On the first day of ILSP (Introduction to Law School and the Profession), I learned a good number of lessons about law school, and perhaps more importantly, about my eventual future conduct as a lawyer. Always nice when they make these events worth our time (and the speakers’).

For my career as a law student, I learned:

• To read cases over and over and over…
• But not let it take over my life

• To pad my resume with extracurriculars
• Specialize as quickly as is reasonable
• Expand my social networks
• And work with professors
• Yet not lose the chance to participate in preexisting hobbies

• Not to pay other people to write my assignments
• Not to destroy other students’ study materials

• Not to go against professors’ strongly held political views
• And to follow the advice from 1L of a Ride. The book was written by a former UF professor, and most of the advice from the presentations repeated points that he made. Further, the book has additional advice that seems even more valuable after attending Day 1 of ILSP.

For my future career as a lawyer, I learned:

• Not to lie to the bar committee
• Not to yell at opposing counsel
• Not to fight opposing counsel
• Not to tear up evidence
• Not to be a jerk

Basically, remember what you learned not to do in kindergarten.