How to Study for an At-Home Law School Final

How to Study for an At-Home Law School Final

The sudden shift to at-home work and remote learning caught many people by surprise. Now, almost eight months into the coronavirus pandemic, it seems like people are starting to get comfortable with remote work. We’ve outfitted our home offices with the biggest computer screen and the most comfortable desk chair. We’ve invested in noise-canceling headphones and the best sweatpants money can buy. We’re now masters of the dress shirt on top and yoga pants on bottom look. Zoom happy hours are the new normal. However, amongst all the changes and adjustments brought about by remote work, one thing has remained constant. The work! For law students preparing to take an at-home law school final, the idea of studying for the exam can seem terrifying. Gone for now are the days of library study sessions and office hour meetings. The worst part? The material and coursework haven’t gotten any easier. The story isn’t all bad though. We’ve compiled a list of the best study tips for law students preparing to take an at-home final. These tips will build confidence, help you retain material, and make the study process slightly more enjoyable. Check them out below!

How to Study for an At-Home Law School Final

#1- Learn How Each Final Will Be Administered

Each final exam you are set to take from the comfort of home will be different. Apart from the obvious differences in subject matter, each exam will likely be tested in a different format. Some may be multiple choice and designed to be completed within a set amount of time. Other’s may extend over the course of a couple of days and allow students to stretch out the work involved. Having an idea of how your finals are going to be administered will simplify the process of preparing. You can take a more accurate and targeted approach to studying and allocate time appropriately. This leads us to our second tip!

#2- Create a Study Schedule

Studying from home has its benefits. Sign us up for comfy clothes and a fridge down the hall. However, there are some downsides and potential pitfalls. For example, a quick TV break can turn into a three-hour Grey’s Anatomy marathon. Sometimes the line between work and home can get easily blurred. That’s why it is so important to create a dedicated study schedule. Having a study schedule will allow you to allocate time appropriately and give yourself enough time to unwind.

Be sure to make a study schedule that is actually practical. There’s no reason to create a study schedule that you know you can’t adhere to. Sure, 12 hours of studying looks great on paper, but how practical is that?

#3- Pace Yourself

A 72-hour law school final does not mean that you are obligated to continuously work on the exam for 72-hours! That is just the allocated amount of time you have to tackle the question(s) as a whole. Sometimes, working from home can create the feeling that you should always be working. Take time for breaks, exercise, naps, etc.…Remember, how you distribute time on a final exam is solely up to you.

Rather than feel obligated to work on a final exam for hours on end – try this.

• Take some time to carefully think about the question(s).
• Next, identify and access resources you think would be beneficial and essential to submitting a stellar answer.
• Lastly, write out the response to the question(s) utilizing the resources you identified earlier. Taking the time to read the exam and come to an understanding of what you need to do is vital.

#4- Stay Connected

Just because you’re stuck at home studying for law school finals doesn’t mean you have to do so completely alone. Studying in groups and having open topic discussions can be hugely beneficial to your understanding of a certain concept. Having the ability to share your questions and points of difficulty is one of the best ways to learn. Sometimes, hearing an explanation from a colleague, rather than a professor, is all it takes for a concept to click.

Make sure to stay connected with law school friends by taking advantage of virtual learning. Zoom sessions, group texts, and social media platforms are all great ways to stay connected.

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