Many difficult legal concepts are built upon fundamental doctrines and precedents — which are subjects that you will most likely take in your first year of law school. Examples of these subjects include Constitutional Law, Persons and Family Relations, and Obligations and Contracts.
And it's true, your second year of law school is considered to be very difficult. But you have one huge advantage going into this year: with a year of law school under your belt, you already know what you are doing. Law school is no longer that new, crazy experience that you have no idea how to handle.
Some of the hardest classes in law school, ing to current and former students, are: Constitutional Law. Civil Procedure. Contracts. Federal Courts. Federal Income Tax. Administrative Law. Partnership Tax.
Law school is an academic challenge; most students agree the first year (“1L” year) is the most difficult. In part, this is because law school is taught using methods entirely different than the lecture method used in most college classrooms.
In law school, we use 1L to refer to first year, 2L to second year, 3L to third year. Your law school might have a part time division, and in that case, some students might be referred to as 4Ls as well.
First year is the most important year of law school. Your 1L grades will determine your class rank, the academic honors you're awarded, and the job opportunities that are offered to you.
If you want to familiarize yourself with the basics of the legal system to prepare for your first year of law school, be sure to grab a copy of Law 101: Everything You Need to Know About The American Legal System. This book is an excellent primer to topics that you'll be tackling during your 1L at law school.
Textbooks are expensive, and law school textbooks are certainly no exception. To minimize this necessary expense, many students consider alternative options to buying brand new books for every class.
What makes 1L difficult is that the learning curve is so steep, the volume of work is heavy, and there is immense pressure on your grades. By 2L, you'll have mastered the formula of law school readings, exams, etc., which is a huge help!
In law school, however, there is no time to waste. The first year – called 1L – is critical to your career. Most first-year classes are large, intimidating lectures. Grades are typically based on final exams graded blindly using a fixed curve, with percentage quotas for each grade.