Having a child who is preparing for law school can be stressful. Assisting with their law essay, preparing them for assessments and tests, and ensuring they have all of the support they need in their first year is vital for any parent. We have some tips to help you get your law student get off to the right start.
Get them the right tools
Start your law student off right by getting them the tools they will need to successfully learn and make it through their first year. Start by asking practicing attorneys what they wish they had in law school or doing research on blogs and youtube. What your law student finds most useful for their degree will depend on the kind of law they’re pursuing and the state that they’re studying in, so be sure to brush up on what tools are best for what situations.
Understand the Challenges They Will Face
Having an understanding of the challenges your child will undergo makes all the difference in the world. When you can understand what they’re going through with their studies, you can anticipate these and do your best to support them during, particularly difficult times. It’s always easier to support when you understand so do your research and know the basics of their courses.
Teach them that Struggling is Part of It
It’s easy to get discouraged and give up when you start to struggle at anything, but more so with a law degree. There will be times that everyone struggles in law school, but due to the competitive nature of the degree, it may feel like your child is alone in their struggle. Teach them that it’s all part of the degree and it’s testing their ability to stick things out and put in the yard hards in order to earn success.
Be Patient and Step Back
If your child is living with you while studying for a law degree, it’s important to adjust the way the house runs in order to give your child the support and understanding they require. Be patient if things aren’t done around the house, if they haven’t been home, or if they’re under a lot of stress and just aren’t themselves. Take a step back when it comes to these little things because space, patience, and understanding are going to help your child succeed in the long run.
Listen to Them
Whether they are telling you something exciting about their degree, ranting about the difficulties, or something else entirely. Feeling heard and having someone interested enough if their studies make all the difference in them feeling motivated and enthusiastic about learning. When you show an interest, ask questions, and listen to them, not only does it show your support, but it helps them learn and prepare, and teach what they have learned so far.
Test Them
If they have an assessment coming up and are people who learn better with the assistance of another person, be willing to step up and be their preparation buddy. Whatever they need, be it flashcards, verbal questions, or someone to proofread their essay, be there to support their academic preparation however you can. Having someone involved and readily available to help them study will be a factor that really makes a difference in terms of their success.