The Question to Ask during Mid-Terms: Am I doing Ok?

One of the most common problems with law school is that we barrel past every week without thinking much about what you just learned. This makes sense because who has time to sit down and think about past topics when you have so many new ones to learn, on top of papers, job applications, life…

But it’s a big misstep to not stop and ask yourself during mid-terms: am I doing ok? And I’m not referring to mental health (though do stop occasionally to think about that). Rather, are you understanding the material? Do you get what the professors are trying to teach you? Are you forming and flexing the “think like a lawyer” muscle?

You should take time during the mid-point of your semester to ensure your learning style is working because if it’s not then mid-semester is the best time to realign. That’s why midterm exams are so important. They give you a chance to know what material is really sticking with you. Unfortunately, a lot of people go into the exams without preparing or studying because the exams “don’t count,” and they don’t count for grades, but trust that they do matter.

If most of your courses are offering you midterm exams then you should approach them as a way to 1) study and review past material and 2) practice your essays to see if your style is matches what your professor’s.

If you’re not being offered actual mid-term exams or didn’t take the time to really review the material then take a day (or a weekend) and:

One. Go over the syllabus.  Review the syllabus and test yourself–do you have a general understanding on the topics you’ve gone over? Do you remember the elements, the purpose of the policies, the exceptions? It’s natural to have some topics you really prefer (and generally do well on), but make sure you don’t just focus on the things you like.  And If you have supplemental books, use them to review (or consider purchasing them now for topics you find tricky).

Two. Visit the TAs.  TAs can give great tips on how to approach certain professor’s courses. They can help condense the material, and point you to the right direction to help maximize your studying–but you only get this if you actually go see them. I remember when I was a 1L, some of the TAs let it slip that no one was coming to visit them during their office hours. For some students, this created a chilling effect–if none of my classmates need to visit the TA, what does it say about me if I go see them? This may seem silly, but remember that law school is a mind-game. Part of that game is that everyone acts like they’re naturally smart and gifted, but what people forget is that successful lawyers, while intelligent, also have to be hard workers. You have to work hard, if you’re going to succeed, which includes doing things that may make you feel vulnerable (i.e. admitting to yourself/others that you need a little extra help).

Three. Practice your format.  Bad news: it is not enough to know the law. Rather you have to present your answer in a really specific, concise, and correct manner. That was my downfall as a 1L–I totally, absolutely did not understand The Format. Understanding how to answer law school exams takes time and you can’t learn the process on top of an entire semester’s subjects in a few weeks. So take the time now to practice your essays answers. And if you did go through midterms, review your professor’s feedback because this is the best overview on how they prefer their answers.

Final point on midterms–they are just that: a touchstone on how you’re doing midway through the semester.  Don’t let them lull you into a false sense of security to not work as hard the second half just because you did well. Similarly, don’t let them damage your psyche into thinking you can’t improve in the next few months; there are many days between now and finals so make the most of that time!