HOW TO STUDY FOR LAW SCHOOL IN GENERAL 1.
Create a daily routine. Law school requires tedious preparation and dedication. As teachers and alumni often put it, law school is indeed a jealous mistress. Set aside time within your day to really study for the next day’s upcoming class. Confidence in class comes from adequate preparation.
2.
As much as possible, always come to class having read every case and provision assigned for that day. Telling your professor that you were not able to read a case is law school’s biggest mortal sin. It can be a one-way ticket to your professor walking out on your class. Not to mention, getting a singko for recitation can be pretty nasty.
3.
When studying, always have 4 things on your table - your class syllabus (which contains your case assignments for that day), your codal (where provisions can be found), your commentary (where legal authors expound on the provisions found in the codal), and your cases (whether it be a digital copy via the internet or your plain, old, stack of hardcopy readings). A good routine would be to read the provisions assigned from your codal, then to read the commentary in order for you to have a better idea of what the provision means, then to proceed to reading the case, so you can see how the Supreme Court applied that particular provision to a set of facts.
SYLLABUS
PROVISIONS
CASES
COMMENTARY
4.
When reciting, refrain from looking down on your table and just reading your notes/ digest. Stand alert, know the case and provisions by heart, and only glance at your notes once in a while. This is important because recitation is in many ways a performance - your professor has to see that you know your material well. A student who mumbles, stutters, and plainly reads his notes is one who obviously lacks preparation. You’ve never seen Harvey Specter lose his cool, have you?
5.
In connection to number 4, always remember that in law school, confidence is key. We promise you that no matter how hard you study, there will be a day that a professor will ask you a question you just do not know the answer to. DO NOT BE FAZED. Law
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