The Worst Law School Advice that Just Won't Die (And How to Avoid It)

TL;DR

Avoid bad advice in law school, such as skipping class, briefing every case, not using commercial outlines, buying new casebooks, and waiting to do outlines.

Transcript

• Advice about what you should do in law school are like butts. Everybody has one, and most of them stink. Today, we're gonna talk about some of the worst advice you can possibly get about what to do in law school, and how to avoid it. So stick around. (bright music) I was chatting with some of my fellow lawyers about some of the worst advice that ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🏫 Attending class is essential to understand a professor's unique perspective and teaching style.
• 💼 Briefing every case is inefficient and unnecessary since only certain elements are relevant for exams.
• 👮 Commercial outlines are valuable tools that simplify complex law and should be used alongside personal outlines.
• 👶 Buying new casebooks is unnecessary because they become outdated quickly and may not be relevant to your future practice.
• ⌛ Doing outlines every week saves time and provides a solid foundation for studying and preparing for exams.
• ❤️‍🩹 Waiting until the end of the semester to do outlines is a disadvantage compared to consistent and regular outline creation.
• 🛄 Context is not as crucial as some claim; starting early and iterating on outlines is a more efficient strategy.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is attending class important in law school?

Going to class is crucial because professors have their own spin on the law, and understanding their idiosyncrasies is key. Missing class means missing out on important insights and perspectives that will benefit your understanding of the law.

Q: Why is briefing every case a waste of time?

Most of the information in a case, such as procedural posture, dissenting opinions, and dicta, is not relevant for exams. Only the facts and black letter law matter. Spending time briefing every case is inefficient and unnecessary.

Q: Is using commercial outlines considered cheating?

No, using commercial outlines is not cheating. They are valuable resources that simplify complex law and provide simple statements of the law. Commercial outlines complement your own personal outlines and help you understand the material more effectively.

Q: Should you buy new casebooks in law school?

Buying new casebooks is not necessary. Highlighting and underlining in used casebooks do not affect their usefulness. Moreover, casebooks become outdated quickly, and their content may not be relevant to the state in which you will practice law.

Q: Why is it recommended to do outlines every week?

Doing outlines every week is a time-saving strategy. It allows you to synthesize the substantive law and your case notes regularly, so you have an entire outline ready by the end of the semester. This saves you from starting from scratch and gives you more time to focus on studying and memorizing the law.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Bad advice in law school includes skipping class, which is crucial for understanding a professor's individual spin on the law.

• Briefing every case is a waste of time since only the facts and black letter law are relevant for exams.

• Commercial outlines are valuable tools that simplify complex law and should be used alongside personal outlines.

• Buying new casebooks is unnecessary, as they are compilations of cases that can be obtained used.

• Waiting to do outlines until the end of the semester is a mistake; it is better to create outlines every week to save time and have a solid foundation for studying.