How To Start the Law School Year Strong (Lawyers Connect Newsletter)

I am Marta Ricardo, the Dean of Professionalism and Lawyering Skills Director at Fordham Law School. I also serve on the NYC Bar’s Law Student Perspectives Committee and Mindfulness and Well-Being in Law Committee. 

I have worked with law students since 2007 in roles in student services, career services, and now in professional identity formation and lawyering skills. As law students are starting the new semester, I wanted to offer three tips to gain your desired skills and outcomes as well as maintain a balanced approach to your mental health. 

Reflect on Your Why 

As you begin your law school year, take time to revisit your “why”: why law school, why this practice area, why these clients, why this cause. One easy way to do this is to reread your law school personal statement. Then ask which course material and client types resonate with you. For some students, financial security, for themselves and their families, is the priority, and they gravitate toward corporate law and larger firms. For others, economic and social justice for their communities comes first, and they lean into clinical and experiential learning. 

Every student has their own path. Each of you brings different skills, experiences, and priorities. Try not to measure your progress against your classmates. 

Thank — and Grow — Your Network 

If this is your first year, now is the time to thank the recommenders and advisors who got you here. It’s also the ideal moment to start reaching out to attorneys whose careers you admire and to attend programming with practicing lawyers hosted by your school. LinkedIn is a strong starting point for finding alumni and building your network. The NYC Bar also runs an extensive events calendar that’s open to students. NYC Bar committees are also open to student membership, which can provide you with a ready-made network. 

If you’re in an upper year, send a brief thank-you note to your formal and informal mentors from last summer. Already keeping in touch? Good. Now think about how to use that relationship: mentors often know who else is hiring, or who to introduce you to. 

Invest in Your Wellbeing 

Law school is intense. Protect the physical and mental energy you need for your classes and everything outside them. A consistent sleep schedule, regular exercise, and a decent diet all help manage your readings and coursework. And regular mental health care should not be ignored during law school — if anything, it matters more now. 

Build habits that support the year ahead: a standing walk with a friend, a favorite podcast during your commute, a few blocked-off hours each week for your job search — whatever keeps you resourced. 

Finally, remember that your school has invested in people and resources to support you. Find them. Use them. 

Marta Ricardo is a member of the Law Student Perspectives Committee. Learn more about the committee here. City Bar members can apply for the committee here.