Welcome to Memphis Law!
Dear Class of 2023,
Welcome to the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law! My name is Rachel Jackson, and I am the president of the Student Bar Association (“SBA”), our student government. On behalf of SBA, congratulations on your acceptance into law school. We are so excited that you decided to join us, and I am excited for all the new ideas, energy, and personality that your class will bring to our school.
The purpose of SBA is to bring all the students of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law into one body to foster spirit, fellowship, cooperation, and to advance the purposes of our school. As registered students, you are officially members of SBA. In the coming weeks, you will learn all about how SBA works, so make sure you look out for more information. We host social events, student activities, guest speakers, community service projects, and promote wellness. Also, it is very important throughout the next three years that you keep an eye on the school’s blog, On Legal Grounds. This is one of the main methods of communication for all organizations. If you are reading this, you are doing good so far, so keep it up!
With orientation around the corner, I understand your excitement as you begin this new chapter in your lives. We always hear that time flies by, but it’s a cliché for a reason. It seems like just yesterday I met my classmates at Orientation and sat in my very first class. What I’ve learned since then is that my favorite aspect of law school is the undeniable quality of our student body. As a member of our student body, you will join a strong professional network and make friendships that stretch beyond the classroom. All of this begins with Orientation, and its importance should not be underestimated. Orientation will be a week full of getting to know your classmates, familiarizing yourself with the life of a law student, and learning almost everything you need to know as you begin law school. Orientation may seem overwhelming, but I can promise you that it will equip you with the foundational understanding of law school and ease your stress of starting this new chapter. Utilize professors, peers, and upperclassfolks if you have any questions. No question is too small! Please feel free to reach out; I would be happy to help any of you adjust and feel more comfortable in the Memphis Law family.
It goes without saying that you are entering our law school during unprecedented times. The pandemic has forced educational institutions like ours to deliver material in a socially distant way. However, I am confident you will find that the wonderful culture and bond among our student body will remain unchanged. Remember that every member of SBA is here for you, and student wellness will continue to be SBA’s number one priority.
I’d like to end this welcome letter with a piece of advice from a 3L: no matter what, know yourself. People are going to give you all kinds of advice and tell you how you should do something or how you should study. Know that everyone is different and what works for the person sitting next to you, or an upperclassperson, may not work for you. Do not be afraid to ask questions and change up the way you are doing something if it does not seem to be working. The workload of law school can be intense, and at times each one of you will become overwhelmed. Embrace those feelings and take the time to remember why you wanted to come to law school in the first place. This is your experience, and you are the one that defines it.
The SBA Administrative Council members are always willing to give advice or offer friendship. I will have virtual SBA President office hours during the fall semester, just email me at rrjcksn2@memphis.edu to set up a time to chat. I hope to see all of you at the Virtual SBA Meet N’ Greet on August 13th. Please check out our website, and follow SBA on Facebook and Instagram, @sbamemphislaw for updates.
Go Tigers!
Rachel Jackson
President, Student Bar Association
