There is nothing else like it in the whole world...law school
finals. And they are quickly approaching. For those of us you
who are first years, this will be a unique experience like no
other...get ready for the ride of your life. For those of us who
are second years, we have learned the art of the law school final
and, while still a little nervous, can cram our way through it.
And finally, for those of you who are third years, by this time,
you have mastered the law school final and really don't sweat
it anymore.
The most intriguing thing about the law school final is really
not the finals themselves, it is the pre-final period. There are
several ways to handle the preparation and studying for a final
of this nature. Everybody has their own way of coping, but generally
they fit into one of several categories.
First, there are what I like to call the "BF'ers". If you are unfamiliar with this word, it is probably because you are one. The BF'ers are those students who act as if they are simply not preparing for the exams. In reality, they are the ones who are studying in their carrels until midnight and then secretly moving to a room on the second floor to study some more until 3 in the morning. They are the people who think they have learned the best and most effective ways to study and have probably obtained a copy of every outline known to man for every subject they are taking. They like to keep (or shall I say "hog") all of this information for themselves so instead they try to come across to other people like they are so far behind in all of their classes. The best way to detect a BF'er is to randomly go up to any person at their carrel and take a quick glance around at the contents of their carrel. Is the person getting antsy trying to cover up outlines and practice exams? Next, ask that person the following question, "Hey man, I heard there was this great outline floating around for Property. Heard anything about it? How have you been preparing anyways?" The following response is that of a true BF'er: "Uh, outline..ha ha..I don't even know what that means!! I mean, seriously, I am SO far behind in everything. I'm just now trying to learn what future interest is! Um, so, where are people getting that outline anyways?" That is your cue to NEVER EVER talk to that person again for the remainder of your law school career during finals. The BF'er will inevitably drive you nuts.
The second category is the exact opposite. These are the students who claim to know it all, claim to have studied so hard and for so long, and claim to not be worried in the slightest. This category of students is broken down into four basic levels. In the first level are the Moochers. These are the students who, right around Thanksgiving Break, email everyone in the building and start to compile a folder of other people's outlines. And every time they acquire a new one, they claim that it is the lifesaver of the exam and the secret to getting an A in that particular class. They gather up all of their outlines for each class and over the Break, they organize them. They call this "studying". It generally consists of separating the outlines out by class, calling all of their closest friends, and emailing them to those who wish to take part in the "cool kid's" outlines. These other students are also led to believe that they too will receive A's if they just study those outlines.
The second level comes right after Break when all of the Moochers gather together for Friendly Study Group time. In Friendly Study Group time, the Moochers are going to study the outlines together at someone's apartment and really learn the class material. The idea behind this technique is that if they all talk about what has been written down in this great outline, they will be able to pick it apart and really understand it better. The more minds to contribute, the better! However, what the Friendly Study Group will soon discover is that in the end, all they have learned is that Dillon McKaye is coming back to 90210, Ally McBeal is getting skinnier, and Cartman is going to sing the "Best Friends" song again on SouthPark this week.
The third level is when the Friendly Study Group starts to get mad at everyone else and decides it's time to really crank it in. There are two weeks left until their first final and now it's time to get serious. So, they venture to the library, sit down in their carrels, and break the cardinal rule right off the bat. They turn on their computers. All of a sudden, they become the Surfers. The Internet gets more action than it's ever had. The emails start flying. Their fingers are furiously typing away as they and everybody else in the Friendly Study Group complain over pop-up how unfair it is for their professors to be giving a final on their birthday or how there is just no possible way to get an A in Berryhill's class anyway so why try? Before they know it, some law librarian is running around the library and telling them that it closes in ten minutes. The Surfers have accomplished nothing.
The fourth and last level is the Sleepers. It is a week before finals and the Surfers have decided to stop complaining and turn off their computers. Now, it is just time to kick it in and get the job done. So, they once again venture off to their carrels, nestle in and.......sleep. Sometimes, you can see them with their heads buried in their books, cuddled up to a large red Property book, making their best attempt at osmosis, and drooling all over their "A" outlines. Some people bring pillows so they don't disrespect these fine books. Others say, "what the heck...if I'm going to nap, I might as well do it right." These are the best people to catch in the act. They think no one can see them...all curled up UNDERNEATH their carrels with the chair pulled in nice and tight.
The best thing about this second category, with all of its
levels, is that these are the people who walk around the school
telling everybody how they are "so set" for the exam.
They talk about their great outlines, their great study groups,
their many hours late at the library, how tired they are from
all of the studying, etc. They certainly have good intentions!
The third category is known as the Invisible Law Students. These
are the ones who seem to have never come back from Thanksgiving
Break. You know they went to school here before. In fact, they
even had a carrel next to you..so where are they? These are the
students who retreat to God Knows Where and literally disappear.
They are probably the smartest of the bunch. They know not to
go to school and hear all the BF'ers claim to not be studying
while the Moochers claim to be studying diligently.
The fourth category consists of the Walking Zombies. You can't miss them. These are also known as the BurnOuts. They are the ones who begin to look progressively worse with each passing minute of the day. They walk around with a cup of coffee in their hand, which doesn't seem to be doing much for them. They have developed large, dark circles underneath their eyes, and seem to be glued to the chair inside their carrel. They just can't seem to study enough. But, is it really productive what they are doing to themselves?
Th fifth category is made up all of those second and third year students who have already received offers for summer employment. Let's call them the Lucky Ducks. These are the ones who are so special that they do not need to study. They would much rather spend their time telling other students about their great summer plans. They do not fear the exam. Hey, they don't even need to take the exam, right?
The final category consists of those who just know how to do it right. I will refer to them as the Gifted. They just know how to prepare, organize, sort through, and study for the law school final. As I am not entirely familiar with this group of students just yet, I can speak no further on their category.
My advice (and while I realize my middle name is Joy, I am NOT JoyBells!!!!) would be to simply mind your own business, and study the way you know works best for you. Don't listen to what others say is the best or the worst ways to prepare. Just concentrate on you. And most importantly, remember that there is really no rhyme or reason to the law school exam. It is not a puzzle to be put together or a riddle to be solved. So, stop looking for the missing pieces or the hidden tricks. Just learn the information. After all, isn't that what we're all paying $20,000 for?
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