Preparing for the rigorous journey of legal education can be a daunting task for incoming law students. At George Washington University Law School (GW Law), however, a pioneering initiative—the Pre-1L course—has emerged as a beacon of guidance and support, aiming to demystify the process and equip students with essential skills for success in their first year of law school and beyond.
This non-credit, ungraded course is available only to enrolled students BEFORE they begin their classes, and includes:
- self-paced materials and asynchronous video modules
- networking opportunities with the program's faculty, including dozens of GW Law alumni
- eight different topics including class preparation, note-taking, and exams
Unique to GW Law, this course was conceived by a team of GW Law faculty members to help incoming students get a head start on law school success. “An Introduction to the 1L Classroom” stands out as a comprehensive preparation program that goes beyond traditional approaches. GW Law’s course distinguishes itself through a dynamic blend of asynchronous video lectures taught by multiple professors, live interactive Zoom sessions, and practical exercises. Featuring an average student-faculty ratio of 7:1 or lower, the course provides personalized attention and invaluable insights from both seasoned faculty members and recent law school graduates.
"The Pre-1L course was designed to bridge the gap between undergraduate education and the distinctive pedagogy of law school so that incoming GW Law students could be better prepared for the law school experience than ever before."
Anita M. Singh
Associate Director, Fundamentals of Lawyering Program; Professor, Fundamentals of Lawyering
“Flexibility is a hallmark of the Pre-1L course, which was delivered in the summer of 2023,” said Professor Berman, the Walter S. Cox Professor of Law, one of the program’s chief architects. “With multiple sections offered throughout the summer, students had the opportunity to choose time slots that accommodated their schedules, including early morning, daytime, and evening options. This approach not only enhanced accessibility but also fostered a supportive learning environment conducive to student success.”
“The Pre-1L course was designed to bridge the gap between undergraduate education and the distinctive pedagogy of law school so that incoming GW Law students could be better prepared for the law school experience than ever before,” said Professor Anita Singh, one of the course creators. Through engaging discussions and practical exercises, students are exposed to skills essential in law school and beyond, such as critical thinking, applying and distinguishing the reasoning in cases, reading statutes, and communicating logically and effectively. According to one student evaluation, “The Pre-1L course was highly valuable and exceeded my expectations. It should be mandatory for all incoming 1Ls, especially those transitioning directly from undergraduate studies.”
The Pre-1L course serves as a testament to GW Law’s commitment to transparency and student empowerment. By illuminating the intricacies of law school pedagogy and offering practical strategies for success, the course empowers students to navigate the challenges of their 1L year with confidence and resilience. Bryce Phillips, Class of 2026, said, “This program was surprisingly helpful and eased the transition into law school. It introduced us to a lot of new skills that were a game-changer in feeling confident and prepared. The faculty's dedication to our success was evident, and I feel fortunate to have participated. I wholeheartedly recommend it to every new student.”
"This program was surprisingly helpful and eased the transition into law school. It introduced us to a lot of new skills that were a game-changer in feeling confident and prepared. The faculty's dedication to our success was evident, and I feel fortunate to have participated. I wholeheartedly recommend it to every new student."
Bryce Phillips
GW Law Class of 2026
Building on the inaugural offering of the Pre-1L course, the course will implement student evaluation feedback to inform future iterations. Professors Berman and Singh plan to focus and enhance the synchronous parts of the course held in the summer and empower students to navigate the three exam preparation lectures more independently in the fall when they are individually best positioned to absorb the material. They also plan to continue to provide access to all the video lectures throughout the 1L year, so students can rewatch them as needed.
“Student evaluations reflected what we suspected: incoming students were seeking and appreciated the community, support, and foundational skill instruction built into this course. Students overwhelmingly reported that the course was a very good introduction on to how to navigate the challenges of law school and expressed how invested the synchronous faculty were in preparing them for success,” said Professor Singh.