Do this in the 24 hours before an exam

Sometimes, when a final (or a bar exam) was just days away, I would still be trying to master a lot of concepts and memorize rules. I just didn’t have it in me to take practice tests.

So I didn’t try.

I just read a lot of model essay answers.
I hardly looked at the hypos.
I read only the answers.

Seeing how essays were written on hard topics brought things into focus. Often, on exam day, I would remember a sample essay and be able to regurgitate it.

It was the stories from the model answers that “stuck” more in my head than lists of rules.

I could then write the model essay that was fresh in my mind, plugging in the facts from my own exam hypo, plus any cases and other things stressed in class.

If you read enough answer essays, you start to see patterns. You also have models in your head for how certain analyses might go.

Reading passively takes a lot less brain power than cramming rules into your head or taking practice exams. It was productive when my brain was too spent to “study” more at night.

I thought you might try it. I will try to think of anything else to recommend.

I am thinking of you and hope you are hanging in ok!

Fondly,
💌 Amanda

#lawstudents