We thought it would be good to post an article summarising things we learned in law school. However, there’s enough reading for law school, so we’ve opted here for easily digestible dot-points about the 10 key things we wished we knew before law school.
1. How to read smarter, not harder
Read cases backwards. It’s not a crime/thriller novel – so find out the conclusion first! Once you know the crux of the decision or orders made, it’s far easier to identify the relevant parts of the rest of the judgment.
Headnotes are your friend – they’ll quickly tell you what the case is about (main issues and facts) before you start wading through the entire case.
Skim reading isn’t for slackers – it’s a valuable tool to get to the most relevant information fast. Of course, this doesn’t mean you skim read everything; there are parts where you have to slow down and re-read principles to ensure you understand them. Skim reading just helps you find those parts more quickly.
2. Always create your own set of notes
Never rely on other people’s notes or template notes you find online since the way the course is taught may have differences from school to school and semester to semester. We’ve seen a number of law students who used other people’s notes or notes they found online. Let’s just say they didn’t do as well as they could have.
It’s also important to create your own notes because this is actually part of revising and is scientifically proven to help you remember things (since you’re using your own words).
3. Introverts make good lawyers
We used to think only confident extroverts could make good lawyers. How wrong we were!
After spending a lot of time in the courtroom we found that being an introvert was not an impediment, but rather a valuable characteristic. You don’t have to be the loudest or most charismatic person in the room to be a good advocate. In fact, this can often have the opposite effect to that desired. Knowing what you are talking about and understanding things from others’ points of view are more important. Introverts often have great attention to detail and investigative legal research skills which allow them to, almost naturally, fulfil this goal. That’s not to say extroverts don’t have those skills. Rather, it’s an observation that introverts should not be underestimated (or more importantly, underestimate themselves).
You might also be surprised, as we were once out in practice, that everyone gets nervous! Even senior professionals and barristers. That’s actually something to use to your advantage – it gives you the energy to think on your feet.
4. The skill of managing stress
Stress is a natural part of life, and definitely a theme in law school (and beyond). That does not mean we should just accept it, however. It is vitally important that we manage stress so it doesn’t become overwhelming.
Everyone’s tolerance to stress is different. Know your boundaries and allow yourself time to rest and reset.
There are many methods of managing stress, and these work for different people, such as:
o yoga,
o mediation,
o exercise,
o listening to music,
o spending time in nature,
o spending time with loved-ones.
Find what works best for you and be consistent with giving yourself the time to unwind.
5. The law is constantly evolving
Not only case law, but legislation is changing constantly. This is part of the reason why law is such an exciting profession to work in!
Learning at uni is not the end of the journey. CPD (Compulsory Professional Development) and other opportunities for professional growth abound, whether it be researching a new area of law or representing a client in a specialised tribunal.
The evolving nature of law allows creativity and innovation in arguments as the law and societal values change. So embrace the challenge and variety!
6. Developing and honing-in your legal research skills is essential
There will be areas of laws that you are unfamiliar with but nevertheless have to deal with during your career. Therefore, being able to know how to research an area of law you are unfamiliar with and accurately advise your clients is critical.
7. Craft your argument as the “most reasonable” option
What we mean by this is that, sometimes it can seem like the argument that is most forceful against the other party is the winner. Like gladiators battling on the field. But after watching hundreds of cases (both civil and criminal matters) the real “winners” were the arguments presented as the most reasonable conclusion. So craft your argument as the most reasonable option.
8. Language lovers don’t despair at using simple English
If you love language and words (probably a given if you are studying law), it can be hard in the beginning to avoid using intricate and flowery language. The key is remembering your audience and not “dumbing it down” but, rather “keeping it clear”. If you want your message to be heard, and not an unintended message to be received, plain and concise language is best.
This doesn’t mean that your writing becomes dull and uninteresting – anyone that has read a judgment by Lord Denning knows how engaging it can still be.
It is a skill, so practicing early (without despairing) will pay dividends later.
9. There are more areas of law than you think.
There are areas of law like building and construction law (that has its own sets of legislation and regulations) that you likely won’t ever come across at law school. As we mentioned earlier, be prepared for continuous learning! This is part of what makes law so exciting as you are constantly learning about new things and expanding your skill-set.
10. There’s more to being a lawyer than just becoming a solicitor or a barrister and working in private practice
The world is your oyster and there are a lot more career options for law graduates that do not involve private practice as a solicitor or barrister. There are a range of government departments and commissions that utilise in-house lawyers or counsel. Many businesses, finance and accounting firms, tech companies, and trans-national corporations are also keen to hire people with law degrees (even in non-lawyer roles) because of the skill-set law graduates have.
Think broad and explore all sorts of career options open to people with law degrees. For example, there are also lawyers in academia, entrepreneurship, civil service positions and non-governmental organisations.
We hope you find these points helpful!
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