Ten Steps Toward Law School Success

Law school is a rigorous experience. Here are ten tips for studying during the semester in preparation for the final exam.

1. Carve out study time (and stick to it). Unless you are a super genius, you have to take time out to study. While study groups are very effective, nothing is going to establish a great foundation in the law like taking 2 - 3 hours a day to study for each class.

2. Buy or borrow study guides to supplement your books. One of the most difficult aspects of law school is learning how to think like a lawyer, and while some people have the knack to think that way in the very beginning of their law school career, many do not. Study aids by companies like West or Lexis provide the lawyer approach for the novice at reading cases and pulling out the black letter law. You should speak with second and third year law students about study aids they recommend.

3. Find a hornbook. Hornbooks are usually one volume books that give an overview of an area of law. Sometimes hornbooks may have several volumes for more in depth legal topics like Civil Procedure. Many law school libraries will have a host of hornbooks covering first year courses as well as other law school courses. From copyright to contracts, a hornbook usually can give a clear explanation of every area of law.

4. Initiate study groups early. Sometimes the best way to learn the law is to argue about why what you think is the correct interpretation. Establishing study groups provides an avenue for new law students to see more than one interpretation of a statute or case. A study group also is an effective way to increase your study time. You become accountable to your group members for being prepared and having valuable information to contribute.

5. Ask questions! The best way to get clarity on an issue when your study group, study guides, and study time do not provide a clear answer is to go to your professor and get the information from them, but do not stop there. You can also ask another professor who teaches that same subject, a second or third year law student, or ask an attorney. Attorneys truly enjoy talking about what they do and explaining things they understand.

6. Find your study method. People learn in many different ways. It is important for first year law students to know, what study techniques work best for them. While outlining is often the suggested method for final exam preparation, other techniques may work better for you like making note cards or reviewing class notes. Whatever method, the first year law student should choose one that works for them.

7. Go to class and take notes. This may seem like an elementary suggestion, but it is very important. While some law schools use standardized final exams that are a collaboration of questions from professors teaching that particular course, most law school professors create new exam questions each year. Often such questions are a reflection of discussions from the classroom. While the black letter law is great information and will definitely enhance understanding, the subtle nuances of the course are presented and explored during class.

8. Review old exams. Many law schools archive final exams from previous years. By reviewing past exams given by your professor, you can often discover prevailing issues the professor on which the professor tests, which will aid the focus of your end of the semester review.

9. Learn key cases. Often professors will tell first year students that they do not need to know case names in order to make As on exams. While this statement may be true, often learning the names of cases saves time on exams. When you case cite the case name a give a one-liner instead of restating facts and the conclusion, you have more time to develop your analysis.

10. Start thinking IRAC early. IRAC is an acronym that stands for Issue, Rule, Analysis, and Conclusion. When taking law school essay exams, the professor wants to see if you can think like an attorney, which requires you to 1) find legal issues; 2) state a corresponding legal rule, 3) analyze the facts in relation to the issue and rule by giving both supporting and contrary argument and case law, and finally, 4) state the conclusion.

Enjoy your first year of law school!!!