Welcome to law school. You’re going to need coffee, case briefs, and probably a therapist. I can’t help with the last one, but here’s everything else that actually made my life easier.
1. Espresso Machine
I love mine. I make lattes, pour over (using the hot water setting—don’t put ground coffee in the grinder unless you want regret), and I stopped spending $7 on coffee I didn’t even like. Morning transitions are easier, and I can make a latte at 10pm if I want to spiral with dignity. It’s on sale.
2. Quimbee Subscription
Reading cases is a skill. A painful one. Quimbee helps. Their case briefs and videos made 1L tolerable. I got the gold plan, but even the cheapest version is useful. Don’t rely on it completely, but do use it unless you like crying over 40 pages of Pennoyer v. Neff.
3. Case Brief Templates
Quimbee is great, but you still have to learn how to brief. These are the ones I made because the ones online didn’t have what I needed. Sections for facts, rules, holdings, dissents, page numbers—basically everything I kept writing on sticky notes and losing. Digital and physical versions. Digital ones are on sale through August.
4. Noise Cancelling Headphones
Finals week = every person in the library playing a different Quimbee video out loud. I have a weird-shaped head and a lot of earrings, and these are the only ones that don’t make me want to scream. They're comfy, the sound is good, and you can pretend the world doesn’t exist for a few hours.
5. The Bluebook
You're required to buy it for your legal writing class. Sorry.
6. Fancy Highlighters and Pens
Scent helps with memory. These are scented and stackable and color-coded. I use different colors for rules, holdings, etc., and pens by class so I can pretend I have a system. They make studying slightly less terrible.
7. This Is Not Legal Advice Gift Card
When in doubt, let them pick something fun and legally chaotic from a store that gets it. Works for 1Ls, 3Ls, and everyone quietly questioning their life choices.
BONUS: Herman Miller Aeron Chair
Listen. You’re going to be sitting a lot. Like, a lot a lot. This chair is stupid expensive, but it’s also the most comfortable thing I’ve ever sat in, and my back doesn’t hate me anymore. If someone loves you or you’re feeling unhinged about your Amazon cart total, this is the move. Law school is long. Get a good chair. Plus it's cheaper than lifelong back problems.
