There always come a point during the semester where I find myself in this endless cycle of reading, briefing, class, and retaining; where I have found myself stuck in a pattern that causes me to feel so burnout. During my first year in law school, I continued to stay in this pattern because it is how I believed law school was supposed to operate, but that surely is not the case. I have learned that it is so important to step out of the pattern that is law school and take a break. Whether that be planning a trip with friends, going home to see family, or just hanging out at home watching TV, those breaks can be extremely efficient in resetting your mind to come back stronger when it is time to pick back up again. The breaks you choose to take can also be smaller, maybe going to the gym or for a walk, calling up a friend, or taking a one-hour lunch instead of thirty minutes; it is important that these moments away from school are not neglected. I know that it is easy to say, “but I don’t have time for these things,” trust me, there is time. Taking a few hours to clear your head, will make the next few hours that you spend studying more beneficial than had you continued to study for four hours straight, as long as you stay disciplined and organized. As Ralph Manston says, “rest when you’re weary, and renew yourself, your body, your mind, and your spirit. Then get back to work.”
Month: November 2024
Being a Busy Bee!
If you had told me when I was going into law school that I would have been involved in eleven different activities with various board positions, I would have said, “You are crazy! There is no way there would be any time to do it all and still be successful in school.” However, with the fall semester of my second year coming to a close, I can confidently say that it is extremely possible and has even made me a stronger student.
To give an insight into what is on my plate, my activities include being an academic success fellow for Torts I and II, the President of the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), the marketing chair of both the Federal Bar Association (FBA) and the Women’s Law Caucus, a LexisNexis student ambassador, a Barbri Bar Review student representative, the 2L Class Representative of Phi Alpha Delta, a Student Ambassador, and a member of the Trial Advocacy Honor Society, Appellate Court Honor Society, Business Law Society, and Spirit of Service. Of course, that is all on top of my full fifteen-credit semester, but I will be truthful in that all of my activities are not demanding or overwhelming, especially not on purpose!
With that being said, each day is very full, and I am very active on weekends, seeing my friends and family. But, I have found ways to stay on top of my schoolwork and not get behind. My biggest tip is TIME MANAGEMENT! Creating a schedule for myself in my planner each week, getting my schoolwork done ahead of time, and sticking to it have made it all possible. Typically, I like to have my schoolwork done at least a day or two ahead of when the class is so that during my more full days when I might not have much time for work, I will not be stressed when I come home and can spend some time taking a break from it all. Regardless of your schedule, I highly recommend this practice.
Additionally, staying busy and following a tighter schedule helps me to perform better in school! Comparing my midterm scores from this fall semester to last year’s semesters, I have improved dramatically. Also, with the classes I picked, I unfortunately had four midterms within three days, all back to back. But this did not deter me. I planned out when I could study and got my schoolwork done the week before to ensure I would have time to study. In fact, my studying habits changed in that I focused on what was important instead of trying to memorize every little detail. Taking a step back and looking at the class’s big picture was more beneficial as I could see how everything worked together to understand concepts in a much shorter time period.
Overall, being a very involved student is possible and beneficial in many ways. If you want to be active, do not let your fears stop you!
Adjusting to Law School
When it comes to law school, the biggest adjustment isn’t always the course load. It’s usually pretty clear that the workload will be far greater than what you were used to in undergrad. However, one key aspect people often overlook is the mindset shift that’s needed to keep up with this level of work. It’s not just about study habits but also about reshaping your work habits, social life, and even your approach to success and failure.
While it may seem obvious that all these adjustments are necessary, they’re often not at the forefront of students’ minds as they begin their journey. For instance, you have to be prepared to hear “no” more often and—most importantly—learn to be comfortable with being wrong. Accepting when you’re mistaken is crucial to growth; after all, real learning starts when you’re willing to challenge your own assumptions and recognize where you can improve.
Lean into your support system and talk things through with them. I’ve found it especially helpful to share my school-related concerns with people outside of law school, as they provide a fresh perspective and are removed from the daily pressures. At the same time, remember that your law school peers can become an equally vital support system—no one understands the unique challenges of law school quite like they do. While this might seem contradictory, I’ve found it invaluable to have both perspectives during my journey.
Student Ambassadors 