Before I began my law school journey, I consumed every possible resource on how to survive 1L, from TikToks about daily 1L life to books on how to succeed socially and academically. What I didn’t spend nearly as much time thinking about, however, was what would come after I finished that first year. Once 1L ended, I realized how much of the law school experience I hadn’t yet considered and how different this next phase would be.

Going into law school, I knew that clinic work and other experiential opportunities would be important to me. Some of my most meaningful learning experiences during undergrad came from studying abroad, where I was able to fully immerse myself and develop my language skills through experience. I’ve always seen the value in learning by doing, not just by sitting in a classroom. As a 1L, I tried to pursue that type of experience in the limited ways available, including participating in Traffic Court.

For others wrapping up their 1L year, here’s what you can expect from your 2L year. After completing the first-year doctrinal classes, the rest of the law school opens in a more dynamic way, allowing students to tailor their experiences to their interests and apply the foundational legal knowledge they spent the first year learning.

For me, this next step meant joining the Project for Innocence Clinic. I was drawn to its mission, but I also valued the opportunity to work directly with experienced attorneys. Drafting motions, writing briefs and communicating with clients pushed me to develop practical skills, while the attorneys’ close feedback helped to meaningfully improve my writing and legal analytic skills.

I also joined the Journal of Law and Public Policy, where I continued refining my writing skills in a student-led environment. Between these two commitments, five of my credit hours were dedicated to learning outside of a traditional classroom. Instead of passively absorbing information, I was actively learning through real-world application and felt myself improving more efficiently through direct feedback.  

Outside of academics, I took on a job at the law library front desk, which provided some income and helped me feel more connected to the law school community through daily interactions with students and faculty. I also continued my role as a student ambassador and was able to build relationships across class years with both underclassmen and upperclassmen. All these opportunities that became available during my 2L year provided me with the experiences pivotal to learning and growing in law school.

At the same time, I made a conscious effort to grow as a person outside of the law school. I joined a yoga and Pilates studio in Lawrence, got a pet and stayed involved in Chess Club. These experiences grounded me and helped create a sense of balance that I didn’t fully have during my 1L year. Although I became much busier, my day-to-day became far more dynamic and reflective of who I am than the rigid structure of my 1L year.

So, my advice for 2L year and something I think often gets overlooked in favor of 1L survival tips, is to broaden your horizons. Try new things, put down roots in Lawrence and the law school community and get involved in ways that actually excite you outside of always studying the law. While your 1L year can feel intimidating and overwhelming, the 2L year is when you find your footing and begin to fully immerse yourself in the law school experience. Slow down and take the time to soak up the resources at your disposal.

– Ava Mumgaard is a 2L KU Law Student Ambassador from Omaha, Nebraska