Whether you are new to the study of law or have studied law previously, at LL.B. level there is much more freedom than in earlier studies. Such freedom, whilst being good, also means that a greater degree of self-discipline and time management skills will need to be applied to get the most out of your studies. Here are some essential tips to get you through the LL.B.:
1) It is always good to attend lectures, seminars and tutorials and to do the necessary preparation. Aim to prioritise the amount of reading/preparation that needs to be done for each session. Seek guidance where necessary, but you will often learn things better (and feel a greater sense of satisfaction) when you have had to work them out for yourself.
2) Cultivate your note-taking skills in lectures – aim only to write down the core points or salient features. There is no point in trying to write down everything the lecturer is saying.
3) Review your notes after the lecture (while things are still fresh in your mind). It is at this point that you can further develop the themes and ideas the lecture focussed on. It is also good practice at this stage to organise your notes in such a way so that they will be useful come revision time. The lecture is only over once you have further considered the ideas and understood the principles of the subject.
4) Actively participate in tutorials/seminars as they will explore difficult ideas, allow you to practise your problem-solving abilities and further develop your communication skills. Aim to complete any written assignments that have been set and clarify any points that you don’t understand in the session. This will bode well for revision purposes.
5) Hone your legal reading skills – legal reading is different from other types of reading, so it is worth pausing every so often to ensure you have grasped the main points. Underline or highlight ideas or areas that you would like clarified. When reading cases, the headnote summarises the case, but you will need to work out which judges agree, which judges have dissented, what the Ratio (key decision) of the case is and how it impacts on previous case law or precedent.
6) Aim to be involved in extra curricular activities – such activities will equip you with further transferable skills that will assist your LL.B. Mooting and debating are popular ones; holding an executive position on the student law society and/or the Students’ Union Council are equally as valid. Why not try and set up a legal advice centre on campus or run a pro bono clinic? Don’t forget to add all experiences and skills to your CV.
7) Always know what the assessors/examiners are looking for when writing assignments/preparing for examinations. Assessments and examinations usually take the form of testing students’ knowledge by way of problem questions or essay questions. While the skills needed to answer each type of question differ, the criteria for success includes:
a) showing the you have understood the question;
b) correctly identifying the legal issues the question poses;
c) demonstrating an understanding of the principles of law that the question raises;
d) applying the principles of law to the question – the use of statutes and cases will demonstrate this, where necessary; and
e) drafting a well structured answer that is written in clear, concise and good English that observes the rules of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Obtain past examination papers and attempt those questions. Note the types and trends of questions that arise as they are usually a good indicator of what topics are likely to feature.
9) Practise writing answers to questions under timed conditions, so that your examination technique will be fine on the day of your examination. You will be surprised how many students run out of time in examinations and do not answer all the questions that they need to.
10) When writing assignments, attribute the sources of your work in footnotes and any resources used in a bibliography. A failure to do so is likely to fall within your institution’s rules on plagiarism.
I hope the suggestions in this “LL.B. Survival Kit” have been helpful. Don’t worry if things don’t always go to plan, but speak to your tutors if you are falling too far behind with your work or you feel you can’t cope. Law is an enjoyable subject, so, above all, ENJOY YOUR STUDIES!