The Most Important Study Hack I Learned in Law School

One fact that a law student could never get away with in law school -- running out of time.  It is particularly so when you need to cram for an upcoming exam, time is on fastforward mode so how do you make the most out of it will make or break your chances of graduating.

I wasn't an honor student all throughout my years in law school except during my 'trying to impress the SO phase' in freshman year, so you better take these tips with a grain of salt.

Here is what I did;

I prioritized the law codals because you need to have a basic grasp of the laws and this allows you to zero in on the real issue in the exams questions. Now, I am not for memorization, it rarely works for me but I admit it helped at some point. I remember way back in first year, I was forced to memorize in verbatim the provisions in the Revised Penal Code. To this day, most of the provisions still stuck in my head (thank you Judge P.).

When I still had extra time, then I get to read my text book twice.  I would often read it once or twice before so during exams week, reading it once, or a second time (again) will be a lot easier.  Some people love to use highlighters, but whenever pressed for time, highlighting slows my reading pace. Later on, I ditched my highlighters.

IF I still had extra time left, I browsed my outline or digests. Great, still have time left? I would go over concepts and if I had written an outline, that would be great (I didn't, taking down notes is just such a pain for me)  that you are still not clear about. Then would  review the whole subject in my head just so you know, make a mental map of how the concepts are connected to the greater picture.


The Blogger is a senior law student (on indefinite leave) from Manila, Philippines, a digital marketer and former beauty pageant finalist.  Aside from this blog, she is passionate about content creation  and writes mostly about beauty, travel, dating and fitness --her articles achieving a total of over 1 million views from her featured hubs in HubPages.com. She also manages a number of social media communities on issues concerning environmental conservation, beauty, travel, and personal development.  On her free time, she dabbles as a judge for beauty pageants and manages a beauty & fitness startup and gobble a lots of cakes..  For collaborations, shoot her an email thru gmmurgirl@gmail.com

Digesting Cases in My Brain

As a law student we are bound to read countless cases, some interesting, some crazy, and quite some horrifying (criminal cases give me nightmares).  That is an understatement my dears.  During my earlier years in law school I would dread those classes (and professors) who assign 20-30 cases per session.  On a lucky semester,  I get to multiply that number by 3 or 4, that's almost 100 cases each day!

Then I realize that I should not look at case reading as a terrible experience and forcefully convinced myself that it should be a pain I ought to be looking forward to.  Just enjoy it to the fullest in the same way that I enjoy reading my Facebook timeline or as interesting as stalking my party-mates on IG.   From then on,  I started viewing this activity as an opportunity to learn about the 'chismis' of strangers' lives.   You bet this change in perspective made my life a lot easier!

Do the 'full monty' baby

As a rule,   I would read the full text and no, I am not being barbaric to myself.  There is something so fulfilling when you know you are not missing out on some useless details in each case.  Digests would be helpful if I did them in the first place.  I would only look at others digest as a last resort, or in emergency cases.  In fact, I seldom join digest groups because,  I just find it so limiting.  

I think I wrote a post about how to easily find the important points of every case you read.  Despite this,  I do not discount the power of other peoples digests when the full text is super lengthy or when I have a hard time finding the issues.  

How I Do Digests in my brain

Lately,  due to other commitments (like partying and doing my hair and makeup on a daily basis),  I am unable to spend much time doing case digests.  To resolve this,  I discovered an easier way to do it,  doing brain digests! This is how I do it.  Follow at your own risk!

a. Read the case, make a mental note of the important points, facts, issues, rulings.  Then I would go over it if there are some points that I forget or clarify. 

b. On the day itself, I would skim again and just focus on the main points.  

c.  If I still have time,  I guess by the third skimming, the brain is quite familiar with the important points and that's it.  Digest in my brain, no sweat!

Whys

1) I don't have much time

The thing is, digesting or summarizing cases takes time when you have to read then do an outline, and put it in writing or encode it.  For the past year,  I have done my case readings either the day or night before a class.  I do not get the hardcopy, I just make do with the online version because you save on ink and paper by doing so. 

2) I'm not rich enough to have a secretary or PA to gather my notes into an intelligible and organized whole

For one, I am not really good at note taking. I get distracted when I take notes.  I don't even have a proper notebook or note taking system.  Aside from the distraction, even if I get myself some notepad, I would either forget or lose it so what's the point?

Come exam time, somehow my brain retains those bits of digest.  In some weird twist I can recall infos and issues.   It works for me.   Mind you, I am just an average student,  I just find a way to learn things differently by trial and error method.  I guess you just have to find a way that will make it easier for you to survive your case assignments.   This is mine.

Nevertheless,  one of these days, I might get down and gather all these cases in my head to add to the case digest section of this blog for those emergency times, you know.  If you find this post enlightening or worth sharing don't be shy to share it in your social media or just click on the 'Follow' button on my Google+ located in the upper right side of this page, believe me, it would be the best decision you have ever made in your entire day. ;P

The Fitness and Law School Struggle is Real!

Hello second sem!  I had an awesome week! School is open and of course I love going back to my books. I love the smell of new books, too bad the prices have double too! Oh well, one day I can see myself publishing my own law book,  watch out for that!

On another note, I can feel a struggle going on.  Since I have to be on track on my fitness regimen (Fit Mob blog), some days I find it difficult to do things when I have not done my workout for the day!

I would often sleep early and wake up early because I find it really easier to read when the world is sound asleep (in my location at least). Then at around the 3am or 4am I start doing my fitness routine before everyone else wakes up or before the sun rises.  There is something primal and addicting about these hours and though it may seem weird  (but I like weird),  I love it!

So that seemed to work for the past week and I hope to keep it up with a few modifications to accommodate be school commitments further.  On one hand, my class schedule has been really irregular and also at unusual odd times at certain periods of the day.  In short, my class sked is not a routine, now that may be exciting for me but it puts a damper on my "early to bed, early to rise" program.

When I wake up at 1am or 2 am, that means that by 6pm, I'm almost ready to call it a day, but then I got an evening class on some days.  Nevertheless, there is always a way to work things out.  Maybe a nap will extend my wake up hours on those days I have an evening class.

To my fellow law students, let's kick the high gear early on!  Good luck to everybody this second sem.  Let's rock law school!

I Don't Have an Option to Fail the Bar Exams

Hi,  everyone!!!  Best of luck to those taking the Philippine Bar Examinations this year.  A little bit of luck will help nudge you but hard work that you put into those earlier years in law school will be the greatest factor to determine if you make the cut or not.  I know. I should know. (Of course, I'm just kidding.)

I haven't been blogging much lately because I am trying (TRYINGGG HARD!) to read more books. Time is gold,  my dear fellow law students.  Another reason for my inactivity is again,  my awful internet connection.  By the way I am rescinding my contract with my internet provider before I suffer a heart attack. Okay, I gotta stay focused on this post, it has to be law school-related, right?

The other day I saw a statistics about the bar takers this year and one of the data indicated that around 500 or so people did not push thru taking the exam on the first week.  It made me wonder what could have made these people forego their seats this year?  There could be a myriad of reasons for any of them but if there is one possible reason in my case, it would only be one word and it starts with letter 'C'. 'C' for camel, because sometimes I just refuse do some things for the sake of not doing it.

Anyways,  I have a few classmates in my review class that are doing it as a refresher and some have taken the bar once or thrice or more.  After learning this bit of information,  I took the time to chat up with some of them.  I could not imagine how tiring it must be to review over and over to retake the bar more than once.   I really intended to get something out of their experiences and I was not disappointed.

One of them let's call her Ms. A, she is a graduate from my Alma Mater and she is also a working student.  I think she might have taken the bar twice or thrice to no avail. So I asked her a lot of questions, like how it was, what she thinks she did wrong or did right, etc.

She told me that taking the bar and then failing it could wreak havoc not only on one's emotional well-being but also on one's finances.  Unless you are on a scholarship or your parents are fully supporting you, you have to contend with the financial burden of the review and everything during those 4 or 5 months in preparation for the bar.  Imagine doing that twice or thrice.  If you have a little bit of savings, it would be wiped out in no time!

That's one of the reasons why I haven't really thought of the possibility of failing.  In my case, failure is not an option. Not that I have a choice,  I DON'T.  I have to fully support myself for this endeavour so I CANNOT fail.  I told myself that if I fail my exam when the time comes, I'd have a 360 degree career change --- become a skydiver,  a writer,  a dancer,  a chef,  makeup artist, fashion designer, cyber expert slash YouTuber, whatever. See, I don't have an option.

For all of us still hoping and waiting for our time to hurdle this exam, it would be not only to marvel at the successes of those who top it or passed it with flying colors,  but also to think about those who have failed it and gain insight why. To my refresher classmates,  just stay positive and fight, fight, fight!

Am I making sense?  I hope so.

Focus, Focus

I focus better when it involves food. :)

I noticed my dwindling interest in reading and find it hard to focus and motivate myself.  I only got a couple topics left but here I am needing a truckload of motivation.  This means I am in real deep trouble.

I admit,  I like to do many things all at the same time.  The variety fuels me and keeps me from getting bored.  Law school however is like a jealous and demanding lover.  It wants my undivided attention, unwavering commitment, dedication, and my loyalty.  If you are a restless soul like me,  being in law school is akin to being tied down in chains for the equivalent of four or five years.  It is like being married to someone not your soul-partner, or something like that, maybe.

These days,  I am addicted to everything fitness: cardio, strength-training, weight loss, fat-burning, the whole works.  I am so consumed with it that I become voracious for learning new things, new exercises,  weightlifting stuff and all of these take a huge chunk of my time.

Focus will lead to positive results and I am losing weight slowly but surely.  I am seeing amazing changes in my physique that I never imagined possible, I mean not even in my wildest dreams.

When you see results  in a matter of weeks,  it is addicting and pushes you to do more of it because you know that your efforts are effective.   I am not saying that law school will not lead me somewhere but it just takes a little more time for me to get there. There's the graduation,  the review, the bar exams itself and then the waiting.

On days that I miss my jogs, walks or gym workout I become restless.  I wish I could say the same when I miss my readings.  Actually I made a reading plan to serve as my guide so that I can review systematically.  Unfortunately,   right now that plan remained a plan,  the execution is just not happening.

Despite this, I am fully aware of the consequences if I don't straighten up.  I know that I'll be 'forced' to seriously do skydiving this year (I wish!) and work also on my digital marketing endeavors.

The thing is,  I have this obsession that if I do something then I have to excel in it.  For me, the worst thing one can do is to waste time and effort on something and end up with a mediocre product.

Focus. Focus on reading. Focus on everything law.  God help me.