Caitlyn Foret is a 20-year-old, first-generation law student at the University of Houston. She is known for her hours spent as an Honors College mentor, SGA Director of Public Relations and Chief Justice. With her undergraduate degree finished, Caitlyn’s life has shifted dramatically since starting her first semester in law school.
Currently, Foret is taking 15 hours of classes and working to decide which firms she will apply to this upcoming summer. During the week, Foret tries to balance her school life, social life and extracurriculars while adjusting to this massive shift in her life.
In undergrad, Foret was able to experience a wide variety throughout her schedule.
“I used to block my classes for Monday and Wednesday so I would work on other days of the week,” Foret said. “I could have a break from each part of my schedule. Law school makes it so I’m in class or studying every day, so there is less diversity in how I spend my time.”
Most days of the week, Foret spends time in class or working on her readings to prepare for cold calls. This week, I followed Caitlyn as she showed me her new law school schedule and explained how she is adjusting.
Sundays
On most Sundays, Caitlyn spends time working on her readings to prepare for her busy Mondays and spends time with her partner and cat.
Mondays
On Monday, Foret attends her Civil Procedure class from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and then takes a lunch break.
“I usually assign myself a task from my to-do list during lunch. That day I read over and made suggestions about a document for a student organization that I’m in,” Foret said.
She then has her Contracts class from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., and attends office hours afterwards. Once she goes home, she works on her Civil Procedures readings, followed by dinner and more readings for her classes the next day.
Tuesdays
On Tuesdays, Caitlyn attends her Torts class from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., which is immediately followed by her Civil Procedure class.
Afterward, Foret caught up with a friend before her Legal Writing class from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and then headed home and to do her readings.
Wednesdays
On Wednesday, Caitlyn went to her first class and her second class was canceled, so she spent extra time doing her readings for her Contracts class before attending a club meeting. Afterward, she attended her Contracts class then headed home to do more readings as well as work on her writing and citation assignments.
Thursdays
On Thursdays, Caitlyn attends her Torts and Contracts classes before heading home to clean and relax before working on additional homework assignments. She typically spends the weekends outlining and reviewing, looking at summer job positions and creating cover letters.
Caitlyn emphasizes how much prioritizing her mental health has helped her in law school.
“Sometimes I feel like I never work hard enough because it is a lot to adjust to,” Foret said. “It is important to check in on myself before it takes a toll on me.”
Along with that, Foret is one of a few first-generation college students in the Law Center at UH.
Overall, Foret is extremely hardworking and talented. Although she is incredibly young, she has accomplished a lot with her time and effort. She and her partner recently bought a house before she began law school.
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