With the beginning of the school year rapidly approaching, many of you have questions about what to expect and how to properly prepare for your first classes. Below are some questions that students frequently ask:
How should I prepare for classes?
Read the assigned materials and brief the assigned cases. After you’ve read and briefed the assigned cases, ask yourself the following questions:
• Why was this case in the casebook? (What was unique about the case?)
• What action did the court take with respect to the rule of law in this case – did it uphold the rule, modify it, expand it, narrow it to its facts, uphold the rule but find that it did not apply in this case?
Why should I brief cases when it takes so long?
Briefing a case has several purposes:
• To practice “dissecting” a case which is essential for law school exam taking; each time you practice articulating the issue, rule, and reasoning of a case, you are practicing essential skills
• To prepare for class
• To use when preparing an outline
Why does it take so long to read even one page of some cases?
In the beginning, reading a case will be like learning a foreign language. For one thing, you are new to the vocabulary of the law. Even if it appears to be “familiar” language, it very likely has a specific legal meaning which you must look up in a legal dictionary. And you must use your dictionary and not simply try to figure the word out from the “context” of the sentence. Remember, you are new to the study of law and have no “context.”
How can I gauge how I am doing during the semester?
To make sure that you are keeping up with the material and learning what you are supposed to be learning, do the following:
• Outline throughout the semester. Create an outline as you progress through the topics covered during the semester. This allows you to synthesize and understand the material as you go along rather than trying to learn it all at once at the end of the semester.
• Practice hypothetical questions throughout the semester – never wait until the final exam. As soon as you cover a new topic in class, look to practice application of the rule in the form of hypos and short answer questions.
• Take several practice exams from your professor’s exams on file during the last month of classes.
How much time should I be devoting to my studies?
It is generally true that you should allow for three hours of study time for every hour spent in class. While everyone works at a different pace and in a different manner, it is essential that you determine what works best for you – and that you do so early on. Set a realistic schedule and stick to it.
Do I need to form a study group?
Not everyone works effectively in a study group – nor does everyone have time for a group, especially evening students. Still, a study group can be an effective way to deal with many of the stresses and adjustments of law school learning. When forming a study group, consider including persons with whom you share similar study habits; and most important, make sure that you set guidelines for meetings and assignments. Each member of the group must be a contributing member in order for the study group to function effectively. And if you do form an outside study group, you can and should model its activities after the TA group that you participate in at Touro. This is an ideal way to follow up on hypotheticals and discussions.
I did well in college but I feel overwhelmed and confused in law school. Is this normal?
Perfectly so. Law school is very different from undergraduate school and other types of graduate education. You are required to learn a vast amount of material and use it in a way that is probably very new to you. Most of you have had little if any experience in analytical thinking where your task is to problem solve. It will take some time to adjust to this different type of learning.
Remember, as you begin your law school journey, do not be so hard on yourself and do not expect to understand everything right away. Touro offers various resources -- make sure to take advantage of all that is offered to you!
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