Factors Affecting the Study Pace of First-Year Law Students: In Search of Study Counselling Tools

This study explores factors affecting the study pace of law students during their first academic year. The participants comprised two student groups: those whose number of study credits were the lowest and highest. Altogether, 25 students (11 with a slow and 14 with a fast study pace) were interviewed. The factors affecting study pace mentioned by the students were the same in both groups and could be classified into five categories: motivation, behaviour, cognition, context and other involvements. The group of fast study pace students turned out to be fairly homogeneous. They were highly motivated, planned and organised their study schedules accurately, used various study strategies and had good metacognitive skills. On the contrary, the group of slow study pace students showed more individual variation. Lack of volition and difficulties in time management were the most typical weaknesses of the slow study pace students. (Contains 2 tables.)