Making the Most of Your Law School Winter Break

Making the Most of Your

Law School Winter Break By Kat Giordano

It is the most wonderful time of the year: law school winter break. Unlike during Thanksgiving break, you are not worrying about looming final exams. But, while you are getting some well-deserved rest, is it wise to completely ignore your school and professional responsibilities? Whether this is your first law school winter break or your last, here are a dozen things that you can do to make the most of it.

1. Recover. If you are like many law students, you are operating at a sleep deficit, so you will want to take this opportunity to let yourself get a full eight hours (or more).

2. Wrap up. Return any library books and sell or donate your course books and supplements. Then, take the chance to send a few thank you notes to some professors, administrators, staff, and classmates who impacted you this semester.

3. Reflect. Consider your semester while it is fresh in your mind. What went well, and what do you want to improve for next time? Think about your good and bad habits. Did you work with a study group? Did you use commercial outlines? How did you take notes? Reflect on whether what you are doing is getting you closer to your long-term goals.

4. Set goals. Lay out what you would like to accomplish over the break and next semester. Start small: perhaps aim to meditate three times a week before ramping it up to a daily practice. Focus on what is within your control. For example, set your sights on your dream grade, but name actionable changes like focusing on your class attendance and study habits.

5. Prepare your space. Clean your room, do your laundry (plus donate any old clothes gathering dust), and clear out your fridge. Pick up some ingredients to learn to cook a new dish. Check out some pleasure reading from your library. Confirm any travel plans.

6. Reconnect. Spend meaningful time with your family, friends, and pets. Consider taking a walk, catching up over coffee, or exploring the new spot that opened in your hometown.

7. Relax. Get outside, try a new hike, go for a bike ride, listen to that new album, watch that popular TV series, see a movie, window shop, go for a drive—whatever helps you unwind.

8. Record. Journal, print photos, or record a video letter for your future self. Clean out your inbox and bookmark emails with kind words for a rainy day. You will be glad you did.

9. Create a good habit (or two). Maybe you want to wake up earlier. Floss. Eat breakfast. Wear sunscreen. Exercise regularly. Limit your time on social media. Practice gratitude. Increase your typing speed. Track your expenses. Start now, with one habit at a time.

10. Do your professional housekeeping. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile, request your transcript, and send that networking email. Connect with your career services advisor. Brush up on your Bluebooking, and get an early start on your employer and judge research. Try on your professional wear now, so you are not scrambling for a suit later.

11. Do something you have been putting off. Perhaps you can finally perfect your Zoom set-up. Get your finances in order. Clean out your childhood bedroom. Complete the training for the pro bono volunteering you want to do. Plan a trip or a staycation. Get a haircut.

12. Get ahead. Search for the perfect birthday gift for a loved one in advance or plan an event for your section. As far as class goes, engage with the upcoming material in a fun way: Find a related podcast (e.g., “More Perfect”) or pleasure read (e.g., The Odd Clauses).

But knowing what to do is only half the battle: knowing what not to do can be just as crucial. Here are half a dozen things to avoid this winter break.

1. Stress. You do enough of that during the semester.

2. Reread your exams. What is done is done. While some papers you might continue to improve upon for future use (say, as a writing sample or for publication in a legal journal), your exams are often totally behind you. Do not lose sleep over them.

3. Obsessively check for grades. Grades will be posted when they are posted, and they will be what they will be. While reflecting on your performance is important, reflecting on your preparation will be much more useful than worrying in the meantime.

4. Work too far ahead. Trying to teach yourself the entirety of your next class may not pan out. Instead, just come in well-prepared and ready to learn from your professors.

5. Expect immediate responses. Lots of places (like school administrations and legal employers) slow down around the holidays. Getting ahead on your emails can be useful, but your responders might be enjoying a break as well. Patience is key.

6. Plan right up until you restart class. Remember, you will likely have readings for your first day back, and travel complications can (and do) happen. Give yourself a buffer so that you can get started on the right foot.

Remember, everything is best in moderation. Your winter break is what you make of it, and, as long as you return ready to learn, it is likely a success. So, enjoy your time off this holiday season—you deserve it. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to get back to watching Virgin River with my mom.