4 Things I Wish I Would've Known Before Starting Law School

This blog post was written by Abigail Harding.

As someone who was a human biology major in undergrad, I thought I was the furthest person from knowing what to expect in law school. But here’s the thing—no one really knows what they’re doing when they start. (Even though everyone wants you to think they do.)

Here are four things I learned during my first semester of law school—things I wish someone had told me ahead of time.

1.    You Read a Lot. Like… a Lot.

As I mentioned, I majored in human biology, which meant reading dense academic articles and spending countless hours studying. Plus, reading is one of my favorite hobbies. So when people warned me about the reading load in law school, I wasn’t worried.

I should have been.

I read at least 20 pages per class and while that may not sound like a lot, those 20 pages are jam-packed with complex language and legal jargon. It often takes me an hour to read just 10 pages thoroughly. You’re not just skimming. You’re reading to understand, analyze, and apply. Over time, you do get faster, but the material doesn’t get any lighter.

Some of the cases are exciting, I'm in Criminal Law now, and reading about car chases and murder definitely keeps things interesting. But others are dense and dry, and it takes real effort just to make sense of the facts.

To stay afloat, you’ll learn to brief cases—pulling out the facts, issue, rule, reasoning, and final decision. This helps prepare you for the dreaded cold calls.

2.    Cold Calls. What are they? Are they real?

Yes, cold calls are a real thing, and yes, they can be terrifying at first. A cold call is when your professor randomly picks someone and expects them to explain the case or answer a hypothetical question. It's just like getting called on in school, but with much higher stakes.

On my first day of law school, I was the very first person called on. I’m convinced it was because my sister, Paige, had the same last name and the professor noticed. I was shaking, my face turned red, and I probably stumbled through my answer. But each time since then has gotten a little easier.

Now, I still get nervous when I hear “Miss Harding,” but I’ve even started raising my hand voluntarily. Professors don’t expect perfection, and your classmates are more supportive than you’d think.

3.    Being at the Law School from 8-5

At KU, I spent a lot of time in the library, but I also juggled extracurriculars and had a more flexible schedule. When Paige told me she stayed at the law school from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during her 1L year, I thought she was exaggerating. She wasn’t.

Most days, I’m on campus that long and honestly, it helps. Staying at school keeps me on task and gives me chances to study with different classmates and form new connections. I don’t always stay that late, and sometimes I work from a coffee shop for a change of pace.

But being physically present makes a huge difference in productivity and community.

4.    Develop new mindless hobbies

When I get home, my brain is usually fried. That’s why I started picking up hobbies that don’t require much brainpower but still bring me joy.

Right now, I’m making a scrapbook of my undergrad years to share with friends. I’ve also been learning new songs on the piano, which is a great stress reliever. Some of my friends have gotten really into thrift shopping. The goal? Find something that gives your brain a break from briefing tort cases or outlining contracts.

And here’s one more tip: designate one day a week to not think about school. For me, that’s Sunday. I start with Mass, stop by the grocery store, then spend the rest of the day cleaning, meal prepping, and relaxing on the couch. Giving yourself permission to rest is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.

You’ve Got This!

Law school is one of the most challenging yet rewarding things I’ve ever done, and while I still have a long road ahead, these lessons have already made the journey feel more manageable. I wish I had known how intense the reading would be, how intimidating—but survivable—cold calls are, and how crucial it is to find balance with hobbies and rest.

If you’re about to start law school, I hope this gives you a little peace of mind and a clearer picture of what’s ahead. You don’t have to have it all figured out on day one, none of us did. But with the right mindset (and maybe a few scrapbooking supplies), you’ll be just fine.