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I will be starting my first semester as a PT 1L in a couple weeks and would like any suggestions current PT's might have on study schedules. I work a 9-5 and have class from 6:30-9 Mon-Thur. If you are in a similar situation or have helpful comments they are greatly appreciated.

I'm in the same situation and although I have a plan, I have no idea how well it's going to work out. It would be great to hear from someone who has actual experience instead of just a plan

My classes run from 6:00 - 8:45 Monday - Thursday.

I shifted my work hours (I have a boss who is very supportive of my law school adventure) so I'll be working from 7:00 till 3:30. I plan to hit the gym after work and show up on campus by 5:00. I don't know how productive an hour before class will be, but it seems like I should be able to get some reviewing done.

After class I will be getting home around 10. I plan to do reading/study until 11:30. Then it's off to be for 6 hours and back at it int he morning.

Friday is family time. No school work until it gets close enough to finals for me to be freaked out or I have a writing assignment deadline looming

Sat and Sun are where the magic happens. Planning on 9 hours each day and will adjust if necessary.

That give me 24 solid study/reading/writing hours per week, along with another 4 hours that may or may not be productive before class. Enough? I guess I'll find out.

I'm totally jealous. I've got class five days a week from 1800 to 2000 (and one day till 2100).

My plan is to
- Wake up at 5
- Read/outline until 645
- Arrive at work at 730
- Work until 1630
- Arrive on campus at 1730 or so, review a bit, then hit class
- After class, commute home, eat dinner, kiss the kids goodnight, and study until midnight.

Rinse, repeat, five days a week. Saturdays will be nine or 10 hours of study; Sundays will be around the same with a break to watch the Redskins' loss of the week. I'll finish law school right when the kids begin forming permanent memories, and my wife may even forgive me someday.

This is what I did my first year:

M-Th:

Wake up 4:45. At the gym by 5:05. Back home by 6:45. At work 7:30 - 4:30.

On campus ~5:00. Eat dinner and review reading notes for that night's lectures.

Class 6:00 - 9:00 or 7:30 - 10:00 depending on the day.

Home around 10:00 . Catch up with my wife for about 20 minutes.

10:30 - 11:45 - Review class notes/Outline.

Quick shower and sleep by midnight.

Friday:

Same gym schedule. Work 8:00 - 3:30. No law school stuff ever. Friday nights were always reserved for whatever my wife planned. Typically I'm ready to collapse by Friday night and I sleep a full 8 hours Friday night.

Saturday:

At the gym by 6:30, go out for breakfast with my wife. Study from 9:00 - 4:30. Attend Saturday evening Mass and then dinner with my wife/friends. Study for a couple of more hours that night (typically).

Sunday:

Typically study from about 9:00 - 5:00. I try to avoid leaving the house unless it is to go to the library. I try to relax Sunday evening.

Some pointers:

*I found it easiest to do my reading/legal writing assignments for the upcoming week on Saturday/Sunday (this includes any supplements/practice tests). I devoted the work week to lectures only.

*My Legal writing class stopped meeting about half way through each semester which freed up additional time for reading.

*The morning workouts were the key to having the energy to make it through the day. I skipped one workout during the first semester and I was dragging ass that night. Slightly related to this is your diet. I avoid junk food and don't drink coffee/caffeine.

*Plan your vacation around school events. My employer gives me five weeks vacation a year. I took one week in the middle of each semester to devote to the graded Legal writing assignment. I then took one week each semester just before finals.

*I'm probably not the best person to listen to when it comes to the issue of sleep. I learned how to operate well in a sleep deprived state with the military.

This has been helpful. From pointers online I have made a draft study schedule.

Mon-Thurs
Wake up 7am
Work 9am-5pm
Lunch 12 or 1pm (review for class)
Dinner 5:30pm
Class 6:20-9:00pm

Fri
Wake up 7am
Work 9am-5pm
Chill at home (no school work, except during finals or big papers)

Sat
4 hours of studying

Sun
2-3 hours of studying

This will adjust, but I plan to utilize my outlook planner on both my computer and blackberry.

Good article on succeeding in law school
http://www.top-law-schools.com/law-scho ... tml#topic3

xyzbca wrote: *My Legal writing class stopped meeting about half way through each semester which freed up additional time for reading.

Is that common? I'd love for that to happen.