TIPS FROM HIGH ACHEIVING FIRST YEARS

TIPS FROM HIGH ACHIEVING FIRST YEARS

WE HAVE TRACKED DOWN THREE STUDENTS WHO ACHIEVED HIGHLY IN THEIR FIRST YEAR AND ASKED THEM FOR THEIR BEST TIPS & TRICKS.

RACAHEL PAXTON

BEST PERFORMING STUDENT IN LLB102 & LLB106

At the beginning of each week write a to-do list for all readings, tutorials, lectures and tasks that require completion for the week ahead. Aim to have all tasks completed before the next week begins.

Start assignments early and try to avoid leaving assignments to the last minute. I have learnt it is not uncommon to have lightbulb moments when you are close to completion and realise that something you have written is in fact incorrect.

Ask as many questions as you can. Utilise discussion boards, email lecturers, participate in peer mentor sessions, virtual or face to face tutorials and schedule consultation times with educators if you need a little more help through the semester. The QUT Law teaching staff are there to help.

CATHERINE BUGLER

BEST PERFORMING STUDENT IN LLB104 & LLB203

Be persistent. Don’t get anxious if some things don’t “click” immediately. The legal principles you’ll learn will be, at times, counter-intuitive and contradictory. No one is born understanding the law of hearsay, you have to go about learning it – that’s why you’re at uni.

Understand procrastination. People think that procrastination is laziness, but it’s often actually anxiety: procrastination is avoiding the discomfort of facing an imperfect draft or a looming deadline. Get your friends together to study to make it more enjoyable or have a chat to the psychologists provided by QUT for free on campus who can help you build resilience and good study habits.

When you get your lecture slides, convert them to rtf. In Week 1, I download my lecture slides for the semester, combine them into one PowerPoint, then convert them to rtf and copy it into a word document. I then hit Ctl+A, apply normal formatting, and spend about half an hour tidying it up. You then have a super convenient scaffold of notes for the entire semester which you add to as you do your readings.

CAIN VAROY

BEST PERFORMING STUDENT IN LLB141

Write concisely - this is a concept I struggled with a lot in first year but you'll find it is essential to your academic (and professional) success. I found reading past student examples and planning assignments beforehand both helpful ways of developing this skill.

Textbook course reserves are your friend! If you don't want to fork out money for buying textbooks you are able to borrow most prescribed textbooks from the law library for a 2 hour period. It's a great way to get your readings done too!