are these LS success guides on TLS really effective? Forum

[star fox]

I agree with Traynor 100% and would just add that what's random is whether you have the skill set to do well on law school exams and you won't know that until it's too late

WHAT | ARE | THESE | SKILLS

I think if you have been good at free response exams relative to other formats for assessing grades throughout your academic career you're more likely to have law school exam taking aptitude.

[lavarman84]

I'm a 1L and it already seems like there aren't enough hours in the day, but maybe I just read slow. There's so much shit I need to do. Brief cases, synthesize notes, read supplements, start thinking about how I want to organize my brief/class notes/supplement materials to create an outline... I'm getting 8 hours of sleep and have down time to chill with friends/go to the gym for sure but there's always more to do.

I am not trying to offend but don't think about this. You aren't to that point yet. You're getting way ahead of yourself.

Hell, if briefing cases helps, continue to do it. By I can't think of more than a handful of people that actually briefed cases after the first 3 weeks to a month. I never briefed cases. I also didn't read supplements. But I know a lot of people that found them helpful.

[PeanutsNJam]

If you didn't brief or read supplements, did you subsist entirely on class notes? How do you do well on the final exam?

[TheoO]

I think my biggest problem with 1L fall was pacing: everything seemed to move so slowly for the first two months, with everyone telling me not to worry and that things would pick up later. But when they do pick up, they seem to do so quickly. Suddenly, you find yourself caught between the heavier end of semester readings, outlining, and the planning for practice exams. On top of that, professors fall behind (I had one notorious CLS professor fall over two weeks behind schedule). It all feels overwhelming.

[A. Nony Mouse]

If you didn't brief or read supplements, did you subsist entirely on class notes? How do you do well on the final exam?

I pretty much went off class notes. I briefed for about the first 3 weeks, until I could read a case and figure out the holding/rule/facts etc. without having to write it all down (though I did "book brief" by writing in the margins a lot - but I always have; it's how I read; I don't take separate notes). I didn't generally use supplements - mostly at the end, when going through my notes and making sure I understood everything. Did well (better in some classes than others, of course).

[Traynor Brah]

If you didn't brief or read supplements, did you subsist entirely on class notes? How do you do well on the final exam?

I did very well in some classes where I didn't take/use any reading notes and didn't take any class notes. In studying for several classes I simply spent a lot of time merging a outlines from old students who did well in the class. Past students have already done a great job of taking class/book notes; I don't see much reason to do it yourself, generally. Spending more time on simply understanding the (generally not terribly complicated) material than going through mechanical motions is something I would advise for most classes. Again, just do what feel right and makes you confident.

[lavarman84]

If you didn't brief or read supplements, did you subsist entirely on class notes? How do you do well on the final exam?

Yes.

How did I do well? I outlined using my class notes while preparing for the exam to refresh myself and whittle down information. Then I took a bunch of practice tests...some with a 1-3 other people...and worked on the analysis aspect of it all.

The black letter law is the easiest thing to understand come exam time.

But as I tell every 1L, that might not work for you. You have to use the method that YOU'RE most comfortable with.

[Leonardo DiCaprio]

i just feel like 1L is just an elaborate hazing. 2 weeks into law school and Legal Writing has thoroughly killed my desire to do any kind of legal writing