How to Succeed in Law School: Five Must-Know Tips

Succeeding in law school requires hard work and dedication. If you have these two elements going for you, it's a great head start. However, there's more to it than that. Let's look at five must-know tips to help you succeed in law school.

1. To study group or not to study group. Students will form into study groups like it's a matter of routine. Some consider it an essential tool to help you succeed in law school. If you do join a study group, make sure you have a working knowledge of the material first. Otherwise, you may have a challenging time participating in the discussion, and then your study group becomes a waste of precious time.

2. Outlining. It's probably the most important thing you should be doing to prepare for final exams. It's perfectly acceptable to secure a comprehensive outline that someone else has completed, but take the time to write your own outline. It helps with recall. Don't wait until Thanksgiving break to start. It's challenging, but outlining as the semester progresses may improve your chances in succeeding in law school.

3. Get to know the professors. This is a challenging tip because there's not a lot of contact with professors outside the class room. Introduce yourself at school functions if your professors attend them. Try not to believe that if professors don't know your name, they won't call on you in class. That just isn't the case. Looking at it a different way, consider it a form of networking. Networking may help you succeed in law school over the long haul.

4. Handling the Socratic Method. The Socratic Method can be a challenging form of instruction. This is when the professor calls on a random student to brief a case opinion. The best way to handle the Socratic Method is to be prepared for class. While you don't have to know every detail about the case material, a working grasp of the concepts should be sufficient. Some students volunteer answers as a means of preempting the random aspect of the professor calling on you. I can't say for sure this strategy will help you in class, but if you're brave, go for it.

5. Commercial outlines. They are a source to help you understand the material from a broad perspective; that's about all. Resist the temptation to rely upon them for your outlines. Overly relying upon them won't help you succeed in law school in the long run.

If you're planning on going to law school, read as much as possible beforehand. Read books and blogs. The more information you digest, the more preparation you'll have heading into law school.

For additional information related to this topic, see Five Benefits of an Internship in Law School.