1. Do every reading. At the end of a long day of classes, the last thing you probably want to do is read, but it truly is critical to your success in law school. As you do readings for your next class, be sure to use the case method detailed below and take notes. The readings will be discussed in class, and the better you understand them now the more you’ll get out of class discussions.

2. Master the case method. As you read, brief every case. Each brief should at least include the facts, issue, rule, reasoning, and holding. Especially highlight the court’s reasoning, as this is often what professors focus on in class. This will help you consolidate long cases down to shortform, and when it comes time to study for exams you’ll already have a pocket-size case to review rather than pages of notes.

3. Take notes in class, every class. Most law school classes do far more than just discuss the readings, they provide students an opportunity to really dig into the law and understand how to apply it to circumstances that differ from the facts presented in a given case. Pay attention to what points your professors stress, which hypotheticals they raise, and which cases they emphasize. This will come back up on the final, and the more attention you pay to class discussions the better you’ll do. It isn’t enough just to read the cases, you need to understand the law. If you miss a class, ask a colleague to share their notes with you (and be willing to share your notes with others – the legal profession is smaller than you think, and your student peers will one day be professional contacts. Small acts of kindness aren’t forgotten!).

4. Create outlines early. You’re probably familiar with the term outline, but in law school outlines have a very specific meaning. They are broad outlines of an entire course (for example, Property Law), that consolidate a semester’s worth of notes into high level points of essential knowledge. You should start outlining by mid-semester, not right before finals. It is also important to use class notes, not just the textbook, to create your outline. Also be sure to include case examples, and even hypotheticals discussed in class. At the end of each week, or each evening, consider turning your class notes into outline format so that by the time finals come around, you already have an outline built.

5. Master IRAC. IRAC is a common legal written method used in law schools across the country. The acronym stand for Issue, Rule, Application, and Conclusion. This is the basis for effective legal writing, and mastering it now will not only help you with exams and and papers, it will serve you well as an attorney. Spend time practicing writing answers out in full IRAC form rather than just identifying the steps. The more you practice this method, the more intuitive it will become.

6. Go to office hours. Attending your professors’ office hours can feel daunting at first, but once you get your foot in the door you’ll see the tremendous difference it makes for your law school career. Not only does it build your relationship with your professor, it also presents an opportunity to work through and topics or hypotheticals you are finding particularly challenging. Going to office hours also shows initiative, and can help you understand what issues your professor finds more important to understand – which will help you tremendously when it comes time to study for your midterm or final exam.

7. Form a small study group. The old adage, “it takes a village” applies well to law school. Law is a dynamic and creative profession that often requires lawyers to work collaboratively and learn from each other. Diversity is a strength in any setting, so it is smart to form a small study group early on. This could be with students in your 1L section who share the same classes, or you could have different study groups for different classes. Either way, studying together gives you the opportunity to ask others questions, learn from their understanding of cases, practice hypotheticals as a group, and share information. It also builds your network, and your circle of friends.

8. Time management is essential. In law school, you really do need to master time management. It is critical to succeeding as a law student, and is a critical skill in the legal profession as well. Time management doesn’t just mean attending class and doing the readings, it means putting real effort into maximizing your time and organizing your days, weeks, and months. Use tools like Google Calendar or Outlook to block out time for class readings, outlining, extracurriculars, practice exams, applications, and breaks and personal time. Stick to your schedule, especially during finals.

9. Prioritize your mental wellbeing. Law school is mentally demanding, so it is essential that you build rest time into your study habits. Sleeping, eating well, physical activity, and fun or social activities are just as important as outlining, IRAC, and going to class. Really. If your brain can’t focus, you won’t absorb the seemingly-endless amount of information you learn each semester. Take care of yourself. Take breaks. Prioritize your as a human over you as a law student. Your grades will reflect the effort you put into making sure that you are as mentally healthy.

10. Practice makes not-so-perfect. Finally, the most important thing to keep in mind while study is this: Don’t chase perfection. Instead, focus on progress. You are going to make mistakes. You’ll forget a reading, your mind will go blank when you are cold-called, you will get a grade that will disappointment you. That. Is. Normal. You are a human, and it is very human to make mistakes. Nobody does law school perfectly, and what matters more is how you learn from your mistakes. After all, that is how legal analysis improves. Long-term skill-building is the most important part of law school, and the mistakes you make will only benefit you in the long-term if you learn from them.