Guides: LRC Resources for 1Ls: Belonging in Law School

Do I belong here?

First off, yes, you do belong. You were accepted to law school based on your merits and because of who you are. Let that sink in for a moment. Everyone brings to law school their own unique perspectives and lived experiences.
You are not alone. If you have are suffering fear or anxiety, it’s likely many of your peers are feeling the same way. It’s important to speak up when you need something or when something isn’t working for you. It might be that others are feeling the same way, so you are helping others while helping yourself — it’s a win-win situation. Reach out to law school faculty, staff, and administrators for support.
Be yourself. One key to belonging is to bring your authentic self to the table. In addition to this, find your people. That might mean finding a student organization or affinity group that you can lean on.
Don’t lose sight of the fact that you are here to learn. You won’t have all the answers right away, and that’s normal. The staff at the LRC is here to support you both in and out of the classroom.

Suggestions taken from Melissa Hale, Let your music play: How to foster a sense of belonging in law school, Law School Admission Council (Sept. 26, 2022)

Recommended reading for 1Ls

The Guide to Belonging in Law School by Russell A. McClain
Call Number: E-BOOK

Publication Date: 2020-07-09

The Guide to Belonging in Law School is the only book of its kind and should be required summer reading before law school. It accomplishes two discrete goals. First, it requires readers to engage in an authentic, rigorous, mini-law school semester involving reading, studying, five Socratic classes (through the connected website), exam preparation, and exam writing. Second, the book provides a foundation for students from marginalized groups to recognize and manage both subtle and explicit barriers that can impede their progress.
What the L? by Kelsey May; Samantha Roberts; Elizabeth Shelton
Call Number: KF283 .M388 (LRC)

Publication Date: 2010-07-01

Law school can be a terrifying experience if you don't know what you're getting yourself into. For students who don't have their career paths or pedagogic goals mapped out, law school is even more terrifying. There are so many questions that accompany the decision to apply to law school: Is it worth the money? Is it worth the time? Is this the right time to go? Will I do well? How can I do well? How do I find a job? What kind of job is right for me? Is law school like college? And if you decide to go to law school, there are even more questions: What is an outline? How is an exam structured? How do I get a job at a big firm? What is a legal fraternity? What is the bar exam and when do I take it? This book is a firsthand account of trudging through law school without the answers to any of these questions.
The Anxious Lawyer by Jeena Cho; Karen Gifford
Call Number: KF298 .C47 (LRC)

Publication Date: 2016-06-07

The Anxious Lawyer is a straightforward introduction to meditation and mindfulness for those engaged in the practice of law. Readers will be guided through an eight week program, the aim of which is to assist in establishing an ongoing meditation practice. The book will: -Provide an overview of the history of meditation and the scientific evidence of its benefits -Introduce the reader to simple meditation techniques -Offer concrete guidance for establishing meditation practice
One L by Scott Turow
Call Number: KF373.T88 A33 (LRC)

Publication Date: 1988-05-01

Becoming a first-year law student--a One L--at the oldest, most esteemed law school in the U. S. threw Scott Turow into a physical, emotional, and intellectual combat zone. An ultimate test by fire of his honesty and principles, in a time of hazings, betrayals, challenges and triumphs--a law school primer.
Happiness and Peak Performance in Law School by Jarrett Green; Rebecca Green
ISBN: 1684678560

Publication Date: 2023-05-01

Wouldn't it be amazing if you could enhance your happiness and cognitive firepower? If you could reduce your law school stress and expand your resilience, self-confidence, and overall joyfulness? What if your mind could be clearer, more focused, and flat-out better at learning, reading, outlining, memorizing, public speaking, exam-taking, decision-making, and various other law school competencies? If this interests you, then this book is for you. In this book, law students will learn a wide collection of easy-to-apply, science-based tools for drastically improving their emotional well-being, mental strength, and academic success. Law school can be overwhelming and demoralizing at times, but now law students can feel equipped and empowered to overcome the inevitable challenges of this intense environment. This book provides a roadmap for thriving mentally, emotionally, and cognitively in law school, in the practice of law, and in life.
Beyond One L by Nancy Levit; Allen Rostron
Call Number: KF287 .B49 (LRC)

Publication Date: 2019-01-01

Beyond One L: Stories About Finding Meaning and Making a Difference in Law is inspired by Scott Turow''s One L, the classic account of a first year law student''s experience at Harvard Law School. With an introduction by Turow, Beyond One L explores first, second, and third year experiences in the decades since One L was published. It then moves beyond law school to tell the stories of taking the bar, searching for judicial clerkships, practicing law, and leaving law practice to become a teacher or judge.
Learning Outside the Box by Leah M. Christensen
Call Number: E-BOOK

Publication Date: 2010-11-09

More law students than ever before come to law school having been diagnosed with a learning disability. The purpose of this book is to provide research-based learning strategies for law students who learn differently. If you are a student who has been diagnosed with a learning disability or if you simply have a unique learning style, you may need to outline differently, read cases differently, and approach law school in a more active, engaged, and efficient manner. This book offers learning strategies grounded in empirical research to help law students who learn differently maximize their academic success.
A First Generation's Guide to Law School by Melissa A. Hale
Call Number: E-BOOK

Publication Date: June 2022

This is written as a guide for first-generation students who are entering or are currently attending law school. It introduces students to law school vocabulary and available resources, gives guidance about how to prepare for the unique challenges of law school, and provides a roadmap for things like participating in class, studying for and taking exams, joining extracurriculars, taking care of your mental health, and networking. The guide includes interactive exercises that test the student's knowledge of concepts, encourage the student to reflect on their own interests and experiences, and explore resources in their law school and elsewhere.
Law School Confidential by Robert H. Miller
Call Number: KF283 .M55 (LRC)

Publication Date: 2011-04-26

I WISH I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW! Don't get to the end of your law school career muttering these words to yourself! Take the first step toward building a productive, successful, and perhaps even pleasant law school experience--read this book! Written by students, for students, Law School Confidential has been the "must-have" guide for anyone thinking about, applying to, or attending law school for more than a decade.
McClurg's 1L of a Ride by Andrew J. McClurg
Call Number: E-BOOK

Publication Date: 2013-03-11

1L of a Ride provides a candid step-by-step roadmap to both academic and emotional success in law school's critical first year. Covered topics in this newly updated, revised, and expanded second edition include: top student fears, the first-year curriculum, effective class participation, types of law students and professors, case-briefing, note-taking, course-outlining, legal research and writing, exam preparation, essay and multiple-choice exam strategies, stress management, the impact of law school on outside relationships, special challenges faced by part-time and nontraditional students, and much more. Shows rather than tells with dozens of anecdotes and comments from real law students, as well as authentic samples of Socratic dialogue, exam questions, student case briefs, class notes, and course outlines. McClurg is an award-winning professor and noted legal humorist with experience teaching at several law schools.
Great Minds Think Differently by Haley Moss
Call Number: KF480 .M674 2021 (LRC); E-BOOK

Publication Date: 2021-06-01

Lawyers are leaders in our communities and I expect it to be no different in the realm of neurodiversity. Neurodiversity might be a relatively new concept for some readers, but we interface with people who think differently than us each day. It is neither better nor worse, just different, and different can be extraordinary. We can be extraordinary in how we work with our neurodiverse colleagues, friends, family members, and clients. My hope is that this book makes including neurodiverse populations in our profession and interacting with us within the legal system becomes more natural and equitable.
Getting to Maybe by Richard Michael Fischl; Jeremy Paul
Call Number: KF283 .F47 (LRC)

Publication Date: 1999-05-26

Professors Fischl and Paul explain law school exams in ways no one has before, all with an eye toward improving the reader's performance. The book begins by describing the difference between educational cultures that praise students for "right answers," and the law school culture that rewards nuanced analysis of ambiguous situations in which more than one approach may be correct. Enormous care is devoted to explaining precisely how and why legal analysis frequently produces such perplexing situations.

Resources at USD

USD Law's Academic Success Program offers a wealth of advice and assistance on how to succeed in law school: briefing cases for class, handling stress, surviving the Socratic teaching method, outlining, exam-writing and much, much more.
USD's Palomar Health Student Wellness Center opened in 2025 and is a short walk from the law school.
Take advantage of the Health, Wellness and Safety resources available to the entire USD community.