Whoa, thanks for all the pointers...pass_the_vicsDecember 9 2005, 04:43:47 UTC
... I can only imagine the frustration of studying for the Bar or having to study for it again, geez, I feel for you, I'm not even looking that far ahead. But once in a while I wonder why I decided to enroll in Law School and 'punish' myself like that. I'm sure you had similar thoughts more than once. The other bummer is never getting any positive feedback. From day one, pretty much all our profs were unreachable, big-headed, egocentric, and just kept telling us that they don't really need to know who we are, cuz half of us were gonna drop out before the first semester was over (and that was even true!!). Anyway, it's a completely different experience from whatever I've done before *sigh*
I just now put my outlines aside for the day, just because I think my brain is on overload, I'll start back up tomorrow.
--With essays, I cannot stress this enough. OUTLINE BEFORE YOU WRITE. Yeah, I did that for Legal Analysis and it sooooo helped me stay focused. Actually, a couple of months ago I took a Flemings Seminar (don't know if he's known all over the country, but he's one of those guys preparing you for tests and the bar, for a small (yeah,right!!) fee). Anyhoo, he couldnt stress that part enough, so I applied it and voila, it worked.
I had two degrees going into law school and thought I was a good test taker, especially essay tests. That's what I thought too (I have 4 degrees and looooove to write, or so I thought). Now I tend to freeze up, out of pure panic, not enough time and way too much things to mention, that I don't know how to start. Sometimes I wonder if LS makes me stupid? I'm now frequently at a loss of words, have you ever had that problem? I can't remember the simplest stuff...oh well.
DON'T STUDY IN THE LAW LIBRARY AND LET OTHER STUDENTS FREAK YOU OUT. I was so freaked out by all the other 1Ls that I was literally a mess going into my exams. Hahahha, I know what you mean. Even though I study by myself (I learn best without anyone else around) the other students still get to me. Either do I feel they do more than I do, or they learn diff. stuff or just in general I'm so worn out that I think everyone else is smarter. After my LA final 3 weeks ago, they started talking about what they wrote and I thought I lose my mind. I was convinced I had failed... I hate when people compare their answers.
Anyways, this was a bunch of rambling, but thanks so much for your help, I'll keep it in mind. But I do wonder at times, does it really get easier after the first year? Because at this point my life is just one big blur, I have time for absolutely nothing and seem to just study and work all the time. I miss my 'me'-time... For this reason I try not to think about what you must be feeling right now, knowing that the next Bar is basically right around the corner... I'll keep my fingers crossed :)
Re: Whoa, thanks for all the pointers...kathatdclDecember 9 2005, 22:48:17 UTC
I can't think of a week where I didn't think to myself "what the hell am I doing in law school?" nor can any of my friends. The only time I didn't think that was during summers, because I took classes abroad (international law specialist...hmm, I wonder why I know nothing about UCC...). I don't think it's possible to NOT constantly think that, especially first year because it seems like it will never end.
IT DOES GET EASIER. I promise. After first year, you have lots more freedom. You can take classes suited to your interests, with professors you actually like. Second year, I actually started reading non-legal books and going to movies! It was like a new life.
Like you, I found that a lot of my first year profs were just totally unapproachable. Oddly enough, I had several of them as a 2L and 3L and found them totally approachable. I think if they're teaching a 1L class, they're required to act like egotistical asses. Make sure to enjoy your break...do nothing BUT 'me'-time.
Best advice my K prof gave us before our first final (do you go full year in K and CP?): don't discuss what you wrote or debate the answers after the exam is done. As you've already seen, it will make you crazy. Stay away from it...tune it out...it won't help you, since it's over and done by that time and you've got other exams to concentrate on.
If law school DOESN'T make you feel stupid or at a loss for words a good portion of the time, there is something wrong with you. I don't care who it is, everyone is at that point once in a while. I know you have those smarmy kids who always read ahead and ask tons of questions, who make you feel like they're lightyears ahead of you. IGNORE THEM. A bunch of them didn't come back after first term, so obviously they aren't as together as they seem.
You already got a good mark and proved to yourself that you can do this. Don't be that person that cries during the exam because they're so freaked out (I am not kidding...I was sitting by that person in Crim Law). If you panic or freak, take a minute, even if you don't think you have time. If you don't calm down, you'll be less focused and will forget stuff. 99% of law school is staying calm enough to regurgitate information on command.
I'll cross my fingers for you too, but you won't need it. You'll do great.
I really appreciate this...pass_the_vicsDecember 9 2005, 23:45:57 UTC
... thanks again. It's good to hear that everyone has the same problem. I would never quit anyhow, but you know, sometimes you just wonder what you've gotten yourself into. But then I really like law, I'm just not sure anymore which direction I want to go though. I used to think Contracts was my cup of tea, but after this first semester I started to wonder. I'll figure it out eventually.
And yeah, we go a full year in K, next up Performance and Breach and Third Party Beneficiaries when we come back in January. Same goes for Torts, we'll continue, but we'll also will start Criminal Law (which I'll probably like, but don't want to do later in life).
Second year, I actually started reading non-legal books and going to movies! It was like a new life. Yay!!! I can't wait to read other things again. I had bought Hugh Laurie's 'Gunseller' right before start of classes and was never able to finish it (needless to say I mourned *giggle*).
Once again, thanks a lot for all your comments, you've been great. Good Luck with your own studies, I see you moved on to another topic for today. I'm sure you'll hear from me again sometime soon ;o)
I just now put my outlines aside for the day, just because I think my brain is on overload, I'll start back up tomorrow.
--With essays, I cannot stress this enough. OUTLINE BEFORE YOU WRITE.
Yeah, I did that for Legal Analysis and it sooooo helped me stay focused. Actually, a couple of months ago I took a Flemings Seminar (don't know if he's known all over the country, but he's one of those guys preparing you for tests and the bar, for a small (yeah,right!!) fee). Anyhoo, he couldnt stress that part enough, so I applied it and voila, it worked.
I had two degrees going into law school and thought I was a good test taker, especially essay tests.
That's what I thought too (I have 4 degrees and looooove to write, or so I thought). Now I tend to freeze up, out of pure panic, not enough time and way too much things to mention, that I don't know how to start.
Sometimes I wonder if LS makes me stupid? I'm now frequently at a loss of words, have you ever had that problem? I can't remember the simplest stuff...oh well.
DON'T STUDY IN THE LAW LIBRARY AND LET OTHER STUDENTS FREAK YOU OUT. I was so freaked out by all the other 1Ls that I was literally a mess going into my exams.
Hahahha, I know what you mean. Even though I study by myself (I learn best without anyone else around) the other students still get to me. Either do I feel they do more than I do, or they learn diff. stuff or just in general I'm so worn out that I think everyone else is smarter. After my LA final 3 weeks ago, they started talking about what they wrote and I thought I lose my mind. I was convinced I had failed... I hate when people compare their answers.
Anyways, this was a bunch of rambling, but thanks so much for your help, I'll keep it in mind. But I do wonder at times, does it really get easier after the first year? Because at this point my life is just one big blur, I have time for absolutely nothing and seem to just study and work all the time. I miss my 'me'-time...
For this reason I try not to think about what you must be feeling right now, knowing that the next Bar is basically right around the corner... I'll keep my fingers crossed :)
Reply
IT DOES GET EASIER. I promise. After first year, you have lots more freedom. You can take classes suited to your interests, with professors you actually like. Second year, I actually started reading non-legal books and going to movies! It was like a new life.
Like you, I found that a lot of my first year profs were just totally unapproachable. Oddly enough, I had several of them as a 2L and 3L and found them totally approachable. I think if they're teaching a 1L class, they're required to act like egotistical asses. Make sure to enjoy your break...do nothing BUT 'me'-time.
Best advice my K prof gave us before our first final (do you go full year in K and CP?): don't discuss what you wrote or debate the answers after the exam is done. As you've already seen, it will make you crazy. Stay away from it...tune it out...it won't help you, since it's over and done by that time and you've got other exams to concentrate on.
If law school DOESN'T make you feel stupid or at a loss for words a good portion of the time, there is something wrong with you. I don't care who it is, everyone is at that point once in a while. I know you have those smarmy kids who always read ahead and ask tons of questions, who make you feel like they're lightyears ahead of you. IGNORE THEM. A bunch of them didn't come back after first term, so obviously they aren't as together as they seem.
You already got a good mark and proved to yourself that you can do this. Don't be that person that cries during the exam because they're so freaked out (I am not kidding...I was sitting by that person in Crim Law). If you panic or freak, take a minute, even if you don't think you have time. If you don't calm down, you'll be less focused and will forget stuff. 99% of law school is staying calm enough to regurgitate information on command.
I'll cross my fingers for you too, but you won't need it. You'll do great.
Reply
And yeah, we go a full year in K, next up Performance and Breach and Third Party Beneficiaries when we come back in January. Same goes for Torts, we'll continue, but we'll also will start Criminal Law (which I'll probably like, but don't want to do later in life).
Second year, I actually started reading non-legal books and going to movies! It was like a new life.
Yay!!! I can't wait to read other things again. I had bought Hugh Laurie's 'Gunseller' right before start of classes and was never able to finish it (needless to say I mourned *giggle*).
Once again, thanks a lot for all your comments, you've been great.
Good Luck with your own studies, I see you moved on to another topic for today. I'm sure you'll hear from me again sometime soon ;o)
Reply
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