Amie B: Outlining and Finals Breakfast

Hello Readers.

The dreaded finals have begun. Luckily I only have three, but they are all worth 100% of my grade (with the exception of Property, which is only worth a mere 80% due to the two midterms). Yes, I have been working hard all semester to prepare for these exams by doing my reading, going to class, attending tutor review sessions and writing my outline, but now it is time to push through and cross the finish line.

To prepare for finals, throughout the semester students are constantly writing and organizing course content into outlines. Outlining is essentalilly creating a study guide and is a large part of the law school culture. We are synthesizing the content of the course and organizing it in a way that makes sense to us. We do it throughout the semester because the courses simply have too much material to wait until finals to try to compile it all.

Everyone does their outlining a little bit differently and on different schedules. For example, I do all of my readings over the weekend. So then during the week, I review my notes for the upcoming classes and after class I work on my outline. I pull information from the course book, my notes, and the notes from class. Others switch; they prefer to do readings during the week and spend the weekends reviewing the material.

Sometimes it is hard to focus on the outlines because you have so much reading and there’s always something more fun to do. It’s easy to push it off when finals aren’t for another couple of months. Though to help us with our discipline, the tutors have outline deadlines. If we have our outlines complete by certain dates, they will read them and give us feedback. Additionally, the midterms, even if they are only for practice, force us to start studying early as well.

Because of all the work throughout the semester, I began finals with all of my study guides almost fully complete! I spend my time now making note cards, writing out rules in an attempt to memorize them, and meet with student study groups. One of the most helpful study resources has been sitting for practice exams. Black Law Students Association (BLSA) proctors practice exams for all 1Ls. We come to school with a professor’s old exam and take it in a true test environment. Afterwards, students typically meet to discuss the exams and share ideas.

I do appreciate how well supported I have felt getting ready through these exams. Tutors have been available all semester, taking the time to meet with us, read our outlines, and host review sessions. The different student organizations setting up resources. The upper class students sending me their outlines for reference in making my own. All the 1Ls coming together to share notes and support each other.

One of my favorite shows of support comes from the administration in the form of Finals Breakfast. The faculty serves us breakfast for dinner one night as a study break. I was expecting pancakes but was pleasantly surprised with a waffle buffet, eggs, sausage, bacon, and a large assortment of drinks: coffee, hot chocolate, and juice.

ob1

Father Jerry serving the students breakfast

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the spread: if you look closely you can see the basket of doughnuts at the end

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Students gather for a little finals break

  Finals here we come.

Questions for Amie? Email law-admissions [at] luc [dot] edu with the subject “Ask Amie” and she will make sure to answer them.

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