Exams are a major factor in how well you’ll do in law school. Though your homework scores might have been enough to buoy your grade in undergrad, many law school class grades will be determined by one or two exams throughout the year. With this in mind, you must understand how to study for law school exams.
The first thing you’ll need to know about studying for law school exams is that there is not a single right way to study. Instead, there is a way to study that works for you. Your goal should necessarily be to adapt to someone else’s study style and make your study style consistent and efficient. Whether it’s reading case notes, listening to lectures, or taking practice tests, you should find what works for you and focus on that.
With that said, it’s always a good idea to go back and look at the things on which your professor focused. Few law areas are so narrow that a test can include everything within those areas, so make sure that you pay particular attention to those things you spent time discussing in class. Knowing where your professor’s focus might be is an excellent way to predict what’s on the exam.
It’s also a fantastic idea to create a study schedule. Not only will this help to make you more successful on law school exams, but it gives you a better way to make sure that you take care of yourself. The last thing you want is to find yourself in the law library at midnight on the night before exams, trying to cram in everything you can despite not eating or sleeping for the last twenty-four hours.
Finally, try to find a good study group. Your peers can help you find new ways to understand cases and shore up any deficiencies that you might have when it comes to certain concepts. There’s also definitely something to be said for having human contact during the weeks leading up to exams.
Learning how to study is a huge part of law school. Find something that works for you, create a schedule, and then stick to that studying method. Once you figure out how to study successfully, law school will seem at least a bit less stressful.