Three Ways to Organize Your Notes in Law School
About a month into law school, everyone is slowly beginning to get the hang of things and find the note-taking and study methods that work the best for them. The way people choose to take notes and organize their information throughout the term will differ, but if you’re looking for a general guide, here are some common methods and programs used by law students to format and prepare their notes.
1. Microsoft OneNote
This option is up first because it’s the method I use and so far, it’s been working well. OneNote is a great tool because it allows you make separate notebooks, sections, and pages that you can use to organize the large volume of information you’ll be receiving in your classes. I create a notebook for each class, and within these, I create sections for each week. This works great for me because I can take it a step further and separate my lecture notes, textbook readings and case briefs each week which helps me find information quickly while I’m studying and revising. I also find this option to be a lot cleaner than adding everything into one continuous document while the term goes on. OneNote is great because it allows you to insert files and videos, make audio recordings, draw/annotate your notes and type anywhere on the page. I use these features when revising to note down any questions I have relating to the content and emphasize certain pieces of information that my professor has highlighted. The last major benefit is that OneNote saves your work automatically and syncs across all your devices so you can work from anywhere without the worry of not having the most updated version of your notes.
2. Microsoft Word / Google Docs
These tools are categorized together because the method of note-taking for people using one of these two options is fairly similar and the choice between them mainly comes down to personal preference. Typically, students using Word or Google Docs will be create a live, continuous document for the entire semester where they include their textbook readings, lecture notes, and case briefs, as well as any important notes or questions highlighted by their professors. If you are the kind of person who prefers working within a single document where all your information is in the same place, these note-taking tools are probably for you. For many law students, this single-document format makes it easier to outline when it comes closer to exam time, and they also highlight the ease of collaboration within these sites when are studying with groups in order to prepare for midterms or finals. These programs can also both save your work automatically and sync across multiple devices, so you’ll never be without your notes.
3. Handwritten Notes
Handwriting notes is the least common method of note-taking in law school from what I’ve seen, however, it has been scientifically proven to help with retention and has quite a few benefits. Some people choose to use a separate notebook for each class while others use loose-leaf paper and binders, but either way, handwriting your notes allows for far greater customization because you can organize them in any way you want, and you’re not limited to the standard online format of the tools mentioned above. I used to exclusively handwrite my notes in high school and university, and I found that I was typically more focused when writing in comparison to typing. I also liked that handwriting notes was a form of studying in itself because I would be actively reading and comprehending each sentence as I wrote. Active reading is still an important part of your notes while you’re typing, but I definitely found it easier to do when handwriting. The main challenge of handwriting notes in law school, and the reason why I chose not to handwrite, is due to the sheer volume of information being thrown at you. You’re enrolled in a lot of classes, the textbook readings are long, and professors talk fast — but if you think you’re someone who can keep up and handwriting has worked for you in the past, then I suggest you go for it!
These are just three note-taking options that are available to you and as you get going, you’ll find students who stick exclusively to one of these methods while others mix and match and change up their strategies depending on the class. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to figure out what works best for you! Think about what has helped you in the past but also consider that there is a significantly large volume of reading to do for every class. Don’t get too stuck on what other people around you are doing and don’t be scared to change things up as you go. Good luck!
