Caring for Your Law Student: Top 10 Tips

Do you know someone who is constantly tired, stressed, and busy? Are they always talking about how much they have to do but don’t have any time to do it? Are they normally carrying several heavy books with them and do they typically have their noses deep into them? Well, you probably have a law student in your life. Every law student has friends and family who love and care for them. However, sometimes it is difficult to support law students since you have entirely no idea what law school is like. Yes, you may know it is a lot of work and seems really hard but you have a hard time understanding what your law student is going through. No need to fret, follow these simple instructions on how to care for your law student for best results on supporting them.

1. Know They Are Stressed

Your law student is stressed. Actually, really stressed. Law school puts a lot of pressure on aspiring attorneys, and it can be a bit overwhelming. Students have a lot on their plates ,and it can be difficult for them to juggle it all. It is likely that your law student may develop anxiety or another stress-related condition, so it is important to check in with them. As their support system, they rely on you to make sure they stay leveled.

2. Allow Them to Vent

Sometimes when people get stressed, they need to vent. Law students have a lot to vent about in their lives. Between preparing for classes, studying for the bar and exams, student organizations, and jobs, law students are constantly overwhelmed. In order to further care for your student, allow them to talk to you about their frustrations and help alleviate their stress.

3. Don’t Pressure Them

Whether you mean it or not, you may be putting pressure on your law student. This can be as simple as telling them to do something a certain way or pursue a certain opportunity. Your law student could break under this pressure because they have so much pressure on them already. Even if it is good-natured, pressure only adds to your law student’s stress.

4. Be Understanding

Being understanding is a very important way to care for your law student. Sometimes they have to focus on school and can’t make the dinner you planned. Other times they call you freaking out about an exam grade. Being understanding and patient allows the law student to rely on you and feel comfortable.

5. Be Conscious of Their Time

In addition to being stressed, law students are busy. They are constantly juggling many tasks to complete with little time to complete them. Most law students are enrolled in 4-5 classes, have an extracurricular like mock trial or moot court, are in a student organization, and many also have a job with a firm or a judge. Time is precious to a law student so being conscious of their limitations will help them immensely.

6. Ask About Their Activities

Law students are proud of their accomplishments and want their loved ones to feel proud of them. Law school is difficult and takes a lot of hard work. Ask your law student how things are going regarding specific activities. For example, if you know they had a presentation in their trial advocacy class, ask them how they feel it went. This will let your law student know you care that they are successful and are happy for them.

7. Exam Time Is Sacred

Exams are the worst part of law school. Typically, law school exams are several hours long, and the exam period could last weeks. Additionally, law students prepare vigorously before each exam. Most law students take the exam period very seriously, dedicating every moment to studying. It is likely that during the exam period you may not see your law student very frequently but celebrate with them after their last final.

8. Allow Your Law Student to De-Stress

Sometimes the stressed law student needs a push to de-stress. Law students get so focused on law school that they neglect their health and having fun. Thus, give your law students opportunities to de-stress. Whisk them away from their textbooks and take them to do something fun. Believe me, they will thank you.

9. Feed Your Law Student

Since law students are busy and constantly stressed, another way to care for your law student is to ensure they are being fed. Law students have a tendency to get caught up in all that they were doing and forget to care for themselves. One of the everyday tasks that take up the most amount of time is preparing meals. Feeding and providing for your law student will allow them to focus on what really matters but still be well taken care of physically and mentally with healthy food.

10. Love Your Law Student

Most importantly, don’t forget to love and support your law student. Sometimes it is hard for a law student to get out of their legal bubble and back into the real world. Your love and support helps them feel encouraged and replenishes them to keep working hard.