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6 Things Law Students Need to Know Before Final Exams

By Casey C. Sullivan, Esq. on November 17, 2016 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

The Thanksgiving holiday is right around the corner. That means some relaxation, a break from law school, time with family and friends, and plenty of turkey and pie, right? Not. On. Your. Life.

If you're a law student, Thanksgiving isn't a holiday for counting your blessings. It's the time to start counting down to final exams. To get you off on the right foot, here are six things you should know as you enter law school final exam crunch time.

1. Top 7 Law School Study Aids

Your own notes are the best, but if those are lacking, well, there's no reason to reinvent the wheel. Law school study aids can be a decent way to supplement your casebook and lecture notes. And if you're still struggling with the ins and outs of contracts, torts, or crim, they can be a lifesaver. Here are our top picks.

Law school exams are terrible: one test, one grade, your future potentially on the line. But, if there's a silver lining, it's that almost all exams are open book or open note, allowing you to bring in an outline that will help you conquer the test. Here's how to make one that works.

3. What Is an Attack Outline? How Do You Make One?

In addition to regular outlines, many law students put together "attack outlines," a pared down version of an outline, usually only one or two pages long, that sketches out all the steps you need to take to address an issue. If you're in a rush (and you will be, come exam time) an attack outline can be much easier to use than a 75-page regular one.

4. 5 Tips for Law Students Entering (Horrors!) Final Exam Season

How can you get a sense of your professor's exam style? What's the best way to tackle multiple choice questions? Should you reread your casebook? Find some answers here.

5. Yes, Students Who Write More Do Better on Exams (Usually)

When it comes to law school exams, you want to be more of a Dickens than a Hemingway. Research has shown that students who write more get higher grades. Here's why.

6. 21 Serious, Creative, & Crazy Study Spots for Law Students

If you're going to spend weeks studying, you're not going to want to do it all in the same place. Sure, you can move from your couch to your desk to the law library. Or you could try some of these interesting alternatives instead.

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