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Scheduling time for write-on

Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 1:32 pm
by doctoroflaw91
My school gives us a week to do our write-on. During the write-on, I will be working from 9 am until 5 pm during the week. For people that are veterans to this process, how did you schedule time to complete your submission?

Re: Scheduling time for write-on

Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 3:03 pm
by NotMyRealName09
I'm sure opinions vary, but I think getting on law review is generally so significant--really the only way to distinguish yourself other than grades--that you take some time off and do it. I recommend spending as much time as physically possible on it. It is THAT important. If that isn't an option - well, work from 6pm to 1am? Or more? Not trying to be unhelpful, but I think the answer to your question is just "schedule as much time as possible."

Re: Scheduling time for write-on

Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 3:36 pm
by howell
Do they give you any weekend time? I worked 9-5+ during the process, but I think we had a weekend in between that helped. I know others that were working full-time and taking classes 4 nights a week during the write-on process, and they made it. Basically, if you're not at work, I would just be working on it.

What rank of school are you going to? That may change it a bit. I went to a T2, and, after having graded a bunch of write-ons, no one was looking for rocket surgery. Most people could have greatly increased their odds just by turning in a well-edited document. There are threads on that, but it's relevant here in that you don't need to spend tons of time in coming up with some brilliant legal theory.

Re: Scheduling time for write-on

Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 6:13 pm
by doctoroflaw91
howell wrote:Do they give you any weekend time? I worked 9-5+ during the process, but I think we had a weekend in between that helped. I know others that were working full-time and taking classes 4 nights a week during the write-on process, and they made it. Basically, if you're not at work, I would just be working on it.

What rank of school are you going to? That may change it a bit. I went to a T2, and, after having graded a bunch of write-ons, no one was looking for rocket surgery. Most people could have greatly increased their odds just by turning in a well-edited document. There are threads on that, but it's relevant here in that you don't need to spend tons of time in coming up with some brilliant legal theory.

I'm at a Top 20 school. And yes, we do have a weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday) so I certainly plan on knocking a large chunk out during that time. In fact, I'm hoping to have a rough copy written at the end of that weekend so that I can just revise, revise, revise and take the Bluebook test. I suppose the whole thing just seems completely overwhelming, as I'm not quite sure how to attack it.

Re: Scheduling time for write-on

Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 10:53 pm
by mushybrain
NotMyRealName09 wrote:Not trying to be unhelpful, but I think the answer to your question is just "schedule as much time as possible."
Pretty much this. Get a decent amount of sleep, but just plug away for as much as you can handle. While the bar isn't really all that high, chances are very good you're competing with people who scheduled their summer jobs to start after the write-on ends and this is going to be the only thing they're doing the whole time. While people make it on after doing the entire thing in a single day and other crazy situations like that, you might as well plan to spend as much time on it as you possibly can while remaining somewhat sane if you're going to bother to do it in the first place.

Re: Scheduling time for write-on

Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 11:01 pm
by Hutz_and_Goodman
It's doable: I worked 830am-530pm, came home and ate, then worked 630-10pm or so.

Re: Scheduling time for write-on

Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 11:55 pm
by iliketurtles123
Hutz_and_Goodman wrote:It's doable: I worked 830am-530pm, came home and ate, then worked 630-10pm or so.
Holy crap. That sounds like finals week status.

Our school gives us 2 weeks. So basically, that means that we have an addition 2 weeks of "finals-like" studying to do after our finals?
Man...

Re: Scheduling time for write-on

Posted: Sat May 17, 2014 12:24 am
by kay2016
iliketurtles123 wrote:
Hutz_and_Goodman wrote:It's doable: I worked 830am-530pm, came home and ate, then worked 630-10pm or so.
Holy crap. That sounds like finals week status.

Our school gives us 2 weeks. So basically, that means that we have an addition 2 weeks of "finals-like" studying to do after our finals?
Man...

I think it's only the 6:30-10 that was for the write on... So that isn't "finals week studying" but including summer jobs (9-5 or whatever) it seems like it can make for an additional week or two of long days

Re: Scheduling time for write-on

Posted: Sat May 17, 2014 2:19 am
by mushybrain
consider it a rite of passage :D

Re: Scheduling time for write-on

Posted: Sat May 17, 2014 4:29 pm
by sap
I did mine in about 2 days (working 9-11 on a weekend with breaks to go out to lunch/dinner). If you have a full weekend, block it off, do light work and take lots of coffee breaks that Friday, go to a happy hour to blow off whatever steam you have, and buckle down saturday AM. A full weekend is 100% sufficient for your write-on.

Re: Scheduling time for write-on

Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 3:36 pm
by doctoroflaw91
sap wrote:I did mine in about 2 days (working 9-11 on a weekend with breaks to go out to lunch/dinner). If you have a full weekend, block it off, do light work and take lots of coffee breaks that Friday, go to a happy hour to blow off whatever steam you have, and buckle down saturday AM. A full weekend is 100% sufficient for your write-on.

I'm doing mine over a four day weekend so I'll work Friday-Monday and then spend the rest of the week editing and taking the Bluebook exam. Thanks! :)