4 answers
May
Student
1
Question
Updated
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When studying to become a lawyer what are the most important things to remember?
When studying to become a lawyer what are the most important things to remember or do to help with studying and stuck
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4 answers
Mackenzie Ward
associate
103
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Mackenzie’s Answer
One valuable tip for law school studying is to focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing information. Law school is about developing your analytical and critical thinking skills, so it's important to grasp the underlying principles and reasoning behind legal concepts. Instead of simply memorizing cases, statutes, or rules, strive to understand why they exist, how they apply, and how they interact with other legal principles. This approach not only helps you perform well on exams but also prepares you for real-world legal practice where you'll need to apply your knowledge to complex scenarios.
Stacy Yerushalmi
Attorney
3
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Stacy’s Answer
Hi May! This is a great question, and the answers you’ve received above really nail it. I just wanted to say that I was a dual major in college (including English as a major) with a minor as well, and even with that background, I still found that the amount of reading I did in law school, especially as a first year, was more than I imagined. I say that not to freak you out, but to let you know that no one in your class will find the amount of reading and analysis that is required easy, or easier than you will. By virtue of your posting this question here and trying to find out what you can, and seeking advice, tells me that you have a lot of initiative and ambition, and those qualities are incredibly valuable in law school.
One of the best pieces of advice I received about law school was to treat it like a job, in which you put in your 8 or 9 hours or whatever everyday and just get into that routine. By 8 hours, I mean class for how ever many hours you have that day, and then studying. You’ll still have to work on the weekends, but I found that I could usually divvy up the work into 3 or 4 hours per day, and give myself time to kick back a bit.
Sometimes your “job” will take longer than 8 hours, but it’s more the mindset that is important. Depending on my class schedule for the day, my”job” might allow me 1-2 hours between classes to study and another 1-2 hours to chill out, a break after classes ended, and studying mid-late afternoon, break for dinner, and then studying another 2 hours after that. You figure out the most productive times for yourself and work around that. Just don’t judge your routine by what others are doing - if you are getting your work done in a way you find satisfactory, don’t let someone else who studies until midnight every night to make you feel like you are lagging or not succeeding or not doing enough - they could be spending 3 out of 6 hours chatting in the library, or whatever. One of my closest friends in school exclusively studied in the lounge where there was a lot of talking, the tv was on, etc. he was most comfortable there for some reason and didn’t get distracted. Everyone is different.
I was in a study group for the first year and found that pretty helpful - depending how you learn best, just hearing your classmates’ takes on the assignments really helped me understand the cases better and the nuances. My study partners also were a source of support and you need that sometimes.
I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “stuck” but if what you mean is something like burnout, or a point of diminishing returns, then I totally hear you. Everyone feels that way at one or more points - it’s draining and the days become repetitive. The best advice I can give you is just stick to the routine.
Best of luck to you! I hope this has been helpful in someway.
One of the best pieces of advice I received about law school was to treat it like a job, in which you put in your 8 or 9 hours or whatever everyday and just get into that routine. By 8 hours, I mean class for how ever many hours you have that day, and then studying. You’ll still have to work on the weekends, but I found that I could usually divvy up the work into 3 or 4 hours per day, and give myself time to kick back a bit.
Sometimes your “job” will take longer than 8 hours, but it’s more the mindset that is important. Depending on my class schedule for the day, my”job” might allow me 1-2 hours between classes to study and another 1-2 hours to chill out, a break after classes ended, and studying mid-late afternoon, break for dinner, and then studying another 2 hours after that. You figure out the most productive times for yourself and work around that. Just don’t judge your routine by what others are doing - if you are getting your work done in a way you find satisfactory, don’t let someone else who studies until midnight every night to make you feel like you are lagging or not succeeding or not doing enough - they could be spending 3 out of 6 hours chatting in the library, or whatever. One of my closest friends in school exclusively studied in the lounge where there was a lot of talking, the tv was on, etc. he was most comfortable there for some reason and didn’t get distracted. Everyone is different.
I was in a study group for the first year and found that pretty helpful - depending how you learn best, just hearing your classmates’ takes on the assignments really helped me understand the cases better and the nuances. My study partners also were a source of support and you need that sometimes.
I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “stuck” but if what you mean is something like burnout, or a point of diminishing returns, then I totally hear you. Everyone feels that way at one or more points - it’s draining and the days become repetitive. The best advice I can give you is just stick to the routine.
Best of luck to you! I hope this has been helpful in someway.
DENNIS BREEN
Lawyer
134
Answers
Cary, North Carolina
Updated
DENNIS’s Answer
Hi May: Your question got cut off about mid-way through so I am not sure what you mean by "stuck". However, studying can be a real drag. As a lawyer you have to read countless documents that are as dry as sandpaper! When studying law you need to read cases all the time. Trick is - take breaks. Get up and walk around. Go have fun. Do something you really like. When you get "stuck" while studying something, take a break and try to approach it from a different angle. Remember, getting "stuck" is an opportunity to push yourself to learn something new. Getting "stuck" signals that you are not ready to wrap your brain around whatever the subject is. That is a good thing - it is pushing you to a new height - a new adventure. The best way to learn is make mistakes. So go out and make mistakes; learn from them; have fun and be ready to laugh at yourself when you make the mistakes. Makes learning fun!
Nicolas McKissack
Independent artist
72
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Nicolas’s Answer
Remember that you need to have real life interactions while studying to become this. These interactions should be meaningful in connecting you more to your studies. It can come through a variety of ways, but to truly solve an array of problems, it takes that first initial experience. That experience you have will cover an umbrella full of problems that need to be solved, especially in your studies. To truly be a problem solver you must experience, but know what the difference is between studies, and real life scenarios. Then you can manage by fully embracing and interacting along the way. Becoming a lawyer is going to take up most of your time, and no doubt pay off in the end, but there are simple things you can do to clear your mind too. Drink ice cold water and go for a walk. Make sure to watch through your readings, whether it's on YouTube or msn and be sure to relax. If relaxing to you means a hot tub then do that. If it means to eat fruit and sit in front of a fan do that. You need to find a peaceful zone or comfort zone you can go to for a couple of hours, maybe even a full day where you are not bothered. These peaceful times help to "phase shift" and actually propel us to an "attractor state" when we return to our work or studies. Also, remember to complete the dream!