Rule 7
Visualize the Full Semester
Law school semesters have a rhythm. 1 L year begins chaotically, with a flood of orientation information and then a crush of reading and preparing for class. Alter a few weeks, things appear to ease up a bit, allowing for a false hope of balance. Then the testing begins, first with midterms, then writing assignments, outlines, practice tests, and a host of other requirements. The semester crescendos with final exams, and if you do it correctly, there is never a letup until the final moments of the final exam.
Knowing this pattern (ahead of time) allows you to plan for the full semester and avoid the pitfalls. You cannot put off your work until the end, because the work does not stop. In fact, the readings only increase as professors get behind on their class assignments and end-of-the-semester writing projects or extracurricular obligations begin taking all your time. You must see ahead of the curve to account for the unforeseen but always inevitable increase in work.
Be prepared for the crescendo that is coming.
