Staying Organized Forum

[SAOJD10]

Okay sorry if this post/question is dumb but I am having a hard time trying to decide how to organize all my class notes, notes from cases, etc. I use Onenote for notes in class and I am book briefing right now, but I do takes notes on the rules, laws, etc. that comes from those cases. In addition to my class notes (a section within a tab in Onenote), how should I keep everything organized efficiently? Should I keep just one page for all my notes from the cases on one long page and integrate the important parts into my outline? Or should I make each case a subsection within my briefs and takes the notes there? Sorry for the confusing question

[zeth006]

I think your case briefs and class notes for most start out separate and eventually combine into one big outline for exams.

Some people do brief days in advance and toss in class notes on the same page on separate table columns.


Each to his own. I'd be interested in hearing everyone else's responses.


EDIT: Sorry if I didn't properly answer your q. I assume you brief using onenote? I'm going to try briefing using two-column tables in Word and input only relevant facts and rules. Eventually I'll need to figure a way to input both into my final outlines.

[jayn3]

a lot of people have been posting their techniques/advice lately. you can start here for some ideas:

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 3&t=126811

[username1]

Ask a 1000 people and you will get 1000 answers. Personally, I would struggle without onenote.

The first semester I had 3 tabs per class. Each class was a section group. My tabs were notes, outline and briefs.

The second semester I skipped notes and just used outline and briefs tabs.

The only change this semester is that I am linking the case in my outline to the corresponding brief tab.

Lastly you may hear some say you can't start your outline on day 1. I completely disagree with this. I create
my outline from the book index and the cases - then supplement the outline with any new info I glean from class,
if any.

[Omerta]

I would disagree with that. At least for me, I'm a 0L who happens to be in law school. I'm vaguely starting to get the idea of where important stuff is and how much I can condense a case without losing its overall significance. I haven't even thought about outlining or ordering supplements yet; not to say that I won't do those things, I plan on doing both. All I'm doing is briefing every case and taking notes before and after every class. With the exception of contracts, my classes haven't even gotten into good law yet.

I totally agree with what you're saying for all purposes besides 1st semester 1Ls.

[zeth006]

I would disagree with that. At least for me, I'm a 0L who happens to be in law school. I'm vaguely starting to get the idea of where important stuff is and how much I can condense a case without losing its overall significance. I haven't even thought about outlining or ordering supplements yet; not to say that I won't do those things, I plan on doing both. All I'm doing is briefing every case and taking notes before and after every class. With the exception of contracts, my classes haven't even gotten into good law yet.

I totally agree with what you're saying for all purposes besides 1st semester 1Ls.

Glad to see I'm not alone. I've made plans to condense my crap and MAYBE start on AN outline this Saturday once I've touched bases with a few study buddies. Still getting the hang of how to pick out important details.

[stonepeep]

I've made plans to ... MAYBE start on AN outline this Saturday

Why? You don't have anything to outline yet. Outlining really needs to be done later in the semester, when you get to the point of actually needing to condense your notes into something useful. Furthermore, you say you're still getting the hang of picking out important details. Since outlining is about taking the extraneous crap out of your notes, there's a chance you'll think something is useless now, but in two months you'd make a different decision.

Edit: I see that a guy a few posts above starts his outlines during week one, but I don't think his experience is the norm at all.

Regardless, I wouldn't start an outline just because you feel like you're supposed to.

[zeth006]

I've made plans to ... MAYBE start on AN outline this Saturday

Why? You don't have anything to outline yet. Outlining really needs to be done later in the semester, when you get to the point of actually needing to condense your notes into something useful. Furthermore, you say you're still getting the hang of picking out important details. Since outlining is about taking the extraneous crap out of your notes, there's a chance you'll think something is useless now, but in two months you'd make a different decision.

Edit: I see that a guy a few posts above starts his outlines during week one, but I don't think his experience is the norm at all.

Regardless, I wouldn't start an outline just because you feel like you're supposed to.

Okey dokes. I've been following TLS advice to start outlining from day 1. I guess that doesn't apply until next semester and onward? Nonetheless, that frees up time this weekend to get ahead on readings and finish LEEWS.

[A'nold]

LULZ at outlining right now. LEEWS and every other person that tells you to outline from day one is wrong IMO. You can start in a month and a half maybe, but even then you will still be wading through the weeds.

[revolution724]

Okey dokes. I've been following TLS advice to start outlining from day 1. I guess that doesn't apply until next semester and onward? Nonetheless, that frees up time this weekend to get ahead on readings and finish LEEWS.

Unintentionally ironic pro tip: take what you read on TLS with a big grain of salt. Most of it is written by 0Ls and the overly histrionic.

[stonepeep]

Okey dokes. I've been following TLS advice to start outlining from day 1. I guess that doesn't apply until next semester and onward? Nonetheless, that frees up time this weekend to get ahead on readings and finish LEEWS.

I guess I didn't realize that "outline from day 1" was the conventional wisdom around here these days. Personally I just don't think it makes sense; to me it's like trying to organize a filing cabinet that has one file in it. What's the point?

I think once you get more accustomed to law school classes you could more easily start to outline on day 1, but I never will for the reason stated above.

[zeth006]

Okey dokes. I've been following TLS advice to start outlining from day 1. I guess that doesn't apply until next semester and onward? Nonetheless, that frees up time this weekend to get ahead on readings and finish LEEWS.

Unintentionally ironic pro tip: take what you read on TLS with a big grain of salt. Most of it is written by 0Ls and the overly histrionic.

Well, it's been written in a lot of guides and advice given by non-0Ls. I guess I should've taken it in context. It's tough to even write up a properly short brief when you're still learning what are relevant facts and how to spot the issues.

[username1]

If you are not going to start outlining until later, fine. However, I would encourage you to take one class (maybe torts) and experiment with outlining as you go.

You should find that as you progress you will gain a bit of confidence each day and that you will become more efficient in how you extract and study the material. Remember you were smart enough to get in the door, so don't underestimate your ability to take a rule out of a case and apply it to a short practice problem.

For instance, if you covered Pierson v Post in property, take a crack at the first problem in the property e/e. It takes about 10 seconds to read and 30 seconds to answer. The light may start to go off as you realize the benefits of working with practice problems earlier than later.


Good luck to all of the 1Ls

[revolution724]

Well, it's been written in a lot of guides and advice given by non-0Ls. I guess I should've taken it in context. It's tough to even write up a properly short brief when you're still learning what are relevant facts and how to spot the issues.

Of course it is. That's why you write briefs, to learn how to do that, and then go fix your old briefs later once you're in better practice.

Anyway, you don't have to defend anything to me. All I'm saying is that you may get conflicting and unreliable suggestions, and it's wise to choose which ones you follow judiciously and with copious reality-checks. Professional judgment and self-awareness are both important skills in this profession, so it won't particularly serve you well to abdicate them now, over this small issue, or in any other context.

[fixer]

You certainly can start outlining from day one. Even if you are just getting the basic structure of the outline typed in the form of a list, you can star to get a big picture perspective. Using the table of contents of the book coupled with the syllabus will yield a usable structure.

I use one note and I use tabs for full briefs, 2line briefs, notes, outline and syllabus. After every class I take the class notes and reconcile them with a supplement, or the teachers slides (if they use power point) and put this information in my outline. I don't really want to ever look back at the notes. The outline is by no means perfect but I consider it a work in progress.