Sunday, February 25, 2007
Twenty Minute Law School Success Tip
Is it really possible to improve your chances of getting good grades in law school and getting a good job afterwards in only twenty minutes? Yes, and it's incredibly simple: just make nice with your law school professors.
It's only human nature to treat people you know more kindly than people you don't. The trick here is to get your law school professors to see you as a human being rather than just another body taking notes behind a laptop in a cavernous lecture hall class stuffed with faceless law students.
Here's how it's done. After class, from time to time (but not too often!) approach your professors and ask a question. An intelligent question is better than an idiotic one, but do the best you can. Making any kind of human contact with your professor will improve your relationship. That's it. A few simple (hopefully intelligent) questions over the course of a semester can make a big difference.
What's the benefit? If a professor knows who you are, if you are on the edge, the professor will be just a little more likely to make the close call in your favor. In addition, professors often know potential employers in the local area, but if they don't know who you are, there's no way to get a recommendation that could get you in the door.
Now, making nice with your professors is amazingly effective, but you need to be careful because if done wrong, this can backfire horribly. Here are a few tips to keep that personal reaction positive.
First, do not just try to chat with the professor and certainly do not attempt to "schmooze" him or her. Law professors are not dumb and will see through this immediately. Instead, just ask a question. Law professors generally like answering questions. After you've got your answer, thank the professor and then...leave them alone, because while professors like answering questions, they also like their free time and when the class is over, they are ready to get on with their free time.
Second, do not be a pest. Do not stop your professors after every class. Do not ask lots and lots of questions. You want to be seen and known, but not dreaded.
Third, remember that the best time to talk to the professor is right after class-- not their office hours. While law schools require professors to hold office hours, hardly anyone ever uses them, and so professors come to think of that time as their own personal time, and although they will never say it, they will secretly be irritated at having that time "interrupted."
If you consistently make human contact with your professors in an intelligent, non-intrusive way, over time you will make a good impression and, at least with some professors, you will start to develop a real relationship that can translate into better grades and better jobs. It's simple, but it works and all it takes is twenty minutes over the course of a semester.
It's only human nature to treat people you know more kindly than people you don't. The trick here is to get your law school professors to see you as a human being rather than just another body taking notes behind a laptop in a cavernous lecture hall class stuffed with faceless law students.
Here's how it's done. After class, from time to time (but not too often!) approach your professors and ask a question. An intelligent question is better than an idiotic one, but do the best you can. Making any kind of human contact with your professor will improve your relationship. That's it. A few simple (hopefully intelligent) questions over the course of a semester can make a big difference.
What's the benefit? If a professor knows who you are, if you are on the edge, the professor will be just a little more likely to make the close call in your favor. In addition, professors often know potential employers in the local area, but if they don't know who you are, there's no way to get a recommendation that could get you in the door.
Now, making nice with your professors is amazingly effective, but you need to be careful because if done wrong, this can backfire horribly. Here are a few tips to keep that personal reaction positive.
First, do not just try to chat with the professor and certainly do not attempt to "schmooze" him or her. Law professors are not dumb and will see through this immediately. Instead, just ask a question. Law professors generally like answering questions. After you've got your answer, thank the professor and then...leave them alone, because while professors like answering questions, they also like their free time and when the class is over, they are ready to get on with their free time.
Second, do not be a pest. Do not stop your professors after every class. Do not ask lots and lots of questions. You want to be seen and known, but not dreaded.
Third, remember that the best time to talk to the professor is right after class-- not their office hours. While law schools require professors to hold office hours, hardly anyone ever uses them, and so professors come to think of that time as their own personal time, and although they will never say it, they will secretly be irritated at having that time "interrupted."
If you consistently make human contact with your professors in an intelligent, non-intrusive way, over time you will make a good impression and, at least with some professors, you will start to develop a real relationship that can translate into better grades and better jobs. It's simple, but it works and all it takes is twenty minutes over the course of a semester.
Labels: how to succeed in law school
