Chapter 9: Preparing for exams:

[Erin Lain]

Comment 1: The book talks a lot about getting an entire week to study,
known as reading week. Unfortunately at Drake Law we only have one
reading day. You will get Friday, December 3rd off. In fact
Thanksgiving falls so late this year that when you get back you will
have one partial week of classes and then finals. You will need to be
studying over the Thanksgiving holiday, and will probably need to have
your outlines done by then.

Comment 2: Finals for Drake Law are two weeks long, and you will have
two study days in between each final. These days are excellent for
memorizing rules and elements, doing practice tests, and hammering out
those final concepts that you don’t understand. This is NOT a good
time to start outlining, like some will be tempted to do. You may hear
upperclassmen say that they do all their studying and outlining in
those two days. I assure you, this is not enough time.

Comment 3: You should try to do at least one practice test for each
subject. There are plenty of old tests in the library, or practice
tests online. I will be administering practice tests for the academic
success program during the whole month of November as well.

Comment 4: There are downfalls to anywhere you study. If you’re at
home or a coffee shop there are obvious distractions, such as your
comfy bed, or the obnoxious lady next to you on her cell. But I found
that the law library can be even worse. Everyone there is at their
breaking point, and some people like to go around on their study
breaks bothering you. If you are studying in the law library, I would
find a hiding spot, and not tell anyone you’re there (this includes
posting your whereabouts on facebook). Remember exam time is a time to
be selfish, you cannot help someone who didn’t show up to half the
classes and needs you to walk through the entire semester with them.