The first few weeks of the spring semester are the perfect time to reevaluate your initial semester in law school and make changes as needed. You may not have your grades yet, and that’s okay. Grades do not define you. No matter where you landed, top of your class or near the bottom, this is a fresh new semester.
Regardless of your grades (or based on them), you may choose to stay the course or course correct. Here are the top three questions to ask yourself as you move forward in 1L year and consider if a change is in order.
Did I know what my professor was looking for?
It is easy to forget that law school exams are not just about demonstrating your mastery of the topic, but also about demonstrating that mastery in a way that appeals to your professor. Many 2Ls look back at their 1L exams and acknowledge that writing the exam in the way the professor wanted was the main reason they received top grades.
When you are reviewing your exam, ask yourself if you answered the question presented in the best possible way for the professor. For instance, was the answer supposed to be written for a judge or a teenage client? Who the intended audience was should have framed the way you wrote your answer.
Another way to ensure you know what your professor is looking for is to go to office hours frequently. If you’re unsure of what to ask, prepare answers to questions at the end of the cases you read and request to review those with your professor. You should then be able to gain valuable insight into what the professor wants. The earlier you do this, the more likely you will be able to frame your outline in a way that will help you on the final. Speaking of outlines…
Was my outline structured in a way that helped me?
Think about the outline you used on test day. What changes could have enhanced the outline for your benefit? Did you write your own outline and found it to be too comprehensive? Did you make an attack outline that was too brief? Or, did you not leave enough time to study from your outline?
Once you have your grades back, go get your exam, compare it to the model answers provided and then look at your outline. Make notes of what material would have been helpful in your outline and what could have been phrased differently.
What is the one thing I wish I had done more or less of?
This will vary by student. Whether it’s ‘spent more time reading notes of the cases,’ ‘taken more time to decompress’ or something else, there are things we all wish we had done differently. Try to reflect on what that is for you and get specific about your answer. Use this exercise to help you make a plan and implement it. Want to get more tips for success in your 1L year and throughout law school? Here are some great ideas for notetaking and your outlines.
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