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Posted Dec. 18, 2015

How To Use Your Time During The Christmas Vacation

December is the time of the year when LLM students would normally graduate, but what would you as a current LLM student be doing at this time of year? Well some of you may be eagerly looking forward to the Christmas break and planning trips to far-flung places, while others may use the time to prepare for the next LLM semester or make a start to their dissertation. If you thought that Christmas holidays were meant to give you a break from LLM activities, well you’re sadly mistaken… There are several things that you should be engaged in that connect to your LLM program. For instance, at the back of your mind, you’re almost certainly going to be thinking of ways to approach your dissertation topic whether you are at a party or at a family gathering.

For a one-year LLM course, December typically marks the end of your first semester. Your Christmas vacation will run from mid-December until the first week of January giving you a peaceful three-week break from lessons. You may want to use this time to revisit the work you have done in your first semester and of course to meet family and friends. So, let’s consider activities that you can engage in during the Christmas vacation that will help you balance between both your ongoing LLM course and some recreational time.

5 ways to make the most of Christmas

Here are our top five things that you can do to make the best use of the Christmas vacation and ensure you don't let procrastination get the better of you:

1. Work on your LLM dissertation

It’s a great idea to begin work on your LLM thesis (if you haven’t already by this time!) by preparing a schedule for the whole vacation period. Some of you may have to hand in essay submissions immediately after your course resumes in January so your focus will lie more in completing them rather than spending time on your dissertation. Others, who are not be faced with this commitment, can use the time wisely by researching their dissertation and finalising a structure that you can feed into as you progress through the second semester.

2. Take stock of your modules

This is an ideal time to review the work that you have done so far in your first semester. You may want to go back and research concepts that you feel may need further analysis or go over your notes to make sure that you have covered readings from course modules. Some students may use this time to research using the college’s online library resources while others may benefit from researching concepts that they plan to use in their dissertation.

3. Sharpen your skills

This is a great time to sharpen your research and analytical skills to help you get a better grip in your dissertation writing. The ultimate submission on your LLM course is your LLM dissertation, so you should constantly be involved in enhancing your skills to give it your best.

4. Plan ahead

It highly unlikely that career events or seminars may take place during this time. Use the time to start identifying and applying to firms or organisations that you may be able to intern with later in the year after you have handed in your dissertation.

5. Celebrate and travel

International students may want to use the opportunity to go back to their home countries to visit family and friends. If you’re staying locally, do spend some time partaking in festivities and exploring local places. For LLM students who don’t travel back to their home during the Christmas holidays, this is a great time to explore the country you are currently living in. Whatever you choose to do it is important to take some time out to relax and enjoy yourself so you can go back to your Master of Laws in the New Year feeling refreshed, re-energised and ready to give it your all!

Countdown to Christmas

Study aside, the Christmas break gives LLM students a well-deserved chance to relax for a while and prepare for the coming months of hard work ahead – here is our Christmas countdown to help you make the most of your time off and prepare for the yuletide celebrations!

1. Break out the tinsel – you may not intend to stay in your university town over Christmas, but by decorating your room with a few sparkly accessories and lights, you can begin to enjoy the festive spirit. If you live in a dorm, get other people involved and deck the halls together, it’s a great chance to share Christmas stories and take a break from study.

2. Organise a Christmas meal  – you can create an atmosphere of warmth and hospitality by hosting a festive feast for your course mates. So you don’t have to do all the work, ask everyone to bring a dish that is part of his or her traditional Christmas menu at home. If you live with lots of international students, it could become an impressive meal, and you’ll all learn a lot about how other cultures celebrate.

3. Find out what’s happening on campus – a full-time LLM course lasts one academic year and not all students can budget for a trip home at Christmas, especially if friends and family are overseas. If you’re going to be staying on campus or in your student house over the festive period you’ll have a chance to experience this unique time of year from a new perspective, and join in with the local celebrations. Prepare by finding out about campus activities that may be of interest to you, and checking out events taking place in your town. You could even volunteer with a local charity to give something back to the community and gain a truly rewarding life experience.

4. Have a Christmas day out – towns and cities across most of the world are transformed around Christmas, special events are held, lights are switched on and parades get everyone geared up for the special day. You can also find carol singers and Christmas markets that are ideal for picking up unusual gifts for your loved ones back home. Even if you are preoccupied with your studies, by taking part in a few festive events you’ll soon start to feel the holiday season excitement for yourself.

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