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Snooker wrote:There's even law professors out there saying that doing practice exams doesn't seem to affect how well students perform on the actual exam.

I will say that I have gotten two grades back so far, one for a class I took several practice tests and one for a class in which I took none, and I got the same grade in each.

However, I am of the opinion that taking practice exams in general prepares you to do well on a law school exam of any subject, as long as you've also studied the BLL/policy for that subject matter. General exam-taking knowledge + BLL/policy knowledge = potential for success?

Snooker wrote: There's even law professors out there saying that doing practice exams doesn't seem to affect how well students perform on the actual exam.

That's weird. Where did you hear that? My professors either recommended we use old exams or deliberately made them unavailable so no one would get an advantage.

Having a practice exam is like having the other team's playbook. You might not know EXACTLY what they'll do during the game, but you know the basic pattern of all their plays.

apper123 wrote:Having a practice exam is like having the other team's playbook. You might not know EXACTLY what they'll do during the game, but you know the basic pattern of all their plays.

So what approach is most analogous to the 2007 (and earlier, perhaps) Patriots?

@van

I agree. Everyone seems to be doing practice exams these days, though. I will try to fish around for more answers. What I have read so far says that there's only a modest correlation between the different types of study methods students are using and the grades they receive, including practice exams, unless that specific professor provides feedback.

Cavalier wrote:

apper123 wrote:Having a practice exam is like having the other team's playbook. You might not know EXACTLY what they'll do during the game, but you know the basic pattern of all their plays.

So what approach is most analogous to the 2007 (and earlier, perhaps) Patriots?

bill belicheat committed an honor code violation

rbgrocio wrote:I learned that while being prepared for each class is important, you need to make time to study for the final at least once a week. I did very well my first semester, specially given my school's harsh 2.6 curve. However, I wish I had used commercial outlines in addition to my own and that I had studied for the "big day" (the final) every weekend. I would have done even better, or at least I like to think so. That will be this semester's strategy

How exactly do you study for the final aka "big day" like say three weeks into 1st semester of 1L? Could you please give me some tips on how studying for the finals should differ from reading assignments and such?

grifter wrote:

rbgrocio wrote:I learned that while being prepared for each class is important, you need to make time to study for the final at least once a week. I did very well my first semester, specially given my school's harsh 2.6 curve. However, I wish I had used commercial outlines in addition to my own and that I had studied for the "big day" (the final) every weekend. I would have done even better, or at least I like to think so. That will be this semester's strategy

How exactly do you study for the final aka "big day" like say three weeks into 1st semester of 1L? Could you please give me some tips on how studying for the finals should differ from reading assignments and such?

Should be at a much higher tempo. Studying should began early in the morning and carry through into the evening. The closer you get to the "big day" you need to be studying less outline and more practice problems & exams.

grifter wrote:

rbgrocio wrote:I learned that while being prepared for each class is important, you need to make time to study for the final at least once a week. I did very well my first semester, specially given my school's harsh 2.6 curve. However, I wish I had used commercial outlines in addition to my own and that I had studied for the "big day" (the final) every weekend. I would have done even better, or at least I like to think so. That will be this semester's strategy

How exactly do you study for the final aka "big day" like say three weeks into 1st semester of 1L? Could you please give me some tips on how studying for the finals should differ from reading assignments and such?

Well you can't really start doing practice tests until a few weeks before finals since they usually stress topics covered towards the end of the semester and the number of available tests is limited.

As for "big day" preparation you can start writing out rule statements in sentence form that you would use on an exam. I started doing this towards the end once my outlines were done.

We are one week into the semester. Everyone with subpar grades (with the exception of my roommate who is upset that he 'merely' finished top 10 %) has vowed to work "harder" and "longer." The library has been insanely full for the first week with people pulling ridiculous hours. I haven't a freaking clue what they are doing one week in, but I'd sure like to know. Rereading the 2 cases we covered in con law over and over? I just sat on my ass all weekend and did nothing.

Grad_Student wrote:

grifter wrote:

rbgrocio wrote:I learned that while being prepared for each class is important, you need to make time to study for the final at least once a week. I did very well my first semester, specially given my school's harsh 2.6 curve. However, I wish I had used commercial outlines in addition to my own and that I had studied for the "big day" (the final) every weekend. I would have done even better, or at least I like to think so. That will be this semester's strategy

How exactly do you study for the final aka "big day" like say three weeks into 1st semester of 1L? Could you please give me some tips on how studying for the finals should differ from reading assignments and such?

Should be at a much higher tempo. Studying should began early in the morning and carry through into the evening. The closer you get to the "big day" you need to be studying less outline and more practice problems & exams.

I do understand intensifying your study during the final weeks before finals. However, rbgrocio says one should study for the "big day" every weekend (doesn't sound like "intensifying" and doesn't sound like the last few weeks before finals). ?

JPU wrote:

grifter wrote:

rbgrocio wrote:I learned that while being prepared for each class is important, you need to make time to study for the final at least once a week. I did very well my first semester, specially given my school's harsh 2.6 curve. However, I wish I had used commercial outlines in addition to my own and that I had studied for the "big day" (the final) every weekend. I would have done even better, or at least I like to think so. That will be this semester's strategy

How exactly do you study for the final aka "big day" like say three weeks into 1st semester of 1L? Could you please give me some tips on how studying for the finals should differ from reading assignments and such?

Well you can't really start doing practice tests until a few weeks before finals since they usually stress topics covered towards the end of the semester and the number of available tests is limited.

As for "big day" preparation you can start writing out rule statements in sentence form that you would use on an exam. I started doing this towards the end once my outlines were done.

Rule statements in sentence form; gotcha, thanks

JPU wrote:

grifter wrote:

rbgrocio wrote:I learned that while being prepared for each class is important, you need to make time to study for the final at least once a week. I did very well my first semester, specially given my school's harsh 2.6 curve. However, I wish I had used commercial outlines in addition to my own and that I had studied for the "big day" (the final) every weekend. I would have done even better, or at least I like to think so. That will be this semester's strategy

How exactly do you study for the final aka "big day" like say three weeks into 1st semester of 1L? Could you please give me some tips on how studying for the finals should differ from reading assignments and such?

Well you can't really start doing practice tests until a few weeks before finals since they usually stress topics covered towards the end of the semester and the number of available tests is limited.

As for "big day" preparation you can start writing out rule statements in sentence form that you would use on an exam. I started doing this towards the end once my outlines were done.

These are all things I said I would do last semester and never did. I'm hoping I can prepare earlier this semester and get them done.

ConLaw A
Contracts A-
Torts A-
LSV B+

What I learned this semester:

-book briefing is the bomb
-the valet parking at school is worth the price
-watch out for gingers, theyre gunners

I foolishly chose to be a "big fish in a small pond" and forego better schools I was accepted to, take the scholarship money, and get to the top of the class. At the time I had no idea how stupid an idea this was. Luckily, so far it has worked out, as I have done really well. What I didn't realize is how capable and hardworking all of my TTT classmates would be. I've never worked harder at anything in my life than the first semester of law school. Here is the grade I received for each class, and why I think I received it.

Civ Pro - A
Attended class and paid attention more so than the next I suppose. Took really good notes and incorporated them into my outline. Exam was open note.

Torts - A
Read and briefed every case, read the E&E like a bible, read Epstein on Torts, paid attention in class, attended every class, took a ton of practice exams with my study group, and listened to the Sum & Substance audio CDs. The practice exams were the most important thing. Honestly, taking a timed exam, and then discussing answers with others provides a unique perspective that I thought was invaluable to the process. Closed note issue spotter.

Property – A
Read and briefed every case, attended every class and paid attention, read the Emannuels outline in conjunction with class readings. Closed note.

Contracts – B+
I worked the hardest in this class. Read and briefed every case, took good notes, read the E&E, Farnsworth hornbook, and the audio CD’s. Closed note issue spotter.

Legal Writing – A
Just revise, revise, revise. The tutors were also extremely helpful. I would go through my memo and write lists of questions I had about it, bring them to the tutors and get their opinions, which they were happy to offer.

I also read GTM, but am not sure it was all that helpful. The most important thing to me was that I made my own outlines for every class. I didn’t use anyone else’s outlines to force myself to condense the material myself, with the exception of the commercial one for property. All of my outlines were complete by Thanksgiving, and this provided the time to take practice exams and refine the outlines for memorization purposes. A good study group was also extremely crucial for the exam prep.

Hope this helps!

flhealth wrote:ConLaw A
Contracts A-
Torts A-
LSV B+

What I learned this semester:

-book briefing is the bomb
-the valet parking at school is worth the price
-watch out for gingers, theyre gunners

valet parking?

I did this weird little exercise when I'd take law school exams - I would pretend that I was two lawyers and a judge. Lawyer for P (or State), lawyer for D, and the judge.
I'd make legal/factual arguments for either party, and then pretend like I was a judge with policy considerations in mind.

But I learned that life is too complicated, and the simpler your life, the happier you'll be.

dcz222 wrote:I did this weird little exercise when I'd take law school exams - I would pretend that I was two lawyers and a judge. Lawyer for P (or State), lawyer for D, and the judge.
I'd make legal/factual arguments for either party, and then pretend like I was a judge with policy considerations in mind.

But I learned that life is too complicated, and the simpler your life, the happier you'll be.

I think that this sounds like a good approach that you seemingly able to outline your answers effectively. My only worry would be time contraints, but given your overall performance for this semester, it sounds as though it was successful.

apper123 wrote:

flhealth wrote:ConLaw A
Contracts A-
Torts A-
LSV B+

What I learned this semester:

-book briefing is the bomb
-the valet parking at school is worth the price
-watch out for gingers, theyre gunners

valet parking?

Yeah.. I got to school with him, and we have valet parking though unlike him, I do not think it is worth the price. lol. You can just wake up a little earlier and parking won't be an issue

betasteve wrote:

rbgrocio wrote:
Yeah.. I got to school with him, and we have valet parking though unlike him, I do not think it is worth the price. lol. You can just wake up a little earlier and parking won't be an issue

Is it on a per day basis, or can you get it for the semester?

I dunno... I have never used it, but i think it is per day. I think it is 5 bucks each time... though it seems like he has used it, so he may be able to give us better insight into the school's valet parking.

dcz222 wrote:I did this weird little exercise when I'd take law school exams - I would pretend that I was two lawyers and a judge. Lawyer for P (or State), lawyer for D, and the judge.
I'd make legal/factual arguments for either party, and then pretend like I was a judge with policy considerations in mind.

But I learned that life is too complicated, and the simpler your life, the happier you'll be.

I did this for CivPro and pwned the course.

apper123 wrote:We are one week into the semester. Everyone with subpar grades (with the exception of my roommate who is upset that he 'merely' finished top 10 %) has vowed to work "harder" and "longer." The library has been insanely full for the first week with people pulling ridiculous hours. I haven't a freaking clue what they are doing one week in, but I'd sure like to know. Rereading the 2 cases we covered in con law over and over? I just sat on my ass all weekend and did nothing.

I did very well last semester and I have never actually been to my law school's library. I am trying to use my good grades as motivation to work harder this semester but at the same time I can see them making me even more lazy.

zizou wrote:

apper123 wrote:We are one week into the semester. Everyone with subpar grades (with the exception of my roommate who is upset that he 'merely' finished top 10 %) has vowed to work "harder" and "longer." The library has been insanely full for the first week with people pulling ridiculous hours. I haven't a freaking clue what they are doing one week in, but I'd sure like to know. Rereading the 2 cases we covered in con law over and over? I just sat on my ass all weekend and did nothing.

I did very well last semester and I have never actually been to my law school's library. I am trying to use my good grades as motivation to work harder this semester but at the same time I can see them making me even more lazy.

Yeah, fuck the library. I use the computers there to print, but that's about it. That's just not an environment I can thrive in.

edit: n/m

zizou wrote:

apper123 wrote:We are one week into the semester. Everyone with subpar grades (with the exception of my roommate who is upset that he 'merely' finished top 10 %) has vowed to work "harder" and "longer." The library has been insanely full for the first week with people pulling ridiculous hours. I haven't a freaking clue what they are doing one week in, but I'd sure like to know. Rereading the 2 cases we covered in con law over and over? I just sat on my ass all weekend and did nothing.

I did very well last semester and I have never actually been to my law school's library. I am trying to use my good grades as motivation to work harder this semester but at the same time I can see them making me even more lazy.

TITCR
the library is a tenderbox of pressure, the LAST place you want to study...me and my friend took our outlines to South Beach, found a picnic table and chilled... it worked for me .... what i have found is "whatever everybody else is doing", avoid it...by the way, there is no "official" semester valet service, but its amazing what $50 will get ya, cheap by Miami standards