Through the study of cases, laws, procedures, etc., you will be exposed to and prepared for your entry into the legal world. Your curriculum for the first year will probably include the study of torts, contracts, property, criminal law and procedure, and civil procedure. There is rarely the opportunity for elective course work during the first year, though some schools have first year seminars addressing themselves to specific topics.
Most courses continue for the full nine month first academic year.
During the second and third years of law school, the vast majority of the course work is elective and generally lasts a semester or a quarter, depending upon the set-up of your school. It is during the second and third years that clinical and internship experience may become available, and electives may determine for you your future line of work. These years are the best time for you to experiment with your reactions to different types of law. While you are in law school, it is fairly simple to sample different approaches and material. Once you have graduated, it can be expensive and somewhat traumatic to continually switch fields.