Successful exam prep demands focus. Law school, as a whole, should not be just about making the grades, but exam preparation requires a narrowing of your attention. You do not want to be the student constantly raising your hand throughout the semester to ask the professor “is this going to be on the exam?” However, for exam prep, adopt the focus of the is-this-going-to-be-on-the-exam person. As the semester draws to a close, the outline you have been compiling is likely a combination of class notes, case summaries, copy-and-paste chunks of black letter law, and more. As you develop your exam prep outline, how do you know what should be included? Think about what a top-flight exam answer looks like, then practice some reverse engineering to arrive at an exam prep outline that will lead to success. Let’s look at the aspects of a great answer and how your outline can prepare you to perform on exam day. [Read more…] about Exam Prep Outline: A Practice in Reverse Engineering
outlining
Outlining Basics
One of the most frequently heard words as a 1L, especially as finals draw ever closer, is “outline” or some variation of it. I’m here to demystify as much about outlines as I can, because it is just SO much easier to tackle what feels like an overwhelming task when you at least know what it is you’re doing, (kind of) how to do it, and some other important lessons learned.
Five Law School “Rules” I Broke My First Semester
There are certain maxims of how to do law school that seem to have been passed down from generations of students through the ages. It can be scary to break what seem like ironclad conventions: why forge your own path if you can follow the well-trodden one?
I’m here to tell you that I did not follow many of these conventions of law school during my first semester, and I came out the other side. That’s not to say I broke them just for the sake of breaking them. Instead, I evaluated whether or not I thought they made sense for me, even tried out some of them, and then chose another way. If you’re considering breaking the mold, take a look at these five law school “rules” I broke and some alternatives to consider. [Read more…] about Five Law School “Rules” I Broke My First Semester
Podcast Episode 365: Top 10 Tips for Studying for Final Exams
Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we’re sharing our top 10 things to consider when preparing for your law school final exams.
In this episode we discuss:
- Making an exam calendar
- Outlining, practicing, and getting feedback
- Finding a balance between studying and class work
- Being smart about study groups
- Spending time to evaluate your Thanksgiving plans
- Preparing for exams as a marathon, not a sprint!
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 365: Top 10 Tips for Studying for Final Exams
How to Recognize When You’re Out of Your Depth in Law School
I love an oversimplified analogy. Law school reminds me of swimming. Some people dive right in. They have to get used to the currents, and they might get tired, but they do just fine. Some people need those little floaty things on their arms. They go into the water knowing they need some help, and they take the time to learn what they need to do to stay afloat. Some people jump in, realize they hate everything about being in the water and get out as quickly as possible. If you’re the second or third type, this post probably isn’t for you. You already know you need help or that law school isn’t for you.
There’s a fourth type. Some people think they’re doing just fine (the first type), and don’t realize they’re struggling until they are WAY over their heads. I’m going to outline four indicators that you might need a boost, and suggest some resources for each. The earlier you recognize the need for help, the more likely you are to get the type of help you need to make it through law school successfully. [Read more…] about How to Recognize When You’re Out of Your Depth in Law School
Tips on Surviving and Thriving 1L Year
As you go into your first year of law school, you will likely be getting advice left and right from upperclassmen, academic and peer mentors, and professors. You may find the advice helpful, but also overwhelming. At the risk of adding more advice to your plate, I’m here to share some things I wish I were told that would’ve helped make my first year go by a little more smoothly and with less stress.