A 3rd Year’s Guide to 1st Year Law

Starting a law degree is exciting, but it can also feel like a bit of a shock to the system. Suddenly, you’re learning a whole new language of law, managing your own workload and trying to balance university with everything else going on. Looking back as a 3rd year, here are some of the things I wish someone had told me before starting first year.

1.        Figure out your note-taking system.

Finding a note-taking system that works for you can make a huge difference when it comes to revision time. At the start of first year, I noticed that most people were using Word or OneNote to type up their lecture notes. Although this worked well for some people, I found myself spending more time typing out the lecture slides than actually listening to what the lecturer was saying. When it came to revision, I was left confused about what I had actually written down!

What I’m trying to say is that there isn’t one “right” way to take notes, so don’t feel like you have to copy someone else’s method.

The tip:

-            This is your time now to experiment with different methods at the start of the year, whether that’s OneNote, Notability, Notion, handwritten notes or something totally different. Personally, what works best for me is downloading the lecture slides onto my iPad before the lecture and adding my own notes in my own words as the lecturer goes through the material. This allows me to take in the information rather than just copying the slides, making revision so much easier later on.

-            Keep your notes organised by putting the date and title of each lecture at the top and separating different topics, cases and legislation.

-            Write things in your own words where you can. If you can explain a tricky area of law simply, you’re much more likely to understand and remember it.

-            Think about future you. Your notes should be useful when you come back to revise, not something you have to decipher months later.

-            Most importantly, don’t rewrite the lecture slides word-for-word. Listen to what the lecturer is actually explaining and note down the additional information, case context and examples that help you understand the topic.

2.        Check your emails

This may seem obvious, but don’t be complacent. Get into the routine of checking your university emails every day. A lot of important information is communicated through email, and unlike school, you won’t always have someone reminding you about upcoming deadlines or changes.

You could receive information about room or timetable changes, assessments, university administration, careers opportunities or events. These are all things you don’t want sitting unopened in your inbox.

Not to scare you, but sometimes emails can actually require you to take action. For example, you could be emailed to let you know you’ve received a C6, and if you don’t take the required action, this could turn into a C7. So, definitely don’t make a habit of ignoring your university emails!

The tip: Make checking your university emails part of your daily routine. Even five minutes in the morning or evening can save you from missing something important.

3.        Get to know your personal tutor.

You may or may not already much about your personal tutor, but they can be a really useful person to have throughout your degree. Being at university can sometimes maybe feel like you’re expected to figure everything out yourself, so having someone you can go to for advice can make a big difference.

The tip: Take advantage of your personal tutor meetings and don’t be afraid to ask for support. This is what they are there for! Whether you’re struggling academically, feeling overwhelmed or simply unsure about something, they can often point you towards the right person or service. You don’t have to wait until there’s a serious problem before speaking to them.

It’s also worth getting to know your personal tutor as they can potentially provide references for things like future applications, so building a good relationship with them from first year can be really useful.

4.        Get involved in your tutorials.

Your tutorials are an opportunity to actually use the law you’ve been learning rather than just listening to it. I know it can be intimidating to speak up, especially feeling like you would be embarrassed if you got an answer wrong. But I promise, its not a room full of people judging you! Think of tutorials more as a big discussion, your tutors expect you to make mistakes and ask questions. Chances are someone else is thinking the exact same thing. The more you get involved, the more confident you’ll become.

The tip:

-            Prepare for your tutorials rather than leaving everything until the night before.

-            Have your cases, legislation and relevant reading ready beforehand.

-            Try to contribute, even if you’re not absolutely confident in your answer.

-            Use tutorials to identify what you don’t understand before exam season.

-            A weekly planner or journal would be a good purchase as it can be really useful for keeping track readings, tutorials and deadlines.

You’re there to learn, so getting something wrong in a tutorial is much better than not attempting at all.

5.        Don’t rely on AI.

AI can be a really useful study tool, but it shouldn’t replace your own learning. Your lecturers want to see your own analysis, reasoning and application of the law. From this, it’s important to remember that AI can help you understand a topic, but it cant replace your own thoughts and legal analysis.

The tip: Use AI responsibly. It can be useful for explaining a difficult concept or testing your understanding but always cross reference the information AI may provide as it could, commonly, be unreliable. Never use AI during assessments and get comfortable using legal resources the university provides – Westlaw, Primo, LexisNexis, etc.

Think for yourself, you are so much smarter than you think, and you don’t need AI to tell you if you are right or wrong.

6.        Get used to OSCOLA.

OSCOLA may seem like a small part of an assignment, but it is much easier to get into good habits from the beginning than to try and learn it all the night before a deadline.

The tip: Don’t leave your referencing until the last minute. Referencing takes longer than you think and you will stress yourself out if you don’t leave enough time for it. Remember, you have to cite all sources you use throughout your essay, so get into the habit of adding your citations as you go rather than leaving them all until the end.

If you’ve done essay-based subjects at school, you might already be used to referencing your assignments. However, OSCOLA is a different style, so don’t go in too confidently! Take some time to familiarise yourself with the OSCOLA guide and make sure you’re following it correctly. It’s also worth asking your lecturer for a heads up on what they expect, especially for your first few assignments.

7.        Don’t compare yourself to everyone else.

I remember in first year I would sometimes have the worst imposter syndrome. It was hard for me not to compare myself to my friends, but what I realised is that, as cliché as it sounds, my biggest competition was against myself. You’ll meet people who seem to have done every reading, know every case and have already planned their entire legal career. That doesn’t mean you’re behind.

Everyone works at a different pace and has different strengths. At the end of the day, you’re all working towards the same deadlines, so try to focus on what works for you rather then constantly comparing yourself to the person sitting next to you.

The tip: Focus on your own progress. If someone else studies differently, gets through readings quicker or seems more confident in tutorials, that’s okay. It’s not a race.

8.        Get your time management under control.

One of the biggest changes from school to university is the amount of independence you have. There is no one checking whether you’ve done your reading every evening, and it can be very easy to let work pile up.

At the same time, university is a lot more than just studying. Societies, nights out, making friends, hobbies and having time to yourself are all part of the experience.

The tip: Find a balance that works for you. Again, use a weekly planner to see what you have coming up and give yourself realistic periods to study. However, also prioritise time for when you’re not doing university work. I find that scheduling one day every week where I do no studying gives me something to look forward to and helps me switch off from uni. Whether its going out with friends, seeing family, going to the gym or doing absolutely nothing at all, make sure you give yourself time to enjoy university outside of studying.

These are some of the tips I would give to first years who might be feeling a little anxious about what studying law at Aberdeen will entail, in the hope that they make you feel a little more assured. Finally, give yourself time to settle in, don’t be afraid to ask for help and, most importantly, remember to enjoy it. First year goes by much quicker than you think!