Maintaining Motivation as a Law Student

It can be quite demanding, or even overwhelming, to study law at university. Many quickly realise that the course, nor the profession, is not for them and stop while it is early. However, this is not the case for most individuals who choose to study law. But motivation is a thing that does dwindle, whether the individual believes the course is for them or not. If you believe you have made the right decision, it is important to maintain motivation as it is crucial not just for academic success, but also for your personal well-being. Here are some tips to help you stay motivated and driven:

Define your “Why”

It can be tough pursuing a law degree, but it is always useful to have a clear reason why you are doing this, to keep you going. Whether it is because of your passion for justice, your desire to make a difference in the business world and see your hard work come to life, or making a difference in your community, remind yourself regularly of your purpose. For those that do not necessarily want to pursue law, or have made up their mind not to, it is still useful to identify your reasons for studying law at present. It will likely be that studying law will enable you to develop certain useful skills, that will be useful in various careers. Use this as your “why” definition.

Set Realistic Goals

Focus on building one step at a time. It can be tempting to want to tackle everything head on, but this can lead to burnout. You can start by sharpening your legal research skills, polishing your writing, building your confidence, etc. Likewise, you can take a topic from each module and dedicate time to learning it separately, rather than trying to study all topics at once. This ensures that you do not take on too much that it leads to burnout.

Stay Organised

A well-structured study plan can prevent last-minute stress and burnout. Firstly, it is important to study in little bits from the very beginning. This ensures that you are not swamped with work towards the end of the semester or academic year. Use planners, timetables, apps or to do lists, to track exams and deadlines. Staying on top of your workload reduces anxiety and keeps you motivated.

Find a Support System

If you can, engage with fellow students in your course, as having a study group can make a huge difference. Even just surrounding yourself with supportive friends who are not law students can be enough to keep your motivation in check. It helps to keep each other accountable, providing much-needed encouragement. You can also seek support from your teachers, lecturers and personal tutors, as they will almost always be willing to help.

Engage in Active Learning

Do not just spend your time reading cases, statutes or academic material. This can become repetitive and ‘boring’, untimely leading to burnout. Try summarising these materials in your own words, use flashcards, always practice, discuss issues and topics with classmates (just refrain from doing this with exam questions unless it requires group work), engage in practical activities like mooting, mock trials, negotiations etc. This will make sure you are always engaged and will keep you motivated throughout the course.

Take Breaks

Do not feel like you always have to be on the go. This will almost certainly lead to exhaustion. Make sure to take breaks, do things you enjoy, exercise, get good sleep and get in good nutrition. A well-rested mind is more efficient and motivated to tackle the challenges of studying law at university.

Seek Inspirations

Take every opportunity to attend guest seminars or lectures, as well as networking events. Many do this to gather insights into the legal career, but it can also help you stay motivated when you hear the success stories of other legal professionals. Plus, seeing real-world applications of the law can reignite your passion for the subject.

Embrace Setbacks

Do not view setbacks as failures. Rather, see them as opportunities to grow. Every mistake you make, rejection you face, or difficult legal concept you master brings you closer to not just becoming a competent student, but a successful lawyer, or whatever profession you choose to pursue.

Visualise your picture yourself

Picture yourself in your dream career. Whether this is a courtroom, corporate boardroom, corporate office, or a human rights organisation. Keeping a mental image of your end goals can provide the motivation to push through tough times.

It does require effort to stay motivated as a law student and the same can be said for many university courses. However, if you remember what you want to achieve in the future, it can always help to stay on track. Cultivate the right mindset by staying organised, finding support, focusing on your goals and most importantly, enjoying the learning process. This will make sure you make the most of your time at university!

Article written by  Constance Eke, LLB graduate from the University of Leeds and a current LLM student at the University of Sheffield.