Academic Enhancement Program
Our Mission: The Student Affairs Office wants to ensure that our students succeed by offering workshops throughout the year that address common issues of law school life. No matter what your grades are or how well you feel you are doing in school there is something for every student in this program. These workshops are about the tangible changes you can make outside of the classroom to improve your class work, your studying and overall well-being during the stressfull years of law school.
These workshops have been designed and created specifically for the students of BU Law by Nicole Price and Josh Cooper. Not only do they have years of experience working in Student Affairs at BU Law but they are both attorneys as well. They've gone through the rigors of law school and have used these experiences plus their expertise to make this program as useful and practical as possible for the First-Year students of BU Law. If you're interested in contacting Nicole or Josh or learning more about them see below.
Fall Semester:
Friday, September 11, 2009 - Perception versus Reality of Law School and Knowing your Learning Style
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Friends and family have told you all about law school. You've watched every movie about law school from The Paper Chase to Legally Blonde. But what's the reality of law school life? More importantly, how can distinguishing between these perceptions and reality change your experience? Come learn the differences and find out about the reality of law school at BU.
Did you know that being aware of your learning style you can be more successful with your studying? Did you even know that there were different learning styles at all? Join us to understand the different ways we perceive information and how armed with this knowledge you can better plan your note taking, class preparation and study habits to be more effective students. - presented by Nicole Price and Josh Cooper
Handouts: 5 Key Realities About Law School
Friday, September 25, 2009 - Time Management and Class Preparation/Study Habits
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Every law student looks at their schedule the first time around and says, 'Wow, do I have a lot of free time. Getting all my work done should be easy.' Littel do they know that it is never that easy. Yes, in law school you have fewer assignments but there is actually more to do. Law students must plan how to structure their time to prepare cases for each class, studying and outling for exams, and getting evrey other aspect of day to day life in there. It's a lot harder than one might expect.
On top of that law school is very different from both your time as an undergraduate and as a graduate student for any other graduate degrees you might have. In this presentation we will be going over useful advice for class preparation that is specific to law school. - presented by Nicole Price and Josh Cooper
Handouts:Guidelines for Weekly and Semester Management Plans
Friday, October 9, 2009 - Outlining your Classes and Exam Preparation
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Outlining a course is not necessarily about the finished product but about understanding the material as you proceed through the creation of the outline. As it relates to your exam preparation, this is something that must be happening throughout the entire semester, not just at the end. In this presentation you will hear from a panel of upperclass students who will share their experiences on outlining and how they prepare for exams starting with the beginning of the semester. - student panel moderated by Josh Cooper and Nicole Price
Suggested student panelists – Todd Marabella, Bill Davison, Abraham Robinson, Rob Lawless, Molly Muzevich, Alana Montas Alyssa Cannavino, Claire Catalano, Chelsea Childs, Carolyn Mattus, Sharee Pierce and Sarah Kitchell for 3rd years. List is long but will be shortened
Friday, October 23, 2009 - Stress Management
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Stress management could almost be an alternative name for law school! Sometimes students aren't willing to admit that they're stressed, others don't even know that stress is effecting them. The goal of this presentation is to help you recognize signs of stress in your own life and that of others - you have to help out your fellow classmate too! Along with finding these signs we'll also give you advice on how to cope and information on resources that can help you minimize any stress that you may have no matter how large or small. - presented by Gina Wolcott and Barbara Bowe of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers along with Josh Cooper and Nicole Price
Handouts: Coping Self Statements
Friday, November 6, 2009 - Exam Taking
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Each professor is going to have their nuances about their exam and what they expect of you. What this presentation is about is giving you general advice on how to prepare for your exams as well as advice on taking the actual exam. Today you will hear from first year professors who have read more 1L bluebooks than they care to admit! They will share their years of knowledge to ensure that you have a better understanding on ways to succeed in your exams. panel of professors X, Y, and Z moderated by Dean Chris Marx
Suggested panel of professors may include Simons, Farnsworth, Pettit, Leonard
Friday, November 20, 2009 - Business Etiquette
description:
Exams are around the corner and soon after the spring semester begins and you'll be thinking about jobs. Some of you may get a head start on your search during intersession so we want to make sure that you're fully prepared to deal with firms and attorneys putting your best foot forward. One may think it obvious but there are many mistakes that can be made when networking. However, there are also many things you can do to stand out from the crowd. We'll give you great tips on remaining professional no matter what the situation from cocktail party to interview. - presented by Sabrina Halloran, Associate Director of the CDO, Nicole Price, and Josh Cooper
Handouts: Professional Etiquette Guide
Spring Semester:
TBD - Dealing with your Grades and Jobs
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TBD - Student Panel; Correcting our Mistakes
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TBD - CDO panel?
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GENERAL ADVICE/HELP
BU LAW - past exams and course evaluations
Online Academic Support Program for Law Students
Advice to First Year Law Students - article from FindLaw.com
CLASS PREPARATION
How To Read a Legal Opinion - from Professor Orin Kerr, George Washington University School of Law
Outlining - from Berkeley School of Law
STRESS MANAGEMENT
Stress Management and dealing with its sources - from Florida State Law
Stress Management Information - from Suffolk University School of Law
TIME MANAGEMENT
Time Manamgement - from Villanova Law
EXAM PREPARATION
Do's and Don't of Exam Preparation - from Chicago-Kent College of Law
How To Approach and Take a Law School Examination - from Professor Elizabeth Garrett, Univrsity of Southern California
Writing Law Examinations - from Professor John Langbein, Yale Law School
IRAC for Exam Taking - from Berkeley School of Law
Exam Taking Tips - from Berkeley School of Law