Midterms are over, now what?

Post Midterms Blues…How to Make Good out of a Bad Situation

You were always a great student in high school; in college you could cram for a midterm or final and still pull an A in the class.  You get to Law School, and you think, “my writing is good, and I’m a pretty good test taker.”  Then you get into your first exam, think you did well, and the grade that comes back says otherwise.  If you’re like me, you probably are panicking now…debating if you can even handle this, or even freaking out that you will bomb the entire course because of one bad midterm.  Well if you are freaking out…stop!  Freaking out, especially in Law School does not lead to much good, in fact, it can be  completely contradictory to success.  However, if you are like I was, thinking that bombing an exam will lead to bad grades, bad job prospects, and questioning your ability to be a lawyer, these bits of advice may help to calm you down as they helped me.

1.     You’re not the only one who did terrible on the exam-even if you were one of the lower grades; chances are, more than just you struggled on this exam.  Law School exams are different then any other exams because they challenge you to apply the law you learned to a scenario, not just questions on whether you read a case or not, so go easy on yourself, this is new, and you gave it a shot.

2.     Use this as a learning experience and talk to your Professor-I know, the last thing you want to do is talk to the person who gave you a bad grade.  I recall getting my contracts midterm back and freaking out at the thought of talking to my professor.  However, when I finally did meet with him, he was helpful in giving me the guidance on how to improve.  He showed me where my strengths were, and where I can improve.  Even though Law School professors may not always be the warmest people, they really want you to succeed, use them as a resource to learn what they want on an exam and how to prepare accordingly.

3.     Be glad its not the final-I’m sure the last thing you want to think about is the final after a terrible midterm.  However, be glad that this was only a few percentage points of your final grade and not the final exam.  This midterm is practice, you get to see how the professor tests, what to expect of their grading, and how they like your responses to read.  Work on this from after the midterm until the final, you will thank yourself later.

4.     Practice, Practice, Practice-Now that the midterms are over, or will be over soon, use this score as an opportunity to practice for the final.   Practice from the midterm you were given as a hypothetical, and use past midterms (if your professor will let you use them) to build model answers.  That way, when the final comes around, you will know exactly what your professor will want, and can put a strong answer to paper.

I cannot stress this enough, but midterms are not to hurt you, they are to help you learn and understand the professors testing style and where your strengths and weaknesses might lie.  During 1L, they are one of the few opportunities you have to practice for the final exam.  As you reach upper level courses, many professors do not offer a mid term exam, so take these as a gift to practice and perfect your craft before the final exam rolls around.

Image taken from fastweb.com 

As Seen In Columbus...Fall Happenings

As seen in Columbus…Fall Happenings

Columbus is quickly on the rise!  As one of the nation’s top 20 largest cities and the largest city in Ohio, there is never a dull moment in Columbus!

From being home to a plethora of Fortune 500 Companies and AM 200 Law Firms (Law Firms with more than 150 attorneys and revenues of over $85 million yearly) and dozens of neighborhoods, from the up and coming Old Towne East Neighborhood, to the trendy Short North Arts District, one can easily find their niche in the 614.

Here are just a few of the happenings this Fall in Columbus:

Fashion Week Columbus | Oct. 7-14, Columbus Museum of Art

Columbus is a fashion capital!  Home to designers including Abercrombie & Fitch and Express, Fashion Week Columbus is sure to bring the vibe.  Come see couture from local designers, and shop for your next outfit!

Italian Festival | Oct. 6-8, St. John the Baptist Church

The Columbus Italian Village is undergoing it’s own Renaissance, with restaurants, condos, and bars, this neighborhood is booming!  Come explore the roots of Italian village with this festival highlighting the history of this diverse community.

HighBall Halloween | Oct. 20-21, Short North Arts District

Break out your best costume with Columbus’ leading Halloween Party!  For two nights the short-north arts district will close the streets down for this one-of-a kind party.  Be sure to dress your best as costume contests are a plenty!

Recurring:

Short-North Gallery Hop-First Saturday of Every Month

Come see the trendy art the Short-North Arts District has to offer as Galleries stay open late during this art crawl.  Go buy a piece from a local designer and enjoy a cocktail from one of the trendy local bars in the area. 

For more events, please visit the following:

https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/

#asseenincolumbus#614#capitaluniversitylawschool#lawschool#lawfirm#eat614#explorecolumbus

Maintaining your “Best-Self” in Law School: The Importance of Well-Being and Self-Care

Maintaining your “Best-Self” in Law School: The Importance of Well-Being and Self-Care

Law School is a different creature then undergraduate or any other type of education you may have received; it takes time, tactic, and working smart to learn the vast amounts of material while keeping a level head and getting to the final exam.  You may be just getting your schedule, looking at first assignments, and saying to yourself “how am I going to ever make time for myself?” 

The truth is, it’s difficult to make time for yourself while in Law School, especially when you don’t know how to study or what is important (hint, it’s all important, but prioritization is key).   With all this reading, little understanding on what you’re reading, and a schedule that keeps you at the school for eight hours, you may think that living at the school and sustaining on pizza and fast food is the best idea…unfortunately, from experience, this lifestyle doesn’t work long-term and the exhaustion eventually catches up to you, turning into stress, then into anxiety causing your studying and general well-being to suffer.   While it seems impossible to make a balance, it’s key to survival and your overall success to law school. 

1.     Create a Schedule…and Stick to it.  I know, it’s difficult, especially when you’re starting 1L and have no clue what to expect, but scheduling your sleep, exercise, studying, and class preparation can help you to find some balance.  It’s also important to schedule some “me-time” and to find some time to do things you enjoy, if only just once a week.

2.     Pick a daily cut-off time for studying and homework.  You may have been able to pull an all-nighter in undergraduate (I never pulled them, but I remember many of my friends sitting in the commons from sun-down to sun-up), but in Law School, there’s nothing worse then being exhausted from studying, then getting cold-called on by a professor.  Set a daily cut-off time for studying.  For example, if your studying cut-off is 7:00 PM, stick to it.  After 7, you stop all studying, law-school related stuff, and take some time for you to rest, go to the gym, etc.  You’ll thank yourself ultimately for taking this time and giving yourself the ability to relax…if only just slightly. 

3.     Relax…its just Law School.  I know this is easier said then done, but freaking out will lead to nothing but difficulties and may ultimately harm you rather then help you.  I remember freaking out to a friend who was getting ready to graduate, and he told me a professor told him to “relax, its just Law School.”  I almost laughed when he told me this, but it’s true.  You’re taking on a mentally and intellectually challenging feat that many choose not to do because it’s so difficult, so try to relax, you’ll reach your goals ultimately…but only if you relax and do not overthink.

These things I have mentioned take time, but mastering Law School takes time, it’s about learning your method, and lots of trial and error to get to that ultimate goal of earning the coveted J.D. and passing the bar exam.  If you’re not taking the time for yourself and working on a schedule, this trial and error can prove much more difficult.  Keep pushing, asking questions, and when in doubt, remember “its just law school.” 

#LawSchool #CapitalUniversity #CapitalUniversityLawSchool #OhioLawyer #ColumbusLawyer #Asseenincolumbus