Prepping for Law School Finals: One Month Out

I am not sure where the time went butttttt final exams are in like a month. Cue epic freak out. Time to outline, write out flashcards and take practice exams until I'm blue in the face. Here is what I am doing to prepare and set myself up for success one month out from final exams.



1. Outlining
I have been pretty good about keeping up on outlines this semester... I am actually pretty proud of myself. However, with getting through the appellate brief, I did get a little behind. Therefore, I have spent the last week or so catching up. Property II is taking me the most time.... soooo much information. My goal is to have my outlines 100% a full week before finals. That way, I can just study, memorize and do practice exams that week and exam weeks.

2. Flashcards 
I am such a flashcards learner. That has always been my memorization technique. I find that even more than studying with the flashcards, making them is a great study tool; there is scientific proof that handwriting is a huge aid to information retention. On outlining breaks, I work on flashcards for bright line rules, definitions, tests, etc. Full disclosure, usually I do this while binge watching Parks and Rec. It's called balance. Starting to fill out the massive amount of flashcards I will need now, saves me time later on for simply studying. (When I say massive amounts I mean I went to Dollar Tree last week and spent $10 on flashcards alone)

3. Meeting with Teachers/Clearing Up Confusion
When I go back through my notes, I tend to find lots of holes. Or notes to myself such as "copy this from the powerpoint later" or "confusing AF" or even "you weren't paying attention; go see the teacher" (at least I am honest with myself when I daydream). As a result, come outlining/reviewing/study time, I need to fill in those holes and clear up any confusion. I make a point to go see professors and do this sooner rather than later. Last semester, one of my semesters was gone for the week before our final so any issues that came up we could only email him. This semester, I am trying to do all of this now so that I do not have that happen later on. Also, clearing up confusion helps me to have full, complete and correct outlines and study materials.

4. Tracking Down Practice Exams/Questions
Something different about studying law school exams compared to undergrad is you actually have to practice. As in practice multiple choice, essays, bar style, etc. The best scenario is getting old exams/old exam questions from your professor. Other options include study aid books, online aids, and bar prep companies (they provide first-year study aids). I like to print all of this out or bookmark the website and add anything printed to my exams binder (more on that in a moment). This way, if I have any spare time, I can do some of this (doubtful) and come finals time, it is right there ready to go.

5. Start My Exam Binder
So I am an organization, color-coding, OCD crazy person. If things aren't organized and pretty, it stresses me out. Therefore: exam binder. Everything I need to study in one, organized place. I make a divider section for each exam and fill it will outlines, attack outline, study aids, practice questions, etc. I also keep a detailed study schedule and exam schedule with times and classrooms in the front so I always know what I need to be studying, where I need to be and when. At this point, I am starting to collect all of this into my binder. I made my exam schedule paper as the times are finally finalized and I am pulling together dividers, practice questions and study aids. It's never too early to be super duper organized.

6. Keep Up on my Health 
I am making a point to work on my own health now. You can't perform well on exams if you are not at your best physically and mentally. Therefore, I must be healthy going into finals and I want to start that now. I have been eating healthy, I finally forced myself back into working out, I am taking vitamins and making a point to get enough sleep. I do not want to roll into finals time exhausted, feeling yucky from crappy food and just strung out on life. I want to be feeling like a million bucks as I go into the two hardest weeks of the semester. Also, working on my health is never a bad idea. Eating healthy if good for me and my husband in general, doing Yoga a few times a week is really helping my flexibility and mindfulness and getting a good nights sleep is a glorious feeling that leaves me refreshed and happy.

The earlier you start on finals prep, the easier it will be during those stressful, test-filled weeks. I find myself less stressed out about finals now because I am actively working toward my success on those scary exams. I am making a point, a month out, to be doing these 6 things to really get myself in a good position to do my best on my final exams. It is never too early to start working toward exams as they are generally, your whole grade for the class. Want to know what makes it easier? I can see the light at the end of the tunnel where there will be no homework, no exams and no lecture for a few months. Summer cannot come fast enough. But, I still have to conquer exams so back to the outline I go. (JK, I am watching Fixer Upper and outlining on commercials. Balance....)