To the People
I could write a book about this.
Some quickies:
--Write down everything your professor says, and nothing your fellow students (or any teaching assistants) say.
--Stop briefing by the third week of classes.
--Read every case twice; do not highlight until the second reading.
--Take notes longhand, then type them up later.
--Treat law school like a job: When you are not in class during the day, then WORK -- study, transcripe notes, research your writing assignment. Do not goof off in between classes (better to do that at night).
--Have something, anything, outside of law school for a diversion. Like, say, a blog. 
Keep a life outside of law school. Dont get sucked into the dumbass law school social scene. Law school shouldn't be this all encompassing thing.
Don't drop your non-law school friends - they will be an essential life line to the real world.
Having attended law at Indiana University I will only take small issue with the advice above, depending on your choice of law school.
If "goofing off" between classes involves roaming around campus for your last student days of oogling co-eds, my best friend in law school and I did plenty of that during my three years between classes. Of course, we were both married so it wasn't like we went out to the bars at night . . . dammit.
Such "goofing off" was worth every second.
Where to begin?
1. Class time is mostly useless. Most professors play a game of hide the truth rivaled by most politicians. When you finally take the bar exam - this will become readily apparent. You will be amazed that a class like civil procedure lasted more than 25 minutes.
2. Buy a commercial outline for each class - especially if geared to your book. Then find what your lesson is about and read this first. Your text books are useless - most provide a case as a lesson with virtually no guidance whatsoever.
3. Those around you (your classmates) are the weirdest bunch of yahoos you will ever meet. If you make one friend - that is an accomplishment. Keep your outside friends!!!
4. Read Plato's Cave Parable (From "The Republic" ) - That story is Law School.
5. Grades are somewhat meaningless. Most schools use the bell currve for grades - 2-4 people get grades in the high 80's - the majority will get grades btwn 78-83
6. Enjoy every day, no matter what you have to do. A fat old professor once said, "get rid of your tv" and "stop going to the gym". Bull$hit. The rules of life do not change because you are in school. If this advice would seem crazy in the "outside" don't do it because your attending law school.
Best of luck!
Divorce/ Criminal Defense Atty
Decide early on if you want to bust your ass and be on law review, top of the class, etc.
If so, dedicate yourself to it like a serious job.
If not, just do what you did in college, but bump up the effort by 25%. You'll be fine and you'll get a job.
I'd go with option 2.
Domer accurately describes the available options. I was option 2, now I make a decent living negotiating contracts for a major pharmaceutical company. I graduated in 1998 and I'm still not now making what the top graduates in my class were making right out of law school, but it's *good work* that I enjoy and I even have time for my family.
My aforementioned best friend in law school, I always felt sorry for him. He went to work for a Big 6 accounting firm in Chicago out of law school and you could tell he felt trapped by the job and couldn't afford to spend time with his baby when she was born.
Know what sacrifices and payoffs are involved for your options when you can reasonably ascertain them.
I did b-school part-time for a while and the only thing that got me through it was the recognition that it wouldn't last forever. And that was true!
I suffered through years of social isolation and never having time to see a movie but afterwards I made enough money to make me forget about that and be happy that I did it. Just look forward, baby.
Don't spend all your time taking groaners in the SIS basement.
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