Law school midterms will soon be here. And while they’re just miniature exams and rarely count as much as final exams, they’re still an integral part of your legal journey.
Beyond the fact that they count for a particular percentage of your grades, they also offer a snapshot of your understanding and progress in the course and an opportunity to gauge where you need improvement. Here’s how to get the most out of your preparation.
Compile Your Notes
This is a critical exercise because it allows you to organize your thoughts and ensures you have a comprehensive understanding of the material. These aren’t meant to be an elaborate outline, just something to spur your memory and get organized. If you normally handwrite your notes, try to type them before any group or professor review session.
Here, you want to stick to the high-level rules rather than hypos to help make your study time productive without becoming frustrating. The goal is simple: create takeaways in your own words that will help you understand and retain the information.
Get more tips for note-taking and outlining.
Consider Group Sessions
When it comes to group study sessions, most people either love them or hate them. Sometimes it depends on the topic. If you feel as though you have a grasp of the subject, it might be worthwhile to study with a group. You can support others in their learning and get additional perspectives, which can deepen your own understanding.
Conversely, if you still need to solidify your grasp of the material, you may find it more beneficial to conduct intensive research and studying on your own. As with anything else, you have to know what works best for you.
Attend Review Sessions
Many professors have review sessions before major quizzes or tests. These are golden opportunities to gain an overview before the exam. Review sessions are particularly helpful if you come with questions. This is your chance to flesh out what kind of answers your professors will be looking for. It’s okay to straight-up ask them about their expectations during the reviews.
Additionally, attending these sessions to listen to other students’ questions can be incredibly illuminating. You might come to realize that there are gaps in your understanding that you weren’t even aware of. Thus, turning the review session into an invaluable learning event.
Overcome Common Challenges
Law students face several challenges during midterms, from time management and stress to covering the sheer volume of material. To manage your time effectively, create a study schedule that allocates specific blocks for different subjects to maintain focus and allow for breaks.
Stress can be managed through mindfulness practices such as meditation and by ensuring you get enough sleep. As for the volume of material, break it down into manageable chunks and prioritize based on what’s most likely to appear on the exam.
With a little practice, you’ll turn those midterm challenges into stepping stones for success!