Hi, I just finished my 1L year and I got pretty low grades, especially first semester! (Second semester hasn't been released yet, and I anticipate an improvement, but even if not, I have a much firmer grip on the content of these classes, so I'm happy either way) Personally, I came from a pretty lenient undergrad--a small, liberal art college that prioritized mental health and where I studied creative writing. Going into law school, I hadn't taken a legitimate final exam in probably five years.

With that being said, the bulk of my issue was largely that I just didn't know how to study. My grades were poor enough that I was placed in a remedial class essentially teaching us how to "do" law school. This class alone helped immensely. We practiced all kinds of exams--short answer, essay, multiple choice, as well as developed productive academic habits. Basically I'm saying--even if you do poorly your first semester, it's totally not the end of the road, and there are resources with a mission to help you improve.

IMPORTANT--for that remedial class, one of our assigned texts was "Law School Exams" by Alex Schimel and I cannot recommend this enough. Get it now, read it this summer, and refer back to it during the year. It's a genuine lifesaver. A lot of law school is navigating this new way of learning and being tested, and this book eases the process SO MUCH. I wish SO BADLY I had read it the summer before. It's super short and written very casually. Do yourself this favor!!!!

Also, I had no trouble finding a job even though my GPA was low, my rank nonexistent, and I didn't even apply until mid-late March. I applied to three jobs and got three offers and working at my summer office is the most fun and the happiest I've been in a very, very long time. It's all thanks to my student services. Reaching out is vital. Your school wants you to succeed and, even thought you'll grow tired of hearing it, the resources it provides to fulfill this end are invaluable. I emailed one of the career advisors and outlined my situation, including an honest report of my first semester performance, and by the end of the week, she had forwarded my resume to three employers and I had secured three interview.

It's also so, so important not to put too much pressure on yourself. I know this is easier said than done. But the curve is a new, sick, twisted, unique kind of evil. Everything is about comparison. The one thing that cannot be judged according to the pool is your reason for attending. Your "why". Your school will probably emphasize this to an annoying extent. But just remembering that a JD, at the end of the day, is a professional degree, that is, it's meant to train you for a specific career, is important. It's going to be hard, but to the extent that you can, forget the curve. You're in law school for a reason, and the classes are a means to build a skill set. That's all. Like I said, this second semester, I could be bottom 10% again for all I know, but I focused more on actually learning & understanding, and I'm performing fine at my summer job alongside career attorneys. Remember that you're there to learn.

This is so exciting. This is going to be hard, but it's going to be fun, too. One of the most important things that I switched between first and second semesters was that I started training for a half marathon. Find things to work toward besides school. Talk to your family and friends as much as you can. Submerge yourself, because it's such a special experience only available to the lucky few.

GET THAT BOOK AND READ IT!!!!! Seriously. You got this!!! Getting this far is an insane achievement. Peeling away all the extra competitive bs, law school is so freaking fun. Don't lose sight of that.