It’s called the “best food on campus” for a reason, but there are some things you quickly come to realize after visiting the cafe a few times. Instead of going there and figuring it out like the newbie that you are, follow the tips below and maybe you’ll pass for “one of them.”
1. Know the hours.
It’s not exactly a “quick trip” over to the prison-like building that is the law school, so if you’re heading that way, make sure you’re actually going to get fed. There’s nothing worse than getting off the elevator just to see that the Starbucks, sidebar, and grill are all done for the night. (In fact, it’s not a bad idea to get all the dining options’ hours committed to memory.)
![7 Tips for the Law School Cafe as an Undergrad 3 dumbledore waiting](http://duke.spoonuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2015/05/dumbledore-waiting.gif)
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2. Know how to pay.
No, you can’t use meal exchange. Or a premium swipe. For this feast, you’re gonna have to shell out the big bucks. And by “big bucks”, I mean keep using the balance on your storm card until you have to start paying out of pocket… Trust me, it dwindles away quicker than you’d think, so keep an eye on how much you’re spending on those “gourmet salads”.
![7 Tips for the Law School Cafe as an Undergrad 4 it isnt fair](http://duke.spoonuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2015/05/it-isnt-fair.gif)
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3. Keep it down.
The first thing you’ll notice upon entering the law school is how quiet everything is. You can practically hear people stressing about their GPA’s, class rank, or internships. Law students are notoriously overworked and under-rested, so don’t push them over the edge with your loud music or conversations. Just go along with the trend of suffering in very near silence and everything should be fine.
![7 Tips for the Law School Cafe as an Undergrad 5 shh gif](http://jmu.spoonuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/133/2015/10/shh-gif.gif)
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4. Don’t wear sweats.
With the amount of free t-shirts you get at this school, you’d think it’d be acceptable to wear them anywhere on this campus. But if you look closely, you’ll notice that a lot of people in the law school dress like, well, real adults. It’s terrifying. But next time you’re going to meet your friends for dinner there, don’t hesitate to throw on a nice shirt or some pants besides the sweats you’ve been wearing to your 9 am for the past week.
![7 Tips for the Law School Cafe as an Undergrad 6 annoyance dukoff](https://spoonuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/annoyance-dukoff.gif)
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5. Mind your own business.
You know that person who sits down right next to you even though there are plenty of open seats available? Yeah, don’t be that person. There is an unspoken rule between the frequenters of the cafe (and most other sane individuals) to spread the seating out evenly throughout available tables. Assess the seating situation quickly upon approaching the cafe, and locate the perfect spot for you to indulge in that Boar’s Head Deli sandwich without being uncomfortably close to someone else. The rest of us overly self-aware people are grateful for your societal cooperation.
![7 Tips for the Law School Cafe as an Undergrad 7 annoyed](https://jmu.spoonuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/133/2015/10/annoyed.gif)
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6. Get in, get out.
Yes, the cafe is on campus, but no, it isn’t intended primarily for undergrads. You don’t see a lot of people working on their DNY or theology homework in these halls. It’s best not to linger if you can help it since there are a lot of people who spend all day in this building as full-time law students.
![7 Tips for the Law School Cafe as an Undergrad 8 giphy](https://media.giphy.com/media/99S1Zo5Z0gByg/giphy.gif)
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7. Clean up.
This isn’t Marillac, or DAC, and it’s definitely not Monty’s. It’s pretty childish to not pick up your extra napkins that fell on the floor, and you’re just making someone else’s day harder. Not to mention, the law school is where people learn to defend and uphold the law. Cleaning up after yourself is pretty much a law of adulthood. Get it together. These people are learning how to sue you.
![7 Tips for the Law School Cafe as an Undergrad 9 giphy](https://media.giphy.com/media/XbghJ5EHl9e2A/giphy.gif)
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