Strategies to Stay Engaged While Studying Law

“Law is for EXTROVERTS only” And yet, here I am. 🔸An introvert. 🔸Who hated speaking up in class. 🔸Who would rehearse saying ‘present sir’ in attendance in my first semester Later? ✅ I argued in moot courts, ✅ Won multiple law based competitions, ✅ Handled clients, ✅ Built a legal career I love. So… what changed? But first— Let’s talk about you. If you’re an introvert in law school….... You’ve probably wondered: “Is law even made for someone like me?” Everyone around seems louder, bolder, more confident. They network like it’s their second language. And you? You overthink replying to a WhatsApp group text. Relatable? I thought law needed me to transform into an extrovert. But you know what's the truth: Law doesn’t need you to be loud. It needs you to be: ✅ precise. ✅ Calm. ✅ Thoughtful. Introvert superpowers, basically. Don’t believe me? 👉 Abhishek Manu Singhvi is an introvert. 👉 So is Gopal Subramanium. 👉 And even Supreme Court judge Justice DY Chandrachud once admitted: “I’m more comfortable in books than at parties.” So no, you don’t need to change who you are. You just need to channel it strategically. How? Here’s what helped me (and can help you too): 1⃣ Prepare more than most. When you’re not loud, your content has to be gold. I prepped my moot arguments 10x more than my peers. Silence isn’t a flaw. It's your thinking time. 2⃣ Start with writing. Introverts think well on paper. Start a blog. Draft that legal opinion. Even LinkedIn posts (like this one) can become your stage. 3⃣ One-on-one networking > Room of 50. I stopped forcing myself into crowded events. Instead, I reached out to seniors on LinkedIn. Built solid connections-quietly. 4⃣ Practice low-stakes speaking. Start small. Class presentations. Online debates. Each tiny win adds up. 5⃣ Lean into your calm. In heated arguments, the calmest voice wins. Introverts thrive under pressure because they don’t react impulsively. You don’t need to be the loudest in the room. You just need to make sense when you speak. And the good news? That’s learnable. Trainable. Doable. If I can go from whispering “present sir” to presenting arguments in front of judges— So can you. Quiet doesn’t mean incapable. Introvert doesn’t mean inferior. And law isn’t just for the loud—it’s for the thoughtful. If you're an introvert trying to navigate law school or the legal profession, I'm here to assist you. I'm organizing a FREE WEBINAR for all law students who think they're introverts and cannot survive law school grind. The webinar will include actionable tips and career guidance for you all. I'll take 50 questions as well from the attendees. Follow me & comment “INTROVERT” in the comments. I'll send you Google meet link in your DM on 30th April 2025 (Wed) Webinar time will be 7:30 PM. Let’s build a tribe where silence is strength. Because some of the most powerful lawyers speak less. But say more. #lawstudents #freewebinar #publicspeaking #introverts

January is hard for law students especially 1Ls who didn't do quite as well on their exams as they had hoped. But all is not lost. Seriously. Take a new approach: 1. Be Kind to Yourself and Zoom Out. It is OK to be disappointed about your performance on a single exam or even a single semester of exams. Let yourself be disappointed but then try to zoom out. One class is 3 maybe 4 credits. A semester is maybe 12-16. Your ultimate GPA will be determined by 80+. As that denominator increases the effect of any single grade will go down. 2. Learn from It. The last thing you want to do if you feel like you didn’t succeed is to think about it more. But less successful attempts can give you an incomparable window on ways to improve. Ask questions like: was it a studying problem? An answer format problem? A nerves problem? And if you don’t know why try to read best exams, feedback memos, or even talk to the professor. Chances are if you don’t change and adapt you’ll be back in the same place next semester. 3. Double-down on What Worked. Look back to your process from reading, to preparing for class, to outlining, to taking the exam and ask yourself what worked. What actually helped you on the exam and what can you account for your success. Did you waste time making overly detailed case briefs? Did you really benefit from practice exams? Do more of what worked and less of what didn’t. 4. Move Forward with a Plan. For so many 1Ls especially the first semester is a lot of trial and error—and that makes sense! Second semester is a chance to identify what you can do less of, what you can do more of and just execute that plan. I recommend planning on the semester level (what will I do each week) and the weekly level (what will I do each day of the upcoming week). Put it on your calendar and if there is too much to put on don’t try to cram it in—schedule less. 5. Don’t Lose Your Excitement. You decided to go to law school for a reason. Don’t lose sight of that reason. It will help motivate you as you keep going. Those reasons can change (mine certainly did) but don’t let them change because others in your class said so. 6. Run Your Own Race. The curve makes law students feel like success is relative to your classmates. That is misleading. The curve is not going away for any individual class. BUT each semester, each year, and your career is not on a global curve. The only person you are racing against is yourself. There will be good days (and semesters) and bad ones. But progress is something that must be judged internally not externally. 7. See this Semester as an Opportunity and Not a Chore. How many times in life do we get a second chance right after our first one? This semester is a literal start from scratch. Top of class / bottom of class has no bearing on how this semester will go. Want to find yourself in a different place then make a different plan.

If you’re about to start law school (or in the middle of it), you’re probably feeling the pressure. I’ve been there. Looking back, here are five things I wish someone had told me before I started: ✨ 1. Treat law school like a full-time job... with a little overtime. The workload can feel never-ending, and it’s easy to think you need to be studying every second of the day. But here’s the truth: that’s the fastest way to burn out. Instead, approach law school like a 9-5. Show up, focus, get your work done during those hours, and give yourself time to rest in the evenings. Trust me, your brain (and mental health) will thank you. ✨ 2. Choose your study group wisely. Just because you get along with someone doesn’t mean they’ll be the best study partner. Some people work better alone, others need group discussions to process information. Find what works for you! ✨ 3. Use professor-specific outlines from past students. This was a game-changer for me. Before a class started, I’d get outlines from students who had the same professor and use them as a foundation to build my own. I’d have them open during lectures and tweak them throughout the semester. By finals season, I wasn’t scrambling to put an outline together, I already had it ready to go. ✨ 4. Don’t get stuck reading case law all day. I know the reading assignments feel overwhelming (because they are), but don’t spend all your time dissecting cases. Learn to brief cases efficiently and focus on understanding legal principles. You don’t need to memorize every detail, you need to understand how to apply the law. ✨ 5. Build and review your outlines every week. One of the best habits you can create is setting aside time weekly to review your outlines. This way, when finals roll around, you’re already familiar with the material instead of cramming it all in at the last minute. If you’re in law school right now, which of these tips do you wish you knew sooner? Or, if you’ve already been through it, what’s one thing you’d tell an incoming law student?

Here is an effective study technique used by First Class Law School graduates that you should consider applying this session. I have noticed that many students face one major challenge that significantly affects their academic performance. This post addresses that issue. As a student myself, I’ve observed a common pattern: one intense week of academic focus followed by two weeks of low motivation. This made me wonder, "How do Nigerian Law School students still manage to graduate with First Class honors despite these challenges?" Through my research and interviews with these students, I discovered a key study secret they all share... ...discipline. Discipline is a self-regulatory psychological skill involving self-control, habit formation, and the ability to stay focused on long-term academic goals despite distractions or low motivation. Here’s how First Class graduates maintain discipline: 1. Structured Routine and Consistency They follow strict daily study routines including regular interaction with course materials, group discussions, and personal reviews. Every day is a building block, and they stick to their schedules even when motivation wanes. 2. Accountability and Support Systems They stay accountable to mentors, peers, or study groups. Regular check-ins with mentors and support from friends help reinforce motivation and discipline. 3. Focus and Minimizing Distractions They limit social media use, say no to unnecessary social invitations, and focus on their academic goals without comparing themselves to others. 4. Resilience, Faith, and a Positive Mindset They accept stress and doubt as part of growth, maintaining resilience through affirmations, prayer, and surrounding themselves with encouraging people. 5. Balanced Engagement and Prioritization They balance focused solo study for deep understanding with group discussions for new insights. They also manage extracurricular activities effectively without compromising academics by prioritizing and adhering to a routine. Discipline truly is the foundation of academic success. Without it, no other study hack works effectively. For more insights, I referred to Barr. Chisom Ogbunando's interview with Young VIP TV . Check out their page for the full session and follow for updates. I am Uduak Wisdom, an academic excellence content creator. I share tips from personal experience and research to help students reach their full academic potential. If this is your first time seeing my post, connect with me and tap the 🔔 icon on my profile to get more content on academic excellence.

The Second Semester of Law School is the Hardest. At least it was for me. I raced through the first semester. I didn't take breaks. I read and took notes on everything. I had all the motivation and I was excited to begin a new chapter. A short winter break later, I was exhausted. Real life started throwing curve balls. Imposter syndrome was at its peak. That bright eyed bushy tailed excitement was gone. I was facing burnout. This isn't limited to law school so it is good to figure out how to navigate it while in law school. I was able to avoid complete burn out by: 1. Finding ways to renew my motivation. I had to remember why I went to law school to begin with. I wanted stability and a better future for my family and I also wanted to help others. 2. I had to set healthy boundaries. Humans need breaks. I made sure to schedule time to do things I enjoy such as spending time with family and exploring the city we had moved to. 3. I had to remind myself that I was just as capable as anyone else. This is still a work in progress but getting much better. 4. I found more efficient ways to study. I didn't have to do everything that everyone else was suggesting. I only needed to do what worked for me. 5. I had to think about my life without law school. If I was ever feeling overwhelmed enough to think about quitting, I had to think about what my life would be like if I quit. Every single time, I realized that I had come to far to quit now. If you are tired, I am here to tell you it is normal. I am also here to tell you that it will be okay and that you can find ways to rest when you need it. If you have suggestions for preventing burnout please post them below. #1Ls #LawStudents #Burnout #LawSchool