THE LAW SCHOOL OUTLINE
• WHY OUTLINE? • WHAT IS AN OUTLINE? • HOW SHOULD I DO IT?
– What materials do I use? – What gets included?
• AND WHEN?
What is an Outline?
• Method of Organizing and Conceptualizing Information – Lots of Models
• samples posted online – A Personal Translation/Learning Document • The course is your focus – An Analytical Process Document • The exam is your focus
How Should You Outline?
• • • • Organize Conceptualize Integrate Condense
• Alone or with others? • Divide up or do all of it? • Commercial Sources?
What materials should you use?
• Course syllabus • Case book (TOC) • Class notes
– Hypotheticals?!
• Notes from readings/case briefs • Commercial outlines?
– Emmanuel did NOT take your torts class.
Tips On What To Include
• Organize around legal principles. Rule? Definition? Elements? Terms of Art?
• Case examples (when was the rule violated? when not?) • Hypos from class to demonstrate how the rule is applied
• Defenses? Remedies? Make sure your outline covers application of the legal principles from every side. • Consider the “bigger” picture too. Not just how to apply the law but are there any social, political, economic, moral etc. policy points that come into play?
When Should You Outline?
• Time Management • What’s your style? Why it may be a good time to change! • Set a schedule • Which class do you want to tackle first?