How To Handle back-To-Back Law School Finals

How To Handle Back-To-Back Law School Finals

Your law school final exam schedule can leave some students with a slight advantage over others. For example, some students will have large gaps of time in between finals. Others will have final exams in short succession. Those with larger gaps of time in between each exam have more time to calm down from one exam as they prepare for another. Those with shorter gaps of time have to adjust their study schedule accordingly.  If you’re a law school student facing back-to-back final exams – fear not! Here are JD Advising’s top tips for handling back-to-back law school finals.

How To Handle Back-To-Back Law School Finals

Don’t Leave Major Studying Until The End

 The first piece of advice we have for students faced with back-to-back final exams is simple. Don’t leave any substantive studying for your back-to-back exams until the last minute. Taking two exams, one right after the other is exhausting and draining. While you might be full of energy right now, chances are you won’t be after taking that first final, especially if both of your exams are only hours apart! That’s why it’s best to get any major studying done ahead of time. After you take the first of the two back-to-back final exams, you may want to glance over some of your notes, but you likely won’t have the time nor stamina to do anything too substantive before heading into your next exam.

Take Some Time To Unwind

It is important to allow yourself some time to destress and decompress after the first of two finals. You might feel like you need to bolt to the nearest open nook in the law library so you can immediately start preparing for your next final exam. Depending on how much time you have, grab some food, watch something on Netflix, and try to relax for at least an hour. Failing to allow yourself some time to unwind from the first final exam you just took will likely impact you negatively as you gear up for the second.  You don’t want to burn out halfway through your next final exam!

Be Prepared To Switch Gears

Post final exam emotions are a real thing. Excitement (hopefully), dread, anxiety, and stress are all feelings you might experience after a law school final exam. When taking back-to-back final exams, try to set these emotions to the side. Try to focus on the exam in front of you instead of the exam you just finished! You can take all the time you want after finals are completed to evaluate performance, calculate scores, and reflect on what you might do differently. Until then, your primary objective is to complete the second of the two exams. Stay focused, stay in the zone – you’re almost to the finish line!

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