Justice Kagan’s Advice for Law Students

As GW Law’s 150th anniversary celebrations drew to a close, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan offered four pieces of advice to students beginning their legal education. 

1. Try to get to know at least one professor well. Pick someone you like and try to establish a relationship.
2. It’s not only professors who are going to teach you—it’s your classmates and peers. If your nose is always in a book or you’re always in the library, you’re missing one of the great things about law school.
3. When you talk to peers, talk to people who don’t share your views. It’s frustrating when people who think the same things stick together. Make sure you’re listening to people who don’t think everything you think.
4. Even for people with a lot of direction, it’s good to do things off the track you think you’re on. Experiment through law school and be open to unexpected interests and passions.