Justia Connect Webinars Breaking Barriers, Building Belonging: Thriving in Law School as a First-Generation Student

Breaking Barriers, Building Belonging: Thriving in Law School as a First-Generation Student

Being the first in your family to attend law school is an extraordinary achievement, but it can also come with unique pressures, doubts, and questions about how to navigate the unspoken rules of legal education. In this candid and empowering session, Professor Etienne Toussaint shares personal insights and practical strategies to help first-generation students not only survive but thrive in law school. From finding mentors and managing imposter syndrome to embracing your voice and building community, this webinar will offer guidance, affirmation, and tools to help you chart your own path with purpose and confidence.

Topics covered include:

Professional Development Law Practice

Agenda:

Welcome and Introduction

Brief overview of the session, speaker introduction, and grounding intentions

Understanding the First-Gen Experience

Exploring common challenges — imposter syndrome, hidden curriculum, financial and emotional stress

Tools for Academic Success

Strategies for studying, outlining, preparing for exams, and navigating cold calls

Building a Support Network

How to find mentors, create community, and develop professional relationships

Owning Your Story and Voice

Encouragement to embrace your unique perspective and lived experience as a strength in legal education

Thriving Beyond the Classroom

Tips on managing stress, maintaining wellness, and staying grounded in your purpose

Live Q&A With Professor Toussaint

Open floor for participants to ask questions and receive tailored advice

Duration of this webinar: 60 minutes

Originally broadcast: June 25, 2025 10:00 AM PT

Webinar Highlights

This webinar is divided into section summaries, which you can scan for key points and then dive into the sections that interest you the most.

00:00 Introduction

Etienne C. Toussaint is introduced as the speaker, a scholar focusing on poverty, food insecurity, and environmental injustice in the U.S. Etienne shares his personal background, emphasizing his journey as a first-generation law student and the challenges he faced. He discusses the importance of understanding the first-gen experience, academic success tools, building a supportive network, and thriving beyond the classroom. Etienne aims to empower students to overcome barriers and thrive in law school.

05:35 Understanding the First-Generation Experience

Etienne emphasizes the unique challenges first-generation students face, such as imposter syndrome and the hidden curriculum. He recalls his own struggles with understanding law school expectations and balancing financial pressures. Etienne encourages students to define success on their own terms and use their personal stories as strengths. He advises experimenting with study methods to find what works best for individual learning styles. Understanding the purpose of outlining in law school is crucial for academic success.

11:24 Strategies for Academic Success

Etienne explains the difference between classroom outlines and exam outlines, emphasizing the importance of preparing for exams early. He describes the Socratic method used in law school and the significance of critical thinking over perfection during cold calls. Etienne advises starting exam preparation in the middle of the semester and practicing with timed questions. He highlights the importance of engaging in classroom discussions and preparing for exams separately. Time management is crucial, and treating law school like a 40-hour work week can help balance academics and extracurricular activities.

18:30 Building a Supportive Network

Building a supportive network is transformative for law school success, as Etienne shares from his experience with the Black Law Student Association. He encourages students to participate in law school events and utilize office hours to build relationships with professors, which can lead to mentoring opportunities and support throughout law school. Etienne stresses the importance of finding community and connection to overcome isolation in law school. He advises students to pursue leadership opportunities and engage with peers who share similar backgrounds.

22:55 Owning Your Story and Thriving Beyond the Classroom

Etienne addresses the hidden curriculum in law school, including the importance of joining Law Review and pursuing clerkships. He advises building relationships with professors for recommendations and engaging in office hours for additional learning. Time management is crucial, and block scheduling can help balance academic and personal commitments. Etienne encourages students to be proactive in seeking opportunities and building relationships with lawyers. He discusses strategies for handling the abundance of information and the importance of early exam preparation.

01:10:40 Navigating Bias and Building Resilience

Etienne discusses navigating bias in law school and the legal field, sharing his personal experiences with implicit biases. He emphasizes the importance of building a social network and engaging in practices that support mental health. Creating safe spaces and connecting with affinity groups can help manage the challenges of bias. Etienne encourages students to seek support outside the classroom and rise above negative viewpoints.

Please note this AI-generated summary provides a general overview of the webinar but may not capture all details, nuances, or the exact words of the speaker. For complete accuracy, please refer to the original webinar recording.

Speaker

Etienne C. Toussaint Associate Professor of Law
Joseph F. Rice School of Law, University of South Carolina

Etienne C. Toussaint is a private law scholar whose work explores the historical development of poverty, food insecurity, and environmental injustice within the U.S. political economy. Drawing on critical legal theory, his scholarship examines the intersection of race, culture, and modern social movements in challenging private law’s structuring of the economy. He teaches Contracts, Business Associations, Law and Political Economy, and Critical Legal History at the University of South Carolina's Joseph F. Rice School of Law. For advice on a career in academia, visit www.thetenuretrack.com.