Construction of flow charts adds dynamism, direction, and schematic arrangement, as well as providing inestimable memory stimulation value—especially for kinesthetic, visual, and tactile learners.

Kinesthetic learners learn better by writing information, by becoming physically involved in problem resolving. Tactile learners learn better by manipulating information. Visual learners need to “see” the schematic relationships between blocks of information. You'll find helpful information about flow charts in future entries on this site's blog.

Your time = your life. Managing time means taking control of your life. Ideally, in law school, you should strive for a balanced life.  That begins with a recognition that you don’t give up your life when you enter law school – rather, you begin your life – as a lawyer.  

Remember how much you studied in college? For some, the answer will be "Quite a bit," while for others, the answer will be, "Are you kidding? I didn't even buy some of the textbooks!" Often, both answers (and all others) are based on how much a student had to study in order to achieve the desired GPA.

These links ought to help you learn about reading and briefing - the two most fundamental activities related to class preparation ... and preparation for the professional practice as well.

 

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(As with most pages on this site, we're constantly updating ... so send me a note if you find another great link to add, or if you discover a "dead" link here.  Click on the "contact" link below to send a note.)

If asked, law professors often discourage use of commercial study aids (“…the work of the devil…” cautions Daniel J.

When lawyers jot essential words and phrases, often in makeshift shorthand, on those yellow legal pads, they know that these notes need to be transformed into something more permanent as soon as possible. They know that stale, sketchy notes are useless notes. Notes made during meetings, phone conversations, depositions, hearings, and trials need to be transformed into something more substantial if they are going to be useful—and this transformation must occur as soon as possible. Lawyers transform their notes.

True “attendance” in class means so much more than simple presence in the classroom. Active engagement is essential. Note-taking promotes that engagement. 

Exam-targeted note taking is an art. She who keeps a discerning eye on the target during each day’s class will take notes with purpose—notes that will substantially enhance her ability to demonstrate her legal skills, knowledge, and fluency on the final examination.

Never miss class. Borrowing your roommate’s notes won’t suffice. Listening to a tape recording of the class does not even approach live attendance and engagement. A near flawless attendance record is essential Here’s why. Actively attending every class leads to actively learning the law. “Learn” is an active verb. You can’t learn at the level you need in law school without activity. In law school, that activity is dialectic. 

Most first year classes are graded based upon an examination at the end of the semester (some professors give mid-terms as well). The examination is the professor’s only method of assessment – the only way the professor can determine the extent to which each student in the class has achieved the course objectives she has set.

Although many students enter law school with only vague ideas of what they want to do when they graduate, some begin with very specific goals. If you are in the former group, don’t worry – you will develop goals as you take interesting classes; meet professors, lawyers, and judges throughout law school who make an impression on you; and as you work in clinics, internships, externships and part-time jobs. If you are in the latter group (with a specific goal in mind), be ready for a shift.