Student Study Skills

A prior post that raised the concept of computational legal thinking now has me reflecting further on legal education. Let me share an idea about teaching that might help bridge theory and practice. Consider how we traditionally teach case analysis: Students learn to identify key facts, spot relevant legal principles, and reason through precedent. Now imagine augmenting each step with technological understanding. For instance, when teaching statutory interpretation, we could pair traditional close reading with lessons on how language models process legal text. This creates natural opportunities to discuss both the power and limitations of computational analysis. This reminds me of how medical schools transformed their curriculum when imaging technology advanced. They didn't just teach doctors to read X-rays - they taught them to integrate visual data with patient symptoms and medical knowledge to make better diagnoses. Similarly, we need to teach lawyers to weave together computational insights with traditional legal reasoning. Here's what this might look like in practice: Instead of just having students brief cases, we could have them compare their analysis with AI-generated case summaries. The goal isn't to show which is "better," but to help students understand how different analytical approaches complement each other. They learn to ask: What did the AI catch that I missed? What contextual nuances did I grasp that the AI overlooked? For assessment, we might evaluate students not just on their conclusions, but on their ability to articulate their reasoning process: 1) How did they combine computational tools with traditional legal analysis? 2) What made them trust or question automated insights? When did they rely more heavily on human judgment? I would say that the goal is to develop lawyers who see technology as as an integral part of their analytical framework while maintaining legal acumen defines the legal profession. #legaltech #innovation #law #business #learning

Are you a law student struggling to read any case law precisely? Reading case law is an essential skill for law students, as it forms the backbone of legal education and practice. 1. Understand the Structure of a Case: - Familiarize yourself with how cases are cited. This includes the names of the parties, the court, and the year of the decision. -These summarize key legal points and can guide you to the most relevant parts of the case. -Identify the essential facts of the case. What happened? Who are the parties involved? -Determine the legal questions the court is addressing. What are the specific legal issues at stake? -This is the court’s answer to the legal issues. What did the court decide? -Analyze the court's reasoning. What legal principles and precedents did the court rely on? - If applicable, read dissenting opinions to understand alternative viewpoints. 2. Read Actively: As you read, highlight or underline important sections. This helps in later reviews. Summarize each section in your own words. This reinforces understanding and retention. What are the implications of the case? How does it relate to what you’ve learned in class? 3. Contextualize the Case: Research prior cases that influenced the decision. Understanding the context can clarify the court's reasoning. Know the relevant statutes and regulations that apply. This will help you see how the case fits into the larger legal landscape. 4. Discuss with Peers: Engage in discussions with classmates. Different perspectives can enhance your understanding. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek clarification from professors. They can provide valuable insights. 5. Practice Applying the Law: Create hypothetical situations based on the case. How would the court likely rule in these new scenarios? Participate in mock trials or moot courts to apply what you’ve learned in a practical setting. 6. Review and Reflect : After reading, write a brief summary of the case, including its significance and implications for future cases. Consider what you learned from the case and how it shapes your understanding of the law. Hope this helps you! #lawstudent #law

The most underrated skill I learned for law school exams?   Writing legal issues that actually earned me points. Going into law school finals, I thought I understood each class well enough to get an A. I read the cases, prepared for cold calls, and I felt pretty confident come exam time. Then I got my grades back. Bottom 50%. That’s when I realized something important: law schools don’t really teach students how to take law school exams. Law schools teach students cases, but they grade them on issue-spotter hypothetical fact pattern exams. Totally different skills. Everything changed once I taught myself the law school exam tricks that law school doesn’t teach. Things like… writing clear legal issues that actually earned poins. Here’s what I mean... Hypothetical Fact Pattern: Taylor runs a red light while texting and crashes into Travis’s car. Travis is injured. Weak issue statement: Can Travis sue Taylor for negligence? Stronger issue statement: Can Travis recover damages from Taylor based on negligence for texting while driving and running a red light? The second statement ties together all three elements of an issue statement: 1. A clear legal question (can Travis recover damages from Taylor?). 2. The key fact(s) (texting while driving and running a red). 3. The rule at play (negligence). That framing sets up your analysis. It lets you move straight into laying out the rule’s elements and connecting the facts to the law, where most of the points are awarded. My strategy shift was simple. I doubled down on what’s actually tested, like distilling issue statements from fact patterns, instead of wasting time on things professors emphasize in class but never grade on exams, like cold calls. By 2L year, I was consistently in the top 10% after applying these new strategies (many of which I’ve shared here on LinkedIn). That turnaround opened the door to Big Law, led to an in-house role, and now fuels the legal search and placement work I do today. If you just started law school, or if you’re already in it and want to do better on exams, follow me here, read some of my other posts, and feel free to shoot me a DM. I really try to answer everyone when I can.  

Law students, it’s time to stop thinking like it’s 2005. Yes, the law is centuries old but the way we practice it has changed drastically in just the last five years. The lawyers who stand out today aren’t just good at legal research or drafting. They know how to work smarter using digital tools, automation, and online presence. Here’s how you can start digitalising yourself even while in law school: • Learn how to summarise judgments and clauses using tools like ChatGPT or CaseMine. • Build your own contract or case templates using Notion or Word macros • Organise your case notes and reading materials with digital mind maps or tagging tools like Obsidian • Practice drafting in real-time with Google Docs + track changes that’s how most law firms work • Start creating legal explainers in simple language on LinkedIn that’s how clients will find you • Get comfortable with e-signature tools and document workflows it’s the new normal Law schools rarely teach this. But clients, law firms, and startups expect it. If you’re planning to build a modern, flexible legal career digital skills aren’t optional. They’re your edge. Want a curated list of tools and habits to help you start? I’ve built a short “Digital Law Starter Kit” just for students. Comment or message me happy to share.

I was recently surprised to learn that many law students are still using the same hornbooks and outlines that I used in Law School 99... I mean, 20 years ago. We’re trying something very different with our collaboration with Albany Law School for its FlexJD program. We’re utilizing a range of technologies and visual storytelling styles – from animation, YouTube-style influencer videos, modern video games, podcasts, etc. – to develop a new kind of online video resource. Here are a few techniques we’re using to assist/enhance the teaching from Albany Law School's world class faculty - in the case of the screenshots below, Ray Brescia, Associate Dean of Research and Intellectual Life. Hero Images are striking animated icons for key concepts that repeat throughout legal training; these are used throughout each course and potentially the entire FledJD program.   I’m excited about the idea of creating recognizable visual representations of various abstract legal concepts – like the bullhorn for “notice.” Some ideas lend themselves very well to this kind of visual (a kind of teaching that is largely absent from legal training). Case Study Animations are the showpiece of the whole project. They are longer-form infographic sequences that explain complex cases.   Some cases are just hard to grasp when reading them in text form. We’ve been able to simplify some very complex ideas using these animations. Notoriously difficult classic civ pro cases, like Pennoyer v. Neff or Erie, become much easier to understand when explained visually (spoiler alert! Videos on these cases are coming soon). Progressive Text and Sidebars use well-paced text animation alongside the professor to help the viewer listen and read at the same time.   Reading along while someone speaks just feels good. It makes everything easier to understand. Think about lyrics in music videos or “lyric videos,” which use the lyrics creatively in the video itself. Notice how podcast apps have added a “read along” live transcription feature. We’re adding this kind of text at key moments to help the viewer understand. It’s actually difficult to design this well – to have text present but not be distracting –, but when it works, it really helps the viewer lock into a complex explanation.

Studying For Law School Final Exams - Some Practical Advice. For some of you this may be the first time you have taken law school final exams. This is my 5th final exam season and I am still learning new ways to be efficient in my study habits. Here are some things I wish I realized my 1L year for finals. 1. Study groups are only helpful if that is how you learn. If study groups were not useful to you during undergrad they most likely will not be useful to you during law school. Try it, but if it is not helping then it is okay to realize that they are wasting time that you could use to study more efficiently. I learned this the hard way, I still love everyone I studied with, it just was not beneficial for me. 2. Outlines may work for you, they may not. I started with traditional outlining and realized that mindmaps work better for me. Flashcards also help with memorizing specific rules. 3. Do as many practice questions as you can to familiarize yourself with the material. Essay questions will help to form your legal writing and multiple choice questions will help to solidify the legal concepts. If your professor has provided past exams use those to review. Model your responses after any model answers provided by professors. 4. If your professor offers it, let them provide feedback on an essay question you have answered. 5. Take breaks! The human brain cannot continue to work indefinitely. You will retain more if you take breaks. I struggled with this. My grades actually improved when I started allowing myself to take breaks. You can all do this! If anyone has any advice for 1Ls who are about to go into their first law school please add it in the comments! #1Ls #LawStudents #LawSchool

I'd be sitting pretty if I had a nickel for every law student who told me their study system consisted of memorizing their 60-80 page outline. Unfortunately, you’re not graded on what exists in your mind. What gets you to graduation day is: —your ability to articulate your understanding of the law in writing —your ability to seek out and conform your writing to your professor's preferences and writing style/format —your ability to organize a clear, consistent response to the call of the question —your ability to apply facts you’ve never seen before to the law you understand and then explain why you believe those facts impact the rule/outcome of your analysis So, modify your study system--instead of memorizing, start practicing how you'll be tested. Write 1 to 5 practice essays for each topic you learn and get feedback on your understanding of the rule, formatting, organization, adherence to your professor's preferences, and analysis. You'll notice a dramatic difference in your grades if you do. #lawschool #lawstudents #lawstudent #prelaw

If you’re about to start law school (or in the middle of it), you’re probably feeling the pressure. I’ve been there. Looking back, here are five things I wish someone had told me before I started: ✨ 1. Treat law school like a full-time job... with a little overtime. The workload can feel never-ending, and it’s easy to think you need to be studying every second of the day. But here’s the truth: that’s the fastest way to burn out. Instead, approach law school like a 9-5. Show up, focus, get your work done during those hours, and give yourself time to rest in the evenings. Trust me, your brain (and mental health) will thank you. ✨ 2. Choose your study group wisely. Just because you get along with someone doesn’t mean they’ll be the best study partner. Some people work better alone, others need group discussions to process information. Find what works for you! ✨ 3. Use professor-specific outlines from past students. This was a game-changer for me. Before a class started, I’d get outlines from students who had the same professor and use them as a foundation to build my own. I’d have them open during lectures and tweak them throughout the semester. By finals season, I wasn’t scrambling to put an outline together, I already had it ready to go. ✨ 4. Don’t get stuck reading case law all day. I know the reading assignments feel overwhelming (because they are), but don’t spend all your time dissecting cases. Learn to brief cases efficiently and focus on understanding legal principles. You don’t need to memorize every detail, you need to understand how to apply the law. ✨ 5. Build and review your outlines every week. One of the best habits you can create is setting aside time weekly to review your outlines. This way, when finals roll around, you’re already familiar with the material instead of cramming it all in at the last minute. If you’re in law school right now, which of these tips do you wish you knew sooner? Or, if you’ve already been through it, what’s one thing you’d tell an incoming law student?

Close reading is a multi-layered strategy that helps students move from basic understanding to deeper analysis by rereading texts with specific goals like identifying key ideas or evaluating language. It builds essential skills such as inference, vocabulary, and citing textual evidence key for academic success. Teachers can make it engaging through color-coded notes, peer modeling, multimedia comparisons, and student-led questioning. Researchers from CRESST, including Barbara Jones and Margaret Heritage, highlight its role in preparing diverse learners for college and career readiness. Here are several effective close reading lesson examples that can be adapted across grade levels and subjects to deepen comprehension and engagement: 📘 1. Literary Analysis with Multiple Readings Text: A short story or poem (e.g., Langston Hughes’ “Thank You, Ma’am”) Structure: • First read: Focus on literal comprehension plot, characters, setting. • Second read: Annotate figurative language, tone, and author’s intent. • Third read: Discuss themes and personal connections. Skills Built: Inference, textual evidence, vocabulary, theme analysis. Interactive Twist: Use color-coded sticky notes or digital annotation tools like Actively Learn to track different layers of meaning. 🔍 2. Informational Text Deep Dive Text: A science or history article (e.g., on climate change or civil rights) Structure: • First read: Identify main idea and supporting details. • Second read: Analyze word choice and structure. • Third read: Evaluate author’s purpose and bias. Skills Built: Critical thinking, synthesis, argument evaluation. Interactive Twist: Pair students for “text detective” roles—each student hunts for specific evidence types (facts, opinions, rhetorical devices). 3. Character Study Through Dialogue Text: A dramatic excerpt or dialogue-heavy scene (e.g., from Romeo and Juliet) Structure: • First read: Understand character relationships. • Second read: Annotate emotional cues and subtext. • Third read: Role-play or rewrite the scene from another character’s perspective. Skills Built: Empathy, interpretation, expressive reading. Interactive Twist: Use audio recordings or perform mini scenes to bring the text to life. 4. Multimedia Comparison Text: A written article paired with a video or infographic Structure: • First read/view: Summarize each format. • Second read/view: Compare tone, message, and effectiveness. • Third read/view: Reflect on how format influences understanding. Skills Built: Media literacy, comparative analysis. Interactive Twist: Let students create their own infographic or podcast response These examples are grounded in research-backed strategies like those from Jen Serravallo, Barbara Jones, and Margaret Heritage, who emphasize the importance of repeated, purposeful reading to build deep comprehension and transferable skills.

Do you want to give your students a gift? Help them to Learn to Listen to Their Own Voices Not their outer voice. Not the teacher’s voice. But their inner voice—the one that thinks, questions, and reasons. We give our students a gift for life when we help them to listen to their own voice! 1. We Teach the Pause "Just a moment… let me think." This simple pause cue interrupts impulsivity and invites the brain to engage. It's the gateway to inner listening— not rushing to answer, but hearing your own thoughts take shape. 2. We Activate Verbal Self-Regulation “What am I doing right now?” “What am I looking for?” “What makes this sentence important?” These self-questions turn passive readers into active processors. We call that metacognition—thinking about thinking. 3. We Connect Thinking to Strategy Instead of “circle the main idea,” we teach: “Say what you think the author wants you to understand—then ask: Does everything else support that?” Now they're not just performing a task— they’re checking it against their own understanding. 4. We Make Thinking Audible—Then Internal At first, we say it out loud: “I’m noticing something here…” “Wait—that doesn’t make sense.” “Oh, now I see why they did that.” Later, we guide students to say it in their heads— until it becomes their thinking voice. 5. We Let Silence Be Strategy Quiet in the room doesn’t mean nothing is happening. If we teach students to: Reflect Rehearse Reconsider …then silence becomes a sign that the mind is working. ✨ Why This Matters for Marginalized Learners: Many students from under-resourced backgrounds: Have rarely been asked what they think Are rewarded for compliance, not reflection May not have internalized the right language for processing You’re not just teaching them how to read. You’re teaching them how to hear their own mind at work. “When the thinking voice gets louder, the fear gets quieter.” — Dr. Gwendolyn Battle Lavert