It’s coming up on that time of year when 1L’s across our nation start to prepare for law school exams. Having been through this process myself and working with law students, here are some things to consider:
Preparing for the make or break exam
Focus on learning sound study techniques. If you prefer to be in a study group, keep it small with no more than four people. Make sure you are picking people with similar study habits. If you study on your own, make time to bounce thoughts and questions off other students in your section. Focus on learning the material and developing outlines to master the material. Pace yourself and prioritize. You need to put copious amounts of material into your brain within a short amount of time AND compartmentalize your brain to take in five different subject areas. Some students make the mistake of not working on their outlines from day one. Don’t reinvent the wheel; get outlines from upper classmen (who aced the same class) and supplement with your notes. Use commercial outlines. When you study for the exam using your outline, you are studying concepts for each topic. If you hit a wall, go back to the text, your notes, upper classmen, your go-to study buddies or your professor.
Using Past Exams
Your professor may put past exams on file in the library. It is so important to work on past exams and if possible review model student answers. Issue spotting hypos are also helpful. Do as many of them as possible.
Approach Your Professors
Yes, they can be intimidating. But, they are your missing link to that exam. Ask questions regarding the format of the exam, ask about their preferred response format (for e.g. IRAC), review past exams and ask questions if you are unsure about the substantive material. If the exam is open book – tab, tab, tab. Some students ask “If I don’t understand my professor in class, what’s the point of going to see him?” Yes, I know. Been there! But, trust me, you may be pleasantly surprised. One-on-one interaction may be the key. So just go. Don’t forget, if you are a part of a study group ask if your group can attend.
Utilize Your Law School’s Academic Resources
Your law school wants you to get good grades. That said, you all can’t get A’s, B’s or C’s. But you can learn how to be a proficient exam taker. If your school has an academic achievement program, go see them. If they have a program where last year’s 1L’s are teaching assistants, meet with them (they will have exam tips!). If they have exam writing workshops, please attend them. If the professor gives an exam review, make sure you attend.
It Really is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Remember in undergrad, when you could cram months of material into one night and regurgitate it the next morning on the exam? Don’t try that in law school, especially in your first year. The time you put in may not be equal to the results obtained. However, you can’t forsake that time! Review your notes after each class, start that outline and read for the next class. If you don’t want the stress of being around other highly stressed law students, change the scenery. Go to another library on campus, a quiet spot outside (for those in the luxury of warm weather) or, stay home.
Avoiding The Exam Day Pitfalls
Get a good night’s sleep. Many students tell me “I didn’t finish the questions.” Make sure you allot your time per question and stick to it. Do not deviate. Hit it and move on!! (I learned that in Bar review and still remember it). If you find that you are running out of time, don’t panic; write down the rest of your response in bullets. You may not be able to expand, but some points are better than zero points. If you have time at the end, go back and review. Once you walk out of that exam room, run! Do not rehash with anyone. You will drive yourself crazy. Other students don’t know the answer; your professor does. Plus, you are in exam mode. You have to move on to the next exam.
Healthy Living
You must stay sane and healthy especially during exam time. If you are an avid runner or work-out person, don’t fall off the wagon. If you love the movies, take a break for two hours and take in a movie. Eat lots of nutritious foods, fruits, vegetables, smoothies, protein, etc. and try to stay away from, or at least lessen your consumption of, junk food.
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