New to Law School? This one’s for you! You’ll probably notice there are several approaches to note-taking. Take note — some methods are better than others. Given the complexity and volume of content that us Law students must navigate, the team at Momentum put their heads together and came up with a list of tips for new Law Students.

1.) Don’t stress about writing down every last word!

This is probably the biggest tip we can give you. Don’t worry about every last word. No matter how fast you can write or type, the lecturer is going to be able to speak faster. We suggest focusing on the main points and examples that the lecturer provides. Every last word just won’t make it onto your page. And that’s ok, nobody else in the class will be able to write down every single word either.

2.) Technological Advantage?

Apps like OneNote allow you to download the lecture slides in advance, and then annotate them during the lecture. Depending on the lecturer’s teaching style, you may not need to note so much down, as the lecture slides often contain the most important and foundational information. Annotating lecture slides is especially useful when lectures cover diagrams or graphic illustrations, which are often really helpful for revision, but too difficult to copy during class.

Typing is often said to be less helpful when it comes to recall and memory, however writing on a tablet with a stylus or Apple Pencil may just be the best of both worlds.

3.) Compile the Notes Later

This is as much a study tip as it is a note-taking tip. In the 48(ish) hours following your lectures, revise, collate and tidy your notes. This is not only an opportunity for you to ensure that your notes are correct and complete, but also means that you’re thinking about the content. Having completed this task, most people will find that the content is easier to recall later, and future you will certainly be glad in the lead-up to exams

4.) Deal with the Gaps Later

It’s totally fine to miss noting down parts of a lecture. Perhaps you needed to finish writing something important from the previous slide, or maybe the lecturer just talks too quickly. One strategy that works well in this case is noting down the approximate time in the margin, or the title of the slide that you need to revisit. You can then access the lecture slides or recording online and complete your notes there. It’s always best to move with the lecture, rather than worrying about what you may have missed.

5.) Relax, You’ll get Better with Time

Taking notes is a skill. That means that you won’t get it perfect first try. Nobody expects you to be a perfect note-taker or even a perfect student just yet. Take your time, try a few different strategies and approaches, you’ll soon figure out what works best for you.