Time Management

Time management may never have been an issue for you before now: you could always pull everything together a week before finals and do just fine. Most students find that law school is quite different, requiring sustained and efficient study plans. You may need to experiment with new approaches.

Self-Assessment:

Take an honest inventory of what you know works and doesn’t work for you. When is my brain at its sharpest? (For most people, it’s in the early morning.) Do your hardest reading then.

How long does it take me to read and understand a given segment of text?
How long does it take me to brief a case?
Where do I study best? (Be honest!)
What study methods and study tools (Flash cards, outlines) really work for me?
What things distract me from studying?

Make A Study Plan, And Stick With It Long Enough To Give It A Chance To Succeed

You need a method to control the study madness. Create a study schedule and series of goals to help you stay on track with assignments. This will help you keep your expectations realistic as to the amount of time needed for a particular week’s assignments. If a study plan is not working for you after you’ve given it a good try, change the plan. The goal is not necessarily to study more, but to study more efficiently!

Consider investing in a pocket calendar that will allow you to both write a plan for each day and also create weekly and monthly plans. Keep your planner with you.

Weekly Study Schedule

Look at assignments for the week and estimate time to complete each
Block out time to complete each assignment
Block out time to review notes
Block out time just before class to review briefs for class that day
Factor in time for assignments that take longer than expected
Schedule time for leisure activities and exercise.
Set a time each day that you will STOP studying
Set study goals for each day
Semester-Long Study Schedule
Get the law school’s academic calendar and block out holidays, designated study days, and exam days.
Look at the syllabus for each class and record deadlines, especially for your Lawyering Skills I assignments.
Set a deadline to start working on outlines
Set a deadline to have outlines complete
Block out time for practice exams
Block out days for drafting writing assignments

Time Management Tips

Study in short segments. For most people, the optimal study interval is 50 minutes with a short 5 minute break between intervals. Don’t study for more than 3 hours at a stretch. Plan a long break every day (1½ hours) to refresh yourself. You’ll retain less of what you’ve studied in a marathon study session than short study sessions.
Take study breaks. Treat yourself to a fun activity (not law school related) when you finish a difficult assignment or project. This study break can keep you motivated, and it can be as simple as a fifteen minute coffee date with a friend.
Study where you won’t be distracted. Find a study place where you won’t be distracted by family, friends, pets or the phone and e-mail. Hang a “do not disturb” sign if necessary. Guard your study time jealously.
Say No! Do not allow yourself to become overloaded with outside activities that steal your study time. Especially during your first year, you must put studying first.
Don’t spin your wheels. If you feel like you’re not processing what you’re studying or your mind is wandering, STOP and take a break or switch subjects. Stop studying if you become frustrated or sleepy.
Study on the go. Make use of otherwise wasted time (e.g., driving time, short breaks between classes). Listen to study tapes when you’re driving or study some flash cards during waiting periods.
Be systematic with your review. Students that leave review until the end of the semester are often overwhelmed by how much they need to learn. Systematic review is the key. Review cases before and after class and review your class notes on a daily or, at the very least, a weekly basis. Schedule study group meetings to provide review. Systematic review will greatly improve retention and may actually save you time because you will be able to understand new material more readily, and your outlining and exam preparation will go much more smoothly.
Track your study time. On your weekly study schedule, honestly keep track of the amount of time you spend studying each subject. Tally your total studying hours for each class for the week. This will help you in estimating the amount of time it will take you to complete future assignments and projects so that your weekly study plan can be realistic.
Treat law school like a full-time job. Come to campus for class and stay on campus. Study between your classes instead of running back and forth to your house. The more studying you get done during the day, the more free time you’ll have at night.
Eat well and exercise. Eating well and exercising will keep you energized. It will also help keep you focused and mentally alert.
Find Balance. Law school will no doubt require you to change your life style and make sacrifices; but don’t give up everything you enjoy. Keep time in your schedule for family, friends, exercise and recreation. Keeping a good balance will help you remain alert, productive and feeling positive.
Make time for adequate sleep. Be realistic about your sleep needs, and schedule sleep into your time management plan. Set a fixed time for rising and going to bed each day. A good night’s sleep is key--without it, you put your health and sense of well-being at risk and substantially undermine your ability to think analytically.

Questions?

Please contact Janet Madden, room 117. (619) 260-2293 madden@sandiego.edu