COMPREHENSIVE LAW SCHOOL STUDY GUIDE: Cold Calls, Note Taking, and Outlining

[@LifeAsALawStudent]

You have a good example of very thorough note taking. As I've progressed through law school, my notes have become much more exam focused than class focused, resulting in shorter case briefs but also (obviously) less info. It makes outlining a lot easier but does rely a bit more on memory. I would definitely recommend starting out your note-taking like Madison has demonstrated here and slowly seeing if you can adjust it to make your reading time a bit more efficient as you move from first semester forward.

[@clarar2547]

Agree. My notes were so detailed during my first year, pages for case brief. Then I focused more on the exam and writing one to two sentence summaries of cases

[@nota99nine]

Another good tip I've gotten is making some mnemonics for common issues. Things like having a mnemonic for remembering the intentional torts or the elements of a contract. Especially good for closed book exams, I would imagine.

[@RectoidableM]

Yess that would be perfect for closed book exams. I thankfully didn't have to deal with that this semester but if I ever do I will be using that technique!

[@ohhiguy]

I hate to say anything about this video. You already know I love them. At the risk of inflating your ego, this one is worth the MOST MONEY for beginning 1L students. If I had this when I began law school, my law school experience would have been so different. People pay a lot of money for advice that is not this good. This is the summery of the course I been planning.

[@RectoidableM]

This is going to be the one-stop shop video that I point people to when they ask me for any sort of law school advice lol. I really tried to include everything that helped me this past semester!

[@meb3369]

Your channel is so helpful, I really appreciate your taking time to create this content

[@RectoidableM]

Thank you so much for watching! I really appreciate it😊

[@ashleyfan7647]

Thanks so much for showing us OneNote! 💕 That was super helpful, can't wait to use it next semester for my note-taking!

[@RectoidableM]

I’m so glad it was helpful!!! Thank you for watching💕💕

[@kadeemharper1]

I came back to this a few days before I start 1L and everything seems so helpful. Thank you for making this, i’m definitely going to apply these strategies!

[@RectoidableM]

I’m so excited for you to start school!! Best of luck!!✨

[@memyself4431]

One year gone by❤

[@DontLookAtMeLookAtPoo]

Definitely agree people shouldn’t stress about cold calls. Aside from just generally sucking at them, I once missed a month of classes (my Mom got super sick, and was in a coma...long story) and my Crim Professor cold called me my first day back. I literally shrugged my shoulders at him and said, “I have no idea, I’m just trying to catch up.” My ultimate grade in that class? A. Come to think of it, I think that Professor is at Wash U, now. Professor Gardner. Great guy and I enjoyed his class. I was sad that he left.

[@RectoidableM]

Cold calls are beyond irrelevant. Yes he is at WashU now!! I don’t have him for crim next semester though unfortunately :/ I’ve heard such great things about him!

[@DontLookAtMeLookAtPoo]

@@RectoidableM Ah, too bad. He really is a good guy. He realized he kind of put me on the spot a little unfairly, and actually pulled me aside after class to apologize. He didn’t need to do that, it it was nice.

[@ayahfarhan9413]

This was THE MOST useful law school KZbin video I've ever seen!!! 💯 You gave such a clear picture of what it's like to study in law school and what type of content is relevant on exams. 👏🏽👏🏽 I'm only in my third year of undergrad but I feel so ready & excited to start law school after watching this video! Thank you so much! ☺️❤️

[@RectoidableM]

Yay I'm so glad it was helpful for you!!! Thank you for watching, Ayah!!💕💕

[@mariann1119]

Loved this, thank you so much Madison. Keep up the awesome videos and work xx Really encourages me to know what to expect in law 🥺🖤

[@RectoidableM]

Thank you so much for watching!! I appreciate it💕

[@taliahinson6586]

i just found your channel today and i am applying for law school currently. these videos help so much!

[@RectoidableM]

Yay I’m so glad they’ve been helpful! Thank you for watching, Talia💖💖

[@BELLADONNANAJWA]

Love you sister 🖤🖤🖤law student from Montreal here!!!

[@RectoidableM]

💜💜💜💜💜 sending love!!

[@hyojinlee]

Thank you so much for this video :) Merry Christmas, Madison!!

[@RectoidableM]

Thank you so much for watching!! I hope you had an amazing holiday💕

[@maryamnural-jerrahi5378]

In medicine, when a prof asks you a question knowing you can’t answer, it’s called “getting pimped.”

[@fredscott8436]

Suggestion to ramp the VLOG up to the next level........insert LEGAL snippets from various classes. For example, contracts.............explain five basic components in a VLOG..........CIV PRO........give a summary of the basics......................GREAT VLOG........just need to raise the bar (ahem!!!!) from lifestyle, foodie and BF to legal content, with the WashU 1L+ spin..........today's VLOG was great..........BRING IT..........I am a SLU grad (MBA) and have a connection to WashU and live near campus................

[@RectoidableM]

I appreciate the comment, but my content will always have lifestyle content with a legal spin. I thank you for your input though!😊

[@nylak2984]

Thank you so much for this video! I just got accepted into WashU too and am so excited trying to prepare for my first 1L. Would it be possible for me to look at an outline of yours so I can better understand the layout? I am coming from a stem background so this is all very excitingly daunting. Congrats on a successful first semester!

[@RectoidableM]

Hiii yes!! I’m glad this video was helpful. If you want an outline i’d be more than happy to share. You can message me on instagram and just tell me which outline you want (I have property, torts, and contracts) and I’ll share it with you!!☺️

[@nylak2984]

@@RectoidableM thank you so much!! You’re awesome! I’ll message you on Instagram now

[@JoseEllen1]

Love your outlining and note taking tips. 💓 Thanks for sharing.

[@RectoidableM]

Thank you for watching!!💜

[@ashlovemore]

This was super helpful, thank you!

[@RectoidableM]

Ashley Loveless Thank you for watching💕☺️☺️

[@jennifertodd4132]

Another great vlog! I was wondering how your outlines looked and how you used OneNote. Thank you! I am learning so much. Now just to not freak out about LSAT next month.

[@RectoidableM]

Definitely don't freak out! You will do great, I'm rooting for you!

[@jennifertodd4132]

@@RectoidableM thank you so much.

[@kenz8709]

A while back you mentioned there’s some legal terms you were expected/assumed to know coming in as a 1L. (I think you may have thought about making flash cards or something to that effect.) Did you ever do that and, if so, what were those terms? Also, how much memorization do you do as a law student? Obviously not facts of the case but different issues, exceptions etc.? This was super informative! Thank you ☺️

[@RectoidableM]

I never ended up doing it! But some common ones were replevin, trover, and then all of the various motions (summary judgement, declaratory judgement, judgement NOV) that were often in opinions that you don't necessarily NEED to know, but understanding them makes reading the case a lot easier. I think it depends on whether the exams are open/closed note. Mine were all open note this semester, so I didn't have to rely as much on memory (even though I memorized a ton inadvertently from studying so much). However, I didn't use my outlines a lot during exams just because I had done so many practice tests that I had memorized most of the rules, I mostly used my outlines to boost my answers a bit to (hopefully) get more points. Hopefully this was helpful💕

[@kenz8709]

Thank you so much! 💕

[@kenz8709]

It was definitely helpful, I really appreciate that you take the time to respond! ☺️

[@alishiajacobs8719]

Youuuu are an angel, THANK YOU!!!

[@RectoidableM]

Thank you for watching!😊

[@sylviaramirez1998]

I’ve heard of OneNote and Google Docs. I’m not familiar with either one. Do you know if these similar or totally different?

[@taylorwsuter]

Do you purposefully take written notes and later transfer them electronically for better retention of the information or is this something you prefer to make open book exams easier? Love this video!

[@RectoidableM]

It’s more for retention! I find that writing the notes and then taking 10-15 minutes after class to transfer them over really helps me make sense of what was discussed in class/organize my thoughts!☺️

[@fluteplayervictoria4100]

25% of my grade is class participation.

[@hyojinlee]

Oh, I have a question about a book. Do you think it's worth buying Black's law dictionary? There are standard and deluxe versions so I wanted to ask your thoughts about them:) Thank you in advance

[@RectoidableM]

I honestly know no one in my class who has them, and I didn't know what they were until I started making youtube videos and people mentioned them to me hahahah. I definitely think it could be a helpful supplement/make certain things easier to understand, but totally not necessary! 😊

[@hyojinlee]

I'm so glad I asked you. Thank you, Madison & looking forward to your future videos as always

[@katherinemartinez-fuentes4572]

Do you ever try to record lectures?

[@RectoidableM]

All of our lectures were recorded and posted on Canvas this semester because of zoom! In the future I may try to record depending on the class ☺️

[@annegibson7867]

Are exams open book/open notes?

[@RectoidableM]

Mine were all open book/note this past semester! It depends on the professor.😊

[@makeupbydarbyxoxo]

How does one look at your Google Drive outlines?!

[@RectoidableM]

If you message me on insta with your email I can share whichever outline you’d like with you!!

[@makeupbydarbyxoxo]

@@RectoidableM ooooh yay! Messaging you rn :-)

[@allysanhelgracerebolanan2387]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@RectoidableM]

💖💖💖

[@jbb2369]

This was so helpful, thank you!

[@RectoidableM]

Jb B I’m so glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching 💖💖💖

[@jbb2369]

@@RectoidableM You’re welcome!