Many students find the differences between law school classrooms and university classrooms refreshing. Generally speaking, you're attending law school with the "cream of the crop." Students are in the classroom because they want to become lawyers. Watch the entries for tips and comments about such classroom topics as . . .

• Where to sit and why.
• Making eye contact with your professor
• Internet use during class.
• Speaking up in class.
• Speech anxiety.
• Unpreparedness.

One question new law students often ask is, "Does classroom participation affect my grade?" Here's the answer: check the syllabus for each course. The practice of professors across the country is too varied to make a useful generalized statement. However, regardless of each professor's scoring rubrics, keep this in mind: avid, valuable class participation affects your grade in that it leads to fluency in the language of the law and provides you with more of the practice you need to excel in law school. This will be reflected in your grade, even if your professor doesn’t actually add points to your exam score. Further, creating a good impression in class may lead to a better letter of recommendation in months or years to come—plan ahead.