Life and Law: Unsolicited Advice from a Not-Quite-Burned-Out 3L

Karen Campbell, 3L

Do all your readings (yes, all of them!) even if you don’t understand them or only have time for a quick skim.

This is the #1 tip I give to all incoming 1Ls, and it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. Making sure that you do all your readings — even if just as a half-effort skim — ensures that you’re as prepared for class as you can be. It means that even on the most boring day of class, you’ll be able to pick out details from your reading and make connections with the material. It also ensures that you’ll get an A for effort if you’re cold-called.

Book brief — don’t take notes on paper.

Taking notes in a notebook as you read for class is a waste of time. Book brief instead! Book briefing entails underlining, highlighting, circling, and writing important terms and guideposts in the margin of your textbook. It saves time and effort, and if you’re trying to do all your readings for class (see tip #1 above), that time and effort is precious. Book briefing also allows you to point out the important points in each case and reading so that you can remember them during cold calls and during outlining. It’s a win-win-win!

Do things that make you uncomfortable.

Sign up for Moot Court, write on for Law Review, argue in traffic court, sign up for VITA — do anything you can to experience new and scary things in law school. Each provides a new and unique opportunity to explore a new area of law. By experimenting with new experiences, you’ll learn the most important lesson of all: what you like.

Take on a leadership role in at least one organization.

KU law has all kinds of interest groups, clubs, and co-curricular organizations. Volunteer as a leader in at least one. Leadership roles allow you to practice different kinds of soft skills that employers love. They also allow you to engage with your law school community while taking a break from your studies.

Apply for supplemental scholarships and on-campus opportunities that provide stipends.

It’s no secret that law school is expensive. But KU and the surrounding community have lots of ways to get some extra cash. Opportunities like Law Review, Journal, Moot Court, Ambassadors, Dean’s Fellows and Research Assistants all include scholarships, stipends, or paychecks to help you afford your legal education. And KU’s Admissions Office will do a great job of connecting you to outside scholarships if you let them; Kansas Bar Association (KBA) scholarships and Federal Bar Association (FBA) scholarships are two great options, but other more local scholarships come about pretty often, too.

Lean into the busy.

The reality of law school is that everyone is busy. Everyone’s planner is booked. And no one likes a whiner. If you can find it in yourself to lean into your busy-ness, you’ll be all the better for it. Law school is only three years long — you can do it!

Attend law school events.

With the Diversity in Law Banquet, Women in Law Pub Night, and Law Prom all occurring in March, I have banquets on the brain. Each of these events is a great opportunity to engage with your classmates and professors, and you should attend all of them. Remember that the connections you make in law school are the referrals you get in practice — and, more importantly, the friendships you make here will last a lifetime.

Spend time outside of class with your classmates.

Every class has a few instigators — people who organize social events, invite everyone out for those events, and forge connections between classmates. Either become one of those people yourself or find those people and get close to them. Those are the people you’ll get close to in law school, and they’ll be the ones you lean on in the future.

– Karen Campbell is a 3L KU Law Student Ambassador from Lawrence, Kansas

What I like and love about being a 1L at KU Law

Brandon Rossman, 1L

First and foremost, I love learning about how the law touches people’s lives. Every case you read revolves around a person’s legal problem. Through these problems, you get to travel in space and time and see what matters to them. You get to see the problems they faced and the rights they fought to enforce. It is a window to another world that, because of the pervasiveness of the law, we get to learn about. The law is a collection of stories made by people resolving their problems. I really enjoy learning about others through my study of law.

The law is vast. In the first year of law school, all KU Law 1Ls will take the same foundational courses such as property, criminal law and torts. Before taking this class, I had no idea what a tort was, and now I do. I love that! It has been a wonderful experience to see and think about things I never would have before. I would compare it to the deepest depths of the ocean. We all know it exists, but to someone not involved with the law, or ocean for that matter, it is a complete mystery. It feels as if my world is growing as I learn more about our legal system.

Law school is hard. Doable but challenging. I like that. If climbing mountains or being vegan were easy, I suspect people wouldn’t really talk about those things all that much. I like being challenged. I enjoy the massive amounts of reading, complex application of common law and memorizing a lot of rules. I firmly believe that in the absence of growth, we waste away. Law school forces me to use my brain. To learn and apply. I am growing as a person as I work towards my law degree.

Lastly, it’s all about location! Lawrence is fantastic. It’s a thriving college town with a wonderful downtown. Mass Street is a ton of fun, with enough restaurants and bars to last about eight months. That is about how long it took my wife and I to try them all. There are a lot of great food options and zero traffic. You can get to anywhere in town in 15 minutes. Not to mention, it’s a crisp 45-minute drive from the bustling metropolis of Kansas City. To put it simply, life is good!

— Brandon Rossman is a 1L KU Law Student Ambassador from Yorba Linda, California

Redefining student involvement as a law student

Bella Price
Bella Price, 1L

As an undergrad, I loved being involved. Coming from a small undergraduate institution, I had the opportunity to be involved in nearly every aspect of campus life including student organizations, leadership roles, community outreach and academic clubs. I found a lot of fulfillment in working with student organizations, planning events for students who developed professional and academic skills, and getting to know and giving back to my community through service.

These things made up a large portion of my identity as a student and even played a role in why I wanted to go to law school. I was used to a fast-paced and highly involved lifestyle. My days were packed with meetings, volunteering and events, while managing to balance it all with my coursework. I thrived in that environment, where I felt deeply connected to my school and community.

Stepping into law school at a much larger university was not only a culture shock but also a sharp academic contrast to what I have been used to. The reading assignments are rigorous, concepts and content are dense and take much more time to grasp and understand, and suddenly, all the plans I had to connect with the community, campus and student organizations were no longer sustainable in the ways I had previously managed.

I struggled for a while to find a fit where I could keep the best of both worlds, but ultimately, I felt lost in this much larger university. I came to understand that this all-or-nothing mentality was unrealistic. After years of that kind of involvement, adjusting my expectations was challenging, and I felt a lot of shame for my lack of involvement. It took a great deal of reflection to begin transitioning to my new normal, where I could still be engaged but in a way that was both sustainable and fulfilling.

One of the hardest parts of this transition has been redefining what involvement means to me. In undergrad, I enjoyed the quantity aspect of involvement, I loved being a part of as many projects, groups and organizations as I could. In law school, I’ve learned that involvement can be more about refined quality—how deeply I can engage in a few meaningful activities while still maintaining academic success. It’s about finding balance, something that I am continuously working toward.

Law school requires an incredible amount of discipline and time management, but it is not impossible to work meaningful involvement into your schedule. For anyone transitioning from a highly involved undergraduate experience to law school, my advice is to give yourself grace. It is okay to step back and reevaluate how you engage with your community. It is important to find a system that works for you, one that allows you to prioritize your studies while still staying connected to activities that fulfill you. One of the things that you will hear in your first week of law school is that it is a marathon, not a sprint, and learning your new pace is part of the journey.

— Bella Price is a 1L KU Law Student Ambassador from Spring Hill, Kansas

Looking back and moving forward

Matt Koegel, 3L

My 2.5 years at KU Law have been a journey of learning and growth. As I sit down to write my final blog post, I’ve found myself discarding numerous ideas, unsure of how to capture the significance of this moment. Instead of trying to find the perfect conclusion, I’ll focus on the things I’m most grateful for from my time in law school.

I’m thankful that law school showed me the power of persistence. It taught me that difficult tasks are not only achievable but that overcoming challenges is a crucial part of the journey. One skill I didn’t anticipate developing was learning how to read for law school classes. It’s a unique skill, one that I quickly realized is essential for success in the legal world. I’m grateful that KU Law gave me the tools to master it.

The people I’ve met along the way are another reason I’m so thankful for my time at KU Law. Professors, administrators, mentors and friends; these individuals have shaped my experience and pushed me to be a better version of myself. I’ve formed friendships with people I know I’ll keep for life. These are friends I can call at any hour, knowing they would drop everything to help. The people at KU Law challenge me in ways that go beyond academics, inspiring me to strive for personal and professional growth. I’m deeply grateful for the relationships I’ve built in Green Hall.

KU Law has also provided me with invaluable opportunities to grow. From being a student ambassador to working in the Legal Aid Clinic and competing in the  In-House Moot Court Competition, these experiences have exposed me to both success and failure, teaching me essential lessons along the way. Perhaps the most important lesson I’ve learned is the ability to bounce back from failure. Law school taught me that setbacks are not the end; they’re just the beginning of a process of recovery and growth. I’m thankful KU Law gave me the chance to develop resilience before entering the legal profession.

As I approach graduation, I feel incredibly grateful for my time at KU Law. After one more set of finals, I will be a law school graduate. While I’ll miss student life, I’m eager for the new chapter that lies ahead.

— Matthew Koegel is a 3L KU Law Student Ambassador from Long Island, NY

Work-School Balance: Having a Job in Law School

Izzy Watkins
Izzy Watkins, 2L

For many students, law school can be a financial burden. Not being able to work while still affording to pay rent and buy groceries is challenging. I’m here to tell you that having a job is not completely off the table while in law school. Below, I have laid out some tips on how to balance a part-time job while in law school.

1. Wait

    Your first year is about learning the ropes on how to navigate law school. A job could put too much pressure on someone adapting to this demanding environment. I found it helpful to wait for my 2L year to find a part-time job that suited me and my workload.

    2. Flexibility

    Look for a job that is flexible with your schedule. An employer who knows about the demands of law school might allow you to work less hours. For example, I work anywhere from 6 to 15 hours a week. I am able to decide my hours based on the amount of schoolwork I have for the given week. This allows me to have a steady amount of income flowing in without overwhelming myself. I like to think of my part-time job as another three-credit class to help manage my time.

    3. Be Open and Honest

    Communicate with your employer about law school and let them know that school comes first. Be open about when you have papers or exams to allow for flexible work times during that period. For me, I take off work the week before finals to adequately prepare for my exams without having to worry about my job. It is important to set boundaries for yourself. I have a bad habit of saying “yes” to everything asked of me. Sometimes you need to step back and know that it is okay to say “no” if you don’t have the time.

    4. Take care of yourself

    Law school can be overwhelming, and adding a part-time job on your plate might add to the stress. You have to remember to take care of yourself by eating, exercising and getting enough sleep. Be kind to yourself in this challenging time and know when to step back and take a break.

    Law school is a marathon, not a sprint. By carefully crafting your schedule and managing your time, anything is possible, including having a part-time job. I suggest looking for a job on campus, browsing simplicity for legal positions or using your connections. Overall, having a job in law school is 100% doable and will help you build valuable skills for your future.

    – Izzy Watkins is a 2L KU Law Student Ambassador from Overland Park, Kansas

    Starting a Club as a 1L

    Making an Immediate Impact on the Campus Community

    Ava Mumgaard, 1L

    The room buzzed with conversation — not about outlines or tomorrow’s contracts reading, but rather winter break plans, favorite restaurants and the chatter that followed a costly move in a game. Laughter mixed with the sound of captured pieces hitting the table. As law students momentarily traded legal arguments for chess strategy, they found something rare: a space to unwind, compete and make real connections beyond the classroom. When I founded the KU Law Chess Club, Knights & Bishops, I had no idea how many students would be eager to swap casebooks for chessboards, but that first meeting proved that strategy isn’t just for exam taking.

    It began at an event in late October, where classmates exchanged stories about what they enjoyed doing in the spare moments they found between briefing torts cases and attending exam-taking strategy sessions. Amid the chatter, my fellow classmate, Tony Racy, began talking about chess.

    “Is there a law school chess club?” I asked, fully expecting the answer to be yes — after all, legal strategy and chess seem like a perfect match.

    “I don’t think so,” someone said as the group nodded.

    “We should start one.”

    Students in KU Law’s Chess Club playing.

    As an out-of-state student, I was eager to find ways to create community on KU’s campus. Chess was the perfect activity to bring students, faculty and staff together, and provide a space in the law school where people could connect over something outside of the legal realm. Most of the extracurriculars I had already found myself contributing to — like Women in Law, the IP Society and Traffic Court — were great ways to get involved and make friends, but they all revolved around legal interests. Knights and Bishops’ goal was to create a space for legal minds to connect over a non-legal activity.

    What initially seemed like a simple idea — starting a club — turned out to be more complicated than we expected but surprisingly doable for first-year students. Our Assistant Director of Academic and Student Affairs Erin Kelley-Garrison typically would have been our first contact, but since she was out of town, we took our idea directly to the Associate Director of Academic and Student Affairs Leah Terranova. She helped us create a plan and provided us with all the information we needed to get the club off the ground. Once we began the process, we met with EKG to make sure we completed all the required steps.

    The steps to create a student organization:

    1. Meet with the Assistant Director of Academic and Student Affairs to go over the steps required.

    2. Get together a team of board members. Chess Club’s included a president, vice president, treasurer and a faculty advisor!

    3. Read the Student Organization Handbook.

    4. Write a constitution (this step was the most fun for us as law students).

    5. Register the Student Organization with (1) the Student Affairs Office and (2) the University through Rock Chalk Central. These two steps ensure you’re able to book a room in Green Hall, or other buildings on campus, to meet in.

    6. Complete Student Organization Officer Training via Canvas.

    7. Attend the Welcome Back Meeting at the beginning of the academic year.

    8. Begin planning a community service project to complete as a group.

    9. Plan your first meeting!

    KU Law students at a Chess Club meeting.

    Starting a club as a 1L is more than just an opportunity to dive into a new extracurricular — it’s a chance to form lasting connections, practice leading a team and build something that enriches the law school experience for others. From the very start, the process was made smoother by the incredible support I received from everyone around me. Our faculty advisor, Professor Peters, even generously provided food and beverages for our launch party, reinforcing how deeply our community believes in the importance of supporting one another.

    The success of our first meeting exceeded all expectations. We welcomed a large group of students who were eager to make connections and embrace the chessboard as a place for friendship. Chess club has served as a reminder that sometimes, the best way to find a community isn’t through another academic achievement, but through a shared interest that allows everyone to connect as people, not just students.

    – Ava Mumgaard is a 1L KU Law Student Ambassador from Omaha, Nebraska