Navigating 1L at Queen’s Law
Congratulations! You’ve made it to Queen’s Law! It won’t be long before your mind shifts from the excitement of getting into law school to the stress of planning for 1L. You’ve heard it before and I’ll say it again, there is really nothing that anyone can do to prepare for 1L, so spend your remaining time enjoying your summer. You will learn everything you need to by the end of 1L, and the learning process is what shapes you as a law student.
Housing
Housing in Kingston varies largely in pricing, depending on the location and the number of bedrooms. The area closest to the law building is the University District, known among students as the “student ghetto.” This area is inhabited mostly by undergraduate students and contains houses with 3+ bedrooms that are between a 5–10-minute walk to the law building. Those who choose to live in such houses will typically find themselves paying between $500-$700 per month.
Most law students live either in this area or closer to downtown Kingston near Princess Street. This is where students will find apartment buildings, suitable for those who want to live alone or with fewer roommates. Apartment complexes that are popular among law students are Brock Towers, Skyline, Sage, Unity Point, and Foundry Princess. A one-bedroom apartment will typically range between $1300 — $1700 per month.
Getting Around
Most students get around by either walking or taking the bus. As of the 2022–2023 school year, the bus pass is reinstated as part of your tuition. If you plan on biking, make sure to have a good lock as bikes can be stolen.
Helpful Purchases
Book stand: One of the necessary items I would recommend every law student to have a book stand, which can be found for under $25 on Amazon. The Readaeer wooden bookstand is a popular choice, owned by almost every law student at Queen’s.
Laptop: Most exams at Queen’s are written on a laptop, so make sure you have one with enough storage to handle the exam software. Students also write their notes/outlines on a laptop, as this can be a huge time saver.
Monitor: This was more essential when classes were administered online, however it can be helpful moving forward for organizing notes.
Ipad: This is completely optional and depends on your personal note-taking style. Some students like to annotate their case briefs in class digitally using an Ipad, while others handwrite their notes using a pen and paper. In certain instances, an Ipad can be useful for finding a case online and highlighting the key points.
Studying
From your very first day in class, you will be introduced to different ways to brief a case. There are different formats you can use, and professors will fill you in on what their preferred method is. The reason case briefs are important is because as law students, each case you read will be between 20–50+ pages and contain details that you won’t be expected to know. It is your responsibility to highlight the key points to take away in a case, which will form your knowledge of the law and help make your outlines.
This is a skill that develops over time, so don’t worry if you are confused or find that you have difficulty highlighting the key points. I personally did not learn what style worked best for me until after I had written my Fall exams.
Courses
As a 1L, you are automatically enrolled in your courses and will be put in one of four small section groups. You will share (almost) all your classes with the people in your section, so take advantage of this opportunity to make lifelong friendships and form your study groups.
There are five full-year courses that all 1L students take: Criminal Law, Property Law, Contract Law, Tort Law, and Introduction to Legal Studies (ILS). In addition, you will have 2 courses that are only one semester long: Public Law (fall), and Constitutional Law (winter).
The difficulty of these courses varies depending on your interests and strengths. However, courses that 1L students have often found difficult are Contracts and Property Law due to their highly technical nature.
Final thoughts
I found 1L to be one of the most challenging yet rewarding years of my life. This feeling was shared among my classmates, as students are required to work harder than ever before and learn what they are truly capable of.
1L is not an easy year for anyone, however certain tips will help you ease your stress:
1) Time management in law school is a must. It is the key to managing your stress and getting through all your work.
2) Don’t compare yourself to anyone. Law students are graded on a curve so it’s easy to get caught up in comparison. However, it is important to keep in mind that you have not learned how to study for law school yet. In upper years, you will have learned how take notes, outline, and write exams. In addition, you will get the chance to choose courses that reflect your interests.
3) Getting a B+ in law school is not the same as getting one in undergrad. Employers know this, you should know it too.
4) Exercise! A gym membership to the ARC is included in your tuition and I highly recommend you use it.
