Advice to science major law students

November 29, 2004 on 2:19 pm | In The-Practice-of-Law |

Matt Homman (the [non]billable hour blog) had a recent series of posts (by guest bloggers) called “Law Student Edition — Five by Five.”  Five very interesting posts which are worthy of a read.  Of the Five’s blogs, I really enjoy Poon’s blog (he blogs those tasteless things none of us would admit to thinking…).  I digress.

My advice to science majors going to law school with the hope of practicing patent law (and current 1L nerds (science majors) reading this blog):  “Forget the details, learn the big picture.”  My first semester of law school I killed myself studying, only to be a handful of students above the center of the curve.  After being amazed that I didn’t do better, it dawned on me that I was studying wrong. 

As a science major you prepare for exams by memorizing EVERYTHING.  Every last tidbit of knowledge must be memorized for the semester’s multiple choice tests.  The result is that the students who can memorize and recall the most get the best grades.  Preparing for my first semester finals, I spent all of my time memorizing my outline without learning what it all meant (in a big picture sense). 

Law school exams aren’t multiple choice (as you know).  The tests are over the concepts, not the details.  To study for your first law school tests, you need to ditch memorization and pick out the 4–5 big concepts for the semester that show up on EVERY EXAM (you’ve got old exams…find those big concepts) and be prepared to thoroughly discuss them, supplementing them with whatever tidbits you can remember.

Do that and (from my experience) you’ll consume much less antacid (or alcohol) when grades are released.

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3 Comments

  1. Thanks for the advice — I’m a 1L with a Computer Engineering degree who is looking to work on IP law. Also, I should be studying for Friday’s Criminal Law final and not ‘blogging.

    It may be worth it to temper the advice a bit, though: so far it appears that while not all the details matter, there’s always a few that do. The key is determining which ones. :)

    Comment by Adam — December 1, 2004 #

  2. You’re right..there are some details that matter. I’m just saying that it doesn’t do you any good to study like a science major (trying to memorize EVERY detail). Spend your time wisely. Study the forest (and the big trees) and don’t bother memorizing the names of all of the different trees, plants, shrubberys, herrings, etc. and chances are that you’ll do better.

    DISCLAIMER: You’re really on your own for studying…that is what worked for me…whether it will work for you is unknown. [Don't blame me]. ;)
    Good luck.

    Comment by Nipper — December 1, 2004 #

  3. Where did you get the bottle cap lure info?
    Please call me toll free 1-888-8-HOOKED

    Comment by Norm Price — December 8, 2004 #

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