Opinions / Advice on 1st Year Law? (Juris Doctor)

Hi all, I‘ve recently accepted an offer to start a Juris Doctor in UNSW’s 2025 Trimester 3 intake, having completed a bachelors in Engineering (Honours) in 2024 also at UNSW.

I’m already getting a bit anxious reading on Reddit about the workload associated with first year, the comments of “you shouldn’t work in your first year” because “first year is so tough”, to “forget having a social life”, the intense competition within the law faculty, the need to compete in Moots or join societies to get ahead etc etc….

I am no stranger to hard work and long studying hours, having completed an engineering degree alongside numerous internships and part time jobs, and I’m very excited to embark on this new journey! I guess I’m becoming increasingly intimidated by the reviews of law I’ve read online (I must comment however that I suspect that some of the reviews are from American Students in law) and just the sheer competency of all the students who will be studying law beside me.

I’m currently working 3 days a week (9-5) and will probably cut down to 2.5 once I start the degree. I would imagine devoting 8-10 hours of study a day to this law degree, with fluctuations depending on course load and time of term. Definitely done my fair share of 12-14 hours day in my undergrad.

My questions are:

(1) Is 1st Year Law as stressful and intense as people put it out?

(2) Is working a 2 - 2.5 day a week realistic with the workload of a first year? And is that much study a day enough (on the days I’m not working?)

Sorry for the ramble, any advice is appreciated:)))