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5 Things to NOT Do the Summer Before Starting Law School

By George Khoury, Esq. on June 06, 2018 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

For those prospective law students who are excited for starting law school, there's plenty of advice out there on all the things you should be doing. However, now that you're about to start your journey toward a legal career, there are also quite a few things you need to stop, or avoid, doing entirely.

Below are five things you definitely shouldn't do before your first day of law school.

1. Don't Spend Your Savings

Yes, you certainly earned yourself a nice reward for finishing your undergrad and getting into law school, but law school is going to be very expensive, so be reasonable (and get used to it, because law school is going to drill the "reasonable person standard" into your very core).

Unless you already have some deep pockets, you better watch your spending. Getting a good paying job while still in school is difficult, if not near impossible during your first year. And when the bar exam finally comes around, you're going to want a nice cushion in your bank account.

2. Don't Go on a Crime Spree

Seriously, even if you graduate at the top of your class, certain seemingly small or petty crimes, even a DUI, or snorting some oxy in a courthouse bathroom, could be serious impediments to getting licensed.

3. Don't Threaten to Sue People/Businesses

While it may be tempting to flaunt your new found law student clout, until you're a lawyer, and you actually know what's involved in filing a lawsuit, don't embarrass yourself by threatening to sue anyone.

4. Don't Burn Bridges

No matter how awesome you think you are, be cordial, professional, and don't burn bridges. Especially in our modern connected world, the letter you send in spite could come back to haunt you. Lucky for one "future mass tort litigator," his name didn't get published along with his snarky letter to the law school that didn't accept him.

5. Don't be an Idiot on Social Media

Lastly, be careful what you say on social media. Even privately. Last year, Harvard rescind offers to 10 students over comments made on social media.

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