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.
- 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
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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.