Law has a reputation for being a very hard and dense career. Is this true? Partly.
It will depend a lot on the university where you study and the professor who teaches the subject. Some teachers give you notes for the exams themselves, others explain them in class or read them so you can take notes, or you can even get them from previous years Law tuition.
In law school it is vital to have good notes. Being able to study from 150-page notes is not the same as having to read, underline and outline the 1000-page subject manual.
Shouldn’t I study by the manual which is more complete? It doesn’t have to, the notes normally focus on just the points of the subject that the teacher wants you to know. Why are you going to waste time studying things that the teacher doesn’t give importance to? And above all, when you could use that time in another subject.
So how much time in advance do I have to study before the exams? It depends. If you have 150-page notes, a month will be enough for you, but if you are not that lucky, it is suicide to put a manual in your brain a few days before the exam.
Get used to reading
You don’t have to understand everything the first time, it is totally normal to have to read a sentence five times to understand it.
It is key for your future to control and read all types of legal documents.
It doesn’t hurt to read legal news in your free time and research things that may interest you.
Optimize your efforts
If you go to class, attend. If not, don’t go. University is not school, you are an adult and you take responsibility for your actions.
Write down, make summaries or diagrams while the teacher explains. It will help you fix the material and then, when you study it, you will remember it more easily.
Some teachers reward attendance by dropping what’s going to be on the test during class, especially if there are few students.
Write down everything: exams, delivery of practices, etc… From there, create a study calendar and, depending on the pages of each subject, estimate the days you should study it.
Make contacts from previous years. Ask them for exams from previous years, notes, etc… Some teachers do not update the exam questions and may repeat some year after year.
Do not despair
You don’t have to like all the subjects but that doesn’t mean it’s your fault. Many times, the professor’s way of teaching makes you love or hate some branch of law.
If you are studying and feel like you are stuck, it is normal and it does not mean that you are not suitable for the degree. Go for a walk or leave it for tomorrow.
Suspending is normal. Do not compare yourself with those who have approved, each person is different. Do self-criticism and evaluate why you failed to pass the next time.
It is also normal not to know during your degree what you want to do in the future. Little by little, you will see it.
Have willpower
Don’t get distracted while studying. You will waste time and not feel satisfied with yourself. I know it’s complicated, but for example you can decide to pick up your phone once every hour.
Learn to say no when they propose a fun plan and you have to study. Next time you will follow your study schedule better.
Memorizing doesn’t have to be boring
It’s not about you parroting what the Laws say, it’s about understanding it first.
Underline key words or phrases and make outlines or summaries. It is a way to reduce the subject: you will fix the text and it will be easier for you to study or review.
Create post-its and stick them to each topic with the key ideas.
When studying, try to connect what is written in the manual with reality, imagining how it applies in life.
Create skills based on your work preferences
If, for example, your passion is law, you must develop oratory and legal language skills.
If, for example, you have decided to take the exam, you must learn to take studying as a job and learn to have a routine.
Learn to debate and give your point of view without arguing. It is about overturning opposing arguments through reasoning and argumentation, never by raising your voice.