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If you are considering a career in law and planning to begin your legal studies, you may want first to assess whether life as a law student is suitable for you.

 

As a law student, you will engage in various academic exercises that form the bedrock of your legal training:

 

 

Pre-reading for Classes

 

 

Pre-reading in law school is not only a routine task but a strategic exercise that lays the groundwork for academic excellence. In law, every class discussion, lecture, and exam is anchored in the understanding of legal texts, cases and statutes.  Law schools use various cases to guide students through the thinking process of judgment.  This prior exposure equips students with the context necessary to engage deeply in class discussions, follow complex legal arguments, and ask insightful questions.   It develops students’ ability to analyse information and primes their minds to absorb the nuances of legal reasoning. 

 

 

 

Case Briefs

 

Case briefing is an indispensable skill for any law student.  It involves dissecting a legal decision to understand its foundational elements:  the facts, the legal issue, the court’s decision, and the rationale behind the judgement.     Five skills are essential in case briefings:

 

 

• Analytical thinking to break down complex judgements into their core components, resonating with intricate legal principles

 

• Conciseness and clarity to distill lengthy opinions into succinct summaries, training students’ ability to communicate clearly and effectively

 

• Legal reasoning to examine how judges apply the law to specific facts

 

• Precedent identification to recognise and understand the principles in common law systems that underpin legal predictability and consistency

 

• Argumentation skills to craft and deconstruct arguments for litigation and negotiation.

 

• Memorization to commit the key points of the case to memory, which is vital when you need to recall precedents in exams or in practice. 

 

 

 

Writing Assignments

 

These range from drafting legal memos that analyse a client’s situation under current law to constructing appellate briefs that argue for a particular legal outcome. 

 

 

Extracurricular Activities

 

Many law schools offer various related activities to refine students’ legal reasoning and judging skills.  For example, participating in a mock trial competition could see students acting as defence attorneys, presenting evidence and cross-examining witnesses to win a case. 

 

 

In mooting, students could be arguing the constitutionality of a statute before a panel, engaging in rapid-fire exchanges that test their ability to think and respond under pressure.  In client negotiation and interviewing, students might be involved in drafting agreements or conducting client interviews to determine legal strategy. 

 

 

Exams

 

Generally, the law school curriculum is divided into coursework and evaluations.   Students will anticipate a heavy load of reading in law classes, and pre-reading prior to classes is usually time-consuming, yet very useful in training students’ case-reading and note-taking skills, as well as in learning the main theme of each case. 

 

 

In law school exams, the common forms of assessment are problem questions and essays to test students on how to apply legal knowledge to hypothetical scenarios.  It requires not only memorisation but a deep understanding of legal theories.     Therefore, preparing for assessments and exams early is crucial, ideally, developing a consistent study routine will train students’ time management and organisation skills. 

 

 

5 Proven Strategies for Law School Success

 

 

Determination and organisation are two essential traits for succeeding in law school studies.  Here are five common strategies:

 

• Master time management by creating a study schedule that allows for both pre-reading and review

 

• Develop effective study systems tailored to your learning style, whether it is briefings, outlines, or flashcards

 

• Maintain consistent studying with disciplines to keep up with the demanding curriculum

 

• Get actively involved in extracurriculars like law journals or legal aid services to grasp practical experience

 

• Develop connections with friends in the same field as a supporting group in your study life and network with university alumni who can offer insights and open doors to internships and job opportunities in the future. 

 

 

If you are interested in the legal profession and wish to explore academic and career development routes, our Law School and Career Advisory service can help prepare you for a successful start.  Contact our consultants today.