This three-part special recut series revisits a 2020 conversation between Professor Kyle Kirkup and Professor Lynda Collins on how to thrive in law school now reframed through Professor Collins’ new book, How to Succeed (and Stay Human) in Law School. Each episode focuses on a key theme from the book: cultivating happiness, mindfulness, and mental health, showing how these skills can help students succeed academically without sacrificing their health or values.
In this first episode of our special recut series, Professor Lynda Collins challenges the idea that law school has to be a grind. She shares why happiness isn’t a distraction from success, but often the foundation for it. We explore how hope, mindset, and small shifts in daily habits can improve both academic performance and overall wellbeing.