These are some of the habits we’ve seen in successful law students, along with some handy tips for coping with the often overwhelming workload of legal school.
Plan your work and work your plan
When you’re suddenly surrounded by assignment due dates, practical tests, and a rising stack of sticky note reminders, this age-old saying comes in handy. Although it may appear self-evident, too many students fall behind due to a lack of organizing abilities. Make sure that doesn’t happen to you. What you must do is invest in a traditional planner, virtual assistant, or digital scheduling application—whatever will best aid you in time management, assignment organization, and goal tracking.
Keep both short and long-term commitments and goals in mind when planning so that your strategy becomes a road map for overall success. That involves scheduling more than just classroom hours; develop a habit of scheduling time for studying, externships, and extracurricular activities as well.
Get an early start on reading
Self-education is an important part of your job as a law student. That means going over and beyond the reading assignments; before studying it in class, you should do the reading (at least twice, if not three times) and try to teach yourself how to apply what you’ve learned in real-world scenarios. It is beneficial to read ahead to reinforce your extensive understanding.
Another strong case is that if you get ahead in your reading, you’ll be less likely to fall behind. One attack of the flu or an unforeseen setback can quickly turn into a sense of being lost for the remainder of the semester. Maintaining a firm understanding one step ahead of schedule eliminates the risk of falling behind and reduces unnecessary stress.
Create your own outlines
Outstanding law students teach themselves the law. Making outlines is essential for thoroughly comprehending the massive quantity of information that will be given to you. Manipulation and organization of the content on your own is an excellent means of determining what you know – and what areas may require additional practice or study. Using a bar-prep book or, worse, another student’s old outline to save time may save you time in the short term, but it will not help you properly assimilate vital information.
Memorize material on a weekly basis
Make the mistake of expecting that your undergraduate study habits will translate to law school. It’s a totally different ball game to comprehend a great deal of information in a short amount of time.
As a cornerstone practice throughout your whole legal education, make studying and memorizing material a weekly priority. Instead of cramming at the last minute, you’ll be far more effective on tests if you memorize teachings in smaller bits regularly. The ability to apply what you’ve learned is the difference between success in law school and success in almost any other field. The bottom line is if you’ve studied the law extensively over time, you’ll be considerably better equipped to pass your law school examinations and the dreaded Bar exam.
Self-care is a habit that successful students develop. Make time to interact with friends and family, keep healthy habits, and continue to feed your spirit with the things you enjoy. Law school is only a small part of a larger picture, and if the rest of your life struggles, law school will feel like punishment instead of an exhilarating path toward the career you choose.
Learn more tips for aspiring law students by browsing here at MSM Unify.
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