Oh, Orientation. I must have attended at least a million orientation sessions by now, none of which are particularly interesting or particularly useful, but all are “mandatory” nonetheless. Law school orientation is a unique breed of this species, as the administration tries its best to balance providing the students with brutal honesty about the cliff they are about to jump off and offering words of encouragement regarding the incredible journey upon which they are about to embark.

I distinctly remember my first day of orientation at GW Law. I was sitting at a table in the Marvin Center, looking around at all the suits, asking myself whether the stuffy people suffocating in their three-pieces in the middle of August were really going to be my future classmates, when my first law school friend walked in the door. She was not wearing a suit.

Like cattle, the 1Ls-to-be were herded into the auditorium for our first pep talk. Of all the legendary deans and professors who attempted to spark some laughter with their stories, one professor’s anecdote stuck out most. In short, he explained that while he was working for a big firm in Chicago, he gained excellent life perspective. An attorney and his client were about to close a deal that would have brought a large amount of money to the firm. The client proposed that the two meet on Thursday afternoon to finalize their agreement. The attorney refused. He takes his son to Cubs games on Thursdays and that is “their day.” Pretty amazing, huh? The professor explained the importance of family and maintaining a work-life balance, which was uplifting to hear after being forewarned that I would disappear into a black hole for the next three years of my life. Lesson 1: There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Fast forward to my first day of classes as a 1L. As luck would have it, my first class was taught by that very professor. Prior to law school, I affectionately referred to the first day of classes as “Syllabus Day.” You walked in, the professor introduced himself, passed out a syllabus, he left. 15-minute process. Syllabus Day. It was great! Lesson 2: This is not what happens on the first day of law school. Of course there are introductions, preliminary matters, professor-specific rules and cautionary advice (e.g., this particular professor yells “SHAME!” at any student arriving late to his class), but you do not receive a syllabus. You should have gotten that weeks ago and read ahead through October by now. Slacker. You do not leave early. In fact, you never leave class early in law school. Sigh.

Lesson 3: Be prepared (for your classes and your peers). Some students will get to class thirty minutes early on the first day to secure “prime seating.” If you have a preference as to where your tush will rest all semester, bring your “A” game. These same students who show up to class unreasonably early tend to have other unbecoming qualities. We unaffectionately refer to these students as “gunners.” Most often, you will learn who these students are the first few days of classes. For example, in my first class on day one of my 1L-year, a professor offered a brief overview of the topics he would cover throughout the semester. He then opened up the floor for questions. A hand shot up. This student then asked a progression of at least ten questions – none of which were particularly relevant to the brief overview of topics that were previously discussed. Eventually, the professor stopped responding to the hand waving in his face and, with begging eyes, asked if anyone else had questions about the course. Lesson 4: Don’t be that student. Asking irrelevant questions will get you nowhere the first day of classes, or any other class day, for that matter. Law school is a marathon, not a sprint. You will be great. Best of luck!