The first year of law school is often a make-or-break year for many students. Not only do many law schools purposefully weed out those who aren’t up to the task of completing their degrees, but many students find themselves floundering in such a high-stress environment. There are, however, specific steps you can take to make your first year much more successful.

Perhaps the most important step you’ll take to find success in law school is to form a good study group. Though law school can be competitive, those who are the most successful know how to work with their peers. A good study group will help you deal with tough material and provide you with the crucial support you need to make it through your first year’s most challenging parts.

Likewise, it’s a good idea to go ahead and sign up for a bar review course. Though the bar is three years away, you can get a huge discount by signing up for a review course during your first year. As a bonus, many of these courses also include review sessions for major subjects and can even help you study for your professional ethics examination.

Another significant step to take is to get to know your professors. If you want to find success, you’ll need the help of your school’s faculty to do so. Not only does getting to know your professors help you when you’re struggling through your first-year classes but finding a mentor early on can help you when you’re searching for a job after graduation.

Finally, make sure that you develop good time management habits during your first year. Get used to spending more time reading and writing, but make sure that you also take time to eat, exercise, and get sleep. Learning how to balance your time during your first year will help you get into the tougher material of your last two years.

Your first year of law school sets the tone for your legal education. Learn how to reach out to others, how to take advantage of 1L programs, and how to take care of yourself. If you can set yourself up for success early, you’ll have less to fear as you get further along in school.