To begin with, you must be aware that this task is a matter of commitment, dedication and discipline. You will have to sacrifice a little every day to obtain very good results.
1. Take notes in class
The bases to start learning are taught in class. Therefore it is very It is important that you attend and take your own notes.
How to do it?
Depending on the way the teacher teaches, you can do it manually Law tutors, or with an electronic device if they allow it.
If your teacher is too fast or you feel like you might skip something important, you could record an audio of the class.
ADVICE
Take notes with titles, do not write down all the words; To do this, you can create your own glossary list so that you understand them. In addition, legal codes have their own acronyms. In principle, it is not necessary that you learn all of them, but you do need to learn the ones that you will use frequently.
2. Organize your notes
The notes you take in class are not enough to be a good law student. What will differentiate you from an ordinary student is the fact that you review your notes and are organized.
Separate your notes by subject, do not have everything agglomerated. The only thing you are going to achieve this way is to have your ideas scattered and the feeling that you have much more information than there really is.
ADVICE
Preferably transcribe them by hand, there are several studies that corroborate that it is one of the most effective techniques to learn or memorize concepts.
Likewise, you can prepare a summary or outlines of your notes in general. Yes, it may seem tedious but I guarantee good results like the following:
1. Be organized
2.Keeping the material up to date will allow you to follow a thread of what they teach you.
3. You will be preparing for the exam, and when you take it it will be much easier for you.
4 If they take a surprise exam, you will be able to face it without a problem.
3. Understand legal language
Spend time assimilating the language used by teachers and soon by classmates. Understand what you are reading, word for word. If you don’t know them, take the time to search in a legal dictionary or on Google.
It is essential to understand basic concepts such as norm, source, law. You should also establish differences between terms that may cause confusion.
To do this, I invite you to read the post “Basic Differences between confusing concepts of Law“. For example between demand and complaint among other terms, so that you have a better understanding of legal phenomena.
After that, study with your friends about the topics covered. For two reasons:
1. You may be omitting to study a topic, because you overlooked it or did not give it sufficient relevance.
2 Another reason, if you are wrong in any idea, they will be able to correct you in time.
ADVICE
Write down the expressions used by both your teachers and your classmates. Review them and try to implement them in your future presentations or when you must give your point of view.
Probably if you are a beginner, legal language will seem a bit quaint to you. For this reason, the following tips can help you a lot.
4. Learn actively
Don’t settle for having only the teacher teach the class, you will have to learn on your own. University is useful to give you the starting point, but if you want to go far the rest of the way is on your own.
To do this, the following suggestions:
Prepare the content of a meter in advance. Which helps make your class much more productive and enriching.
Read doctrine: gives you a broader vision of what the law is. The authors analyze how theory is applied to legal reality, exposing deficiencies and drawbacks that you would never have considered. Consequently, you will form a legal criterion based on solid and reasoned information.
Do an internship with a lawyer: This is one of the key axes, although it may sound contradictory to this post, it is one thing to be a good student and another to be a good professional. Although they are not opposing ideas, if you know how to combine them you will be an unstoppable MACHINE.
ADVICE
If you don’t know which writers you should read on a specific topic or subject, ask your teachers. Most times they will be able to help you.
Read sentences: this point is key for a law student, since by reviewing both resolutions and sentences, you will be able to feel how all the baggage of theoretical concepts is applied in The real world. On the other hand, it will allow you to internalize them in a better way in your learning.
This point is one of the most useful and at the same time one of the most complex to execute. It’s a matter of good habits.
5. Ask your teachers your questions
If you keep everything up to date, it is likely that you will constantly have doubts. That is why you should take advantage of the teachers’ experience. Because they are gold nuggets. Even more so if it comes from teachers with extensive experience in the professional field.