In this blog post, I’d like to share my study methods during high school, my participation in law-related activities at school, examples of empathy and collaboration, and how these experiences shaped my career preparation.
Academic Experiences and Reflections
I significantly improved my learning efficiency by systematizing the use of error notebooks for math and social studies. I determined that subjects with lengthy passages, such as Korean and English, were inefficient to organize using error notebooks, so I focused on applying them exclusively to math and social studies.
In mathematics, the method of compiling the “wrong-answer notebook” was particularly crucial. While many students simply copy the solution steps from the answer key verbatim, I filled an entire page per problem by rewriting the question and first detailing my own attempted solution process. I then carefully analyzed where I went wrong at each step and looked up any concepts I had misunderstood in reference books to review them more thoroughly. Finally, I rewrote the correct solution process below so I could compare the two. Doing this allowed me to see at a glance where my line of reasoning had gone wrong, which concepts I had misunderstood, and what the correct solution was, and it significantly reduced the frequency with which I repeated the same mistakes.
In Social Studies, it was more important to practice identifying the connections between the passage and the answer choices than to focus on individual questions. For example, in the Law and Politics section, when presented with Constitutional Court precedents or case-based passages, I had to carefully examine how each sentence in the passage connected to the answer choices to select the correct answer. I cut out important passages, pasted them into my error notebook, and organized them by marking the connections between sentences and answer choices with arrows. This allowed me to quickly grasp how similar types of answer choices related to the passage during the actual exam, giving me an advantage.
Description of Major School Activities and Reflections
To deepen my interest in a career in law and gain a clearer understanding of the nature of legal work, I joined the school’s law club. Club activities were diverse and included running a student court, organizing and conducting mock trials, reading and discussing legal books, and visiting courts. For external activities, I prepared for and participated in a “Law in Daily Life” competition as part of a group, and took part in a constitutional law contest, which allowed me to gain experience in both practical and theoretical aspects of the field.
I placed particular emphasis on the student-run court activities. Our school’s student-run court was held twice per semester and, in collaboration with the Student Conduct Office, followed a procedure for addressing actual school-related issues. Rather than relying on simple mock scenarios, we assigned roles—including prosecutor, defense attorney, judge, and juror—based on cases submitted by the school, thereby recreating the actual legal process. To this end, I thoroughly prepared for my role in advance, collected relevant materials, and refined my arguments.
My role was that of the prosecutor. The prosecutor, alongside the judge, argued for strict disciplinary action, while the defense attorney, representing the opposing view, advocated for leniency and spoke on behalf of the defendant. I reviewed the list of students with excessive disciplinary points to check for prior disciplinary records, and for students found to have committed repeated offenses, I proposed disciplinary measures—such as holding up signs or performing community service—that went beyond simply writing a letter of reflection. Through this process, I gained a deep appreciation for the importance of gathering evidence and verifying facts, and I learned how to make arguments based on objective evidence.
The student court included not only club officers but also students from outside the club serving as jurors. When external participants were present, the courtroom atmosphere became even more solemn, and we discussed the case with greater seriousness. The proceedings followed this order: opening statements, cross-examination by the prosecutor and defense attorney, closing arguments by each party, the jury’s verdict, and the judge’s ruling. Once the verdict was announced, the student in question received their sentence. Operating this procedure firsthand—which called for positive discipline and behavioral improvement based on actual school regulations—greatly helped me understand the structure and social function of legal proceedings.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation, and My Reflections
The National High School Moot Trial Competition, which we prepared for through our mock court club activities, was an experience where we directly internalized the values of consideration and cooperation. When we first participated during our freshman year of high school, we devised a strategy to prepare thoroughly without rushing. First, we decided on the team composition for the trial, and I continued to take on the role of prosecutor, which I had played in the student-run court. The friends who took on the roles of defense attorney and judge also maintained the roles they usually played, so the team was formed naturally.
The fact that the competition category was a civil trial rather than a criminal trial presented a new challenge. Since representing both sides’ positions is crucial in civil trials, we had to select new team members capable of faithfully portraying both perspectives. After selecting members suited for each role, we worked together to draft our script. During the initial drafting stage, all team members freely shared their opinions and collaborated to refine our arguments; we then further developed the script based on advice from upperclassmen and our teacher.
After completing the script, we began intensive practice one month in advance with the goal of advancing to the finals. By repeatedly practicing the procedures we had learned in the student court, we refined the logic and delivery of our script, which ultimately led to our success in qualifying for the finals. Whenever conflicts arose during our preparations, we listened to each other’s perspectives, adjusted our positions based on logic, and reached a consensus. Through this process, I learned the importance of collaborative teamwork and how to communicate while being considerate of others.
Efforts and Preparation Related to Motivation for Application and Career Plans
My interest in law and social issues naturally led to a desire to pursue a career in a related field. In particular, I had a clear goal of working as an administrative official in the courts. To this end, I consistently worked to cultivate legal thinking by gaining firsthand experience with court procedures through club activities and by reading legal books and case law.
Specifically, I developed my procedural management and case analysis skills by preparing for mock trials and mock court competitions, and I strengthened my ability to apply legal theory to real-world cases by participating in everyday law contests and competitions. Additionally, through a court visit, I directly observed the roles of court personnel and the atmosphere of the courtroom, broadening my realistic understanding of my career path. These experiences serve as a solid foundation for my career plan, which is focused on pursuing a role that bridges law and administration.
