Law School Laptop Forum

[mz253]

Hey,

I'm thinking about getting a new laptop for law school. I don't know how law students use laptop. I have a few questions for current law students

1. Are most of your readings from case books? Or professors' printed handouts? Or PDF files?
2. Does everyone take notes using a laptop?
3. What other law study related stuff you use your laptop for?
4. In terms of law exam, what laptop works the best?
5. Do people use library desktops to do work? (I just really like desktops but I have super low productivity in my own room, so using a desktop in public space gives me highest productivity)

Thanks!

[23402385985]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=149154

[kazu]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=149154

TBF the OP's actual questions don't have a lot to do with that thread.

Sorry OP, I'm a 0L so I'm not really able to answer your questions, hopefully someone else will though.

[floggered]

Hey,

I'm thinking about getting a new laptop for law school. I don't know how law students use laptop. I have a few questions for current law students

1. Are most of your readings from case books? Or professors' printed handouts? Or PDF files?
2. Does everyone take notes using a laptop?
3. What other law study related stuff you use your laptop for?
4. In terms of law exam, what laptop works the best?
5. Do people use library desktops to do work? (I just really like desktops but I have super low productivity in my own room, so using a desktop in public space gives me highest productivity)

Thanks!

1. Generally, the majority of classes and cases are taught from a casebook. Cases, articles, or additional material, which are distributed either in hardcopy or by email, may be supplement the reading.

2. No. But, for my class, I'd say a good majority used laptops to take notes. A large number high-ranking students, however, take notes by hand or no notes at all.

3. LRW assignments and research.

4. The laptop on which you can type an essay without crashes or slowdowns. If you're thinking of buying a Mac, you may want to check with your school, IT department, AND, most importantly, current students to see if law exam software works (flawlessly) with your machine.

5. Some people use the desktop computers around school, but I'd advise against it. First, the computers purchased by most schools are fungible, low-end computer like Dell or HP. Second, you never know if and when those computer will be available, particularly during exam period. Third, they're usually dirty. You may want to invest in a dock for your laptop if you enjoy a separate screen and keyboard. I've used HengeDocks (http://www.hengedocks.com/) and generally have been satisfied with it.

[goodolgil]

1. 90%+ casebook (including statutory supplements [like the UCC or FRCP]). Whether professors give out the rest in hard copy or PDF is a personal preference, but most of mine sent out PDFs on my school's Blackboard-style setup.

2. At my school it was probably 70/30 or 75/25 laptop. I can't speak to the comment above about the best students hand-writing notes, but I took the best notes in my two classes which banned laptops. Bringing your laptop to class everyday and not browsing the Internet at all requires a lot of will power, will power that I guess I don't have. I will say it's pretty easy to GChat and pay attention/take notes at the same time, it's more the browsing during down time that will have you not paying any attention for 10 minutes.

3. Outlining, legal research, paper writing.

4. Exam programs don't require much power at all. Just make sure your OS is compatible. Also, your laptop should be fast enough generally that it doesn't randomly freeze up.

5. Not really. If you want to use them you should have no problem finding free computers.

[09042014]

Hey,

I'm thinking about getting a new laptop for law school. I don't know how law students use laptop. I have a few questions for current law students

1. Are most of your readings from case books? Or professors' printed handouts? Or PDF files?
2. Does everyone take notes using a laptop?
3. What other law study related stuff you use your laptop for?
4. In terms of law exam, what laptop works the best?
5. Do people use library desktops to do work? (I just really like desktops but I have super low productivity in my own room, so using a desktop in public space gives me highest productivity)

Thanks!

1) Casebook, but I had an islamic law course that was mostly PDF, but its an exception not a rule
2) No, but about 2/3rd do. The pros are easy organization, the con is it's easy to get off topic.
3) Legal Research and Writing is heavily computer based.
4) Any laptop works. I'd buy a 600 dollar ASUS if I were you.
5) My school only had one lab, it's almost always empty. But you can if you want.

[mountaintime]

imo, the most important feature for a ls laptop is a comfortable keyboard.

[mz253]

I was thinking about getting a MAC. But I think I prob need something that is boring so I wouldn't spend too much time gchating, watching videos, etc.

[thecilent]

I was thinking about getting a MAC. But I think I prob need something that is boring so I wouldn't spend too much time gchating, watching videos, etc.

You're an idiot.