How to Manage Your Learning

The following tips can help you manage your learning skills:

• Appreciate your learning preferences; adapt your study environment to your preferences.
• Appreciate the target of your learning: legal rule structures that are derived from legal concepts; know both the structures and their underlying concepts.
• Use the headings and subheadings in the casebook table of contents or course syllabus as a note-taking template for pre-class, during class, and post-class notes.
• Before you begin studying a topic, review what you already know about the topic.
• If the topic you are studying is foreign to you, consider pre-reading on the topic in secondary sources such as Examples and Explanations or Gilbert Law Summaries before reading about the topic in the case book.
• See the notes listed below under Building Reading Comprehension for suggestions on how to actively engage in the material you are reading.
• During class, listen attentively. Avoid trying to transcribe every word; participate in the discussion.
• During class, take notes on the following:
  • Review points the professor makes from preceding classes.
  • Summary points the professor makes at the end of class.
  • Hypotheticals or other questions the professor poses during class.
  • Try to get a sense of how the professor defines the legal concepts and rule structures at issue.
  • Edit your case brief to reflect an accurate understanding of the case, its holding, and its significance.
• Review your pre-class and during class notes within 24 hours of class; identify 2-3 main ideas from the class experience.
• Review your notes on a weekly basis, synthesize material within topics. Synthesis should result in rule structures and/or concept development for each topic you study.
• As you complete the study of a topic, synthesize your pre-class, during class, and post-class notes into a workable outline.
• Outlines have many forms, including charts, graphs, tables, flowcharts or time lines, as well as the traditional numerically developed outline; use an outline form that best captures what you need to know from the information.
• Consider creating flashcards for concept or case retention.
• After you have outlined a topic, check your understanding with practice questions (essay and multiple choice).
• Utilize a study group to check your understanding and progress with material.
• Meet with your professors regularly to address questions.
• If possible, get written feedback on at least one essay response from each professor administering an essay exam; revise the response until it is of highest quality.
• If you are an auditory learner, consider using audio-based bar review materials.
• If you are a verbal kinesthetic learner, work with other students to voice what you have just learned.