First Year Law Student Informally

A 1L is the informal name for a first-year law student. The shorthand extends to 2L and 3L for second- and third-year students, mirroring the standard three-year Juris Doctor program. The 1L year covers foundational doctrinal courses and is famously demanding, taught largely through the Socratic method, with grades in many courses resting on a single final exam.

By Ali Unar, JD candidate at Georgetown Law and founder of Lovare Institut. Last updated August 2026. Every figure on this page was verified in August 2026 against the sources listed below.

What is a first-year law student called informally?

A first-year law student is informally called a 1L, pronounced one-L. The same pattern gives 2L for a second-year student and 3L for a third-year student, matching the three years of a full-time Juris Doctor program. Part-time students sometimes add a 4L year, and the terms are used constantly in law school culture, hiring, and casual conversation.

What does the 1L year involve?

The 1L year is a largely fixed curriculum of foundational doctrinal courses: contracts, torts, civil procedure, constitutional law, criminal law, property, and legal writing. Classes often use the Socratic method, where professors cold-call students to analyze cases out loud. In many courses the entire grade rests on one final exam, and schools frequently apply a mandatory curve.

Why is the 1L year considered the hardest?

The 1L year is considered the hardest because of the volume of reading, the unfamiliar way of thinking, and the pressure of single-exam grading on a curve. Students learn to read cases, brief them, and build outlines while adjusting to cold-calling. An old saying about law school captures it: the first year works you hardest, and later years ease the intensity even as the workload stays heavy.

How do you prepare for and succeed as a 1L?

Success as a 1L comes from consistent habits more than raw talent. The steps below reflect what strong first-year students do from week one.

1. Read and brief assigned cases before each class rather than cramming.
2. Build your own course outlines as you go, not at the end.
3. Practice with old exams, since the skill tested is applying law to new facts.
4. Manage time and stress deliberately, and use academic support early.

Frequently asked questions

What does 1L mean?

1L means first-year law student, the informal shorthand used throughout law school and legal hiring. It refers both to the student and to the year itself, as in taking 1L courses. The pattern continues with 2L and 3L for the second and third years of a Juris Doctor program, and the terms are standard across U.S. law schools.

What is the difference between 1L, 2L, and 3L?

1L, 2L, and 3L refer to the first, second, and third years of law school. The 1L year is a mostly required set of foundational courses, the 2L year opens up electives, clinics, journals, and job interviewing, and the 3L year adds advanced electives and practical work before graduation and the bar exam. Each stage has a distinct focus.

What classes do 1Ls take?

First-year law students take a largely mandatory core: contracts, torts, civil procedure, constitutional law, criminal law, property, and legal research and writing. These doctrinal courses build the analytical foundation for everything that follows. The exact mix varies slightly by school, and some add a first-year elective or a legislation and regulation course, but the core subjects are consistent across ABA-approved schools.

Is the first year of law school the hardest?

Most law students consider the 1L year the hardest, because of heavy reading, the unfamiliar Socratic method, and grades that often hinge on a single final exam graded on a curve. The workload does not necessarily drop later, but students adapt and gain confidence. Building strong reading, outlining, and exam habits early makes the first year far more manageable.