Speaking with Lawyers Weekly, Lina Zaioor, a final year law student at UNSW and Student of the Year at the 2024 Women in Law Awards; Charlotte Carles, law student at the University of Notre Dame and a young ambassador for UNICEF Australia; and Ariella Tracton, law student at UTS and litigation paralegal at Makinson d’Apice Lawyers, shared valuable tips and strategies they have found helpful for successfully navigating exam season.

Breaking down the biggest exam time hurdles

The experience of being a law student inherently involves various challenges. However, these difficulties are exacerbated during the exam period, adding even more pressure.

Zaioor said a primary challenge law students often encounter during this period is managing the “large volumes” of material they’ve covered throughout the semester, all within “tight time frames”.

Given the “short window” available for exam preparation, she explained that this poses a considerable challenge, as law subjects are “content-heavy, requiring mastery of complex legal doctrines, landmark cases, statutory interpretation and academic commentary across multiple subjects”, she said.

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Tracton noted that balancing the academic responsibilities of exam season with other “competing priorities” – from part-time jobs, family time, and sports activities – can be a challenging juggling act for law students during their examination periods.

“Many students also grapple with impostor syndrome or feel pressure to constantly ‘do more’, which can be mentally draining and contribute to burnout if not carefully managed,” she said.

Zaioor also pointed out that many law students struggle to “develop a clear strategy” going into exam season, contending that the “large volume of notes, lecture slides and textbooks” can easily lead them to feel “overwhelmed and unsure”.

But Carles feels that the “exam season complaining echo chamber” fosters a sense of “bond” among students, as they unite in expressing their frustrations about the challenging material and the stress they are under.

However, she did point out that in Australia, “tall poppy syndrome” makes it “more socially acceptable” to admit to feeling stressed than to boast about hard work and confidence.

“Don’t forget to keep your own mindset in check so that you don’t start letting the negative talk affect your mindset,” she said.

Maintaining balance

Although it may seem counterintuitive and is often easier said than done, taking breaks is crucial for effective exam preparation. However, many law students find it challenging to incorporate this practice into their study routines.

Zaioor emphasised the significance of balancing study time with breaks, noting that without regular pauses, “your ability to retain information and maintain focus declines, leading to stress and burnout”.

She said that achieving this balance can involve “scheduling time for physical activity, watching an episode of your favourite show, catching up with friends, or simply spending quality time with family”.

Carles echoed the importance of adopting a balanced study approach, stating that her “best exams are the ones where I feel relaxed and ready from plenty of breaks, low-level social time, and time outside between deep focus study blocks”.

While many law students believe that the most effective studying strategy involves isolating themselves “up in a dungeon for two weeks straight”, Carles pointed out that this method can backfire.

She stressed that such an approach can negatively affect your “mental health” and explained that “your brain works better” when given the chance to recharge and be “refreshed”.

Tracton added that she has experienced firsthand the consequences of overlooking the significance of “pushing through without taking breaks”, noting that such a mindset “rarely leads to better outcomes” and instead leads to “fatigue and diminished focus”.

Best study techniques to implement

Considering the significant stress associated with the end-of-semester period for law students, it is essential to adopt study techniques tailored to your needs and best interests.

Zaioor shared a study technique that has been effective for her going into the exam periods: to create “condensed cheat sheets for each topic”, which include “the most important rules, legal tests, case authorities and statutory provisions for quick reference”.

She explained that this approach not only helps in quickly accessing vital information but also “forces you to actively engage with the material and present key concepts”.

Another helpful strategy that Zaioor has found is “to complete past papers under time conditions, as it provides opportunities to practise applying legal concepts to different fact scenarios under exam pressure”.

When reviewing case law or preparing for problem-based exam questions, Tracton emphasised that “active recall and spaced repetition” is the most effective strategy to “retain complex material”.

Tracton also shared that “studying in small groups, particularly working through past papers and discussing tricky questions, has been key for me, helping me stay accountable, gain new perspectives, and feel less isolated during exam season”.

Carles has implemented a more philosophical approach to managing exam anxiety.

“One day, when I was in high school, I was anxiously talking to my mum about an upcoming exam, and she told me ‘think of the worst case scenario’,” she said.

“Following her instruction, I thought of what I felt most terrified of: failing the exam. I stopped, breathed, and realised that even if that happened, the world certainly wouldn’t stop spinning.”

Since receiving that advice, Carles has applied it during every exam season up to now, with this mental approach allowing her to “clear [out] negative thoughts” and “allow more space for focusing on the content”.

Words of advice

While it’s common to “fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others”, Zaioor advised law students to keep in mind “that everyone learns differently, and there is no single ‘right’ way to prepare”.

“Also, remember that you don’t have to go through it alone. Although it is easy to isolate yourself and get caught up in the pressure of individual performance, the best support comes from leaning on your friends and peers,” she said.

“Many students around you are navigating similar challenges, and supporting one another can make the load feel lighter. Take comfort in the shared experience.”

While it’s easy to get “slowed down by tiny details” during exam season, Carles emphasised the importance of remembering that “law school is about how well you can apply law to a set of facts, not how well you can rote learn black letter law”.

Finally, Tracton advised law students to focus on “consistency rather than perfection”, stressing that while “exams can feel high stakes, they don’t define your worth or your future”.