[blindlaw] Study Tips for Law School

[Susan Kelly]

Just a few added thoughts from someone who graduated a "few" years ago - yes, definitely outline as you go.  I was lucky to still have fairly useful vision in law school, but I think this works whether by computer or by handwriting.  I would outline the daily reading for each course before class, and then add whatever notes seemed appropriate during the day's lecture to that outline.  Also, small study groups are very helpful - different people will catch different things in class, all of which are likely important.  Also, we had at least one professor who would come in each morning and write lists on the whiteboard, which were never discussed in class and which were not in the assigned readings.  Guess what was the major portion of our semester final?  I would hope that no prof would do this with blind students, but sadly, one of my classmates already needed a white cane due to the effects of retinitis pigmentosa, and a woman in the class ahead of us required a braille machine to take her notes - thus, the prof should not have done this but because of tenure, was not taken to task over this habit.  Having a study group ensures that someone else will be able to share notes on anything that ends up being disseminated in an inaccessible manner can be quickly and easily gotten.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Stewart, Christopher K via blindlaw
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 5:55 AM
To: blindlaw
Cc: Stewart, Christopher K
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] Study Tips for Law School

Hi Bruce and List,

I'm sorry for posting directly, but I receive the list posts in digest form and thought this would be a cleaner way to respond.

I love the idea of doing a workshop at convention on studying smart in law school. I will definitely raise this question when I attend my first meeting of the blind lawyers section at convention this year.
Now, here are my quick hits.

First, for totally blind users, I strongly advise converting your openbook files into Word files. This is for two reasons. First, Word is easier to edit on the fly. And, second, I find navigation in smaller chuncks easier in Word. The main mistake to avoid is turning on your reading and just listening. This works in undergrad, but not law school.

Second, outline as you go!! Do not be the person cramming at the end of the semester. You will pass, but you will not best your classmates, which is of course the goal in almost all law schools. So, every time you finish a section, say it's contracts, and you have just finished offer and acceptance. Sit down for a few hours and create an outline of all of the cases and information regarding offer and acceptance.
Commercial outlines can help guide this inquiry, and I'll happily share mine, but there is no substitute for doing it yourself.

Third, study your professor. I had a contracts teacher who was brilliant, but the information he wanted wasn't the information generally stressed in commercial study aids. Moreover, he could spot a commercial study aid answer a mile away. So, know what your professor wants.

Fourth, and on a related note, talk to your professors. Schedule a couple of meetings throughout the semester and discuss the material.
Make sure you understand what he's telling you, and make sure you can communicate the material clearly to him/her.

Fifth, stay healthy. Find time to exercise no matter what. Eat well.
Get sleep. If you are kind to your body, it will be kind to your brain.

Sixth, talk to your classmates. Find people you really mesh with and form study groups. Bring your own outlines and form master outlines.
Quiz each other. Find sample essay questions online or, where possible, old exams from your own professors.

For anyone who is still reading, thank you. I have more suggestions, and I am happy to discuss them with anyone. This is a public list so I won't reveal my class rank, but it is high, and I'll happily discuss that as well on an individual basis. I hope this was useful.

Best,
Chris


--
Chris K. Stewart
University of Kentucky College of Law, J.D. Candidate, 2016 Senior Staff Editor, Kentucky Law Journal Co-President, American Constitution Society President, Election Law Society California Institute of the Arts, B.F.A. 2010
Ph:
(502)457-1757

_______________________________________________
blindlaw mailing list
blindlaw at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for blindlaw:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindlaw_nfbnet.org/susan.kelly%40pima.gov