The WLC's Exam Tips (2020)

“Try to study a little bit for the exam you are taking last first, and work in reverse order. For example, if I took my exams in the order of Torts, Civ Pro, then Contracts I would study contracts, then Civ Pro, then work on Torts. By the end of the exam period, it will be difficult to put in more work on an outline, so it is extremely helpful to have that last subject done so you do not have to worry about it! Also - after you take an exam, take the rest of the day off to recover!”

- Elisabeth, President

“Mindfulness apps and scented candles can help get you through it. You’re going to be tired by the second week of the exam period; law school finals are not like what we did in undergrad. Remembering to breathe and rejuvenate (even if only for three minutes at a time) in the midst of the workload/pressure/fatigue can help sustain you during this difficult two weeks.”  

 - Kristen, Community Development 

“I like to divide the work I have to do in terms of pages/day. Let’s say I have two weeks leading up to the start of exams, still have to outline, and my notes for class are around 80 pages. If I want to be done outlining in 5 days (so as to have 10 days to revise/do practice tests/ask questions) that means I have to work on outlining 16 pages/day. When revising the material I would do the same, if I have a 45-page outline and want to be done in 4 days I would do 12 pages/day. Breaking things up in smaller chunks makes it more manageable, I would do this for every class. I would usually try to get the outlining/revising done before 3-4pm and work on practice questions the rest of the day. However, if I wanted to do a practice exam and still had work to do I would do the exam in the morning (9am-noon) and outline/revise in the afternoon, this way I recreated the exam experience as much as possible. Giving yourself a hard stop is important (for example 10pm), you still need to sleep and relax, try to stick to the schedule you made for yourself as much as possible.”

- Aida, Alumnae Relations

“(1) Use practice problems/exams! Also, at the end of the day, just trust yourself and your own study habits - what's effective for someone else may not be effective for you. (2) Make sure everything with your laptop is updated and functioning properly. Have a backup plan just in case technology breaks down. (3) Take care of yourself & your mental health - get enough sleep, eat well, take breaks, and avoid conversations about exams if you find that stressful.” 

- Karen, Mentorship

“Do what works for you, do not worry about what other people are doing. If you need a break, take it. Go for a run, call a friend, or take a nap, and then get back to work. Take practice exams, they really help! Do your best and once you're done, put the test behind you and move on. Breathe—It’s going to be okay. We made it, so will you!”

- Verde, Vice President

“Have confidence in yourself and all that you have already accomplished! Everyone does finals differently, so try (as hard as it may be) not to pay too much attention to what others are doing. While law school exams are different, you still know which study methods work best for you and which don’t - have faith in that! Also try at least one practice exam in a timed and exam-like setting so that you know how to manage the time and structure of your real exam. If it works for you, it can be helpful to take the same exam as some of your friends in your section and then compare answers to see what you may have missed.”

- Lauren, Membership

“Deep breaths! You have already learned so much in law school. Finals are tough for everyone in different ways, so remember to take care of yourself. What helps me most is setting a schedule for myself and breaking down all of the things I want to get done for a specific class into manageable chunks. Rather than saying “study for Employment Law”, I break it down into “Practice Problem #1”, “Review Practice Problem #1”, etc. Do not schedule anything on the day after an exam. If you don’t know where to start, reach out to your friends, TAs, mentors etc. Everyone is willing to help. You will do great no matter what happens! And once you submit your exam, be done with it and enjoy your break.”

- Anouk, Communications

“Go to sleep at a reasonable hour the night before your exams! You will be better served by being well-rested than by anything you might learn staying up late. Study however works best for you - you already know what that is. If you don’t learn by outlining, you do not have to outline! Practice exams are useful to show you what the exam will feel like under timed conditions and can give you a sense of how much you can outline your answer before you start writing. After each exam, give yourself a break and start studying again the next day.” 

- Marissa, Mentorship

“Make sure to schedule time for breaks and for reviewing any practice tests you take. Taking practice tests are helpful to get used to the format, but try to take the time to review your answers and look at sample answers. The exam period is like a marathon-pace yourself with your studying, but ultimately do what is best for you and your brain. If you like to study for hours at a time, do that! If you prefer to take more breaks, do that! You can do this!” 

- Carly, Community Development

“Don’t let yourself get caught up in what other people are doing to prepare or how other people are feeling about their exams. Trust yourself in how you study best, how to prepare for the exam, and how to keep yourself from getting overwhelmed. Also - take the time off that you need! If you know you’re more productive when you’ve gotten a good night of sleep, don’t keep yourself up late to work on your outline! Listen to yourself, trust your gut, and don’t let anyone else’s stress get you down.” 

- Sam, Professional Development

Good luck!