Are you moving to a new city to attend law school? Most law students do. This means finding an apartment, learning the lay of the land, and getting settled so you can focus on school.
Don’t worry, we have some tips to get you set up for success.
Find the Right Apartment and Roommates
Most law students will live in apartments in law school (or possibly share a house with other folks). You may not be able to afford living alone, so it is likely that you will try to find roommates. So, how do you make sure you have the best possible living situation?
Location, Location, Location: Do you want to live in walking distance of your school? This can be convenient for running home between classes. If not, is your place close to easy public transportation? If you are driving to school, is their parking on campus?
You really want to think this stuff through before you sign a lease on a place. Spending large amounts of time on transportation or looking for parking (which is a reality in San Francisco) can just make life seem busier and more frustrating (and don’t even get Lee started on how many parking tickets she paid for during law school by parking on the streets around her law school campus).
And one more consideration, don’t forget safety! You will likely be coming home late at night at times and you want to make sure you feel safe coming home.
To Roommate or Not to Roommate: Having roommates is one way to cut down on your bills (which add up quickly in law school). But pick your roommates wisely. Living with other law students can sound fun, initially, but then you need to realize your life will be all law school all the time.
If you are someone who needs to escape work when you get home, this might not be your best choice. Also, select roommates with a similar schedule to yours. If you are a light sleeper and like to sleep in, don’t sign a lease with a personal trainer who gets up at 5:00am and makes smoothies in the kitchen. Like all other things, be very thoughtful when it comes to selecting a roommate. A positive living situation is a great way to keep stresses low during law school.
Give Yourself Time to Get Situated Before Classes Start
When you make your move-in plan, give yourself some time to get situated before classes start. You want to get the lay of the land of your new home and neighborhood so you can find all the essentials (like your grocery store, drug store, yoga studio, CrossFit gym, or whatever else you need to access on a regular basis). You never know when you need to quickly get your suit dry-cleaned or pick-up take-out on the way home to work on a legal writing assignment. Getting situated before hand will reduce stress and help you ease into law school life.
You don’t need a ton of time to get situated, but a week or so before law school starts could be a great gift to yourself.
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