Welcome! Here are some links to resources of particular interest to first year law students.

Please note that most of the links on this page are to resources created by people at other law schools and organizations. Much of the information you find at these sites will be helpful, but you will also find that some of it is not applicable to our law school or its curriculum.

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CUNY School of Law Library Student Resources Page

Be sure to check out the "Study Aids " section!

CUNY Treatises & Study Aids Handout for First Year Students

Handout from the CUNY School of Law Legal Research I course. This document is updated every year at the beginning of the Fall semester. Lists resources our Library owns and groups them according to the courses our first year students are taking. This document is in Adobe Acrobat portable document format (.pdf). If you can not view the document, you need to get the free Acrobat Reader software or link the software you already have to your Web browser.

A Beginner's Guide to Legal Education

An informative site maintained by Prof. James Elkins, College of Law, West Virginia University. Includes his own writings and links to other useful sites.

Humanizing Law School - Student Resources (and Lawyers)

Information on getting through law school, as well as law school's effects on the personal lives of law students. Provided by the Florida State University College of Law. Includes links to some information on career issues after law school as well.

First Day of Law School Tutorial

Provided by Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law. This tutorial attempts to show how the "socratic method" of teaching works in various 1L law subjects.

First Year Survival

By Prof. William Slomanson, Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Originally published in 11 Legal Reference Services Quarterly 185-200 (1991), but the information and advice remains relevant.

The Incoming One-L FAQ

Provided through the Internet Legal Research Group. This article by Charles Glasser was originally published in 1994, but the information and advice remains relevant.

Learning Law: General Resources for the Study of Law

This site contains links to helpful information on briefing cases, taking exams, managing stress, procrastination and more. Maintained by Professor Barbara Glesner Fines, University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Law.

Letter to a Young Law Student

By Prof. Corinne Cooper, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. Originally published in 35 Tulsa L.J. 275 (2000).

Podcast - Advice to a 1L from a Law Professor

Interview with Douglas McFarland, Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Teaching & Scholarship at Hamline University School of Law.

One Hell, an unconventional journey into law

By Alice Marie Beard, now a law school graduate. Her experience may be of particular interest to students with children who are returning to school.

Scott Turow's One L

Prof. James R. Elkins, College of Law, West Virginia University, provides a summary of Scott Turow's well-known book One L, describing the experiences of a first year Harvard law student in the 1970s. The movie "The Paper Chase" was based on that book.

Westlaw's "Law School Life"

Articles offer advice to students on how to do well in law school. Includes a "First Year Survival Guide." Westlaw password required to access some sections.

New York State & City Information Resources

A few starting points for people who are new to the area.