Why Outlining is So Important to Your Law School Studying

Although you may have dreamed of being a lawyer your whole life, braving four years of law school can seem like a daunting task, to say the least–along with tackling outlining, briefing, and extended reading for enormous amounts of studying. Most of us have heard the stories about the competitive atmosphere, long hours and late nights burning midnight oil, and high dropout rates; however, if you are enthusiastic and motivated to succeed, chances are you will put the required organizational skills into place and thrive.

If you are not already on your A game when it comes to studying, prepare to be. This will make your life exponentially easier in law school—and especially the first year when you are adapting. Attending all your classes—or viewing all of them if you are enrolled in an online law school like California Desert Trial Academy College of Law is vital, along with having a precise grip on what your top priorities should be in studying, and what you should not spend an inordinate amount of time stressing about.

To be successful you will need good attendance, you will need to do all your reading, and make sure you have a full understanding of everything you are studying. Outlining is an excellent way to do this, and you should always do it yourself—otherwise you will not be acquiring and comprehending the required information. Create an outline for each course, and stick with it in a disciplined manner, whether you complete an outline after each topic is discussed, or once a week, or once a month.

Also, brief all your cases being studied. On attending class, avoid all distractions, and give lectures and other forums your full attention, along with taking comprehensive notes when you are not involved in discussions. Be ready to be called on at any moment and be fully ready to participate. Join or start your own study groups and attend any review classes or workshops.

Above all, don’t forget to put taking care of yourself at the top of your priority list too. It can be easy to feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to complete all your studies, or to procrastinate, and stay up too late—or you may be tempted to attend social gatherings late at night too. Make sure to get plentiful sleep, keep the caffeine and alcohol and junk food to a minimum, and exercise routinely too.

Are you interested in becoming a trial lawyer through distance learning? Our mission at CDTA College of Law is to educate, train, and develop extraordinary legal advocates. Your legal education will be comprised of bar-tested academic subjects, skills training, and values reinforcement. Upon completion of your four-year course of study you will be fully qualified to take and pass the California Bar examination. Call us today at (760) 342-0900 or find out more online here.