Online law school and students attending part time law school programs face unique challenges. This presentation is meant to accompany the corresponding webinar, available at www.stfrancislaw.com. This presentation covers: Overview of St. Francis School of Law --The nation's first highly-selective online law school --Highly credentialed faculty from top-ranked law schools --Interactive platform hosting live, online classes --Accomplished student body Choosing an Online Law School --Rankings for Online Law Schools --the ABA and Online Law Schools

1. THE 5 BIGGEST MISTAKES
PART-TIME AND ONLINE
LAW STUDENTS MAKE

2. Agenda
 Quick Overview of Online Law School
 Discussion of the 5 Biggest Mistakes Part-
Time Law Students Make
 Q & A
 Admissions Deadlines
Law School Reinvented

3. Law School Reinvented
•Focused on career
professionals
•Designed to provide
flexibility and accessibility
•Rigorous program
•High level of interactivity
• Extremely well-
credentialed faculty

4. Law School Reinvented
•Live, real-time classes two
evenings per week
•Professors use web
cameras
•Students are always
required to participate via
voice
•Web cam participation
can also be required

5. Law School Reinvented
• 24/7 access to class materials, recorded
classes, discussion boards, and academic
support resources
• Office hours with professors
•Focus on recruiting engaged, collegial
student body

6. Mistake #1: Not Understanding Your
Role as a Student
 Origin of Mistake: Expecting law school to be solely
about learning rules
 Your three key tasks during law school
 Learn how to learn
 Learn how to think
 Learn what to do
 Difference between the St. Francis law school model
and traditional law school models
Law School Reinvented

7. Work Towards Final Exams
Clark Kent, star reporter for the Daily Planet, was approached by
panhandler Bill Gates and asked for a quarter. As a prank, Kent (who
was secretly Superman) lifted and very gently flew Gates hundreds of
feet up to the top of the World Tribune building and left Gates there
on a ledge.
Kent hovered over the World Tribune building and never touched the
surface of the building. During the flight, Gates was apprehensive he
might fall, but Kent had a strong grip. Gates was embarrassed and
the crowds below taunted him for hours as the fire department tried to
devise a means of rescue. Gates was humiliated.
As he stood on the ledge, Gates accidently knocked a decorative panel
loose. It fell to the ground and injured fireman Frank. Suddenly, Gates
discovered that there was an unlocked window next to him all the time.
He opened the window and escaped immediately.
Discuss.
Law School Reinvented

8. Mistake #2: Not Knowing How to Study
Efficiently
 Origin of Mistake: Ignorance of what to expect on
law school final exams
 Manifestation of Mistake
 Misunderstanding the role of cases
 Active vs. passive study strategies
 Three ways to avoid this mistake
Law School Reinvented

9. Active vs. Passive Studying in Law School
DO THIS… …NOT THIS…
Reading Practice
Exams
Case Briefing Issue-Spotting &
Hypos
Memorizing Rule
Outlining
Statements
Memorizing Rule
Outlining Statements
Issue-Spotting & Hypos Case Briefing
Practice Exams Reading
Law School Reinvented

10. Mistake # 3: Not Being Prepared to
Absorb a Large Volume of Information
 Origin of Mistake
 Manifestation of Mistake
 Assuming that concepts that are unclear or difficult will
become clearer or less difficult with time
 Spending study time engaged in efforts that are not
likely to increase your comprehension
 How to avoid this mistake
 Importance of self-assessments
 Focus on being proactive and staying up to speed
Law School Reinvented

11. Strategies to Succeed in Online Law
School Programs
• Be prepared to feel
overwhelmed for at least 6
LAW SCHOOL CAN FEEL LIKE THIS…
months
•Stop looking for a right
answer- focus on analysis,
analysis, analysis
•Keep your eye on the final
exam and work towards
being able to write an
organized essay using IRAC
format
Law School Reinvented

12. Mistake # 4: Not Taking Advantage of
Networking Opportunities
 Origin of Mistake: Overestimating the degree of
competition
 How to engage with peers in and outside of online
law classes
 Networking in part-time and online law programs
Law School Reinvented

13. Mistake #5: Assuming Poor
Performance Can Be Explained Away
 Origin of Mistake: Rationalizing that there is
“leeway” for lower grades given that online law
school students are also working
 Manifestation of Mistake
 How to avoid this mistake
 Alignment of career goals and law school
 Open communication with online law school
administrators
 Evaluating all graded work to assess weaknesses
Law School Reinvented

14. Law School Reinvented
Online Law School
Q&A Session

15. Law School Reinvented
Online Law School Application Deadlines
Winter Spring
2013 2013
Application Application
Deadline: Deadline: April
December 10th 10th
Classes start Classes start
first week of first week of
January May