You just finished up with writing your first set of law school exams. The marks that are released can come as somewhat of a shock to many first years.
Keep it in perspective: Grades will not make your career as a person, especially not your mid-term grades from your first year of law school.
While grades are important, it is important to realize that the first set of law school exams are given less weight, hence, you always have another chance to improve and bring up that grade.
Remember:
1.) Grades do not reflect how intelligent you are:
While you do need to be relatively intelligent, you need to realize that you are quite bright. You wouldn’t be in law school otherwise.
2.) Your colleagues are also intelligent:
For many first years, this may be the first time a score comes out that seems “below average.” This will be a first for many. You are in a program that is comprised of individuals just as bright as you are.
3.) Disappointing grades do not mean you will not be a good lawyer:
Law school examinations do not cover every skill that you need to be a good lawyer.
WHAT NOW?
Identify the problem(s):
-Did you use too many canned notes?
-Are you better studying on your own or as a group?
-Did you do any practice exams?
-Was there a particular chapter you did not understand and simply glazed over?
-Did you run out of time during the exam?
-Did you place a heavy reliance on tabbing and hi-lighting without actually understanding the material?
-Did you read or did you read and understand?
Are there any sample answers available?:
-Look through sample answers to identify key issues and how they have been explained.
Look through your exam answer:
*Remember, law professors are usually not just looking for the right answer. They are looking for application. They want to know what the thought process was in getting to your answer.
Think of it as long division: When you were initially learning how to divide, the teacher always encouraged you to show your work. This is because the process was more important than the actual result.
Speak to your Upper Year Mentor, your Tutorial Leader, your Professor:
-Ask your professor how to better improve your answer. Make use of those office hours!
-Your tutorial leader is there for a reason. He or she is a great resource in asking about strategies that would be helpful in improving your understanding and/or application of the rules and ratios in courses.
-Your upper-year mentor is a good person to de-brief with as they may share a similar story about certain course(s). You will soon realize that you are not the only one who may have received a below average mark.