ANALYSIS: Six Tips for Law Students to Make the Most of 3L Year

As you make your way back to the classroom as a 3L, this year likely feels different. Perhaps you’ve already accepted a job offer or decided to pursue an LLM. Thoughts of “what’s next” are likely to be front of mind—from graduation to taking the bar to getting sworn in as a practicing attorney. The final stretch is here whether you’re ready for it or not, and it’s likely an exciting—albeit surreal—feeling.

But until then, here are six important steps you can take as an incoming 3L to make the most of your last year of law school, finish strong, and properly prepare yourself for what’s to come after you earn your JD.

1. Adjust Your 3L Schedule

It’s tempting to fill your last year of law school with classes considered to be an “easy A” or ones that classmates recommended because there’s no exam. However, instead of this laid-back approach, there are a variety of classes—clinics, bar exam prep courses, practical skills courses, and practice-specific courses—that would be wise to take and that will set you up for success in your future role.

This is especially true for those 3Ls who now have a better idea of what practice area they’ll end up in based on their summer position. It’s important to adjust your class schedule to reflect your professional goals. There are definitely a variety of classes that can better prepare you for this, such as secured transactions or oral advocacy for incoming bankruptcy lawyers.

Taking additional real-world, practical courses will also provide you with some essential on-the-job training to better prepare you for what your work as full-time associates will actually look like. And if you’re considering a clerkship—and another piece of advice would be to apply to them if interested— you should consider working at a clinic, in order to gain invaluable experience with clients and cases. Bloomberg Law’s inaugural Law School Preparedness Survey revealed just how critical gaining exposure to practical skills is, and how most attorneys wish they’d learned such skills prior to practicing.

This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t immerse yourself in opportunities that might interest you. It’s a great idea to add in a few classes on topics you’re passionate about, even though they may not be directly related to your future practice.

2. Take on a Mentorship Role

In addition to finding the right practice area during your summer, you hopefully also had a mentor who helped you navigate firm life. There are so many benefits to having a mentor, including building your confidence as a future attorney.

Now that you’ve returned to school, you can transfer what you’ve learned during the summer to your fellow 1L and 2L students—in essence being a mentor to them. You can share the value of mentoring by providing them with any key insights you wish you’d known when you were in their shoes.

And mentorship opportunities shouldn’t be limited to those 3Ls who worked at law firms. Sharing any government, non-profit, and non-traditional summer experiences with your fellow students can help them to figure out which career move is best for them.

3. Keep Networking

Networking shouldn’t stop just because the summer has ended or because you’ve secured a job post-graduation. It’s important to remember that your professors and your fellow classmates are a big part of your legal network and can be vital resources to utilize during your future career.

Plan to set up meetings with any professors who made a positive impact on you. You could even go the extra mile and write them handwritten thank you notes as the school year comes to an end to express your appreciation.

Also be sure to ask around and learn where your fellow classmates will land post-graduation, and congratulate them on these positions. You never know who might end up in the same firm or state as you. Building this network now can only help you later on.

4. Stay in Touch With Your Future Employer

Remaining involved—even at a distance—with firm work will serve you well for when you return full-time.

This might include sending attorneys you worked closely with a message every so often to keep your name on their minds for when you return, and keeping up with any legal news surrounding their cases so you can be on top of your game when you start as a first-year associate.

Also plan to stay up to date with any general news surrounding your future employer and its major clients. You can do this by setting up docket and news alerts to ensure you don’t miss anything major taking place. Many attorneys also like to post big news on LinkedIn and Twitter, so be sure to connect with them on these platforms if you haven’t already.

5. Take Care of Yourself and Have Fun

If you’re starting at a firm after law school, nothing can truly prepare you for the potential late nights and long hours that come with being a first-year associate. That makes it more critical now than ever to take care of yourself and enjoy the free time that you have during this final year of school. This doesn’t mean you should slack off from your coursework, but rather take advantage of the time you do have by carving out time to do the things you enjoy. Be sure to practice setting boundaries and to focus on your work-life balance before you dive full-force into firm culture.

Also allow yourself to have fun. In just nine months, you won’t be passing your classmates in the halls, so spend as much time with them as you can. Upon graduation, you’ll have survived three grueling years of law school together and have built a bond that not many will understand. Your school will likely offer events such as Barristers Balls and public interest auctions, and being a 3L provides you with the perfect time to enjoy this time with your classmates.

6. Explore Alternative Career Paths

Some of you who summered at law firms may have realized that law firm life wasn’t for you, and that’s okay! Or maybe you already knew that, and opted for a non-traditional summer job. While this might feel scary or intimidating because these types of careers don’t always give out offers by the end of the summer or pay as well as law firm jobs, don’t get discouraged simply because your peers have accepted offers.

The best thing you can do is stay proactive. Talk to your professors and career services if you feel unsure of your next move. Do your research and keep applying, because there are a variety of employers out there that are hiring recent law grads from now through graduation and beyond. As someone who’s now working in an alternative career (and loving it!), I can confidently say that the right career is out there, and sometimes it just takes a bit more effort to find it.

Related content is available for free on our In Focus: Lawyer Well-Being page. Bloomberg Law subscribers can find additional content geared toward firm associates, including practical guidance, workflow tools, surveys, and more on our In Focus: Core Skills – Litigation and In Focus: Lawyer Development pages.

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