2nd Year Law School Tips

I can attest to the general observation that after your freshmen year in law school, the pace of time seems to accelerate. Now, my second year in law school is about to end and junior year then begins (if all will go smoothly).  

Freshmen year is seen as the year of the curve. This is when habits form and adjustments occur. This is the time that you have to discover that particular rhythm and style of study that works for you. Once that is discovered, the key to success is already in your hands as so they say. In my journey in law school, these are several things I've discovered along the way that has worked for me.

1. Have daily specific targets. I make it a point to quantify the number of pages I have to read in a day in order to complete a book in a certain span of time. This is really helpful for me. A 300-page book can be digested to as short as 10 to 15 pages of daily reading. The basic idea is to know what to read in a daily basis. Normally the big subjects are given prime time daily readings.

2. Never wait until the week before the exam to review. Make sure to allocate intensive review weeks before the exam week. This is what one of our justices keeps on repeating. Never cram and never wait for the last minute. As far as the common mind is concerned, cramming is not that helpful. Repetition on the other hand builds retention.

3. Note taking in a Codal notebook. This is a tip I got from a new lawyer. I mounted photocopied codal provisions on one side of the notebook. The space left is for the jurisprudences and notes for that particular codal provisions. This is really helpful since in one glance, I can see the law itself and its jurisprudence and principles.

4. Past exams. Past exams are tremendously helpful. It does not only aid you in framing your answer, it also gives you an idea of the more important provisions which professors emphasize.

5. Nothing beats passion.  Law is school is a frustrating experience for one. Oftentimes, hard work does not necessarily mean success. A lot of factors have to be considered. However I did come to realize that the key determining factor is passion. It is that inner source of energy and motivation that propels us to study more even in the face of failure. That bigger-than-your-ego purpose for studying law is the spirit that brings meaning and life to the hard black and white print of the law.

In sum, just have fun. Looking forward to meet the new batch of novices of the Study of Law.