Law School Study Tips

University studies are always a challenge, but law school is regarded as one of the most challenging academic pursuits a person can face. Given the high level of competition among aspiring attorneys, the pressure to succeed can result in hours of stressful studying that even jeopardize a student’s mental health.

Law school success depends on subjectivity and flexibility; the more explorative and committed a person is to reaching their academic goals, the more likely they are to succeed.

Consider Grades

A law student’s grades will have a lasting impact on their career opportunities; while it’s easy to become overwhelmingly stressed to the point of non-functioning, it’s important to put things into perspective. Rather than fixating on the possibility of failure, evaluating current grades through a lens of possibility and maintenance is key.

The goals should be short and constructed around terms at large; that is, rather than becoming obsessed with achieving a perfect score on a single exam or essay, students should look at their overall performance in a course and strive to maintain a high standard.

Pay Attention to Mental Health

Long hours of studying and work can cause many law students to develop depression and anxiety. Talking with a school counselor or outside psychotherapist can ensure students develop healthy and effective ways of coping with law school stress without jeopardizing their grades or well-being.

Practice Time Management

A good study schedule is more effective than hours of cramming; sleep deprivation leads to worse mental health, difficulty concentrating, poor recollection and reduced test performance.

Students should study for the bar and other law school exams on a schedule. For example, many law students practice the Pomodoro technique, which involves working for 25 minutes and taking a 10-minute break.

An openness to exploring different study methods and schedules will allow law students to find their unique rhythm. Everyone is different, and students should embrace their individual learning style rather than forcing a specific structure or regime that looks “studious.”

Distractions should always be kept at a minimum, which means it’s okay to pass up on study groups to quietly read and take notes alone. With these tips in mind, passing law school can become much easier in the mind of a stressed, anxious student. In times of depression or burnout, taking a break and reaching out for help from a licensed mental health counselor is the best course of action.University studies are always a challenge, but law school is regarded as one of the most challenging academic pursuits a person can face. Given the high level of competition among aspiring attorneys, the pressure to succeed can result in hours of stressful studying that even jeopardize a student’s mental health.

Law school success depends on subjectivity and flexibility; the more explorative and committed a person is to reaching their academic goals, the more likely they are to succeed.

Consider Grades

Pay Attention to Mental Health

Practice Time Management

A good study schedule is more effective than hours of cramming; sleep deprivation leads to worse mental health, difficulty concentrating, poor recollection and reduced test performance.

5 Tips for Success During Your First Year of Law School

For many, trudging through law school requires hard work and the development of serious study habits. Those who succeed often master these skills during their first year. The following skills could make the difference between forging a successful legal career or being forced to pursue other vocations.

Be Respectful

Oftentimes, treating others with respect and dignity is an overlooked trait. That said, forging relationships and accumulating contacts can go a long way towards building a successful tenure as both a student and an attorney.

Build A Solid Network

Certain academic professionals suggest developing a significant network of fellow students and professors. Such action is especially true for those individuals studying or providing instruction in similar disciplines as the one the student in question has decided to pursue. The amount of work required of most law students can be overwhelming, which can be made even more difficult when discussing complicated legal issues. An expansive network of people to ask questions and compare notes can give a student a competitive edge.

Check Email Frequently

In today’s technologically-driven world, most law school administrations and departments utilize email as the preferred mode of communication. Ergo, important communiques made from the academic institution’s central offices related to out of class topics or class schedule changes orchestrated by professors will likely be sent via the electronic route. Ergo, it is imperative that law students check their inboxes daily, if not more frequently.

Attend Class Regularly

Law school requires an immense amount of reading, interpretation, discussion and clarification. Therefore, attending every class is strongly recommended. Additionally, lectures might be presented in a specific order because, in certain instances, the student might need to understand “Topic A” before learning about “Topic B.” Missing classes, even just one could place the student behind the proverbial curb and make catching up difficult or impossible.

Avoid Procrastination

As mentioned in the preceding paragraph, getting behind could place a student in an unenviable disadvantage that they might not be able to recover from. Ergo, procrastination can also be a significant detriment to success and should be avoided at all costs. Students would be well-served to keep up with all work assigned between classes. Moreover, such individuals are strongly encouraged to begin such tasks as soon as they are assigned. Doing so will help keep them on an even keel.

Creating the Best Law School Study Group

If you’re in law school, putting together a small study group can be extremely beneficial. However, the quality of the group will hinge on those you include, so it’s important to weed out those students with abrasive personalities, a lack of dedication, and other undesirable traits. Additionally, these tips can help you put together a study group that will benefit each person involved.

Focus the Size and Schedule of the Group

To start, you will want to determine how many people will be included in the study group. While three to six members is ideal, you should try to maintain an even number of members, so the group can break down into partners when necessary. Additionally, you should know in advance what days of the week you’ll be meeting and for how long. Meeting for one to three hours is a good plan, but try to choose the days and times that will be convenient for most people.

Set Expectations for Participation

Whether you assign reading for each following meeting, or the group agrees to prepare for each meeting in some other way, establish that these expectations must be met. If your members aren’t following through with these plans, no one will be getting much out of the sessions. If necessary, it may be wise to create a system for eliminating members who aren’t regularly participating. While friendships shouldn’t be discouraged, the primary function is to help one another learn.

Choose a Proper Meeting Place

Moving the site of your study group sessions from week to week can be a distraction in itself. Ideally,choose a distraction-free place that you will be able to use every week. If you can’t come up with a meeting place on your own, contact the school administrators and find out if they have an available classroom you can use. You should choose someplace that’s away from noisy areas. You may also choose to eliminate the use of cell phones during sessions.

As your study group gets going, you can also consider how it will be managed. Will you always be in charge, or will leadership rotate from week to week? Encouraging more participation in setting goals and developing new projects will help keep everyone interested. Being flexible in managing your study group will help it improve over time, which will ensure everyone gets more out of the experience.

3 Tips to Help Prepare for Your Law School Interview

Preparing for a law school interview can be a daunting and overwhelming endeavor. Interviews, in general, can cause many people anxiety. When an interview can alter an individual’s career path and impact their future; however, it takes on a heightened significance.

One important aspect all candidates should understand from the outset is that the interviewing process is not cut and dry. Instead, most prospective students should expect a nuanced and detail-oriented approach geared towards getting to know each applicant better. That being said, here are some tips on how to rock a law school interview.

Find Out How the Interview Will Be Structured

Another consideration to ponder is that not all law schools conduct interviews. Of the institutions that do, the approaches may vary significantly. Some schools offer individual, one-on-one sessions while others prefer group interviews. Others may encourage in-person interviews, or they could send detailed questionnaires to gather more intel on potential candidates. Meanwhile, some institutions allow prospective students to request an interview, whereas others are strictly by invitation-only.

Many law schools are moving towards an online interview approach via Skype, Google Hangouts, WebEx, or other similar web conferencing tools. This shift has made the process much more streamlined, time-efficient, and cost-effective.

Avoid Repeating Known Information

This is one of the most common interview mistakes made by aspiring applicants. They have a tendency to repeat their resume or details already clearly outlined in their application. To avoid this misstep, prospective students should focus on mentioning any new accomplishments or information that was not included in their application packet.

Some examples worth noting might include awards, internships, research projects, published articles, leadership roles, or recent volunteer opportunities. By providing such tidbits, the admissions staff can form a more complete picture of the candidate and determine whether they will be a good fit for the school.

Be Prepared and Natural

Candidates should be prepared and do their research on any law schools they are considering. While the specifics should be reviewed before applying, it is crucial to do so if an interview is scheduled. Applicants should speak naturally, stay relaxed, and at ease. Moreover, they should feel the institution is a good match for their abilities and interests. Furthermore, they should be able to envision themselves as students there and feel it will be a positive and nurturing environment that is conducive to learning.

Also, try to connect with the interviewer. This tip will not only help a candidate’s chances of an offer, but it allows the person to view the applicant as a potential asset to the school.

By following the suggestions outlined above, a prospective student can rock a law school interview and bolster their chances of securing an offer.

3 Things to Consider Including in Your Law School Personal Statement

Among the rites of passage involved in becoming an attorney, writing a stellar law school application is often a difficult first step in what can ultimately be a rewarding career. Writing law school application materials such as personal statements can be a confusing process, so don’t give yourself a hard time if you’re not sure what to do at first. Here are just a few concepts to include in your law school personal statement, and why doing so can really make your application stand out from the crowd.

Why You Want to be a Lawyer

While most applicants to law school say that they are pursuing a career as a lawyer in order to help people,the truth is that admissions committees will have heard some variation of this line a million times before.

It’s great to want to help people, of course, but showing law schools how you’ve explored areas of the law related to helping people can make your application truly stand out. Have you volunteered with a public interest law firm? Have you worked at a soup kitchen in order to help the homeless? Explaining how you’ve developed a desire to become an attorney that helps the public can show admissions committees that you’re genuinely committed to social change.

Why You’ve Chosen to Apply to a Specific Law School

As you might imagine, people choose the law schools they apply to for a wide variety of reasons. A law school may be close to where they currently live; they may want to study with a particular faculty member; they might be interested in an area of legal practice that the school specializes in. However, many law school applicants make the mistake of sending the exact same personal statement to all of their law school picks. If your statement is excessively vague, for example, admissions committees may feel that you don’t really care about getting into their school.

Describe Your Career Goals

If you truly want to be an attorney, show admissions committees that this is a career that you’re committed to. A career as a lawyer is not easy, and many attorneys burn out after only a few years of working. Indeed, having a strong sense of purpose can often mean the difference between a dissatisfying legal career and one that brings happiness into your life. If you show admissions committees why you’re in this for the long haul, they’ll be much more likely to give you a shot!

For these reasons, showing admissions committees that you’ve made an informed and thoughtful decision to become a lawyer can really set your law school application apart from the competition. Filling out law school applications isn’t easy, but putting in the time and effort to wow schools with your effort can really pay off. And that is a great start to a legal career!

When Should You Hire a Lawyer?

Depending on who you are, you are either loathe to hire a lawyer to handle your legal issues or you are quick to start looking for one every time you have a brush with the law. There are definitely times whenyou do need a lawyer, but there are just as many times when you do not.

Criminal Charges

The best reason to hire a lawyer is when you are facing serious criminal charges. This can be anything from a DUI to drug charges to being charged with a serious felony that can result in prison time. Since many people do not know their rights well enough to defend themselves in court when facing these charges, you should always find a good lawyer if you’re facing anything this serious.

Divorce

Going through a divorce is never fun, but it can be especially harrowing if your divorce is a really ugly one. Emotions are running high, which can cloud the judgment of yourself and your spouse. You need someone who is not involved who can keep a clear head, which is exactly what a good lawyer can be for you.

Wills and Trusts

Everyone should have a will or trust set up to eliminate as much confusion as possible when they pass away. A lawyer can help you navigate the complex legalities of a last will and testament so things are as clear as possible for your surviving loved ones

Business Startups

Starting your own business is always a hassle, and it’s easy to miss something that sinks your startup before it gets off the ground. Even if you only need a brief consultation to go over your paperwork and make sure everything is in order, you should definitely hire a lawyer to help manage your business in its earliest stages.

Lawsuits

Although some civil lawsuits are small enough to not require a lawyer’s intervention, you shouldn’t hesitate to hire someone if you stand to lose a significant amount of money or property when you are sued by someone. At the very least, a lawyer can help you learn about your rights in the lawsuit, and at the most, they can help you come to a settlement that makes all parties happy.

As a rule, you should consider hiring a lawyer if you believe that you have a lot to lose. Incidents such as speeding tickets, small claims court, or small lawsuits that are not worth disputing can be handled without a lawyer’s help. But, it always pays to at least know of a lawyer at all times. You will never know when you will need their services.

Introduction to Civil Litigatoin

Civil litigation is popular and frequently employed facet of the law. This type of legal proceeding helps resolve disputes between millions of people per year.

Civil Litigation Define

Civil litigation is the legal process by which two or more parties can resolve non-criminal disputes. For example, if one party was injured or incurred property damage as the result of another party’s negligence, the former might initiate a civil action (lawsuit) designed to recoup financial damages. Additionally, litigants proven guilty in civil actions are not found criminally liable. This means they do not serve jail time. However, they will be required to remit whatever financial penalty an adjudicating body deems appropriate.

Specific Types Of Civil Cases

Civil law can take several different forms. Arguably, amongst the more common civil disputes are personal injury and product liability cases. That said, there are numerous other types of civil cases that are argued. These include environmental issues, the validity of intellectual property, employment conflicts, real estate disputes, divorce proceedings, and workers compensation issues.

The Resolution Of Civil Cases

Many civil proceedings require the involvement of numerous varying steps. These steps might include investigation, pleadings, discovery (where further information is gathered and the parties in question are interviewed) and trial. In certain instances, the issue at hand does not proceed to trial and the respective parties agree to a settlement.

That said, the claimants (plaintiffs) in civil cases must successfully demonstrate that several important issues occurred for a court or other adjudicating body to award financial compensation.

In many cases, the claimant hires a litigation lawyer possessing experiencing trying personal injury cases or the facet of civil law in which they require assistance. Specific regulations vary from state to state.

However, under most circumstances, plaintiffs must clearly illustrate that an injury or some discernible damage against them, the party being accused is responsible for the events that resulted in their injuries or other matters (such as unfair employment termination or discriminatory housing practices) and that the injuries or hardships they claimed to have incurred were the direct results of the defendant’s actions and from no other injury or event. The slightest doubt could significantly hinder the plaintiff’s chances and, in some instances, they could walk away empty-handed.

What is Criminal Law?

Criminal law focuses on the enforcement of laws that prohibit certain behaviors and actions. Criminal lawyers can either prosecute individuals suspected of crimes or they can defend clients against criminal charges. When thinking about criminal law, here are a few things you will need to know:

Offenses and Charges

An offender is charged with the violation of law. It can be a local, state or federal law. Charges might differ depending upon the jurisdiction in which they occur. Though charges might differ, they fall under one of two categories. A felony charge is a serious charge that will result in a longer sentence. A misdemeanor is a less serious charge and may result in jail time at all.

If convicted of a felony, a person will spend a year or more in a state or federal prison. If convicted of a misdemeanor, an individual will spend less than year at a local jail or under supervision. Alternatively, they may spend no time in jail but will be required to pay fines, fees or perform community service.

Constitutional Rights and Criminal Law

Criminal laws aim to keep the public safe. However, criminal laws cannot supersede constitutional rights. Search and seizure, for example, might be required in order to prosecute a suspect. However, the police cannot improperly search or seize. They must first go through the process of attaining a warrant. This guarantees that the individual’s constitutional rights have not been violated.

Criminal Procedure

In keeping with the intersection of constitutional rights and criminal law, individuals within the legal system must adhere to certain procedures to ensure that constitutional rights are not violated. For instance, police must adhere to procedures that ensure a suspect understands their rights. Defense attorneys must follow procedures when seeking evidence that supports their client. Prosecutors must follow procedures that ensure the defense receives all evidence.

A solid understanding of the United States Constitution and in-depth knowledge of regional and local laws assist prosecutors in determining the appropriate charge. Defense attorneys are tasked with advocating in their client’s best interest. This simple overview of criminal law, reveals how much legal knowledge is required to protect the rights of everyone within a courtroom.

Common Law vs. Civil Law

Our legal system is a complex compilation of laws gathered from societies from around the world. Some of these laws are assembled in written form, while others are simply the result of long-practiced traditions that have been adopted by our society. Typically, civil law is recorded in a written document, while common law is essentially an accepted practice. This is just one way these two types of laws are distinguished.

The Distinguishing Features of Common Law

While some common laws are adopted and established as civil law, this isn’t always the case. In a common law system, the laws established through judicial review are just as binding and enforceable as laws established through legislation. Common law is also defined by a freedom of contract, which simply means there are few restrictions on who can engage in contractual relationships. Although there may be laws to protect individual consumers, the parties have the freedom to establish the terms of the contract without government interference.

An important feature of common law governments is that freedom is highly valued. Unless there is a specific law prohibiting the act, the government won’t interfere in the lives of its citizens.

The Civil Law System is More Complex

Each state in the United States has its own book, or code, of civil laws, which we have adopted from laws in many other countries. We have also expanded on those laws and established new laws that meet the needs of our modern society. These laws are established primarily through legislation, although there are allowances for judicial review. This means one court will likely support the decisions of another court, establishing a specific law that will be binding.

In a civil law society, there are specific courts to handle certain legal matters. For instance, the United States has a criminal court system and family court system. We also distinguish between family court, probate court, and bankruptcy court. Each case is assigned to a specific court, depending on the laws that govern that case.

Finally, the civil court system is more restrictive. Contracts are governed by specific rules and mandates, designed to protect the parties involved. Contracts that aren’t compliant with applicable legal provisions may not be enforceable.

When there is a conflict between the two types of laws, civil law is usually given priority over common law. Of course, this may depend on the jurisdiction and the specific details of the case. This is why it’s important to be able to distinguish between civil and common law in terms of facing problems in our legal system.