It’s getting to be that time of year again. Daylight savings time marks the shift from “Law school? It’s not so bad,” to “Give me all of your Red Bull and protein bars, and I promise not to punch you and then start crying.” Don’t be fooled by the ancient anecdotes about farmers. “Falling back” to good ol’ Standard Time is the government’s way of saying “Give those law students an extra hour of daylight. They’re going to need it.”

Yes, that’s right. The scent of finals is on the wind. And it smells kind of like the guy in my Con Law class who thinks that his gas has Privileges and Immunities. No matter how you’ve spent your semester so far (shmemo-ing, crying over your unevenly bound Van Vleck briefs, joining student organizations just for the pizza, etc.), we are now venturing into the one group experience that all law students share. Final exams.

Now, since I know 2Ls and 3Ls have been through this before, my only recommendation is this: do what works for you. If being the crazy person drinking your espresso with a straw so you don’t have to look up from your notes works for you, rock on with your bad self. However, if what you’re doing hasn’t been working for you? Maybe go a little lighter on the caffeine, and try a practice test or two. See if it helps. If it doesn’t, ask yourself one question. Did I Gchat through this class the entire semester?

As for you 1Ls, I have a very short list of recommendations. I can’t claim to be an expert. I will not be clerking for Scalia anytime soon (for many reasons). These are more just suggestions for your sanity than guarantees for success. Not that I can claim to be an expert on sanity either (just on disclaimers).

1. Do your own thing. Starting soon, if not already, people are starting to talk about studying. They’ll be comparing study habits, dispensing unsolicited advice, and stressing the heck out of each other. First, everyone inflates their studying stats. I know that most of us aren’t awesome at math, but it’s just not possible to study for twenty-five hours a day. This will not stop a gunner or two from trying to persuade you that he has invented some kind of Contracts Time Machine™, or trying to convince you that if you haven’t subscribed to some internet blogger’s study schedule, you’re going to fail school and end up burning your casebooks for warmth under a bridge. Just do what you think you need to do, with whomever you want, and ignore everyone else. I mean, let’s be honest. Getting advice from other 1Ls? Um...they haven’t done this yet either. Trust that you know what you need to do.

2. Leave the law school, at least sporadically. I know that it would seem like just camping out in the basement of the library and memorizing the rules of Civil Procedure would be a recipe for success. But every once in a while, go outside. Breathe some fresh air. Figure out if it’s nighttime or daytime. Maybe *gasp* go to the gym, or drink something that isn’t designed to help you stay awake longer than a future Freddie Krueger victim. Believe it or not, it’ll help your productivity.

3. Observe the etiquette surrounding reserved rooms. This is always a problem around finals time. If you and a study group are going to meet, reserve a room. It’s on the portal and it’s not hard. Everyone is studying right now, in every possible square inch of the school. You do not have a divine right to a study room, no matter how many people are with you or how crazy your eyes look. The only thing that confers such a right is an actual, school-approved reservation. Also, if you do have a reservation, be polite. Nicely inform the person currently in the room that you have it reserved at X time, and give them a minute to pack up and leave. Forgive them if they did not psychically know of your reservation. Of course, if they don’t leave, the only possible solution is Battle Royale. No eye-gouging, please.

4. Study groups can be a good thing...but not always. A good study group is like a good man, or a good Evidence supplement. They can be hard to find. However, I strongly advocate trying out the group study thing. Take a practice test with some friends and talk over your answers. Compare attack sheets. Maybe even figure out what an attack sheet is. Sometimes, though, studying with your friends is like living with your friends. And if that thought strikes fear into your heart, reconsider the study group thing. If it’s helping you, study with a group. If your study group’s activities consist mainly of snorting Adderall off of a stripper’s ... intellectual property, find a new study group. I’m looking at you, sports writer.

5. Keep just a tiny little bit of perspective. Whether you end up with a 4.0 or...not, you are a good person and, doggone it, people like you! Except you, Con Law II gas kid. I do not like you one bit.