Best Study Strategies for Neurodivergent Law Students

Posted by Themis Bar Review on October 1, 2024

Navigating law school is challenging for any student, and finding study strategies that cater to your learning style plays a critical role in meeting that challenge. However, for the 25% of law students who identify as neurodivergent, traditional study methods simply aren't optimized.

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7 Highly Effective Memorization Techniques for the Bar Exam

Posted by Themis Bar Review on May 01, 2024

In the aftermath of the tragic collapse of a banquet hall in ancient Greece, Simonides of Ceos experienced an epiphany that would forever change the art of memory. Amidst the chaos, he found he could recall where each guest had been sitting simply by picturing the hall's layout in his mind.

This insight led to the birth of the "Memory Palace," a method where information is tied to specific spatial locations, allowing for astonishing recall abilities. This ancient technique, now supported by empirical evidence, is just 1 of the 7 highly effective bar exam memorization techniques we'll cover below.

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7 Legal Writing Tips for Law Students

Posted by Themis Bar Review on March 10, 2024

What writing skills you’ve learned as an undergraduate will come in handy in law school, but they probably won’t be enough. Legal writing demands a specific set of skills and a deep understanding of legal concepts and procedures. You’re not just conveying information, you’re arguing, persuading, and analyzing within a highly structured framework. Whether you’re drafting a brief, a memo, or preparing for moot court, these 7 tips will help you master the art of legal writing.

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The Art of Outlining for 1L Final Exams

Posted by Themis Bar Review on March 01, 2024

Outlines. You've undoubtedly heard about how important they are when preparing for exams. However, despite having a general idea of what an outline is, many fresh law school students don't fully understand how to make or use them. Whether you're an incoming law student or making your way through your first semester, this article will teach you the art of outlining for 1L final exams and turn your anxiety into confidence.

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Balancing Academics and Extracurriculars: Time Management Tips for 2L Students

Posted by Themis Bar Review on February 15, 2024

For many, the second year of law school becomes a complex balancing act between academics and extracurricular activities. Some students seem to glide through to the top 10%, mastering case law while participating in a number of extracurriculars. Others require more time to grasp the nuances of law, take care of personal responsibilities, or simply take a well-deserved break. Whether you're a glider or struggling, the following five strategies will help you find and maintain that delicate balance between academics and extracurricular activities in your 2nd year of law school.

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7 Strategies to Prepare for the Socratic Method During 1L Year

Posted by Themis Bar Review on February 01, 2024

Legend states that when Socrates asked Plato, "What is a man?" Plato responded, "a featherless biped." Plato was applauded for such a simple definition, but not by everyone. In response, eccentric philosopher Diogenes the Cynic strolled into Plato's Academy holding up a plucked chicken and stated, "Behold, I've brought you a man!" Plato then added "...with broad flat nails" to his definition.

This dialectical approach to understanding came to be known as the Socratic Method. While 1L classes typically don't involve plucked chickens, your professors will employ a refined version of this method. Here's what it looks like and how to prepare for it…

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How to Make a Bar Exam Study Schedule | 5 Tips with Examples

Posted by Themis Bar Review on December 01, 2023

Studying for the bar exam takes as much time and dedication as a full-time job. Some students are able to study full time, while others have responsibilities that only allow for part-time studying. Either way, everyone must ask themselves three questions: What should I be studying? When? And for how long?

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A Law School Student’s Guide to Stress and Burnout

Posted by Themis Bar Review on November 28, 2023

Law school is a mental marathon. Sometimes, the finish line seems to disappear below the horizon. Many current and former law school students revel in burnout and stress as a rite of passage, but it doesn't have to be this way.

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Ace Your 1L Exams: 9 Actionable Tips from an Attorney

Posted by Themis Bar Review on November 20, 2023

Successful law school students are strategic in their approach to exams. You must make an effort to understand the expectations of your professors, take useful notes, and practice diligently, among other things. Read on for 9 actionable tips on how to ace your 1L exams.

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Tackling the MPRE with Confidence

Posted by Themis Bar Review on October 19, 2023

Passing the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE®) is required for admission to every U.S. jurisdiction with the exceptions of Puerto Rico and Wisconsin. Whether you’re taking the MPRE for the first time or need to increase your score, the following tips will help you develop confidence for exam day.

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A 1L Student's Guide to Legal Language

Posted by Themis Bar Review on October 16, 2023

If you've ever read the terms and conditions for your Wi-Fi provider, you understand that the law is a language of its own. But why does it have to be so complicated? Many archaic terms have been sealed in legal language over the centuries. But, it is also very important to be precise and account for every possible contingency. For example, the validity of a contract can rest on the inclusion or omission of a single word.

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Navigating Your First Year of Law School: Tips for Success

Posted by Themis Bar Review on September 27, 2023

There's no use sugarcoating it—law school is challenging. And for good reason. Your future clients and employers must be confident in your competence and resolve. But here's the good news—you can make your 1L year a fulfilling (and maybe even fun?) challenge by setting realistic expectations and preparing the right way. Below, we’ll cover key tips to help you get ahead in your 1L year and stay ahead throughout law school.

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Trust, Transparency, Results: The How and Why of Themis Pass Rates

Posted by Rebecca Petrilli on January 25, 2022

After ten years in the bar prep industry, Themis remains the only company to publish comprehensive, transparent, and trustworthy pass-rate data. If you have yet to check out our pass-rate information, you can find the numbers here. Themis calculates pass rates because we value transparency and student success, and to prove to students that our methodology works. In this post, we want to give you a chance to understand how we get the data for our pass rates and what that data means.

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Holiday Party Etiquette Advice for Almost Lawyers

Posted by Sarah Parker on Dec 17, 2018 11:43:57 AM

‘Tis the season for holiday parties! Remember that memories linger long after the champagne stops popping, so here are some friendly reminders to help you navigate these events with professional dignity.

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Halloween Costumes That Only a Lawyer Could Love

Posted by Sophie Dye Gayle on Oct 29, 2018 11:40:08 AM

Inviting strange children to your home after dark to feed them potential allergens and choking hazards? Displaying fake corpses and images of the occult? Hacking into giant gourds with huge, unsharpened kitchen knives, in close proximity to friends and loved ones? It’s not surprising that Halloween has given rise to some pretty sensational lawsuits spanning all areas of the law. From products liability (who knew it would be a bad idea to light a cigarette when dressed as a cotton-ball-covered sheep?)1 to freedom of expression (shout out to the Seventh Circuit for protecting your right to talk smack about your neighbors via fake tombstone)2. From the mundanity of premises liability (if you break your nose fleeing a haunted house right into a cinderblock wall, you’re on your own)3 to intellectual property (banana costume buyer, beware) 4.

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Secrets To Breaking Through The 'Breaking Points' of Law School and Beyond

Posted by Katy Eddy on Oct 12, 2018 4:21:32 PM

Whether you are at the top of your class or just scraping by, law school has a unique way of making you feel completely inadequate and insecure. These feelings are often unfamiliar because you excelled to get into law school in the first place. Everyone reaches their breaking point, those times when stress and anxiety fill you with the impending fear of not being good enough.

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Brutally Honest 1L Advice From A Brilliant, Bitterly Brunette Attorney

Posted by Kathleen Turchi on Oct 1, 2018 2:32:18 PM

Everyone knows that someone has to be cold-called on first, but until Professor Margaret Howard pursed her lips and looked my way, I never really thought it would be me. “Ms. Sharpe, tell us about this case.” It was me, on my first day of law school, in my first class of law school, reciting the facts of Lucy v. Zehmer to the 5’1”, positively withering Professor Howard. The good news is I survived. You will survive your first cold call too, and, believe it or not, you’ll probably make it through the next three years. Here are some tips on coping with the stress from this massive, harrowing journey.

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2L/3L Life: 10 Preach-Free Pieces of Advice for Almost Lawyers

Posted by Rebecca Petrilli on Sep 17, 2018 10:20:05 AM

It’s a new school year and the semester is now in full swing. You survived a summer job or internship and are getting back to basics: reading cases, trying to avoid getting called on in class, and wondering how you’ll make it out of law school alive. As you navigate through this semester and beyond, it’s important to think about what you want to accomplish this year. What do you hope to achieve? What plans are you making for the future?

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