What To Expect in Class as a 1L

Entering first-year law students are usually anxious about what to expect in class. Some fear that they will be subjected to a stern and disapproving professor grilling them on the intricacies of a case. Some are anxious about speaking in front of other students. Some are worried that they will not know what to say in response to a professor’s questions. Hollywood has capitalized on these fears and has portrayed law school as a painful and humiliating experience. If you haven’t already seen “Paper Chase” or “Legally Blonde,” you might want to wait until after you finish your first semester. While amusing, and sometimes downright scary, these fictionalized renderings could not be further from the reality of what UVA Law students experience in the classroom. 

The Law School’s professors care about the quality of the learning experience, respect their students and enjoy their classes. 

Take a look at some of these videos of Law School classes to get an idea of what to expect: 

As you can see, there is a lot of variation in the teaching styles of professors. You can expect that you will be asked to speak in class to describe cases that you have read, answer questions about the cases and address hypothetical issues that arise from the cases. You should also expect to ask questions in class when you need clarification. Speaking in class makes you more engaged in the learning process and will make your law school experience more enjoyable and fulfilling.