Five Useful Law School Study Hacks

Five Useful Law School Study Hacks

Whether it has to do with outlining, exam preparation, or the Bar Exam – we’ve got you covered with all the tips, stricks, strategies, and materials you need to succeed. The focus of this blog post is on “hacks” that are designed to make your studying easier and more effective. These nifty pieces of advice prevail over notorious law school study slumps and can help you conquer difficult subject material. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of our favorite study suggestions!

Five Useful Law School Study Hacks

Don’t Be Afraid To Use A Supplement

Supplements are designed to…well…supplement your textbooks and other course material. Most of the time, an effective supplement can break down complex subjects into easy-to-understand pieces of information. These study aids are literally designed to help you succeed, so don’t shy away from them. Many times, supplements can be found in your law school’s library or through various third-party companies…like us!

The rule against perpetuities? Definitely check out a supplement. Examples of the attractive nuisance doctrine? Supplement. Different ways a legal entity can be structured? Cough, cough, supplement. You get the idea. No need to reinvent the wheel. Use all of the materials available to you!

Explain Subject Material To A Friend

There will be times in law school where classmates and friends will explain concepts to you and vice versa. This is a great strategy to lean into for the bar exam! Different people learn at different rates and retain information in their own unique ways. In other words, sometimes all you need is for a friend to explain material to you in their own way. Once explained by a friend, what was once a difficult and problematic concept in your head can suddenly “click.” Take that professor!

Similarly, you can be a huge help to friends and yourself by explaining and “teaching” subject material. One of the best ways to prove that you understand a concept is to easily explain it to a friend. If you find yourself able to effectively explain a concept, you can move on in your studies.

Put The Phone Down

While we’re sure you’ve heard this a million times, it can’t be emphasized enough and is not a “hack.” Distractions from your phone can kill an otherwise effective study session. We know, Instagram, Bumble, and Twitter are all amazing. Do you know what else is amazing? Doing well on the final exam. Turn on your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” mode and put it to the side. If you don’t have a ton of self-control, you can even download an app to restrict how you can access your own phone! After an effective study session, you can DM, like, comment, and tweet to your heart’s content. Until then, focus on the subject material and use your time wisely.

Study Groups

Learning and studying in a group can help you discover new ways to approach legal concepts. Everybody has something interesting to contribute to an academic discussion of legal topics. The questions, answers, and analysis performed in a study group are all a powerful approach to studying. Resources are shared, ideas are thrown around, and everybody benefits. Plus, they’re fun! Studying with friends can make even the most boring of subjects appear at least somewhat entertaining.

If you find that you study best alone, that’s okay too but it doesn’t have to be isolating. Find a partner or friend who also likes to study alone and set up parallel schedules so you can hold each other accountable to show up, stick to your study schedule, and take lots and lots of breaks together! When you’re not studying alone, you can hash out questions and use each other as a sounding board without having to study together completely.

Music Is Your Friend

When studying for long hours, it can be soothing to turn on some music to help you relax. Studying in complete silence for hours on end might work for some, but many need some external stimulation. There are tons of studies that prove the effects of certain music during periods of study. In reality, it’s really what helps you focus and what gets you through the material. Music has a ton of benefits including increased mood, motivation, and memory. Whether it’s classical music, smooth jazz, or dubstep, pick whatever helps you get in the zone.

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