Some Quick Study tips

• Self Belief comes slowly during course, many do not have it in the beginning.

• Know what your goals are, what do you want out of it? Knowledge of Civil law, Contracts, consumer litigation etc. Also to use, degree, as a stepping stone to something else.

• Time management, computer skills and English skills are key.

• Degrees require a lot of independent studies and even more so a law degree. Not a lot of people can help you with your studies. 

• Use a study library to make sure you're doing all that you need to do in your personal life as well as for your course.

• If your doing long distance study or do not attend much lectures, watch law lectures on you tube. 

• There is no real advantage to be gained by trying to read up too much ahead of starting course, as everyone will soon be on level footing before exam and assignment deadlines.

• Have other outside interests, maintain a healthy lifestyle, take days off studying law.

• Learn how to issue spot. 'Issue Spotting'!!! in cases etc

• Use library space rather than studying at home all the time. Library!

• Law books are expensive and hard to re sell because they go out of date due to changes in the law.

• Some law degrees are more practical than others. Some do a lot of jurisprudence and history of law whilst others concentrate on current practical issues relevant to being a lawyer, for example. 

• MAD?? Study Method over IRAC

• Use a professional proofreading service for help with citations etc

• Idiomatic law? Cannot be learnt in a vacuum, you have to go to school and see how it is done. 

• Law school goes so slow, you do not have to learn too much or any law prior to starting.

• Update the CV ready to send out. Start letter writing to high street law firms or city firms for 

• Para legal work etc. Before you start the course, usually in summer. That way you can concentrate on studies.

• Don't read everything. You will not even be able to know everything in one field of law, there is soooo much.

• Find out which citation style is used prior to course start.

• Learn how to summarise case studies for revision so you don't have to re read the same long case.

• Networking at law fairs, law society. Also with fellow students. 

• 'Go to Source'. Don't just rely on what lecture's say. Look at what the Court decisions (case law) and or legislation (Statutes) say. And other experts like academics.

• Read as many cases as you possibly can. Do not forget to read case law.

• Mind Maps, Flash Cards and Diagram drawings. Online search or You tube for ex

• Ask what type of learner are you, visual or reader and memorise etc? 

• Mock exam practise questions.

• Brush up on grammar and English skills.

• Typing Skills 68-79 per minute. Most have a speed of under 20 words a minute, reach 40 at least. 

• Visit Courts, see how it's done and listen to the battle of words and reasoning 

• Some Unis, like Bristol, require LNAT test, see LNAT website.

• University split between lectures and seminars, usually about 5 hours each per week, total 10 hours. Lectures can be hard to keep up with as there is no pre warning as to what you will be hearing. Seminars are more interactive and you usually have to prepare for these in advance whereas with lectures you have to do follow up reading.

Starter text books 

1. AQA Law, Jacquline Martin and Nicholas Price, £25.99
2. OCR law, Jacquline Martin and Nicholas Price, £25.99
3. Unlocking the English Legal System 5th Edition by Rebecca Huxley-Binns (Author), Jacqueline Martin (Author), Tom Frost (Author) £30.00 

See the Essay Writing Page for more

See Legal Research Posts on this blog 

How to become a Legal Executive

By doing:

1) a law degree (LLB) (or a non-law degree followed by the Graduate Diploma in Law) (GDL), you can then take 

2) the CILEx Graduate Fast-Track Diploma instead of the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and

3) work up to five years to become fully qualified.

Routes to Becoming a Paralegal 

a paralegal practice award, certificate, diploma or higher diploma.

or

a legal secretary certificate or diploma.

or

an award in legal studies.

or

an HNC/HND or foundation degree in law, legal studies or paralegal practice.

or

a law degree.