The Professor Is In!

Professor Skillman answers questions from students about law school, outlining, essay writing and exams

Thanks so much for your on-line course, it has truly been helpful. I was wondering if you could help me figure out a schedule that will work for me? I am not studying effectively because I waste a lot of time trying to organize myself… Thanks.

Thank you for letting me know The Basic Exam Course for Law School^TM is helpful. I appreciate the feedback.

The key to success in law school is effective preparation. Instead of reacting to the stress of law school, my suggestion is that you set up a realistic schedule and follow it.

1) I lay out principles for time management in The Basic Exam Course for Law Students^TM in the first class How to Excel in Law School. Block out your class schedule on a calendar such as the one found on page forty-five of The Basic Exam Course for Law Students^TM book.

2) Figure out what your natural rhythm is. Make a realistic assessment of when are you most effective when it comes to studying. Figure out how long you can you concentrate effectively; schedule breaks every hour. Figure out how much time you need for sleep and how much time is needed for exercising.

3) Next set up a Daily Schedule. (See samples in The Basic Course^TM book.) When setting up a Daily Schedule, remember to study in blocks of three or four hours, if possible. If you have a one or two hours in which to study, that's ok too.

4) Once you have set up a Daily Schedule, take the time to set up a Master Schedule for the semester. Before setting up The Master Schedule for the semester, set up a Preparation List, such as the one found on page forty-four of The Basic Course book. Setting up a detailed Master Schedule will take several hours. Adjust the Master Schedule monthly.

The practice of law is much like the first year of law school. If you learn to schedule your time now, you will have learned critical principles for scheduling which you can apply throughout your legal career.