Tag: law school tips

Tips for Note Taking During Law Lectures

Entering lecture for the first time during law school can be quite intimidating. There is a lot of information to retain throughout the class. While many students feel they can soak up and retain all of the information the professor is lecturing on, that is hardly the case. Developing effective note taking skills is essential to surviving law school. Not only will these note taking skills help to keep you on top of your lectures, but they will help prepare you when it is time to study for those exams.

Take the time to choose a method of note taking the works best for you and stick with it. Over time there have been many different types of note taking methods that have developed. Some students choose to use their laptops to keep their notes neatly typed up and organized, while others may choose to take the old fashioned route of pen and paper. At the beginning of the semester, it is important to try each of these approaches to feel which one better fits your learning style.

Study the material before lecture and take notes on what is going to be covered within lecture for that day. It is important that your notes you take before lecture are done in a different color to keep them separate from your lecture notes. It’s important to make sure that the two sets of notes come together and converge with one another. If they are not coming together and matching up it is very likely that you are not picking up on the key concepts in your reading.

The entire purpose of taking effective notes throughout the lecture is to utilize them outside the classroom. Taking the time to review and thoroughly study the material is important because you want to ensure you understand all of the content that was covered in class. If you happen to come across anything that may not make sense or you misunderstand you can then get it cleared up with other classmates or your professor.

Using these concepts to assist in note taking will help to make the law school experience a successful one. Note taking is essential to get the most out of your lectures.

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

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.

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.