Taking Care of the Basic

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contact Dean Lori Shaw.

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go to The JD Project, Inc.

Taking charge of the basics means first and foremost, taking charge of the environmental and economic obstacles. If there is any way that you can go prepare for the bar without working - do so!

It is essential that you have the time to give to law school and to relaxation. The first year is the crucial year in law school learning.

Environmental and Economic Basics

	Secure a quiet place to study.
	Remove distraction during your study time.
	During your scheduled study time be pre-occupied - be selfish.
	Have time that is reserved for your family and friends and yourself - even during your most intense study period.
	But when it is time to study - be selfish!
	Inadequate
	preparation will cause you to perform less than your potential .

Physical Basics

Preparing for law school exams is like running a marathon! If you plan to pass you'll need to be alert and have energy and stamina.

To be successful in law school you will need to:

	have proper mental conditioning
	have proper physical conditioning, and
	have careful pacing.

To make an A+ in law school you will need to go into exams in peak mental/physical fitness


	eat properly
	get adequate sleep
	have fun! regular fun is vital to combating mental staleness and psychological disorientation

Psychological Basics

Attitude and character are decisive factors in achieving success.

Having a positive attitude and being a person of honor and integrity will take you far.

You must be able to keep a positive attitude while going through the process of learning a large amount of detailed information without any feedback.

Remember this is a long distance run. You need to prepare adequately each day and you need to take care of yourself throughout the semester. Make sure that you :

	Get adequate sleep
	Eat properly
	Get exercise
	Schedule recreation and time away from study
	Allow time in your study for emergencies.

Develop a plan for the semester

Don't go about preparation haphazardly - develop a schedule.

Do active instead of passive learning

Passive learning equals reading and re-reading outlines and materials

Active learning

	taking practice exams and reviewing answers
	doing multiple choice questions and reviewing the answers
	developing flashcards with terms and rules on them and working through them.

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