Going to Law School? Read This First.

Yesterday, I attended Georgia College and State University’s graduation ceremony and watched with pride as several former students crossed the stage. Many of them will be starting law school in just a few months, and in the conversations that followed, I found myself repeating advice I’ve given many times before.

If you’re heading to law school and want to excel—not just survive—here’s what you should focus on from day one:

1. Sharpen Your Critical Thinking

Law school isn’t about memorizing rules. It’s about applying them—often to messy, unfamiliar fact patterns that don’t resemble anything you’ve read before. Great lawyers know how to think through complexity, identify key issues, and craft strategic solutions.

From your first week of 1L year, start practicing with hypotheticals. Ask yourself: How would I apply this rule here? What arguments might the other side make? How do I reconcile unfavorable facts or law with the result I want?

That’s lawyering in action.

2. Master Persuasive Writing

The most powerful lawyers aren’t the loudest in the courtroom—they’re often the clearest on the page.

Your legal writing class is not just a box to check. It’s where you’ll build the foundation of your legal voice. That voice should be:

• Clear and concise

• Structured logically and persuasively

• Honest, even when acknowledging weaknesses

• Compelling in both facts and law

Get comfortable rewriting. And rewriting again. Writing is thinking, and great writing takes time. Pay attention to detail, be ruthless about cutting fluff, and always—always—proofread.

3. Build Strong Research Skills

Judges care about precedent, not personal opinions. That means your legal propositions must be backed by authority—and the right kind of authority.

Learn how to:

• Identify binding vs. persuasive precedent

• Use primary and secondary sources strategically

• Find the most relevant, recent, and favorable cases

• Recognize and confront unfavorable authority before the court does

Legal research might not feel glamorous, but it’s one of the most important tools in your arsenal. The strongest arguments fall flat without solid support.

4. Cultivate the Intangibles

Here’s the truth: technical skills will get you in the door, but intangibles are what make you a respected professional—and a good person.

I’m talking about:

• Taking feedback with grace and using it to grow

• Listening before speaking

• Owning your mistakes without excuses

• Staying calm under pressure

• Working well with all kinds of people

• Acting with integrity, even when it’s hard

• Being reliable, humble, and kind

No one wants to work with a know-it-all or a finger-pointer. Professionalism matters. So does character. And both will open doors long after your GPA stops being relevant.

5. Relax with the Politics

Please don’t spend your time in law school focused on advancing your political beliefs, protesting the social issue of the day, or vilifying those who think differently than you. Most conservatives and liberals are good people. Most individuals who are pro-choice—or pro-life—are good people. Every justice on the United States Supreme Court, regardless of whether you agree with their decisions, is an incredibly accomplished jurist and exemplary citizen. And yes, most people who voted for Donald Trump or Kamala Harris are good people.

People have different perspectives. That doesn’t mean they’re bad human beings—it means they’ve had different experiences, upbringings, and legal influences. That diversity of thought is not something to fear—it’s something to learn from.

So instead of going to law school entrenched in your political identity, go with a willingness to listen, engage, and reflect. Challenge—don’t just champion—your own beliefs. Law school is where you learn how to argue both sides, communicate persuasively, and think critically across ideological lines. Focus on mastering those skills. And maybe even lean into moderation over extremism—into compromise over division.

Final Thoughts

Being a great lawyer isn’t about having a photographic memory or graduating from a top-tier school. It’s about how you think, how you write, how you research—and who you are when no one’s watching.

Law school will challenge you. That’s part of the process. But if you focus on developing these core skills and carrying yourself with integrity, you’ll be more than ready—not just to succeed in law, but to lead with purpose.

You’ve already earned your place. Now, do the work that makes it count.