Studying in Law School is Different

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Why Studying in Law School is Different from Undergraduate, Graduate and Medical School

Good study skills cannot be learned by trial and error. You cannot study well or do well on exams, regardless of the amount of time allotted for studying, unless you realize that your studying must be specific to the tasks itself.

Mistaken beliefs about study skills can get you into serious academic trouble for several reasons:

Most law students have been able to cover up any study skill deficient with intellectual ability. However, since law school is highly competitive, natural ability alone will not always suffice.

Most law classes stress "oral" performance BUT your grade in the class will be based 100% on an analytical written exam performance. Furthermore, there is no correlation between excellent classroom performance and exam performance. Point Blank: Just because you seem to be doing well in class does not mean you will do well on exams.

Law has a form of communicating written analysis that is very specific and must be learned independent from class preparation. Most students are used to relying on preparing for class, memorizing and understanding the material as a means of performing well. In law school you need to learn to communicate your answer in written legal form--a skill that won't be taught.

In virtually all law school classes students receive essentially no feedback regarding their individual performance and often their entire grade turns on one final exam. If you have inadequate study strategies you will not know it until you get your grade.

In law school is unlike virtually any other kind of educational institution, regarding class-work. The grades received in the first year are more important than grades received later

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