and him.

Working with both professors offered me unparalleled opportunities for mentorship and professional development. Through their guidance, I gained invaluable insights into technology in the law, trial advocacy, evidence, and criminal law. These experiences not only deepened my understanding of legal principles but also cultivated essential skills for my future legal practice.

Conclusion

Overall, we are grateful for certain decisions we made during law school, as they have shaped our legal careers in profound ways. While each individual’s journey may differ, we believe that knowing oneself and making informed choices aligned with one’s aspirations are key to a fulfilling and successful legal education.

*** To watch and listen to Chelsey and Virginia discuss their best and worst Law School decisions, catch their podcasts at: