This page is meant to be a guide to your 2L year of law school. Even if you believe you are a pro after surviving your 1L year of law school, your upper-level courses will provide you with new challenges and opportunities to subdue.
As a 2L you might have already gained some experience as an intern or extern in a law firm or clerked for a judge. You might even be thinking about your next position for the upcoming summer. Regardless of where you are in your career, it is important to think about developing your career early while you are in law school. A Career Services Office is available to all students and alumni located on the first floor of the law school in room 103. The Career Services Office provides individual counseling, educational programming, and much more. The Career Services Office holds an On-Campus Interview program each fall and spring semester. The OCI program provides students with the opportunity to connect with potential employers for position opportunities. The Career Services Office uses BearBoard, a webpage used to manage OCI, resume forwarding services, position postings, appointment scheduling and more.
It is no secret that your mental and physical health is vital in the modern world we live in. It is also not a secret that the legal profession generally has a higher mental health concern than most other professions. According to a 2023 study 38.2% of attorneys suffer from depression. Attorneys also have the highest rate of depression among one hundred other occupations. Anxiety is another mental health concern to be aware of. An ALM and Law.com Compass mental health survey from 2023 found that professionals in the legal field experience high levels of anxiety with the highest level reaching 71%. Attorneys, on average, are more prone to substance abuse with a 2016 study finding that 21% of attorneys having used alcohol. Acknowledging and identifying mental health issues prevalent in the legal profession is important because by doing so you can subdue them. You may not have a mental health issue, but it is likely that you know or will come across someone in law school who does. It is important to be aware of these mental health issues so that we can create a law school environment that alleviates these concerns. If you or anyone you know is suffering from mental health disorder, seek support at the Mercer University Counseling and Psychological Services.
You might want to take a step back, pause, and read a self-help book even if you believe you are doing "fine" in the mental health department. Below are three recommended self-help books for law students.
How to Be Sort of Happy in Law School
Call Number: e-book
ISBN: 9780804799768
Publication Date: 2018-08-07
The Law Student's Guide to Doing Well and Being Well
Call Number: Law Library Walnut Wing KF287.G46 2021
ISBN: 9781531021559
Publication Date: 2021-06-01
A Short & Happy Guide to Being a Law Student
Call Number: e-book
ISBN: 9780314291073
Publication Date: 2014-03-20
CALI, Center for Computer-assisted Legal Instruction, provides law students with various lessons to support their critical thinking skills required to succeed in law school. You can access CALI law school lessons through the subject outline. CALI also provides various helpful podcasts that you can listen to for law school success.
