I remember the first moments of law school as if they happened yesterday. Gerry Frug walked into Contracts, looked out us, and said nine words “Mister Golden, state the case in Hawkins v. McGee.” One hundred thirty nine 1Ls went weak with relief. Poor Mr. Golden began to read from the case. “Defendant’s motions for a nonsuit and for a directed verdict on the count in assumpsit were denied, and the defendant excepted . . . .”

Professor Frug stopped him. “Mr. Golden, can – you – speak – English?” Mr. Golden managed to get out a “yes” and Frug’s face lit up like a Christmas Tree. “Wonderful. So can I! Why don’t you start?”

Well, I did know to speak English. I had no choice. But here are five things that I wish I had known.

1. You Belong Here. Perhaps not all, but most law schools – and definitely including Marquette – cannot accept all applicants who are capable of doing the work. People who know quite a bit about legal education and becoming a lawyer sent you an invitation. You are here for a reason.

2. But College Is Over. Actually, I did know this, largely because I had serious – really serious – doubts about No. 1. You can’t mail it in. This has two implications. First, if you fall behind, it’s going to be harder to catch up. You may manage it, but it is far better not to have to try. Second, a cursory understanding or the ability to regurgitate principles won’t get you very far. One of the things I warn students about on exams is not to respond to the identification of an issue – say personal jurisdiction – by reiterating everything they know on the subject. That’s fine, but I want to see that you know these principles well enough to apply them.

3. Be Intentional About the Habits You Form. I once heard someone say that the habits you form in professional school will last a lifetime. This includes when you work, how you work and how you manage to address the other concerns in your life. My son remembers me spending evenings sitting cross-legged behind a coffee table covered with books and papers. That coffee table was figuratively (and literally until he was about ten) purchased in Cambridge.

4. Be Intentional About the Relationships You Form. The people – both students and professors – who you meet here aren’t going way on the day you graduate. I am not one of those who think that life is a matter of who you know and not what you know, but who you know can help you to demonstrate what you know. Forming and maintaining relationships is personally gratifying and does not need an instrumental justification, but it can nevertheless be of great help in your professional life.

5. Learn to Take a Blow.  Occasionally, you’ll see a CLE program on what to do if you make a mistake. It’s not “if,” it’s “when.” How you deal  with that – whether you choose to own the problem and opt for candor rather than obfuscation and learning rather than self immolation – will have a lot to do with their consequences and your professional happiness. But don’t worry – you’ll start to make mistakes here (and you’ll see your professors make them.) These are learning opportunities.

Much the same can be said about adversity that may not be of your own making. To quote that seminal piece of American philosophy, The Big Lebowski, “Sometimes you eat the bar, and sometimes, well, he eats you.” You can’t always stop things from going south, but you can control your reaction.