1L study schedule Forum
-
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 12:53 pm
1L study schedule
Hey Guys,
I have one more question. In terms of my study schedule, I want to make sure I'm studying the right things.
Right now my schedule is:
M/W
8am Read for classes wednesday
10:00am class
12:00pm lunch/prepare for next class
1:00pm Class
3:00pm Read for Wednesday or next monday classes.
6:30pm LEEWS/GTM
7:00pm No more law school stuff
T/TR
8:30a Class
10:30a Class
12:00p Lunch/prepare for next class
1:20p Class
3:00p Read for thursday or next tuesday
7:00p No more law school stuff
My weekends consists of about 4-6 hours each studying what I learned in classes and reading supplements. Should I be using my weekends instead getting ahead on my weekly reading? A friend suggested I do ALL of the reading as early and quickly as possible so I can spend the 2nd half of each class focusing on nothing but the final. Has anyone tried this?
In your opinions is this an effective study schedule? If not, do you guys have any suggestions? I looked at the guides and only one of them had a real schedule posted.
Thanks!
I have one more question. In terms of my study schedule, I want to make sure I'm studying the right things.
Right now my schedule is:
M/W
8am Read for classes wednesday
10:00am class
12:00pm lunch/prepare for next class
1:00pm Class
3:00pm Read for Wednesday or next monday classes.
6:30pm LEEWS/GTM
7:00pm No more law school stuff
T/TR
8:30a Class
10:30a Class
12:00p Lunch/prepare for next class
1:20p Class
3:00p Read for thursday or next tuesday
7:00p No more law school stuff
My weekends consists of about 4-6 hours each studying what I learned in classes and reading supplements. Should I be using my weekends instead getting ahead on my weekly reading? A friend suggested I do ALL of the reading as early and quickly as possible so I can spend the 2nd half of each class focusing on nothing but the final. Has anyone tried this?
In your opinions is this an effective study schedule? If not, do you guys have any suggestions? I looked at the guides and only one of them had a real schedule posted.
Thanks!
- Bronck
- Posts: 2025
- Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:28 pm
Re: 1L study schedule
Do whatever works for you. It doesn't really matter as long as you stay consistent. I did all my readings over the weekend, did nothing during the week, and started outlining a little before Thanksgiving first semester 1L year and did well.
-
- Posts: 701
- Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2010 1:56 am
Re: 1L study schedule
The nuts and bolts don't really matter as long as you don't fall behind, although I like to break it up weekends/weekdays. Weekdays are for reading/class, weekends are for legal writing/outlining/upper level paper writing. Also, building in time for supplements is only useful if you don't understand a concept or are doing practice problems (CALI/Q&A).
-
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 12:53 pm
Re: 1L study schedule
So you guys don't think I should worry about getting too far ahead in my reading?
- Bronck
- Posts: 2025
- Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:28 pm
Re: 1L study schedule
Not at all. it's still super early. Just keep up with readings and relax a little.PotLuck wrote:So you guys don't think I should worry about getting too far ahead in my reading?
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 12:53 pm
Re: 1L study schedule
Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it. I'm just so nervous that I'm doing things wrong, but I guess that's what most 1Ls feel like.
-
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2013 12:28 am
Re: 1L study schedule
Yeah I'm with you. Pretty nervous about what I should/shouldn't be doing.PotLuck wrote:Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it. I'm just so nervous that I'm doing things wrong, but I guess that's what most 1Ls feel like.
I tried reading in advanced. It's not working out so well IMHO. I'm sure I can tweak my plan but I still need to figure it out.
So I spent last week reading ahead. It kinda bit me in the ass this week during class because I realized I have NO IDEA what my professor is talking about in class when I read ahead. Then I realized last week, I was so focused on the future reading that I couldn't focus on the present. I had forgotten most of the material we reviewed last week because I had so much info on the future reading.
I decided yesterday to try rereading today's material since i forgot it already. I realized it took me about the same time it would to read it the first time around.
Basically, reading ahead hasn't helped me but actually hurt me. I'm sure there are ways to do this but I haven't figured it out yet. I'm still working on it but seems like the general consensus according to 2Ls/3Ls I meet is don't worry as long as you don't fall behind.
Also I'm willing to give up my social time for reading/school work. That's not working out so well either.
The hardest part of law school so far seems to be finding a balance...
- Lacepiece23
- Posts: 1395
- Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:10 pm
Re: 1L study schedule
Take this with a grain of salt. However, anecdotally the people who did the best at my school (T14) were the people who were very balanced. The approach most took was to read for the first few months and only do the reading with the exception of the occasional memo. We would go out on weekends and work out during the week trying to create some sort of life balance.dj_roomba wrote:Yeah I'm with you. Pretty nervous about what I should/shouldn't be doing.PotLuck wrote:Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it. I'm just so nervous that I'm doing things wrong, but I guess that's what most 1Ls feel like.
I tried reading in advanced. It's not working out so well IMHO. I'm sure I can tweak my plan but I still need to figure it out.
So I spent last week reading ahead. It kinda bit me in the ass this week during class because I realized I have NO IDEA what my professor is talking about in class when I read ahead. Then I realized last week, I was so focused on the future reading that I couldn't focus on the present. I had forgotten most of the material we reviewed last week because I had so much info on the future reading.
I decided yesterday to try rereading today's material since i forgot it already. I realized it took me about the same time it would to read it the first time around.
Basically, reading ahead hasn't helped me but actually hurt me. I'm sure there are ways to do this but I haven't figured it out yet. I'm still working on it but seems like the general consensus according to 2Ls/3Ls I meet is don't worry as long as you don't fall behind.
Also I'm willing to give up my social time for reading/school work. That's not working out so well either.
The hardest part of law school so far seems to be finding a balance...
Then the second half of the semester we would ramp it up until we were peaking at finals time. Meaning no going out 12 hours a day every day for the last few weeks. I think this apporach works best because we weren't miserable putting in these hours. I know personally that if I put in these types of hours all semester I would burn out. However, because I was in good physical shape, well balanced, and basically ready for some serious grind around finals I was able to stay focus and make my study time count around finals. Remember five hours of study time now is worth like one hour in December. You need to make sure those hours in December are the most productive they could possible be. HTH.