Gather informationįirst, gather all your foundational information into one place - case briefs, class notes, casebook and maybe a study aid like a BARBRI outline or handed-down outline. Here are some recommended steps to get started. It may be time-consuming, but expressing the relevant principles of the law in your own words will help your comprehension and understanding.Īs with most things, there is no one right way to create a law school outline.
Writing frequently used words and terms out fully once and then abbreviating in future uses also saves space and time.Ĭreating your own outline, rather than borrowing, is highly recommended. Many find a case nicknaming system helpful so that it’s obvious which notes are related to the same case without having to re-write the entire case out each time. Also, many visual learners benefit from creating a flow chart or a tree diagram to organize processes or ideas. Some students find that activities such as developing a color-coding system makes it easier to identify and group like information across their notes - things like cases, rules and vocab. Make sure to set up Autosave to avoid losing all of your work in the middle of class. When it comes to note-taking software, many students use Microsoft Word or OneNote and create folders and sub-folders to organize documents by class and topic.
Also, make sure to turn off all of your notifications and close other windows and distractions. Instead, take time to listen and synthesize the key points raised in class. If that’s you and you are a fast typist, resist the temptation to transcribe what your professor is saying. Today, many students prefer to take notes on a computer. You may also want to keep a separate notebook or binder for each class. If you choose this approach, make sure to find a pen that you like as well as an assortment of highlighters. Handwriting slows you down just enough to force you to engage more methodically with the material. In general, studies show that handwriting your notes helps you better understand and retain legal concepts than typing your notes on a computer. Connect new topics you learn to the subjects and information you’ve already covered in the past, mentally and on paper.
Go beyond writing down what your casebook or professor says to think about overarching legal concepts. It could make the difference in your ability to properly grasp and interpret the information you are consuming. If you don’t understand a word, stop and look up its meaning. When you’re reading cases and taking notes, slow down and keep a law dictionary at hand. Law is a technical language with technical meanings. Speed reading and note-taking may have worked in other aspects of your education, but it won’t do you any favors in law school. It’s a skill that you will develop quickly, but one that needs to be learned and cultivated.
They are being repeated for a reason, and you’ll likely encounter them on midterms or final exams.Įveryone going into law school knows how to read but not everyone knows the nuances of critically reading an assigned case and thinking like a lawyer. Recognize recurring themes throughout the professor’s lectures.
Nuances your professor focuses on (especially if she repeats something)Įven if the “why” is not apparent to you quite yet, take note if your professor repeats a phrase, topic or area of interest. Note why, how and where the rule changed as well as any considerations that drove the change. Be sure to capture any hypos your professor covers in class. It can also help identify areas on which you need to get more clarification. Applying the rules and elements to real-life context helps you truly learn and understand beyond regurgitating bullets on a page. Write out a story or a scenario to apply the rules and the elements. Write out stories or scenarios (hypotheticals) to apply the law Note any exceptions or areas that are not as clear cut, whether it’s because the facts are more ambiguous and subject to interpretation or because the outcome might be different based on which rules apply to the situation. Much of the time, you’ll be expected to learn the rules outside of class and then apply them during class discussions. These are the specific rules of law and the elements that comprise those rules. Here are some specific things that you should consider including in your law school notes: The black-letter law
When taking notes, remember that full transcription or regurgitation is not helping you process, apply and learn the material. Writing, re-writing and applying key concepts and takeaways in your own words is critical to truly understanding and retaining the information you are consuming.