Law School Success Institute’s Post

My terrible, but great, GPA in law school: Fall 2001: 2.0 Spring 2002: 1.9 Fall 2002: 2.3 Spring 2003: 2.9 Fall 2003: 3.5 Spring 2004: 3.7 After my second semester, I was placed on academic probation. I failed. Pretty hard. I was so embarrassed that my GPA screamed to everyone on campus what I previously only admitted alone in my quiet thoughts—that I wasn’t supposed to be there. I share my terrible, but great, GPA not to boast that I ultimately did it and am now crushing it. Nor as one of those tired “failure leads to greatness” speeches. I share it so someone with quiet thoughts (or loud broadcasts) that they don’t belong in the law, has a different perspective. That maybe you do. That maybe you are capable. That maybe your history book of greatness is not your magnificent feat of getting into law school, but your comeback story from rock bottom. Just maybe. #lawstudents #lawstudent #prelaw #lawschool

🎓 The Secret Behind Getting an A in Law School 🎓 In my early years of law school, I faced a tough reality—like many students, I struggled, even missing out on a paper, which set me back significantly. My CGPA was a low 2.5 at the beginning of my third year, and I knew something had to change if I wanted to achieve the success I envisioned. After my fifth semester, I discovered a new approach to achieving higher marks, and my CGPA began to rise steadily—climbing from 3.2 to 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, and eventually reaching 3.7, as shown in the attached picture. The key is to think about it this way: In your whole class, all your classmates and batchmates are likely answering the same question with the same, average response. If you want to stand out and achieve a high grade, you need to take your answer further. Focus on additional research, bring in a new perspective, and maybe even introduce a critique or point of view that hasn’t been discussed or taught in class. That extra effort, that additional research, and that unique perspective are the things that will make your answer stand out and compel your teacher to give you top marks. If I were to leave my fellow law students with one tip to achieve good grades, it would be this: go beyond the basics. Add something extra—something that shows initiative, critical thinking, and deeper research. It’s this approach that took my CGPA from 2.5 to 3.16 by the end of my journey. #AcademicSuccess #LawSchool #CriticalThinking #GrowthJourney #LegalEducation #LawStudents #Research #SuccessTips

After a long semester, final exams loom ahead—but preparing for them can be easy. Promise! If you missed yesterday’s newsletter on how to create a final exam study schedule, don’t worry--check out this article I posted to help you prepare to rock those finals with ease: https://lnkd.in/g5en_CHH And be sure to sign up for my newsletter, The Law School Insider, for all my favorite insider tips: https://lnkd.in/gKrYK-jR. Before you click, see if you like my style--below is a sample final exam study schedule (for 4 classes) starting today, for students that prefer to study one subject a day. If that's not you, mix the subjects up each day! You got this, law students! #lawschool #lawstudents #lawstudent

That feeling when your heart drops ❤️. - Listening to week one's lecture, and my heart dropped when I heard: "You will be graded on these." - - Law assignment: 30% - Two quizzes: 10% total - Exam: 60% - This is my last trimester to get my GPA high enough to be accepted into a Bachelor of Laws. I chose the hard option of studying this unit because it will count towards my Bachelor of Laws. The other option was to take an easy course where I could get a higher grade, but it wouldn't count once I start in trimester 1, 2025. - I've purposely put myself in an uncomfortable position because I know I need to put in the work to get the scores I need for next year. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. - #LawStudent #LawSchool #LegalStudies #FutureLawyer #LawStudentLife #LawSchoolJourney #LegalEducation #StudentLawyer #LawStudy #LawSchoolLife #LawBooks #LegalKnowledge #LawExams #StudyLaw #LawInspiration #LegalCareer #LawStudentsOfInstagram #FutureAttorney #LawAspirant #LegalLearning #LawJourney #LawCommunity #LegalLife #LawSuccess #StudyMotivation #LawDreams

If you are pre-law now, consider a joint graduate degree. Joint graduate degrees (not available at all law schools) have become very popular options for both law students and other graduate students, allowing them to receive two degrees in less time than it would take to earn both degrees sequentially. Typically, students may earn dual degrees in four years, saving themselves one year of study that the traditional 5-year, two-degree track requires. Joint degrees are available in nearly every field, depending on the designated law school, including J.D./MBA, J.D./MPH, J.D./LLM, J.D./MPP, and J.D./Ph.D. programs, to name a few. #LawStudent #LawStudents #PreLaw #LegalEducation #lawschool    

An incoming 1L messaged asking for words of encouragement and here are three things I shared: 1. Throughout the next three years, be unapologetically, unabashedly you. Love and respect your faults, ambitions, weaknesses, strengths, misunderstandings, frustrations and uniqueness—they make you, you. 2. As long as your heart is beating, you can achieve your definition of success in law school because you are enough. Your law school saw your ability and character shine through your application and offered you a seat because you are supposed to be there. 3. You’ll be faced with new tasks you have no idea how to complete. There’s nothing more valuable than believing you are capable and then figuring it out. Do the hard work, create a system to learn each topic, be confident, ask the right questions, and get it done. Be you. You are enough. You are capable. Embrace these and you’ll be unstoppable in law school. Fabulous network, what would you add? #lawstudents #lawschool #lawstudent

Law students, remember that you already have a 4.0 GPA in: —showing up every day —grit and growth mindset —getting through every day —persevering when it’s hard —deciding what’s best for you —defining success on your terms —challenging your ability —making progress —being uniquely awesome This GPA won’t get you that license on its own but without it, that license is impossible. #lawstudent #lawschool #lawstudents

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and many law school applicants aim to submit their applications by then. Are you on track? If life threw a curveball—like retaking the LSAT or dealing with a busy semester—it’s okay to adjust your timeline. Remember: the best time to submit your application is when it’s ready to showcase your strongest story. 💡 Key Takeaways: ✔️ Rolling admissions prioritize strong applications over early submissions. ✔️ Submitting by January 1 (or even mid-January) is still competitive. ✔️ Use this time to craft the most compelling narrative for admissions. Need help realigning your application schedule or perfecting those final touches? Schedule a free consultation with one of our law school experts today and finish your application season with confidence! 🎉 Plan wisely, take a breath, and enjoy the holidays—your dream law school awaits! https://hubs.li/Q02YYq2J0 #LawSchoolAdmissions #PreLaw #LSAT #LawSchool #AcceptedAdmissions

Pre-law and law students, don’t let someone else’s timeline of success define yours. A four year college degree in eight years is the same degree when you graduate. A gap year or two before law school doesn’t mean you’re lazy. Going to law school part-time over four years, instead of three, gets you the same JD when you graduate. Having to withdraw, taking a leave of absence or being academically dismissed from law school and then returning where you left off gets you the same JD when you graduate. Waiting to take the bar exam a year or three after you graduate gets you the same license when you pass. Finding the best job twenty years after you started practicing means those twenty years were worth it. Today you’re one day closer to being exactly where your decisions lead you. Enjoy the pages in your history book, my friends. ❤️ When was the last time you were reminded how important you and your journey already are? #lawstudent #lawstudents #lawschool

Law school finals are just around the corner, and success starts with smart preparation. When I graduated # 1 in my law school class out of over 200 students, I learned that excelling isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter. Here’s the three-step plan I recommend to excel on your law school finals: 1️⃣ Create your own outlines. Use your class notes to do this! Your professor will test what they taught, so focus on capturing their language and priorities. 2️⃣ Memorize the black letter law. A well-organized outline is the best way to memorize the elements and understand how the rules fit together. The better you understand how the rules fit together, the easier applying them becomes. 3️⃣ Take practice exams using your professor's past exams (and self-grade!). This is what separates the “A” students from the “B” students. Practice writing out answers to your professor’s past exams and compare them to model answers. Learn to think like your professor before exam day. This is a game changer. Remember, law school exams aren’t just about knowing the law—they’re about applying it. Practice makes perfect, and preparation wins every time. Good luck! 💪📚 How are you prepping for finals? Drop your strategies in the comments—I’d love to hear! #LawSchool #FinalExams #LawSchoolLife #BarPrep #StudyTips #LawStudentSuccess #LegalEducation #JDAdvising #PracticeMakesPerfect