Four Steps To Avoid Falling Behind In Law School

Four Steps To Avoid Falling Behind In Law School

Falling behind in law school can be tough and demoralizing. It can be especially difficult when you have the feeling that your peers are keeping up the pace. Whatever your reasons may be for falling behind in law school, we feel for you and have you covered. Read on for more tips on how to avoid falling behind in law school and get back in control of your law school experience.

Four Steps To Avoid Falling Behind In Law School

1. Conduct Intake

Sometimes our anxiety about missed classes and readings snowballs and causes us to exaggerate how far behind we actually are. It’s important to be realistic when planning to catch up so you don’t end up in the trap of falling further behind because you are too focused on the past material or your anxiety about not catching up keeps you from actually catching up with coursework. At this stage, you should sit down with your syllabus and account for the material covered to date. Ask yourself: did I do the reading for class X? If so, do I have notes, and are they clear and easy for me to understand? If I’m missing notes, who can I ask for them? Do I have class notes? Have I synthesized reading notes and class notes into the beginning of an outline? By asking yourself these questions, you can identify where you need to focus your efforts and plan accordingly.

2. Reach Out to Classmates for Missing Notes

If you are missing class notes, ask a classmate if they would be willing to share theirs. You might know someone in your study group who might be willing, or you could offer your notes as a trade for a day another classmate missed.  This can be a sensitive topic so try and give some context as to why you missed those notes and remember that some classmates might not be willing to share.

3. Plan Your Readings

To avoid falling further behind, you will want to make a schedule that covers both future and past readings. In sum, your readings should converge so that you are reading material for your next classes as well as for past classes, starting with the first class you’re missing content for. For example, if you don’t have material for January 1^st, January 3^rd, and January 5^th and your next class is January 31^st, read everything for January 31^st and at least skim January 1^st material.

Therefore, each time you cover material for the next class, you also cover material for an earlier class until you are all caught up, preferably at some point prior to the study period for exams. Click here for more information about crafting a law school study schedule.

4. Focus on the Future

As you go through, be sure to meet with classmates and professors if you have questions about the material so you don’t end up memorizing inaccurate conclusions. Also, be sure to remain present during the class. Use class time to focus on the material and take notes on examples the professor might include in their lecture.  Try not to use class as a time to get caught up on the latest news story or for messaging your friends.

We wish you all the best in turning this semester around!

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