Dear Robson,

We at the Academic Committee have put together a list of study tips for you as we head into exam season. We hope that these tips will be helpful to you as you prepare for exams, but if you already have a study style you like, keep with it! After all, you’ve already done the hard work of getting into law school, so there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. You know yourself better than any study tips could, so do what works best for you! 

First off, create an outline of the course from your notes. The Outline Bank is an excellent resource to refer to as a guide, but try not to depend on it too much. Keep condensing your outline into shorter summaries as you review. Create a cheat sheet with case names, a key fact, and paraphrase the ratio in your own words. 

Doing practice exams is another study tool that can help with familiarizing yourself to the law school exam structure. Reviewing the practice exam with your professor or a study group is a great way to see where your learning gaps are in advance of the exam.

Don’t leave studying until the night before. Know your cases, know the tests – repetition is key! Compare and contrast cases against each other. And remember to focus on understanding how the judge came to their decision. 

And last but not least, be kind to yourself. Taking breaks from studying is not wasting time. Even if it’s just 10 minutes to walk around, taking that physical and mental break to de-stress, and come back with fresh eyes, can make all the difference. Taking breaks, taking good care of yourself, and prioritizing your mental health are the best ways to prepare for any exam.

Sincerely,

Laura Balagus (Academic Committee Representative)