Weird I'm a 1L and Not Studying? Forum

[clshopeful]

deleted

[kingpin101]

Median pwned. Called it first.

[clshopeful]

Median pwned. Called it first.

lmao. srs.

but for real, I already have an A in one class that has been posted...my civ pro exam I feel like I killed it. Knew every question and all the exceptions/things to worry about. On torts, I nailed it except for one mistake I can think of. Feeling like I should be top of the class....

[rcharter1978]

Median pwned. Called it first.

lmao. srs.

but for real, I already have an A in one class that has been posted...my civ pro exam I feel like I killed it. Knew every question and all the exceptions/things to worry about. On torts, I nailed it except for one mistake I can think of. Feeling like I should be top of the class....

When I was in law school, there were a lot of people who felt like they killed it. It almost always ended up killing them. I don't think you're ever meant to walk out of a law school exam feeling like you absolutely killed it. But hey, maybe you're the exception that proves the rule. If I were you, I would have still done a few practice exams, but hey, if you really feel like you know it all, perhaps you do! Lucky guy or gal!


If you're in law school you're supposed to be studying hard/seeing the professor/understanding concepts in class. That is what everyone should be doing. If everyone has done this AND is studying it would seem like they would have an edge over you. But again, maybe by not stressing yourself out you'll do great.

[n1o2c3a4c5h6e7t]

I studied a lot at the end of 1L because I was behind on a fair amount of reading. I imagine my workload would have been a lot more manageable had I been caught up, so your premise doesn't strike me as facially implausible.

[150orbust]

First of all it sounds like your peers are not the toughest of competition.

More importantly, you should be using this time to PRACTICE not just study. Practice is especially your first semester 1L exams.


This is not undergrad...law school students play for keeps.

[heythatslife]

Knowing the material is only half the battle. If all you're doing is passively flipping through notes, that's a sure ticket to medianpwnage at best. What you should have been doing is to take as many past exams as you can with all your spare time. If past exams from your professor is unavailable for any reason (e.g. they are new hires or don't release past exams), look at exams created by professors who teach from similar syllabi or are particularly well-reputed in the subject.

[jchiles]

If you've been keeping up with work during the semester this is pretty normal, and you can use time during study week/finals to go through practice tests, which only realistically takes a couple hours a day. Other students may be looking busy but I only knew a couple people who truly studied 8 hours+ during finals.

You have no idea yet how you will do in those other classes, but I did pretty much the same thing as you and felt the same way and it worked out well. Regardless of how you do the real victory is not getting sucked into the weird law student need to act busy and stressed when there is no real need to be.

[jchiles]

Knowing the material is only half the battle. If all you're doing is passively flipping through notes, that's a sure ticket to medianpwnage at best. What you should have been doing is to take as many past exams as you can with all your spare time. If past exams from your professor is unavailable for any reason (e.g. they are new hires or don't release past exams), look at exams created by professors who teach from similar syllabi or are particularly well-reputed in the subject.

Unless your prof directs you to a particular set of practice tests i don't think taking another professor's tests is that valuable. Maybe if you know your torts prof is going to have a one fact pattern issue spotter it would make sense, but otherwise you might end up focusing on the wrong things for your professor's grading style.

[Clearly]

pls update when all grades drop. Its possible if you're really on top of things all year to not have to go hard at the end, but lets see how it plays out. Also what range school are you in?

[kaiser]

So in undergrad I pulled a lot of 3.9s because I worked really hard. In law school, I always take tons of notes/see professors/make sure I know the concept before we move on in class....

Now that finals are here, everyone is studying like crazy, while I feel like there is nothing to study...

My friends are studying all day. But since I worked hard during the semester I feel like I already know everything. Looking back at my notes I just keeping nodding and thinking "yep, know that....know that..." So I feel like I have nothing to study. Anyone else feel like this? Am I doing something wrong?

Feel like I definitely worked harder than most during the semester, but I still feel weird sitting here a day before my contracts exam and studying for 40 minutes then going out to eat/play video games, then 40 minutes of study, then doing something else for a few hours.

Not trying to be arrogant, but does anyone else feel this way ever?

Agree with others that you are missing the key point of prepping for exams. Yes, knowing the material cold is a baseline prerequisite. But knowing the material is not enough. Law school exams are not about regurgitation. They are about application. The law, cases, principles, etc. are all just tools. You have to build something with those tools once faced with a new situation. Anyone can learn and memorize the material, nuances included (and many people in your class will already have done so).

But what separates someone from the pack is their ability to not just remember the law, but to apply it (and that isn't something you can just do without thorough practice). I certainly hope you have done a number of practice exams, and have a familiarity with how your professor expects you to apply the information, the type of analysis that will get you the most points, etc. If you have truly internalized all the material and have done all possible practice exams and find that you can write an answer that is totally in line with what the prof likes to see, then take some time to relax and chill before the exam, because you are ready.

[heythatslife]

Knowing the material is only half the battle. If all you're doing is passively flipping through notes, that's a sure ticket to medianpwnage at best. What you should have been doing is to take as many past exams as you can with all your spare time. If past exams from your professor is unavailable for any reason (e.g. they are new hires or don't release past exams), look at exams created by professors who teach from similar syllabi or are particularly well-reputed in the subject.

Unless your prof directs you to a particular set of practice tests i don't think taking another professor's tests is that valuable. Maybe if you know your torts prof is going to have a one fact pattern issue spotter it would make sense, but otherwise you might end up focusing on the wrong things for your professor's grading style.

Well you would only do this if your own prof's exams are not available at all. Obviously every professor is going to have different focuses and styles but for 1Ls taking law school taking exams for the first time it would at least help them see how issue spotters work, if nothing else.

[mvp99]

So in undergrad I pulled a lot of 3.9s because I worked really hard. In law school, I always take tons of notes/see professors/make sure I know the concept before we move on in class....

Now that finals are here, everyone is studying like crazy, while I feel like there is nothing to study...

My friends are studying all day. But since I worked hard during the semester I feel like I already know everything. Looking back at my notes I just keeping nodding and thinking "yep, know that....know that..." So I feel like I have nothing to study. Anyone else feel like this? Am I doing something wrong?

Feel like I definitely worked harder than most during the semester, but I still feel weird sitting here a day before my contracts exam and studying for 40 minutes then going out to eat/play video games, then 40 minutes of study, then doing something else for a few hours.

Not trying to be arrogant, but does anyone else feel this way ever?

Law School tip: don't try to predict you grades, doesn't work

[BVest]

Here:

Weird I'm a 1L and Not Studying?

vs

There:

Hi all, sorry for confusion. I did my 1L, then took time off for family reasons; now looking to transfer. So, yes, the GPA/rank stated is correct and real.

So, are you a 1L who was just full of shit when you cited your GPA and rank for transfer purposes or are you just full of shit now? Or are you full of shit on all fronts?

[RaceJudicata]

[quote="clshopeful"]So in undergrad I pulled a lot of 3.9s because I worked really hard. In law school, I always take tons of notes/see professors/make sure I know the concept before we move on in class..../quote]

This part is most interesting to me. UG is the easy part... plenty of people get 3.8x+ in UG. Almost no one gets it in law school. Doesn't make sense to take your foot off the gas now. As others have said, unlike undergrad, law school is not about rote memorization. Its about application and knowing how to take an exam tailored to your professor. Lazily leafing through your notes isn't going to get you where you want to be.. but... of course... its absolutely possible that you did/will kill exams and be at the tip top of your class. If thats the case, more power to you, and congrats!

[RaceJudicata]

Here:

Weird I'm a 1L and Not Studying?

vs

There:

Hi all, sorry for confusion. I did my 1L, then took time off for family reasons; now looking to transfer. So, yes, the GPA/rank stated is correct and real.

So, are you a 1L who was just full of shit when you cited your GPA and rank for transfer purposes or are you just full of shit now? Or are you full of shit on all fronts?

OOPS!!!!

[A. Nony Mouse]

The school is Seattle U. I'm not sure on which matter the OP is full of shit, frankly.

[clshopeful]

Here:

Weird I'm a 1L and Not Studying?

vs

There:

Hi all, sorry for confusion. I did my 1L, then took time off for family reasons; now looking to transfer. So, yes, the GPA/rank stated is correct and real.

So, are you a 1L who was just full of shit when you cited your GPA and rank for transfer purposes or are you just full of shit now? Or are you full of shit on all fronts?

OOPS!!!!

Could always argue: my brother and I both attend SU and I am 2L, he is 1L, we both use same TLS account. Lol

[clshopeful]

If you've been keeping up with work during the semester this is pretty normal, and you can use time during study week/finals to go through practice tests, which only realistically takes a couple hours a day. Other students may be looking busy but I only knew a couple people who truly studied 8 hours+ during finals.

You have no idea yet how you will do in those other classes, but I did pretty much the same thing as you and felt the same way and it worked out well. Regardless of how you do the real victory is not getting sucked into the weird law student need to act busy and stressed when there is no real need to be.

srs. people at my school, I overhear, will act like they're SOOOO stressed: "I can't keep my head on straight! Illusory promise, option contract" I'm like... those concepts are so simple and easy, what the hell are you worrying about.

Another guy in my class: "I was so stressed out the other day, someone bumped into me and I screamed "ILL SUE YOU FOR BATTERY!!"... I heard this and just thought... Oh my god.. another law student acting like he's SO cool and stressed and that the law is second nature to him now that he impulsively screams it when something happens, before even realizing it. Literally makes me cringe

[RaceJudicata]

Bro, you are the cringeworthy one.

[BVest]

Could always argue: my brother and I both attend SU and I am 2L, he is 1L, we both use same TLS account. Lol

That sounds plausible.

[clshopeful]

del haha"

[juzam_djinn]

Could always argue: my brother and I both attend SU and I am 2L, he is 1L, we both use same TLS account. Lol

do you have a sister?

[clshopeful]

Could always argue: my brother and I both attend SU and I am 2L, he is 1L, we both use same TLS account. Lol

do you have a sister?

no

[clshopeful]

del