As a 2L, I feel it’s my duty to give you advice I wish I’d known through 1L. Your first year in law school is going to be hectic, and everyone will experience the learning curve. But, I’m here to share a few tips. These are some of the best tools I found throughout the year, and I personally believe (if you set up your study schedule and plan accordingly) they just might help you land a spot on the Dean’s List!
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Quizlet
- Check out the Quizlet link above, and add me to your circles (BearLaw) – you can get access to some of the card sets I’ve already created, or start your own deck!
- My favorite quality about this tool is that I can access my cards via the Quizlet App, and work on my studies even when I don’t have all my books with me. Quizzing myself on legal jargon, case information, or even class hypos can all be done via these digital flashcards. Since I am a multiple-modality learner (meaning, I learn by using many different senses) having to flip a card and read the info hits at least two of those modes [visual & tactile].
- ProTip – For you audio-learners: You can use the speaker symbol to have Quizlet read your cards for you!
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LearnLeo
- Ok, y’all – this is my newest obsession. I actually took time out of my day to send an email to a professor about how amazing I think LearnLeo is. Just so you know, I stumbled across this app – and have since created notebooks and study tools for the semester.
Using PowerNotes helps you with case-briefing and smart-highlighting skills by walking you through a skills demo, and essentially teaches you how to brief a case. This is pure. freaking. gold! Use it, people!
In addition, the chrome extension allows you to live-edit any document or website online, and then compiles the notes into a word document that is available for download! This is amazing, and I love it. You’ll save sooooo much time up front by using this to brief and compile your case notes, because a majority of your outline will be created for you.
The bonus?
You will have to go back and correct/edit the document that you download; which means, you’re automatically required to read your notes and that’s a great way to make the material STICK!
There is a phone app and ipad app, but the online extension is most user-friendly, in my opinion.
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OneNote & EverNote
- These platform ideas are similar, and both provide great ways to keep track of class notes. If your school offers you a free Microsoft Office package, then take it! I prefer OneNote to Evernote, mainly because I don’t have to pay for using it (aside from tuition, of course). Plus, the OneNote option allows me to access my notebooks when offline, which has come in handy while studying and limiting my internet access (to avoid distractions). This way, I’m actually working instead of thinking I’m working by reading a page or two and surfing the internet for most of the hour. Let’s face it, you get distracted by reddit, CNN, or Twitter, too!
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LibGuides
- Technically, not an app – but available online! 🙂
- These are library study guides that our law school provides. If you’re at UNTDCOL, stop by the circulation desk, or send me an email (cerebellumchef@gmail.com) & I’d be happy to point you in the right direction. These course guides pretty much rock my socks, because they’re jam-packed with study aids, practice questions, and even essay samples! Be sure to check out the study aids your library provides. Your librarians welcome the interruption in their day, I promise!
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Law Dojo
- I can appreciate that you may want to spend your time face down in a book, reading every word and hoping to soak in legal knowledge through mere proximity to your text, but I can’t learn that way always. I try to give myself a few brain breaks, whether by walking away to process the information, or by quizzing myself while playing the role of a Stealth Ninja making my way through maze.
- That’s exactly what this game is about. You’re a ninja. You must answer rapid-fire legal questions in order to live.
- What’s not to love about this?
- There’s different levels, and different class topics – most basic concepts are covered, but the material gets more difficult when you answer questions correctly.
- I can appreciate that you may want to spend your time face down in a book, reading every word and hoping to soak in legal knowledge through mere proximity to your text, but I can’t learn that way always. I try to give myself a few brain breaks, whether by walking away to process the information, or by quizzing myself while playing the role of a Stealth Ninja making my way through maze.
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iTunes U
- I am not great at picking up information solely through listening, but I know some of you are gifted with this ability – so this is for you!
- Check out iTunes U in your iTunes store, and search “Law School” or “Contract Law” – or pretty much anything you need for class, and sift through the titles!
- There are some great law school professors who host podcasts, or even record their own lectures (Like Professor Glannon!) to help students grasp the concepts.
- The topics are plentiful, and you can get many of them for free!
I use all of these tips in my daily studies, and enjoy working with different mediums in which to learn. I search for ways to make my life easier, while not sacrificing my learning. Law school is hard, there’s no way around it. However, you can lessen the burden on your own shoulders by learning what helps you retain information. If you need anyone to bounce ideas off on, feel free to send me a message at cerebellumchef@gmail.com
Happy Studying/Law School Prepping!
