What should I take notes on in law school?
Asked by: Martina Dietrich | Last update: September 3, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (1 votes)
Jot down unfamiliar words or concepts you don't understand; you can look them up later. Don't write notes in complete sentences; you'll be more inclined to just memorize the content and disconnect from it. Instead, opt for short phrases or bullet points.
What is the hardest year in law school?
Law school is an academic challenge; most students agree the first year (“1L” year) is the most difficult. In part, this is because law school is taught using methods entirely different than the lecture method used in most college classrooms.
What is the most important thing for law school?
- Location. Location is arguably the single most important factor in choosing a law school. ...
- Admitted Student Profile. ...
- Cost and Financial Aid. ...
- Academic Programs. ...
- Faculty. ...
- Size. ...
- Student Culture. ...
- Career Support and Job Placements.
Does law school require memorization?
Memorization is key not only to your success in law school, but on the bar exam and in your future legal career. The type of memorization required for law school is a bit different than what you dealt with in undergrad and high school. You'll need to memorize a lot more in a shorter amount of time.
What kind of papers do you write in law school?
Rather than essays, you'll be primarily writing case briefs/summaries, which break down and analyze a particular legal case. You'll also learn how to identify legal issues, conduct legal research, apply the law as it currently stands, and frame your arguments.
The Single Greatest Law School Time Management Tip: Outline From Day One
How do I prepare for law school writing?
By laying out the framework of your analysis in an outline, the writing process will likely proceed more smoothly. The long-winded sentences that are often indirect, cluttered, and needlessly technical may dominate many cases you read in law school, but the expectations of legal readers have changed.
Is law school harder than college?
Law school is very hard—harder than college or university. This is due to a heavy course load, a high-stress environment, and difficult course material. But completing law school is not impossible; over 40,000 law students make it to graduation each year.
What are the hardest subjects in law school?
- Constitutional Law.
- Civil Procedure.
- Contracts.
- Federal Courts.
- Federal Income Tax.
- Administrative Law.
- Partnership Tax.
How do lawyers memorize so much?
Spaced Repetition
The less often you visit a location, the harder it is to remember how to get there. In the same way, reviewing a law every day, then every other day, then every week, will leverage your mind's tendency to prioritize information that frequently appears over a prolonged period.
How many hours of studying is law school?
All in all, however, law students typically spend around 30 – 40 hours per week studying. That may sound like a lot, but a good rule of thumb is that you should be studying at least two hours for every one hour of class time per week.
How do I know law school is right for me?
Ensure you've done as much research as possible to understand what it means to become a lawyer. Do I have any relevant experience? Having experience in or related to the legal field can not only improve your chances of being admitted to law school but may also help you evaluate whether you enjoy the work.
What notebooks to get for law school?
If you're going to handwrite your notes in law school (and we recommend you do), you'll want to have plenty of notebooks on hand. Consider something like Circa notebooks, where you can reorder pages and move things around without creating a mess.
Which subject is best for the laws?
While there are no mandatory high school subjects for law, it is recommended to focus on subjects like English, History, and Business Studies. These subjects help develop skills in writing, analysis, and critical thinking, which are essential for legal studies.
What is a first year law student called?
1L, 2L, 3L: In undergrad, your year in school is usually referred to as freshman, sophomore, etc. In law school, we use 1L to refer to first year, 2L to second year, 3L to third year. Your law school might have a part time division, and in that case, some students might be referred to as 4Ls as well.
What type of lawyer makes the most money?
Patent Attorney Salary
Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.
Is law school harder than med school?
Although both law and medical schools present their unique challenges, it's generally accepted that medical school demands a higher level of intense coursework and thorough training.
Are lawyers highly intelligent?
According to the American Bar Association, various studies have shown that lawyers overall score high in certain forms of intelligence—typically the cognitive intelligences of linguistics and logical/mathematical—but low in emotional intelligence.
Is law school mainly memorization?
Misconception #1: Law school is all about memorization
Instead, it's about taking that information and applying it to new situations. The focus is on developing a deep understanding of the law and learning to think like a lawyer, rather than rote memorization.
Do lawyers do a lot of reading?
We lawyers spend much of our days reading. We read for multiple purposes: discovering facts, finding legal authority, developing advice, learning about a client, editing a document, preparing for a meeting, studying a new law.
What is the easiest law degree to get?
The easiest law degree to earn is a Master of Legal Studies degree. For more information about earning a Master of Legal Studies or for help finding a program, reach out to Learn.org today.
What is the most difficult thing about law school?
One of the biggest challenges law school presents is the pressure to always have the correct answer. It's not as easy as it may seem, and this pressure can often lead to anxiety and stress. As a law student, you may prepare for hours and still not know the answer to a question.
Which subject is best for lawyer?
Gaining knowledge in subjects such as psychology, sociology, or anthropology can provide insights into human behavior and societal dynamics that prove beneficial when interacting with clients and handling difficult legal matters. On a related note, foreign language skills can also be critically helpful.
How many hours do law students study a day?
The number of hours law school students study can vary depending on the country and the individual student's workload and study habits. However, in general, law school students in the United States and Canada often spend an average of 15 to 20 hours per week studying outside of class.
What do you read in law school?
The good news is that there are lots of ways to use your time efficiently and get through that massive volume of reading. For instance, we recommend that you invest in a book of case briefs. These are basically summaries of the full cases that are assigned as reading in your case books (law school textbooks).
Can you work during law school?
For many full-time law students, having a job throughout law school is a great way to supplement income. Student loans and scholarships can sometimes only take you so far.