If I knew during my first year of law school what I know now, I would have approached 1L with a little more intention and a lot more grace. While the workload and pressure felt overwhelming at times, experience has taught me that success in law school is less about perfection and more about strategy, consistency, and balance.

One of the biggest things I would do differently is focus earlier on understanding how to study for law school exams, rather than trying to master every reading in isolation. During 1L, it is easy to get caught up in briefing cases line by line and equating time spent with effectiveness. Looking back, I wish I had prioritized outlining sooner and spent more time practicing how to apply the law in exam-style hypotheticals. Law school exams reward issue spotting and analysis, not memorization, and that is something that becomes clearer with experience.

Perhaps the most important advice I wish I had known sooner is to stop comparing myself to everyone else. Law school creates a constant stream of visible achievement, and it is easy to assume that everyone else has it figured out. In reality, most students are navigating the same uncertainty. Focusing on your own progress, rather than someone else’s, allows you to learn more effectively and protect your confidence.

If I could give one piece of advice to incoming 1Ls, it would be this: treat law school like a marathon, not a sprint. Build sustainable habits, trust your process, and remember that growth often happens quietly. With time, clarity comes, and what once felt overwhelming becomes manageable.

The best thing about Loyola is the emphasis on community. It is unique that the law school is a separate campus from the undergraduate school. This separation promotes interaction among law students and helps create a sense of togetherness. Finals season would have been much harder if I felt structurally disconnected from my peers as I might have on a predominantly undergraduate campus.

The organizations here also emphasize community through mentor programs. Most organizations have an option to pair up with a 2L or 3L to help you navigate through the year and acclimate to the law school climate. These guidance programs are important for perspective especially for someone like me who is a first generation law school student and new to California living. 

In the first year, Loyola separates the students into four sections: two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Being in one of the afternoon sections has been a struggle as a morning person, but the people make the later classes exciting to be in. As the months go on, I find myself sad thinking about when my section will no longer be my section. Having a shared schedule with my peers has created bonds I hope to carry with me after graduation. I feel so lucky to have found people I can both confide in and study effectively with. 

It would be inauthentic to not mention the impact of the curve when discussing the social climate. I will not attempt to fumble through an explanation of how it works, but I will describe the feelings that crept in after the realities of the grading system were realized. There was a noticeable chill coming into the second semester that wasn’t there before. Before, it was almost like a fog had set in and we were all holding hands to get through it together, but now, some people have made it through and let go while others are still trying to find a way. This is the unfortunate reality of most law schools across the country. The curve grading system creates an inherently competitive environment that may be uncomfortable and which negatively impacts self worth and trust in the fairness of the system. So, while community is emphasized especially in your 1L first semester here at Loyola, it is important to know that the change after grades are announced will be startling especially if, as a first generation student, no one has told you about it or prepared you for it.

This semester we got a tiny taste of the un-sectioned life after 1L with our elective classes. Every 1L student had the opportunity to rank their top three electives, so all of the sections were mixed into the classes based on those rankings. It’s been nice to talk to others in different sections and hear their perspectives on classes we all took with different professors. I don’t imagine the chilling impact of the curve will go away completely, but I do believe when we are able to take classes outside of a set section, we won’t need to wear as heavy of a coat when the grades come out.

I experienced a warm, caring culture during my undergraduate years at LMU, and coming to Loyola Law School felt like returning to a familiar place that genuinely values its students. That sense of continuity mattered to me more than I expected, especially in an environment as demanding as law school.

What I appreciate about Loyola is how much the professors care. Their engagement does not stop when class ends. Outside the classroom, they are accessible not only to clarify and discuss career paths, but also to check in with students and, occasionally, help them figure out how to survive their class. Many go beyond what is required by actively connecting students with opportunities, mentors, and real-world perspectives, a level of investment that shapes how passionately students approach their work.

The student culture reinforces this feeling. I have made friends who are generous with their time, support, and encouragement. Law school can be competitive, but at Loyola, it feels collaborative. That shared sense of purpose makes the workload more manageable and the experience more meaningful.

I also value Loyola’s reputation. Through my work experience both within and outside the legal field, I have met many successful and passionate attorneys who graduated from Loyola. Even attorneys who did not attend Loyola recognize the school for producing sharp, well-prepared professionals. My friends at other LA law schools consistently echo that perception.

What makes Loyola unique is how effectively it prepares students for meaningful work across virtually every area of law and beyond, while cultivating a community that cares about who you become along the way. That is what I have grown to love most about my time here.

Rankings or outcomes often measure the value of a law degree, but my experience at Loyola has shown me that its true value is built day by day through effort, connection, and community. How hard you work, how deeply you engage with the material, and how willing you are to invest in the people around you ultimately shape what you take away from law school.

One of the things I appreciate most about Loyola is the sense of support that exists both inside and outside the classroom. Faculty members are genuinely invested in their students, not just as future lawyers but as people. Professors are approachable, open to questions, and willing to share their own experiences in practice, which makes learning feel grounded and real. Those small moments, stopping by office hours, receiving thoughtful feedback, or having a professor remember your interests, make a lasting impact.

Equally meaningful are the connections formed with fellow students. Law school can be demanding, but Loyola fosters an environment where collaboration is encouraged. Whether it is studying together, sharing outlines, or simply checking in on one another during stressful weeks, there is a strong sense that students want to see each other succeed. That culture has made even the most challenging moments feel manageable.

What makes Loyola unique is its balance of rigor and humanity. The emphasis on advocacy, ethics, and service consistently reinforces the idea that being a good lawyer also means being a thoughtful and responsible one. Through clinics, student organizations, and classroom discussions, Loyola encourages students to find purpose in their work and to think about the broader impact of the law.

For prospective students, Loyola is a place where effort is recognized, voices are valued, and relationships matter. It is a school that challenges you while also supporting you, and that combination has made my experience here both meaningful and memorable.

Choosing my second and third year electives felt like one of the first moments in law school where I had real control over shaping my legal education. After completing the foundational first year curriculum, I wanted my upper-level courses to reflect both my interests and the direction I hope to take in my legal career.

Since my summer at Kabateck LLP, my interest in litigation has grown significantly. That experience gave me firsthand exposure to the strategic and advocacy-focused nature of litigation, which ultimately led me to pursue the Civil Litigation and Advocacy concentration. With that goal in mind, I have been intentional about enrolling in the required elective courses that fulfill the concentration requirements. Courses centered on trial practice, motion writing, and litigation strategy felt like natural extensions of what initially drew me to law school and have helped bridge the gap between doctrine and real-world advocacy.

At the same time, I have been deliberate about balancing my concentration requirements with bar-related courses. While developing depth in litigation is important to me, I am also mindful that bar preparation requires a strong grasp of foundational subjects. As a result, I have prioritized electives that overlap with tested bar topics so that I can reinforce those core areas now rather than relying solely on post-graduation bar preparation. This approach has helped me feel more confident and prepared moving forward.