exams – Student Ambassadors

With finals creeping up faster than we’d like to admit, I wanted to share a few study strategies that have really helped me (and others I know) get through this high-stress season. Law school exams are challenging—they test how well you can think, not just how much you’ve memorized. But the good news? With a solid plan, you can crush them.

Here’s how I’m tackling finals this semester—and how you can, too.

1. Start Early (No, Really—Do It)

I know everyone says to start early, but it truly makes a huge difference. The material builds up quickly, and cramming doesn’t work when your exam is an issue-spotting essay.

➢ My approach: I start outlining and reviewing about three weeks before finals. I break each course into sections and assign specific days to review and practice. And yes—I actually schedule in breaks and “off” days to avoid burnout.

2. Active Learning > Passive Reading

Just reading case briefs or flipping through flashcards won’t cut it. Law exams are all about application.

➢ What works:

Outlining: Making my own outlines helps me connect the dots between rules, cases, and policy.
Hypos and past exams: I try to do at least one hypothetical per topic. It’s the best way to practice thinking like a lawyer under pressure.
Study groups (if you like them): Teaching a concept out loud to someone else is a great way to realize what you don’t fully understand yet.

3. Use Commercial Outlines—But Don’t Depend on Them

Barbri, Quimbee, Themis—they’re great for tricky concepts or as a sanity check. But they’re not a substitute for understanding how your professor teaches and tests the material.

➢ Tip: Use commercial outlines as a backup. Your own outlines (and your class notes!) should be the main event. And if your professor has shared past exams or sample answers—use them!

4. Know the Format Before You Study

If your exam is multiple-choice, your prep should look different than if it’s all essays. Don’t make the mistake of preparing the wrong way.

➢ What I do: I try to mimic the format of the exam during practice. If it’s timed essays, I actually time myself and write full answers. If it’s MCQs, I drill with practice questions and focus on spotting traps.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Law school resources exist for a reason—take advantage of them!

➢ Go to ASF/faculty office hours, attend review sessions, and dig into past exams. Professors want you to succeed, and sometimes a quick 15-minute chat can clear up something you’ve been stuck on.

6. Take Care of Yourself

It’s tempting to pull all-nighters and live on coffee during finals. But honestly, that is a fast track to burnout. Your brain needs rest to function well.

➢ My self-care checklist:

Sleep: 7–8 hours (yes, even during finals).
Move: I take a walk after long study sessions—it really helps me reset.
Eat real meals: I try not to skip meals, especially on exam days. Fueling your brain matters.

7. Confidence Is Half the Battle

Finals are intense, but so are you! Remind yourself how far you’ve come this semester. Trust the work you’ve put in thus far.

➢ My mindset trick: When I start spiraling, I breathe, reset, and remind myself: I know this stuff. I’ve prepared. I’ve got this.

You’ve Got This!

Finals aren’t easy, but they’re doable. Start early, study with intention, and take care of yourself. You’re capable, prepared, and stronger than you think.

Wishing you a smooth finals season and some well-earned rest on the other side!

It’s no secret that finals are hard in general anywhere you go, but there are many thoughts about finals that may not always be true.

Finals are impossible. MYTH! Finals are hard – but they are doable! At Widener, your professors give you everything you need in order to succeed on a final. My advise is to take diligent notes each class and listen to your professor. Many professors I have had give you a wink or say something more than once to indicate that it will likely be on a final. A common saying at Widener is that your professors are not trying to “hide the ball.” This means that as long as you come to class, read the assignments, and pay attention, you will be just fine!
You have to stay up all night to get a good grade. MYTH! Overall, you know your study schedule the best, but I do not believe it is necessary to stay up all night before an exam. Instead, it’s in your best interest to get a full nights rest in order to perform to your best ability. Personally, I stop studying for my exams at 8 p.m. the night before. After 8, I take a shower and give myself an hour or two to relax and do something I like, such as watching an episode of Netflix or FaceTiming a friend. I believe that if I stay up all night that I will just get exhausted and then all the information I already know will get mixed up.
You are going to have to work very hard. FACT! Law school is tough and challenging – there is no denying that! As long as you keep up with your work throughout the semester and study hard it is DOABLE!
“Regardless I will be okay because the professor likes me.” MYTH! Professors at Widener adhere to anonymous grading. This means that when you start your final you put a five digit anonymous number at the top instead of your name. While grading, professors see this number instead of your name, so no matter how much they like you, they do not know whose paper they are looking at! This is the same for any paper due throughout the semester or multiple choice exams.
“If I participate a lot I’ll get an A.” MYTH! Most of your 1L grades will be based solely on your final exam. Many professors say they have the discretion to award plusses and minuses for grades, but that is the extent that participation can do for you.
You have to start studying for finals in August. MYTH! Focus on doing your work for each week and try to review before and/or after class. That is enough for the first few weeks. After about a month of classes, I suggest starting your outlines. Outlining is just a fancier term for taking your notes from class and condensing them into a word document to study for finals. After that, I update my outlines two to three times a month to stay on top of things. Most people start studying for finals in November!
“I don’t have to remember the names of every case I ever read.” FACT! You do NOT need to remember every case you have read for a final. Most professors at Widener do not even care for you to put case names in finals. This is because you have 2-4 hours (which seems like a long time but isn’t) to write your exam. Your professors want to see that you can identify issues in a fact pattern and apply the relevant law to solve the issue.
It is possible to not finish an exam and still receive a good grade. FACT! As stated above, you have 2-4 hours to complete your exam. Most professors give you a long fact pattern (around 4-7 pages) with a large amount of issues to be found. They do this because they want to see how many issues you can find in a short amount of time. This being said, many people are not able to finish. Law school exams are not based out of 100 points. Instead, you get points for what you do put on paper. Therefore, if you miss some things, it is not the worst case scenario. All you have to do is write as much as you can and wrack up the points where you can.

That being said, law school is hard and challenging – I would be lying if I said it wasn’t. BUT it is doable and one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever been a part of. If you decide on Widener, know that you are here because the school believes in you and that as long as you put your best foot forward you have done your best.

Good Luck!