Does anyone else dread class registration? I’ve always found it to be insanely stressful, especially in law school. So today I wanted to share my advice for choosing classes in law school to set yourself up for success.

Make sure to keep track of graduation requirements

I know this sounds obvious, but make sure you don’t forget about any courses your school requires. It can be easy to forget, and you don’t want to get stuck taking a bunch of required classes your last semester of 3L.

DO NOT take a class just because it might be on the Bar

It is important to take courses that will be on the bar, but you don’t need to stress yourself out trying to take every possible class. Bar prep exists for a reason!!! Choose a few of the more important subjects and stick to taking those.

Know you’re preferred exam style

Figure out which format of exams are the best for you. Personally, I’m not a great test taker, so I like to take a classes with a combination of different exam styles. For example, I usually won’t take more than 2 classes with a traditional timed essay exam, and then I will take a few classes with either take-home exams or research papers. If you are great with essay exams, consider taking classes that exclusively use that format.

Course evaluations & Professor reviews

The Professor makes or breaks a class in law school. Rate My Professor doesn’t have as many professors for law schools as it does for colleges, but its worth checking. A really helpful resource is your school’s course evaluations. Reading through these can help you get a sense of what the course will be like and the professor’s teaching style. Also ask your classmates which professors/ courses they suggest!

Read through previous syllabi

Along with reading course evaluations, I don’t take a class without reading the syllabus. It is super helpful to see a breakdown of topics covered, exam info, class procedures, etc.

Be realistic about timing. Don’t take a super long class if you know you won’t be able to focus for the entire time

This may not seem important, but it makes a huge difference. While you won’t always be able to schedule class for your preferred time, it’s best to stick to what sets you up for success. I’ve struggled with night classes, because I’m much more of a morning person. I’ve also found it difficult to concentrate in some longer classes, depending on the format. This is of course trial and error, but it is definitely important to keep in mind.

I hope you all enjoyed this post and found these tips helpful!