Advertise on podcast: The First Year: Law School and Lawyering

Legal writing is one of those things that seems like it should come easily because it's, you know, writing. But it's so specific in its structure and content that it's really more like a jigsaw puzzle that we've never encountered before. I've always struggled with how to talk about legal writing in a way that's accessible and interesting...so I'm giving it a shot in this podcast episode.   1. For more law school and lawyering magic, get the email gold here.   2. Looking for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages), follow me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/angelavorpahl   3. If you want to build out a powerful 1L grades strategy to go after your "as high as I can go" grade goals...check out my signature 1L coaching program (Law School Master Plan) here to see if it's a fit!

Law school professors don't see it as their job to teach you the substantive law of the 1L courses in a straightforward, methodical, complete way...because they see that as "robbing" you of the ability to figure it out yourself. Yikes. Because of this approach, there are a TON of areas of uncertainty and confusion when it comes to understanding the rules of law in 1L courses (that you need to know for your final exams). So let's talk about them.   1. For more law school and lawyering magic, get the email gold here.   2. Looking for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages), follow me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/angelavorpahl   3. If you want to build out a powerful 1L grades strategy to go after your "as high as I can go" grade goals...check out my signature 1L coaching program (Law School Master Plan) here to see if it's a fit!

Law school professors are saying these things to 1Ls in orientation...and wreaking all kinds of havoc. Let's talk about it. 1. For more law school and lawyering magic, ⁠get the email gold here⁠. 2. Looking for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages), ⁠follow me on Instagram here.⁠ 3. If you want to build out a powerful 1L grades strategy to go after your "as high as I can go" grade goals...⁠check out my signature 1L coaching program (Law School Master Plan) here to see if it's a fit!⁠

Here are the things that I see 1Ls struggle with the most...from beginning to end. 1. To ask me a question about 1L year, ⁠drop it here!⁠ 2. If you're heading into your 1L year this fall and you want to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy, ⁠grab your free spot in my 1L Masterclass here.⁠ 3. Looking for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages), ⁠follow me on Instagram here.⁠ P.S. If you're looking to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy before day one of class...check out ⁠my signature 1L coaching program (Law School Master Plan) here⁠ to see if it's a fit!

Ahh the law school curve. The infamous method by which we are graded in law school (and most importantly, 1L year). Everything you need to know...including everything they don't tell you. 1. To ask me a question about 1L year, ⁠drop it here!⁠ 2. If you're heading into your 1L year this fall and are curious about the 3 "must haves" to go after your "as high as I can go" grade goals, ⁠grab your spot in my FREE 1L Masterclass here!⁠ 3. Hungry for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages)...⁠follow me on Instagram here!⁠ P.S. If you're looking to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy before day one of class...⁠check out my signature 1L coaching program (Law School Master Plan)⁠ to see if it's a fit!

1L year is infamous for being a black box. So naturally people have a ton of questions. Let's talk about them.   1. To ask me a question about 1L year, drop it here!   2. If you're heading into your 1L year this fall and you want to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy, grab your free spot in my 1L Masterclass here.   3. Looking for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages), follow me on Instagram here.   P.S. If you're looking to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy before day one of class...check out my signature 1L coaching program (Law School Master Plan) here to see if it's a fit!

What are the "1L Books"...and should you spend time reading them the summer before law school?   1. To ask me a question about 1L year, drop it here!   2. If you're heading into your 1L year this fall and are curious about the 3 "must haves" to go after your "as high as I can go" grade goals, grab your free spot in my FREE 1L Masterclass here!   3. Hungry for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages)...follow me on Instagram here!   P.S. If you're looking to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy before day one of class...check out my signature 1L coaching program (Law School Master Plan) to see if it's a fit!

In my years of 1L coaching I have observed many pieces of traditional advice and strategies that don't actually work...which has led me to develop some very strong (and unpopular) opinions. Let's get into it!   1. For more law school and lawyering magic, get the email gold here.   2. If you're heading into your 1L year this fall and you want to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy, grab your free spot in my 1L Masterclass here.   3. Looking for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages), follow me on Instagram here.   P.S. If you're looking to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy before day one of class...check out my signature 1L coaching program (Law School Master Plan) here to see if it's a fit!

The question of "how do I pay for law school?" just got more complicated for those of you guys starting law school this Fall 2026 (and beyond)...so let's talk about it.   1. For more law school and lawyering magic, get the email gold here.   2. If you're heading into your 1L year this fall and you want to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy, grab your free spot in my 1L Masterclass here.   3. Looking for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages), follow me on Instagram here.   P.S. If you're looking to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy before day one of class...check out my signature 1L coaching program (Law School Master Plan) here to see if it's a fit!   P.P.S. Other resources mentioned in the episode: >> Cost of law school: https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-law-school >> Scholarships: https://www.accesslex.org/databank >> Student loan podcast: https://youtu.be/P1aINrJ1JBQ?si=806FBMrogUnykjJ9 >> Student loan calculator: https://www.accesslex.org/tools-and-resources/student-loan-calculator >> Student loan FAQs: https://www.lsac.org/choosing-law-school/paying-law-school/financial-aid-faqs

I've alluded to it before, but never really talked about it...let's break down what I actually do as a 1L coach. 1. For more law school and lawyering magic, ⁠get the email gold here⁠.   2. If you're heading into your 1L year this fall and you want to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy, ⁠grab your free spot in my 1L Masterclass here⁠. 3. Looking for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages), ⁠follow me on Instagram here⁠. P.S. If you're looking to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy before day one of class...check out my signature ⁠1L coaching program (Law School Master Plan)⁠ to see if it's a fit!

Every lawyer has an origin story...and here's mine.   1. For more law school and lawyering magic, get the email gold here.   2. If you're heading into your 1L year this fall and you want to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy, grab your free spot in my 1L Masterclass here.   3. Looking for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages), follow me on Instagram here.

We hear the term "case brief" thrown around all the time...but what is it? How do we make it? And is it a "need to know" in order to do well in law school?   1. For more law school and lawyering magic, get the email gold here.   2. If you're heading into your 1L year this fall and you want to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy, grab your free spot in my 1L Masterclass here.   3. Looking for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages), follow me on Instagram here.   P.S. Other resources mentioned in the episode: >> "Beat the Curve" Guide.

The number on question I get asked by people wanting to know which law school to go to is: "Should I go to a T14 law school, or a non-T14 law school with a full scholarship?" Let's talk about it.   1. For more law school and lawyering magic, get the email gold here.   2. If you're heading into your 1L year this fall and you want to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy, grab your free spot in my 1L Masterclass here.   3. Looking for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages), follow me on Instagram here.   P.S. Other resources mentioned in the episode: >> U.S. News and World Report (Law School Rankings 2026): https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings >> Google: "[Notre Dame] Law School ABA 509 Report" >> Google: "[Notre Dame] Law School ABA Employment Report" >> Access Lex Student Loan Calculator: https://calculator.accesslex.org >> NALP Buying Power Index: https://www.nalp.org/class-of-2024-buying-power

The law school claim to fame is that they teach us how to "think like a lawyer." But what does that mean...and is that all that law school teaches us?   1. For more law school and lawyering magic, get the email gold here.   2. If you're heading into your 1L year this fall and you want to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy, grab your free spot in my 1L Masterclass here.   3. Looking for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages), follow me on Instagram here.

There is nothing you can do to prepare for law school...or is there?   1. For more law school and lawyering magic, get the email gold here.   2. If you're heading into your 1L year this fall and you want to build out a rock solid 1L grades strategy, grab your free spot in my 1L Masterclass here.   3. Looking for behind-the-scenes "real talk" (and coffee and cake montages), follow me on Instagram here.