One of the most important things you’ll need to figure out in law school is how to study. While there are different techniques that suit different people, there are a handful that will make life easier for any student. Figuring out ways to adapt these techniques to your particular study style will help you to get a leg up on the rest of the students and make your final exams a bit easier.
The first, and most important, step to take is to learn how to make use of your online case access accounts. You’ll probably have access to LexisNexis or WestLaw, so make sure you use them both. This will give you access to the full text of any cases that your professor assigns, as well as a great deal of commentary.
Next, start figuring out a way to get access to as much of your lectures as possible. Record the audio, take notes on your laptop or master shorthand – the more you write down, the more you’ll be able to use when it’s time to study. Not all of this information will be relevant, but you don’t want to have to worry about sorting things out when you’re in class.
Finally, get in a study group. While law school is competitive, you’ll benefit greatly from having other people to bounce arguments and ideas off of. Find someone in your Constitutional Law or Entertainment Law class who seems to be paying attention and suggest that you study together. Doing so will make your life much easier.
Always take studying seriously. If you can’t, law school will be much harder than it needs to be. In time, you’ll come to understand that studying is a huge part of the legal profession.