Gearing Up For The Second Semester Academically

Gearing Up For The Second Semester Academically

Gearing Up For The Second Semester Academically

Even if you are a first-year law student satisfied with your first semester grades and feel positive with a sense of accomplishment, you likely want to improve upon this success in the second semester. Here are a few tips for improving your academic performance for your second semester of law school.

*Begin anew

First and foremost, start fresh with an open, positive perspective. If you were unhappy with your first semester grades, learn any useful lesson from your lackluster performance, move on, and do not dwell on it. If you were satisfied with your grades, avoid overconfidence, and do not assume that you can easily duplicate your first semester’s success.

*Analyze every aspect of class and exam preparation 

Review your methods of preparing for class and exams. Try to find a way that you can improve on note-taking, case briefing, and outlining. Even if you do all these well, try to find a way to improve upon them. It may mean the difference between an A and a B. Then, review your study habits and evaluate whether you are making optimal use of your time and correctly prioritizing your focus on the material.  Find your weaknesses and target them for improvement.

*Use your law school’s resources 

Did you make full use of your law school’s resources during the first semester? If not, spend an afternoon or evening getting familiar with what your school has to offer. It is unwise to ignore these or any free valuable resources. The CDTA Student Portal is just a click away and available to any student with a computer. The CDTA’s online resources are available 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week. The CDTA uses Zoom Video Conferencing technology to enable students to stream classes online at their convenience.

*Meet with your professors

If your performance during the first semester in a particular class was less than satisfactory, meet with your professor and ask for suggestions on how to improve your classroom experience so that you have the proper focus.

*Troubleshoot – Ask yourself the following questions:

The following issues may have significant effects on your academic performance over a semester. Honestly answer these questions and find solutions. Troubleshooting involves, as mentioned above, evaluating every aspect of your learning techniques and improving upon them.

  • Have I correctly identified how I optimally learn?
  • Do I have trouble memorizing the material?
  • Do my class notes reflect the lecture’s most important points?
  • Do I correctly spot issues when I brief a case?
  • When I study, are there any distractions?
  • Am I getting enough regular physical exercise?
  • Am I effectively dealing with stress?
  • Am I getting enough sleep regularly?
  • Do I have a regular study routine or is every day’s routine different?
  • Do I get feedback from fellow students about their learning techniques?

 

The path to becoming an effective attorney-advocate leads to the California Desert Trial Academy. The distance learning program offered by the California Desert Trial Academy College of Law is tailor-made to meet the needs and demands of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Call us today at (760) 342-0900 or find out more online here.

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