Mid-Terms

I'm told that most law schools do not bother with mid-terms. At most schools you cram as much information as your brain will hold for a semester and then show up for an all-or-nothing final exam. That's the plan for one of my classes, Civil Procedure, but my Torts and Contracts professors gave us mid-term exams this week Depending on how I did, they might not count more than 10% towards my final grades, but at least I won't walk blindly into finals week.

The typical law school exam requires analysis. Knowing the relevant law is only a starting point. In fact, professors assume you know the law inside and out by exam time. The real test is applying the law to a given set of facts and arguing both sides of the situation. Quickly.

I've worked hard this semester and did the best I could, so that's good enough for me (for now, at least). The highs of law school are heady, while the lows can be crushing. Deciphering a judicial opinion that at first was as impenetrable as grantite can be incredibly satisfying -- until the next cryptic opinion forces you to climb from the depths of ignorance all over again.

We'll see how much of what I've learned is reflected in my scores, but I can pat myself on the back (as should every 1L) for being able to attack complex legal problems after just seven weeks of classes. And if honing my test-taking skills is my biggest challenge, I think I'll be OK.