b'REMIND YOURSELF WHY YOU CHOSE THISTALK TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE FIELDDEGREE IN THE FIRST PLACE Speak to different peopleolder students, Ploughing through subject after subject andlawyers, academics or just anyone doing cool fighting off one assignment after the otherthings with their law degree. Studying such a can be draining. Reflect on why you chose totheoretical subject where your head is most study law. Were you glued to the trials andlikely buried under a casebook or s 1318 of the tribulations of the fearless Atticus Finch in To KillCorporations Act means that its easy to feel a Mockingbird? Did you want to be a boss ladydisconnected from the personal side of the lawlike Amal Clooney, spending summers on Lakethe people behind it all.Como and fighting human rights abuses in theAttend networking events in subject areas of International Court of Justice? Or was it becausethe law that interest you, email that lawyer you if Elle Woods could do it, you could too? (What,met a while ago at a careers fair and ask if you like its hard?) Whatever it was - a brush with thecould pick their brain over a coffeethey might law when you were younger, popular culture or aeven become your mentor. Hearing about others personreturn to it. career paths inspires me and reminds me that Even if you thought law was the naturalthere is a life beyond law school.progression after performing well in high school,TAKE A BREAK OR LIGHTEN YOUR WORK AND theres surely a reason why youve persisted. ItSTUDY LOAD might be pride, or the one concept in Contracts you found interesting, or you spoke to a reallyConsider whether you have too much on your cool barrister who moonlights as a film director.plate. Working three days per week, taking a Remember that there are many ways to make afour-unit study load, with mooting competitions law subject enjoyable! and society activity on the side whilst socialising SET GOALS regularly can lead to burnout. Eventually, studying and going to work can begin to feel like Set goals if you feel like youre lacking direction ina chore. If youre heading in this direction, lighten your degree.You could set short-term goals, fromyour work or study load. Doing one less subject or finishing your readings or planning your researchworking one less day is beneficial in the long run essay by the end of the week, or dedicatingif it improves your health and happiness.Saturday to catching up on Evidence. CompletingDONT DWELL ON BAD MARKSthese goals give you a sense of achievement that can replenish your motivation. You could also setA law degree is hard. Even if youre intelligent, long-term goals, like maintaining a consistentyou have to put in work in order to do well. study pattern and attending all your lectures.Transitioning from the smaller, insular high Make sure to evaluate your goals: If I couldntschool environment where you may have been tick a task off this time around, should I adjustthe top of your grade to law school where youre my expectations or shift the goalpost to make itjust one of many smart people in your cohort more attainable, but still challenging? can make you doubt whether you can stand out. Hearing people exchange marks after getting back their assignment can make you feel even worsehow did you work so hard yet only get a 65 whilst Brian over there started the night before and got a 78?It happens. So what if Brian started the night before and got a 78? Its just one assignment, and youre probably learning a lot more than Brian did from the assignment. Assignments are about honing your research, analytical and writing skills. So get as much feedback as you can; consider points of improvement. A bad mark does not define your law school experience nor how well you know the law.PAGE 27'