As a young legal student, it might seem a bit overwhelming when you see the workload that stands between you and that LLB certificate. Professional lawyers say that the first two years as a rookie lawyer are the hardest. But don’t panic – this article covers everything you need to know about state and federal laws and provides you with valuable tips for new lawyers.
1. You’ll have to read – a lot!
There is a lot of reading involved when you are studying legal. The extent of reading is not exactly fixed, but you need to acquaint yourself with at least 10 hours of study every day to get the best results. There are so many books to read that lawyers and law students have a reputation for spending lots of hours in the library every week. As a law student, you’ll need to learn what the law is and the scholarly opinion about that law from scratch.
This is neither short nor easy, but the good news is that by the end of the first semester, you will become much better at quickly understanding the key theme of an article or finding the important passages in a case.
2. Law books are expensive
When studying legal, you will need lots of reference texts and other books, and just like medical texts, legal text can be extremely expensive. Some books might even cost as much as your tuition fee. While the library can help provide access to some of these books, the number of copies is usually limited, and you’ll be served better by owning the texts.
3. You need high analytical and logical skills
As we stated earlier, studying legal involves a lot of reading, and the ability to analyze what you have read and break it down into easily digestible chunks is invaluable. Lawyers need to have good analytical and logical skills. You must look at issues from every angle and find realistic solutions to various problems. Studying legal will help you develop your logical and analytical skills making you an excellent problem solver.
4. You have to master time management
Time management is an essential skill that you would need for the rest of your life, first as a legal student and then as a practicing lawyer. From your first day in law school to entry-level positions at law firms, you’re going to feel swamped with work at every opportunity, so you must learn how to manage your time effectively.
When studying legal, you’d have to balance classes, assignments, tests, study, and other activities. The time management skills you learn this period will serve you for the rest of your career as a lawyer.
5. You’ll need internships and work experience
When studying legal, it’s almost required that you have some form of internship or work experience before you graduate. Many firms have begun to offer placement and taster internships from the first year. Even if you don’t take these positions, you should invest your summer vacation in schemes and internships with law firms. Lots of chambers expect a certain number of months spent as an intern.
Internships help you learn the practical aspect of law and build new connections. You also get to learn valuable tips for new lawyers.
6. You have to take lots of notes.
While every field of study requires some amount of note-taking, studying legal requires even much more. You have to take notes quickly and accurately at every opportunity you have.
In fact, as a legal student, you shouldn’t be in class or doing any kind of study without a notepad or a pen. There are so many details to memorize, like state and federal laws, and taking detailed notes would help you do that faster.
Studying legal is not a walk in the park. While it can be a very fulfilling career path, you must know what you’re getting into. These six tips will help prepare you for your future as a law student and, eventually, a practicing lawyer.
