So you’re off to law school! There’s a lot to look forward to – both academically and in terms of your career. So, here are our tips to help you work smart – as well as working hard!
Get the groundwork in
You will be given some pre-reading to do before the course begins. Make sure you read it! If you don’t you risk starting your course on the back foot and forever playing catch up. Being behind is demoralising as well as a bad way to learn.
You’ll also have preparatory work before each tutorial or workshop during the course. Again, do it! Tutorials will assume a base level of knowledge and some tutors will launch straight into the more detailed and complicated issues. If you haven’t done the preparatory work, you won’t have a clue what they’re going on about. Not the best way to learn.
Work out how you will be assessed – and study accordingly
Different modules will be assessed in different ways through a variety of questions: multiple choice, short answers and longer answers including essays and problem question scenarios. Make sure that you are not just rote-learning, but understanding which information is central to understanding a topic. Ultimately, you need to be able to apply the most important information in the exam. Happily, at Law Answered we have already done much of that work for you – check out our LLB Answered Core Guides if you want to get straight to the point of what you need to know and understand how to give great essay and problem question answers.
Keep your career goals in mind
Remember why you are studying. If you are studying law out of academic interest and intend to pursue further study after graduation, then by all means get stuck into academic points and enjoy losing yourself in researching fascinating areas of law.
However, if you are intending to become a solicitor or barrister, make sure you don’t just study. Set aside time for law fairs and vacation scheme applications. Research and apply to a select list of firms in good time – do not leave it until the last minute to get your applications in.
The LLB is also a good opportunity to get involved in causes that you care about and which will build your legal knowledge and experience. Law clinics and other pro bono projects are worthwhile causes – so get involved!
Ultimately, your LLB is a means to an end, so remember to work on the applications and skills that will bag you a training contract or pupillage. Don’t focus on your academic work to the exclusion of all else.
Use your law school’s facilities
The LLB is expensive – and one of the things you are paying for is the careers and skills services at your law school. So use them! Skills workshops, talks with careers advisors, CV workshops, training contract application reviews, even additional study options and modules. Competition to get vacation schemes and training contracts is intense, so get your money’s worth.
Look after yourself
There may be times when you fall behind with your work or studies or let stress get you down. Try to recognise when you’re under too much stress so that you can get back on track. Talk to your tutor, law school support staff, or friends and family about your feelings. Remember also that many other students with you will be in the same boat. Make sure to put aside time during the day to reset – go for a coffee, a short walk, the gym or a lunch break – these will all help clear your head and keep you on track.
Have fun
Enjoy learning about the law – some of it is fascinating and intellectually stimulating (public law being a particular favourite of ours!). Finally, make sure to have fun and enjoy your university experience.
Good luck!