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LAW STUDENTS READ THOUL sands of pages in a semester. For most, the amount of information exceeds anything they experienced in undergraduate courses. Many law students received high grades in college by merely regurgitating memorized material for tests. They assume the same strategy will work for law school exams.
However, rote memorization will not be enough for As and Bs in law school. Knowing the rules of law is the starting point for success, but it must be accompanied by understanding the law and applying it correctly to new fact scenarios. Knowing the "black letter law" is essential, but that alone doesn't lead to high grades.
Realize that there is a crucial connection between understanding and memory. Understanding and memory must be linked for optimal learning. One needs to understand the law to use it appropriately when solving legal problems. Understanding the material makes it easier to retain and provides a foundation for future learning related to that material.
Using active learning techniques to grapple with concepts rather than passively "doing time" over one's books increases both understanding and memory. Active learning includes, for example, asking questions while reading cases, briefing cases, discussing material with classmates, and making flashcards or outlines.
Strive for long-term memory when studying. Cognitive psychologists distinguish between working memory (previously called short-term memory) and long-term memory. Working memory has limitations on its storage capacity while long-term memory is the permanent repository for our brains. Long-term memory allows law students to recall information completely during law school exams and to retrieve information more quickly during later bar review. It also helps lawyers retain the breadth and depth of legal knowledge that they need in practice.
Many law students have had the experience of being able to "see in their minds" the page in their outline where the rule is, but being unable...