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Before starting law school, I heard countless myths. I was told I would be burdened by debt, have no free time, and face an exceptionally competitive job market. But none of those comments made me second-guess my decision. However, the one myth that did get to me was the fear of cold calls.
As a perfectionist, the idea of being called on in class and not having the answer felt like the ultimate humiliation. This fear was fueled by friends, family, fellow students, and even practicing attorneys. I envisioned cold calling like the scene from The Paper Chase, imagining professors as cold, unapproachable figures who wanted to embarrass students with deceptive questions.
When the first day of law school arrived, I was well-prepared to be called on. I had read and analyzed each case in detail, spending hours rehearsing potential questions—all to avoid embarrassment. However, to my surprise, the first student called on in my Contracts class was asked to simply restate the law from Restatement § 19. At first, I thought this might have been a special occasion, but as the semester progressed, I realized the focus was not on recalling every fact about a case but on demonstrating an understanding of the law.
My first cold call came Week 2 of Torts, and it was anticlimactic. I did not have to stand up and recite the entire facts of the case as in The Paper Chase. Instead, I was asked to discuss the application of assault in a specific case. I quickly learned that cold calling was not meant to be stress-inducing, but rather an opportunity for discussion and learning.
By the time I was cold-called in Contracts in Week 9, I no longer viewed the experience as something to fear. This was particularly true because professors were not only understanding but also incredibly supportive, offering help during office hours and reassuring us that it was okay not to know everything. They made it clear that law school was a learning process. More importantly, all of my professors and classmates fostered an environment where cold calling was not embarrassing. In fact, we supported one another when we did not have an answer.
So, my tips for you are as follows: Instead of spending hours on a single case, time is better spent reading the case and practicing how to apply the law, outlining, and reviewing supplemental materials. If you really want to avoid being cold-called, try sitting in the front rows of the classroom. But most importantly, don’t believe all the myths you hear or see on TV.
TOPICS: 1E, 1L, Hybrid JD