What are some law school note-taking tips and shortcuts?
Taking notes is so important in law school. Your professors will test what they discuss in class. So, having good class notes to refer back to when you create your outline is crucial.
Try taking notes by hand -
The absolute vast majority of students type their law school notes. And there are definite advantages to this—table, you may be able to type faster than you can write.
Use helpful abbreviations -
One way to save time as you take notes in law school is to abbreviate as you type or write. This helps you write more in a shorter time period.
Color-code your outlines -
Relatedly, some students also find it helpful to color-code notes. This makes it easier to go back and find what you need from your notes.
Use text expander -
If you constantly say phrases like “smj” but would rather your notes look (and read) better, you can download a program like text expander or something similar.
Write down hypos from class -
Many people put their pencils down or stop typing when a professor asks for hypos. But hypers serve as illustrations of the trigger points of law.
Don't write down every fact of every case -
if you're writing procedural history or every date/fact, you'll want to learn how to narrow down your law school class notes to include only the most important facts.
Try pursuing an outline from a past student before or during class -
If you have any outlines or class notes from past students that have taken the class you are in with the same professor.
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