Outlines/Briefs Forum

[RAMLAW]

Soon to be 1L. When should I begin outlining? Also, is it a waste of time to brief cases for class? Is it more efficient just to note the rule of law in each of the cases I am assigned?

Thanks!

[lawhopeful10]

I should mention to save you from making a million threads this site has a bunch of guides that explain all this stuff http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=123092. To answer this question I never briefed or even took notes before class because during class my teachers explained everything clearly so I would just pay attention then. I kinda outlined as I went and tinkered with it the entire semester and then about two weeks or so before finals would condense it to a really short outline solely made for tests. I finished around top 3%. You really need to just find what works for you though. More important than outlining or briefing is learning about law exams and how to take them.

[MoneyMay]

I'm going to say this b/c it save me a lot of frustration and countless hours: just get old outlines from 2Ls and 3Ls who did well 1L year and then edit them with your class notes. Making your own outlines IMHO is a complete and total flame with absolutely zero benefit. The tricky part is figuring out who did well 1L year.

[yomisterd]

Chill the fuck out RAMLAW. This is your second thread in minutes, all on prepping for school. Join the c/o 2017 thread and read the guides.

[NotMyRealName09]

After thanksgiving worked for me, but there is no one right answer - just read up on options and rationale and trust your instincts.

[NotMyRealName09]

I'm going to say this b/c it save me a lot of frustration and countless hours: just get old outlines from 2Ls and 3Ls who did well 1L year and then edit them with your class notes. Making your own outlines IMHO is a complete and total flame with absolutely zero benefit. The tricky part is figuring out who did well 1L year.

I recommend making your own outlines from scratch. Collect a few exemplars to get an idea for how it's done, but I'm an advocate for the notion that the process of typing out the whole outline on your own is a fantastic way to learn the material. If you write it out in your own words, you can see if you understand it or need to review it further. And for me, I remember things best if I've typed them out.

Again, you're going to get different advice, all of which worked for the person giving it. There isn't a right answer. Consider how you study and plan accordingly.

[MoneyMay]

I'm going to say this b/c it save me a lot of frustration and countless hours: just get old outlines from 2Ls and 3Ls who did well 1L year and then edit them with your class notes. Making your own outlines IMHO is a complete and total flame with absolutely zero benefit. The tricky part is figuring out who did well 1L year.

I recommend making your own outlines from scratch. Collect a few exemplars to get an idea for how it's done, but I'm an advocate for the notion that the process of typing out the whole outline on your own is a fantastic way to learn the material. If you write it out in your own words, you can see if you understand it or need to review it further. And for me, I remember things best if I've typed them out.

Again, you're going to get different advice, all of which worked for the person giving it. There isn't a right answer. Consider how you study and plan accordingly.

Yeah TITCR. I know other people who got great grades and if I did what they did it wouldn't have worked for me, and vice versa. Unfortunately there is no right answer and you will just learn through trial and error what works for you. For me, I thought typing it out on my own was a giant waste of time but for others that's how they learn and they would never rely primarily on an outline they got from someone else.

[Legal2148]

spam

[LAWYER2]

I didn't outline or make case briefs in LS, but to each is own.
FYI, I recorded all the helpful tidbits that helped me in law school in my blog:
http://www.thecadillaclawyer.com/?page_id=65