November 6, 2009
New Academic Enhancement Program Eases Transition to Law School
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Although he has already changed the location for the day’s workshop once, Assistant Director for Student Affairs Josh Cooper admits to the packed eighth floor classroom that perhaps the program could have moved to another, larger room again. More than 90 1L’s occupy nearly every inch of available space, spilling out into the aisles and standing in the back, while they wait for advice from the 2 and 3L’s sitting before them.
The gathering was the third workshop in the Student Affairs Office’s new Academic Enhancement Program. The workshop, entitled Outlining your classes and Exam Preparation, featured a panel of four 2 and 3L’s who spent the hour doling out advice on the exam preparation process to their 1L counterparts.
Cooper and Associate Director for Academic & Multicultural Affairs Nicole Price created the workshop series to help ease the often-stressful transition into law school. They designed the workshops based off their own experiences as law students to create a practical, helpful program for first-year students. They wanted students to have an aid in managing law school life and improving their study skills that wasn’t directly tied in with course work.
“I wanted students to have an outlet where they could ask questions and receive information about law school during their first semester here,” said Price. “The first semester is a huge transition, and we tell students law school is like no other educational experience.”
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After talking to many students about their experiences during the transition period, Price saw the need for helping students with study and time management skills that aren’t addressed inside the classroom.
“This [workshop series] is for anyone who wants to improve their law school experience,” said Cooper. “This is why we stay clear of academic material. There is something here for every student so they can make changes outside the classroom content to improve.”
The workshops aim to address the intangible skills and advice that makes the transition to law school easier. Price and Cooper have designed the program to address a wide range of topics from helping students with study habits, to business etiquette, to the complexities of balancing life outside of the classroom with the pressures of law school.
“If people feel that they are in control of their path as law students, and they have the tools to handle the full picture of the law student life, then I think that we’ve done our job,” said Cooper.
All workshops take place on Fridays, and the schedule is available on the Student Affairs Web site.
Feature and photos: Christine Lindberg
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