COVID-19 has affected law schools and law students in a way that has never been experienced before. The transition from in-person to online learning has forced law schools to take untraditional approaches to how they teach students. Law school is already a difficult and stressful time for students. Adding the uncertainty of a global pandemic and economic downfalls has exacerbated the situation for law students.
Professor Jaime Lee at the University of Baltimore School of Law created a resource for law students, and specifically clinic students, to advise on how to finish coursework during these difficult times. Clinics are geared towards in-person, client communication that provides students with experience to prepare them for lawyering after graduation.
The resource developed by Professor Lee provides insight to help students continue their clinic experience while still staying safe at home. Considerations such as internet connectivity and managing stress through exercise are covered in their guide. Below I highlight some of the tips that can help law students make it through the school year during uncertain times.
1. Being Productive while still at home
Working from home can be stressful and more difficult than being in a classroom or an office. Pets, children, siblings, and parents can be tugging at you from all sides dividing your attention between them and classwork. Earplugs or headphones help keep out the noise and help you focus on the task at hand.
Taking breaks is also something that everyone should do. We are all working to complete that final paragraph for our paper or that one last chapter in our review, but our minds also need a break to help process the information. A common technique used to get work done is the Pomodoro Technique. This technique stresses the importance of taking a break while still timely finishing the work. A Pomodoro sets a timer for 30 minutes where you work for 25 minutes while taking a 5-minute break afterward. This technique helps improve motivation and in turn improves the quality of work. The website mytomatoes.com has a timer that will help track the 25-minute intervals.
2. Staying connected with the UB Law Community
No one understands the struggle of the stay-at-home law student better than other law students. The UB Law Facebook page is a great place to ask other students questions, bring up concerns, or just talk about anything that might be on your mind. Additionally, UB has several official Facebook pages which can keep you up-to-date with the latest news.
3. Exercise and Stress Management
Law school is stressful enough. Thankfully UB has provided students with resources to manage the stress that we are constantly under. UB offers video counseling and phone services available to students who feel that they need someone to talk to. An easy and quick way to release stress is to practice breathing exercises:
A simple trick to physically reduce stress: breathe in for four counts, hold for 7 counts, breathe out for 8 counts. Repeat!
Virtual exercise classes are also a great way to reduce stress and stay fit while in quarantine at home. Several providers now offer online classes for free that will help you forget the problems of law school while staying in shape.
These are just some of the many tips that Professor Lee recommends in the resource provided below. We are all working as hard as we can to adapt to the situation that we have been thrust into. Working from home doesn’t have to feel the same as being in school; home can be a place where we complete our work while also enjoying the comforts of our home. We might even generate insights that can be brought back into the classroom once this crisis passes.
Sources:
Resources during stay-at-home clinic work
