​Academic Success Resources

The Academic Success and Bar Programs office offers numerous resources to help law students learn the skills necessary to maximize their success.

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Academic Success Fellows
An upper-division Academic Success Fellow for each first-year doctrinal class is available to help students develop effective skills. The Fellows, in most cases, took the class previously with the same professor, did very well in the class, and attend the class again. The Fellows hold weekly office hours open to all first year students. Be sure to check the bulletin board outside of the Academic Success and Bar Programs office, WH 206, weekly for any changes or cancellations.

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Study Skills Workshops
Skills workshops on such topics as "Outlining" and "Final Exam Preparation" are presented throughout the semester. These workshops are specifically designed for first-year students. Workshops on such topics as "Licensing Requirements" and "Bar Exam Bootcamp" are presented throughout the semester and are designed for upper-division students. Workshop descriptions and dates are posted online. 

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Academic Success Resource Center
The Academic Success Resource Center (ASRC), located in Warren Hall 206, is available to all students and offers free use of popular supplements for a variety of first year, upper-division, and bar preparation courses. These materials are available for check-out for up to three days at a time, and you can come back as often as you need. Additionally, there are free digital versions of many helpful supplements available online through the law library by clicking the "Online Study Aids" Quick Link.

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Individual Academic Counseling

Members of the Academic Success and Bar Programs team are available to meet with students one-on-one regarding study strategies, exam preparation, and bar preparation planning. Click here to make an appointment with Director Michael Brooks or Associate Director Alyssa Koubratoff. Email lawacademicsuccess@sandiego.edu with any questions.

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1L Study Groups

In the fall, first-year students may opt to join study groups led by the Academic Success Fellows. The goal of the study groups is to assist in creating an equal opportunity for academic development and excellence for participating students. Indicators that a student may particularly benefit from the fall study groups include:

  • Writing ability based on LSAT writing sample
  • Distance from home or last residence
  • Culturally underrepresented in the legal profession
  • Low income background
  • First generation in college
  • Entering LSAT or GPA
  • Educationally disadvantaged
  • Physically or learning disabled
  • Non-traditional students
  • Students affected by bias

Over the years we have learned that, without early intervention, it can take weeks or months for some students affected by the factors above to thrive in the law school environment. While we cannot factor in or out every advantage or disadvantage, our goal is to level the playing field to the extent possible for all students during their first semester of law school. Once fall semester grades are available, spring semester study groups are formed (again, led by Fellows) based on law school grades. If you are interested in joining the fall study groups, email lawacademicsuccess@sandiego.edu.