The legal education for incoming Thomas Jefferson School of Law students began well before the start of the Week One orientation program, that runs from August 10-14, with an online program that was set up to prepare students for legal writing, and to help them assess their strengths and areas for improvement.
“You are about to become part of a long line of distinguished lawyers,” said President and Dean, Thomas Guernsey, as he welcomed the Fall 2015 class of over 200 law students on Monday, August 10. “You will join lawyers who work for their community, their country and indeed the world, and the best of those lawyers do it with civility and respect for everyone they deal with, whether it is clients, judges, opposing parties, or the staff that help them do their job. We expect great things from you all as you become members of this profession.”
Day one of Week One was an opportunity for many of the new students to meet other students, staff and faculty for the first time.
“We are excited to have all of you here,” said Director of Enrollment Management, Michelle Allison-Slaughter. “For many months we have shared emails with you shared phone calls with you and saw you on campus for various open house events, so we are truly happy to have all of you in-house with us today.”
During the Week One program, students participate in group sessions to learn strategies for approaching their coursework. These sessions are led by Thomas Jefferson professors who provide valuable information about what it takes to succeed in law school. Students learn how to read case law and write case briefs and how to prepare for law school exams.
“You have just made one of the most important decisions of your life,” said Dean Guernsey. “You’ve chosen to become a lawyer, to take on a role and a set of responsibilities that will truly change you forever.”
