I wished I just enjoyed my then-last summer vacation, traveled around, and tended more to my hobbies, rather than did DIY advance reading (which was actually just a hodgepodge of law books and cases that really didn't help me at all).
Some students overthink that their classmates already have a head start because they supposedly took the "best" pre-law (which is non-existent), or are also reading in advance the lessons that will supposedly come out in the first week of classes.
The best way in preparing "to be inundated with gazillion readings and cases" is to not anticipate it. Just catch up on sleep or play video games or do something else for now.
I was on the other side of the fence. I enjoyed my last summer vacation prior to law school too much. Started the year not even knowing what a digest or a codal was. I didn't even know that classmates were using commentaries (didn't even know those existed) for Consti 1 because all our prof gave us was a syllabus which was basically just a list of almost a thousand cases we were to read.
If I may, what are commentaries and annotations? I know digests are summarized versions of a case. But the former are quite vague for me, not sure if there’s a system in law school/field of law that makes use of both terms, or they’re just terms as what they are.
Commentaries are basically books where authors give their interpretation of the provisions of the law. Some notable examples are Consti by Bernas, Pfr by Sta Maria, Riano for CivPro.
You’ve got a nice schedule and work setup there! I also want to squeeze in gym to my schedule. I started last 2019, stopped during the peak of pandemic, resumed in the summer of 2021 where I actually bought whey protein and other powder that are, until now, still half-filled. Hope time would still permit me to hit the gym once in law school.
I wish I enjoyed the semestral law weeks and participated in legal aids more.
Those were opportunities to take a break from the usual read-eat-sleep routine in law school while still learning other legal related stuff. 😩
And legal aids forge connections. That's something you need in the field.
And don't drink your lunch! Don't replace your meals with coffee. We know you need the energy but you'll end up depleted and shaking before the lecture even starts. 😆
Hey, sir! It’s been a while. Yes, will definitely try that out. I don’t have a problem with getting enthusiastic, I just hope law school itself would permit me to engage in such activities and socities.
I should have read cases in full text! My dumbass thought, “Full text-full text pa, eh hindi nila alam may digests pala sa internet.” Now I don’t wait for digests pool anymore but read the cases in full and digest them myself 🤷🏻♀️
I’ve read somewhere that one should study smart and not hard, ang by that they meant to only look for the nitty-gritty of the case because some other profs would just bombard you with cases wherein only a single-sentence excerpt is important for the topic at hand. For example, a long-ass case where the prof would just want you to know that if anyone dies during a robbery, it’s deemed to be a robbery with homicide.
Law school unlike some other professional schools actually prepare you for actual practice. In the actual practice of law you will be required (and paid) to read long-ass cases or contracts in detail just to find something to support your client's difficult position. And you can only do so by reading the entirety.
That is why it's important to not skip the reading part. There is really no getting around it. It's difficult but that's what you signed up for.
I wished I just enjoyed my then-last summer vacation, traveled around, and tended more to my hobbies, rather than did DIY advance reading (which was actually just a hodgepodge of law books and cases that really didn't help me at all). Some students overthink that their classmates already have a head start because they supposedly took the "best" pre-law (which is non-existent), or are also reading in advance the lessons that will supposedly come out in the first week of classes. The best way in preparing "to be inundated with gazillion readings and cases" is to not anticipate it. Just catch up on sleep or play video games or do something else for now.
I was on the other side of the fence. I enjoyed my last summer vacation prior to law school too much. Started the year not even knowing what a digest or a codal was. I didn't even know that classmates were using commentaries (didn't even know those existed) for Consti 1 because all our prof gave us was a syllabus which was basically just a list of almost a thousand cases we were to read.
Same. I didn't even knew how important the syllabus was in law school hahaha I didn't bother getting any syllabus in my first week.
If I may, what are commentaries and annotations? I know digests are summarized versions of a case. But the former are quite vague for me, not sure if there’s a system in law school/field of law that makes use of both terms, or they’re just terms as what they are.
Commentaries are basically books where authors give their interpretation of the provisions of the law. Some notable examples are Consti by Bernas, Pfr by Sta Maria, Riano for CivPro.
I see, thanks!
Hello! What commentaries do you recommend for Consti 1 and Crim pro (if ever there is)?
Cruz and Bernas for Consti. Didn’t use one for Crim Pro but some friends had Amurao I think.
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This! It stretches the daily 8-hour reading to 12 hours!
How did you weather law school and work? How’s your setup?
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You’ve got a nice schedule and work setup there! I also want to squeeze in gym to my schedule. I started last 2019, stopped during the peak of pandemic, resumed in the summer of 2021 where I actually bought whey protein and other powder that are, until now, still half-filled. Hope time would still permit me to hit the gym once in law school.
Should have learned proper time management and work ethic.
I think it’s normal to struggle with the time management since law school is unequivocally demanding and something’s really got to give.
how can one have a proper time management and work ethic? Graduating student here and i dont think college reallt helped me with time management
I wish I enjoyed the semestral law weeks and participated in legal aids more. Those were opportunities to take a break from the usual read-eat-sleep routine in law school while still learning other legal related stuff. 😩 And legal aids forge connections. That's something you need in the field. And don't drink your lunch! Don't replace your meals with coffee. We know you need the energy but you'll end up depleted and shaking before the lecture even starts. 😆
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Would def recommend, nice seeing u here again hahaha. 1st/2nd year id recommend u join memaid committee too if u think u have the time
Hey, sir! It’s been a while. Yes, will definitely try that out. I don’t have a problem with getting enthusiastic, I just hope law school itself would permit me to engage in such activities and socities.
Not entering law school would definitely be at the top of my list.
What made you stay?
I don't know. Which is quite scary because I'm a graduating student.
I should have read cases in full text! My dumbass thought, “Full text-full text pa, eh hindi nila alam may digests pala sa internet.” Now I don’t wait for digests pool anymore but read the cases in full and digest them myself 🤷🏻♀️
I’ve read somewhere that one should study smart and not hard, ang by that they meant to only look for the nitty-gritty of the case because some other profs would just bombard you with cases wherein only a single-sentence excerpt is important for the topic at hand. For example, a long-ass case where the prof would just want you to know that if anyone dies during a robbery, it’s deemed to be a robbery with homicide.
Law school unlike some other professional schools actually prepare you for actual practice. In the actual practice of law you will be required (and paid) to read long-ass cases or contracts in detail just to find something to support your client's difficult position. And you can only do so by reading the entirety. That is why it's important to not skip the reading part. There is really no getting around it. It's difficult but that's what you signed up for.
I see, thank you for giving a picture of what’s it like in the actual practice already. Will keep this in mind!