If you are yet to join a law school, the only imagination of how it looks like could have been inspired by film or some literature work you came across. In reality, things are quite different in law universities, and there is quite more than what meets the eye.
No matter what stage you are in your law school journey—whether just starting out the bachelors, mid-way through college, or in high school considering law as an option—listening to people who have gone through the system could be informative.
Let us try to lift the veil a little bit of what is waiting for you on the other side of the law block.
Reading Smarter, Not Harder
It does not matter the level you are studying: law is packed with a lot of reading. You, therefore, have to know to work, not harder, but smarter.
Consider tackling a case study, for example. Considering that it is a real-life scenario and not a crime novel, you first need to know the crux of the orders made. That way, you can easily identify the remaining relevant parts of the judgment.
Headnotes will be your new buddy. Often, they will quickly reveal to you what the case is about without having to wad through it entirely. Skim reading will help you retrieve a lot of relevant information swiftly. However, you cannot skip everything; rather, choose the part that is worth spending time and energy on in order to grasp the concept.
Smart, right?
Create Your Own Note, Always
Whereas it always seems easy to rely on other people’s notes or utilize the templated online notes, it is advisable to stick to your own notes. You will not want to learn this lesson the hard way.
Writing your notes helps you decode the concepts in real-time. It is easier to trace something if you wrote it yourself when revising. Scientifically, it is proven that note-taking improves one’s remembrance.
Introverts Have Better Chances of Becoming Good Lawyers
If you are an extrovert, you probably have a problem with this one. After spending a lot of time in the courtroom, most people appreciate the valuable characteristics introverts bring on board.
Cases are not necessarily won by the loudest in the room. In fact, over-charismatic behaviors could have the opposite effect. Understanding your craft and proper understanding of things from other people’s perspectives form the basis of a good lawyer.
Be a Master of Stress
Be open to embracing stress as a law student. When you see a personal injury attorney in Michigan handling stress perfectly, they probably learned the skill in law school.
Everyone has a different stress tolerance level, so it is crucial to allow yourself some space to rest and recuperate. Take care of yourself, both physically and mentally. If possible, incorporate exercise, meditation, and spending time with your loved one. How well you utilize your downtime highly affects your law career.
Law Evolves
That is right. Law is ever-changing—both case law and legislation. The law dynamism makes it quite an interesting profession to be in. As a practitioner, there is room to apply your own creativity in pushing your arguments and still remain within the constraints of the law.
Sometimes, you might have to research in new areas in order to access opportunities. For example, many lawyers are aligning themselves with climate change advocacy to get a share of the huge resources allocated to this space.
Legal Research Skills are Essential
There will be areas of the law that you will need to be more conversant with. Nonetheless, the necessity of the matter will need you to dive into the area and master it.
You need to be equipped to handle these situations. Hone your research skills. Be ready to master new areas for both your benefits and clients.
Now could be the time you started befriending the librarian!
Conclusion
Law career has a lot of its ups and downs. However, those who have great interest and passion achieve great things. If you want to become one of the best attorneys around, allow yourself to be very flexible, often willing to face the law challenges with grit. Eventually, you will achieve your goals.