Time is almost always an issue in law school, especially as end-of-semester finals and papers approach. You may feel like you have little control over the time challenge. However, with the right strategies, you can balance your law school to-do list effectively to reduce your stress.
Assess Before You Begin
It’s hard to manage what you don’t know. Start by grabbing your trusty calendar (app) or daily planner. Note when each of your finals takes place and the due dates for your papers or projects. Also, identify which exams are open book versus closed book. This initial assessment will provide a roadmap for your study and writing schedule. Having a roadmap to refer to over the coming weeks will serve you well as you manage your expectations and goals.
Evaluate Your Outlines
How are your outlines coming? Do you have time set aside each week to revise and enhance them? Outlines are essential tools in law school. Well-maintained ones will save you time and effort as finals approach.
Get a little refresher on outlining.
Follow Your Professor’s Lead
Professors will often provide guidance on how much time should be spent on certain tasks. Pay close attention to these suggestions, as they are designed to help you succeed within the constraints of the exam or paper.
For papers, take note if your professor gives you dates for topic selection and when rough drafts are due. If you aren’t given any information other than the final due date for a paper, create mini deadlines for yourself to manage research, drafting, and revisions.
From here, you may want to break everything down into weekly goals leading up to your final due date. You will be better prepared for what’s to come without leaving too much to the last minute. Especially during a time when you’re also trying to power through your exam studies.
Allot Time Based on Value
If your professor doesn’t provide time suggestions for writing and studies, assign time based on the importance of each task. Consider how much of your grade a paper will count for or the length of an exam.
Create a Schedule — and Stick to It
Once you have calculated how much time you should spend on each task, create a more detailed schedule on your calendar. Write down the timing for finishing one part of a paper and moving on to the next. Be diligent in sticking to that schedule. If you finish a task early, use the extra time to either advance another task or take a break to recharge.
Build Time Management with Practice
You may have already discovered that professors will sometimes release old exams. What an opportunity this presents! Take a few timed practice exams to evaluate your management of the clock without having to worry about an actual grade. Adjust your strategies based on the outcome of these practice sessions.
You’re so close to the semester wrap. Hang in there and you’ll find your balance to stay focused and finish strong.
For more tips on preparing for final exams, check out these additional resources.