Ways to Excel in Law School

Law school can be a tough place. A student must deal with competition, long hours and intellectual bombardment. Here are ways to help you cope and even excel in law school.

If you want to excel in law school, be sure you want to be lawyer. This seems obvious. You spent your undergraduate life working toward law school and you prepped and took the LSAT to get into the law program you wanted. Still, be sure you want to be a lawyer because the first year of law school will be a shocker.

There is no way to adequately prepare a law student for their first day or first year of study. If you want to excel in law school, be prepared to realize that you are now an adult dealing with adult situations and issues. The best way to get you through your three year program is to have the desire and motivation to see the program through to graduation.

One thing you must cultivate is efficient study skills. It’s not just about how much time you have to study. Sometimes there are not enough hours in the day to get all your work done. Be sure to prioritize your workload.

What you need the most time for is reading. Your coursework will be packed with pages of case studies and briefings. Be sure to make enough time to get through those pages not just once but two or three times. What you need the most time for is acclimating yourself to the words that are used and the ideas that are expressed. If you become familiar with reading law then you will begin to read through your work faster and more critically.

Many law students express feelings of losing themselves in law school. Law school is a rigorous journey that ultimately leads to a critical and analytical mindset and cultivates the ability to argue effectively. Yes, you will be changed after law school as most people are when they finish any type of graduate school. The difference with law school is that it changes the way you view the world. It shows you that there is more than one right answer and that the best answer is the best argued one.

Because of the rigorous course workload, a law student must take time for themselves. It’s easy to get caught up in the world of law. You are attending lectures for many hours and have to study for even more. You can spend 100 hours a week just studying. You don’t want to burn out.

Refresh yourself by taking some time out to see friends and family. Although it’s hard to find the time or energy, try to exercise once in a while. This will help you relieve stress and improve your endurance.

The best advice is to get through the dreaded first year as best you can. After that it’s more of the same. Your third year will be your best. You will attend less lectures and find that you can grasp the material quicker. So work hard, study efficiently, and have some fun.

Review more industry related articles by Catherine Zandueta at CareersandEducation.com. Catherine Zandueta is a feature writer and often covers topics related to Campus Degree Programs and Career advice.

Ways To Excel In Graduate School

If you find graduate school difficult, you are not alone. Graduate education is a time-consuming and thought-provoking journey. There are ways that can help you get through this period and really excel in your classes.

Good study habits will help you excel in graduate school. Expect to be assigned hundreds of pages of reading. You have to learn to read quickly and effectively. Learning good study habits will make your life easier. Take notes while reading. Summarize the topics as you go along especially the ones you have trouble with. Writing will help you memorize and it will also provide good notes to read through before a big exam.

Manage your time. Many people have a hard time studying five hours straight. Studying for long periods of time can cause strain. Plan to study at different times of the day. Study a couple hours before class or squeeze some study time in before lunch. Breaking up your study time will allow you to feel refreshed before hitting the books again.

Another way to excel in school is to get involved. Join study groups. Study groups can provide support when you’re studying. Study groups are also a great way to socialize with your classmates. Spending time with people who understand what you’re going through can be a relief. Talk about better ways to study or new ways to memorize material.

Also get involved with your professors and teaching assistants. Look up their office hours and visit your professor or teaching assistant at least once during your course. This will let them know that you’re serious about the class and want to learn all you can. Ask them to recommend other books if you are fascinated with the subject. Ask them career advice, especially if you are thinking about becoming a university professor.

If you find it hard to get the grades you want, seek out a tutor. Many universities offer free tutoring, usually by students who are older than you or farther along in the graduate program. Tutors can help you better understand your course material. They can also give you advice on how to cope with the assignments and hectic class schedule.

Don’t forget to join clubs and hang out with your friends. Don’t underestimate the benefits of play time. Sometimes you need to talk to people that have other interests than your graduate program. School is important but it can’t be the focus of your entire life. Try volunteering or playing intramural sports. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress.

Graduate school is difficult. Take the time to organize yourself and your study habits. You will find that this will give you confidence and help you excel in graduate school.

Take a look at more industry related articles by Catherine Zandueta at CareersandEducation.com. Catherine Zandueta is a frequent contributor with articles pertaining to using Distance Learning and Career Advice.

How To Excel In A Phone Interview

Before a regular person-to-person job interview, recruiters often take a phone interview to shortlist prospective candidates. Any moment, after you have applied for a job, you may receive a call from the recruiter or their consultant asking about your availability to talk over the phone for few minutes in connection with your candidature. To prevent from being caught unawares, always keep this possibility in mind and remain prepared for the interview. In case, however, you are too pre-occupied to spare time at that moment, request for an opportunity to talk later and give few suggestions on your convenience.

Remember, phone interview is as important as face-to-face interview and you should be absolutely prepared for it. Keep your resume and accomplishment statement handy. It’s better to have it pasted or hung up on the wall near the telephone receiver. You must have ready answers to typical questions asked in these interviews for jobs. Keep a notebook and a pen near the telephone set so that you can take important notes if asked. Listen to the question carefully and never interrupt the interviewer. Answer slowly and convincingly. Some intermittent smile may clear your voice and add confidence to your delivery. Address the interviewer by his surname (Mr. or Ms) and never use his name, unless you are specifically permitted. Keep away children and pets away from the room and switch of radio, TV, music system and similar appliances. Do not eat, chew or smoke during the interview. It’s good to keep a glass of water handy to wet your throat.

Some practice beforehand using a voice recorder can help you to perfect your delivery and enunciation for the interview over phone. While responding, take your time for collecting thoughts and give short answers. In the end, do not forget to thank the interviewer. Since you’d very much like to proceed further in the selection process, request the interviewer an opportunity to meet him in person. After conclusion of the interview, you must note down all that you said. Do not forget to send a thank you letter. This significantly reiterates your interest for the job.

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