For many Bucknell students considering a legal career, the leap from Bertrand Library to a law school library can feel intimidating. To demystify the experience, Molly Gorby’s UNIV 136: Pursuing Pre-Law class recently hosted a virtual alumni panel featuring six Bucknellians currently navigating their 1L programs. Representing schools from Duke to Georgetown to the University of Virginia, the alumni offered candid reflections on academic transitions, the realities of law school social life, and the mindset that carried them through the application cycle.
Learning to Love the Material
Kayla Howie ‘25, a JD/MBA candidate at Boston University School of Law, said what excited her most is that she loves “being surrounded by people who are genuinely interested in the classes.” She continued, “It’s great to be with peers who are really engaged with the material.”
For some students, the thrill comes from real-world connection. Georgetown University Law Center’s Sam Dowds ‘25 appreciates that he’s finally “learning the real stuff” – the practical, applicable foundations of legal work.
Duke University School of Law’s Hannah Egan ‘23 shared, “It’s really great to learn from professors who have so much practical experience in the field and really fascinating backgrounds. For example, I’m taking Criminal Law in the spring, and my professor was Ted Bundy’s defense attorney and is featured in all the documentaries.”
And for others, joy comes from unexpected places. At the University of Virginia School of Law, Susie Williams ‘23 found her favorite part of 1L year on the softball field. “UVA Law is known for having softball teams for all of their sections,” she said. “I elected myself ‘softball mom’, so I bring baked goods every single week. It’s a lot of fun.”
What They Wish They Knew Before 1L
When asked what they would tell the next wave of law students, the panelists were unanimous: avoid listening to what everyone else thinks and trust yourself.
“Learn to block out the noise,” Williams advised. “Everyone’s path is different, and you are so much more than two numbers.”
Others highlighted that practical experience can help, but isn’t essential. Kim Magnotta ‘25, who attends William & Mary Law School, noticed that her peers who had paralegal experience were a step ahead in terms of legal research and writing. However, she emphasized that maintaining balance is what’s essential for success. For her, this means sometimes “doing something totally unrelated to law school to get your mind off things,” like having movie nights or going on walks with friends.
Hannah Stuck ‘24, who attends New England Law in Boston, urged students to avoid doom-scrolling online. “I was on Reddit a lot, which did not help,” she admitted. “Most of what you read is not true. Schools look at applications holistically. There’s no magic GPA or LSAT score.”
Egan added that there is no one way to academically prepare for law school. “It’s completely different from anything you learn in undergrad,” she said. Instead, she encouraged future 1Ls to focus on rest and mental well-being: “Take some time to yourself before law school. Once it starts, it’s fast-paced, and wellness habits really matter.”
Dowds framed the process as an act of self-reflection. “Be honest with yourself. Why do you want to go to law school? What do you want to accomplish? Once you answer those questions, you can figure out where you truly fit in.”
Howie agreed: “Trust yourself. If you’re trying to do what you think a school wants to see rather than what feels real, they’ll be able to tell.”
Finding Community Beyond the Classroom
While law school is known for intense academics, the alumni were quick to dispel the myth that it’s all work and no social life.
At Duke, Egan has been pleasantly surprised: “It’s way more fun and social than I thought it would be. We have bar reviews every week, and people still go out.”
She emphasized that campus culture varies widely between schools, and encouraged prospective applicants to talk to current students to get the real story. “You can only learn so much from a website,” she said. In fact, one of her closest friends at Duke is someone she cold-messaged on LinkedIn while researching schools.
For Stuck in Boston, time management has been key. “You always have something you could be doing. But if you manage your time, you can absolutely go to restaurants, Red Sox games, and explore the city. It’s not just studying.”
Dowds emphasized choosing a law school the same way Bucknellians likely chose Bucknell. “Look at the student organizations, look at the campus…whatever you’ve done in the past to put yourself out there and meet like-minded people and develop a social life, all of that will still work. It’s just a new environment.”
Howie, also in Boston, sees clear parallels to Bucknell’s social scene, minus the rural backdrop. “There are free food events during lunch, bar reviews, and so many opportunities in the city. Public transportation also makes it easy to explore.”
UVA’s culture especially resonated with Williams: “People in Charlottesville come for the school, so everyone is looking for community. It’s a family atmosphere here.”
Careers and the Job Search
Each law school structures career opportunities differently, and the alumni stressed the importance of researching those differences upfront.
At Duke, recruiting is overwhelmingly geared toward big law. “It’s honestly insane how much money firms pour into recruiting,” Egan said. “It’s impossible not to get a job here.”
William & Mary offers a more balanced approach. “We have a pretty even split between public and private sector placements,” Magnotta explained. The school hosts targeted networking nights and lunchtime firm visits to help students explore options.
In Boston, Stuck and Howie described a constant stream of panels, specialized bar association events, and opportunities to meet judges and practicing attorneys. “Especially in a city,” Stuck said, “networking events are everywhere.”
Final Advice: Be Yourself and Do Your Research
Every panelist emphasized that law school is challenging, but also deeply rewarding when you choose a place aligned with your values, lifestyle, and goals.
Williams explained that she thought of her law school search as a mutual admissions process. “In the same way schools are deciding whether to admit you, you’re deciding whether the school has the right atmosphere for you.”
And while each alum had their own path from Bucknell to 1L year, they agreed on one thing: the transition is manageable – especially when you trust your instincts, lean on your community, and keep sight of who you are.
