On the contrary, these notes revealed that almost every word the professor said was scripted and prepared, like he was a robot programmed to read from the same document we had found.[2]
But like most things of great power, notes of this brilliance should be used very carefully.[3] This author quickly developed an etiquette for using this magical script during class, and your author urges readers to follow these two important rules if they find themselves in a similar situation. A quick glance at a good outline can make up for hours of pre-class reading, and at least give you something to say if the professor happens to call your name. Rule #1 – Sharing is Caring. You can sit back and enjoy the ride. First and foremost, share the magical notes. It is as if you needed one more player to play on your neighborhood pickup basketball game and found LeBron James looking to run. Class notes can be even more useful. Never raise your hand to respond to a professor’s question and answer as if you thought up the concept yourself. These documents are generally most useful to give you a sense of the professor’s style, how each case fits within the overall structure of the class, and for the main points of each discussion. Use the notes with respect. Outlines and notes are best used in coordination with some of the other tools mentioned in this blog. [6] The ultimate fear is that the professor comes to realize that his notes have been disseminated and then takes some form of action to change the outline, or even to punish the lucky students. It was rumored that these notes were the collective creation of many previous students, much like people suspect Shakespeare was not one individual, but multiple people working together. That is still a big no-no. Having great class notes taken during a previous semester can completely obviate the need to go to class, and can also eliminate the fear of the Socratic method. This wonderful document gave us a window into the mind of the professor, predicting almost verbatim what he was going to say. Don’t try to keep them to yourself, because if you are so lucky to get these notes, other people will also have them as well. That what having a prepared friend in the chat room is for! [1] Not plagiarism though. Most class notes or outlines don’t approach these great heights. Because they don’t include every conceivable detail of each case, a class or professor that emphasizes facts or procedural posture may ask you detailed questions to which an outline wouldn’t have the answer. My friend Peter approached me in the hall. The professors also often teach the same legal subject repeatedly (especially in slow-developing areas of the law such as Trusts and Estates) and uses the same course materials each time. For some reason, this never gets old. They will come across these notes eventually, and if they then figure out that you had them the entire time, they will know that you didn’t offer it to them. Also like Shakespeare, the work was unsurpassed. To those without the notes, it may have seemed like only the professor’s lecture points were from a prepared speech, and that at least the questions and discussions were impromptu and ad hoc. [4] Plus, it is fun to use the chat room to “predict” what the professor will say next. I don’t need that kind of stress.”
“Come on, it’s a great class.”
“Tell you what, if you get me one of those Law Review outlines for the class, you can count me in.”
This is obvious to anyone who has spent a single day in a law school, but might not be evident to the newcomer: a huge (and necessary) component of law school involves using other people’s work.[1] Outlines prepared by others can save you a ton of time studying for exams, but they can also be a useful tool for getting through your classes and for surviving the Socratic method. They can also decrease your anxiety level about getting called on, and you may even find yourself going to class more often to partake in “the life of the mind.” At the very least, if you happen to be at school and don’t want to miss out on a potentially hilarious IM chat session, the fear of getting called on won’t deter you from attending class. Even worse, they will know that you weren’t as brilliant as you made it seem that day the professor called on you, and they will question your integrity. If you find yourself in this situation, you have hit the law school free-riding jackpot. This author noticed a few students raise their hands to answer the professor’s question using the same exact language as the notes, and the author’s opinion of them changed forever.[6] It is as if they stood up and announced that they spend every Saturday tripping old ladies outside the local market. [5] It is also a fun pastime to watch your classmates act out the scripts, particularly when the professor doesn’t know a thing. Be generous and share with your friends, who will appreciate the gesture. Just dishonorable and pathetic, really. In the best-case scenario, a friend who happens to be a diligent note-taker (choosing not to partake in the online chat room discussions) has already completed a class that you will soon take. “So, have you decided whether you are taking that Immigration Law class yet? [2] We were unable to catch the professor plugging himself into an outlet, but our suspicions never completely disappeared. Nevertheless, even an average outline or collection of notes will prepare you for what to expect each day in class and set your mind at ease if you happen to miss a lecture here and there (or always). “I don’t know, I heard he grills people. [3] Akin to the Peter Parker “with great power comes great responsibility” refrain in Spider-Man. During 1L year, this author happened to come into possession of the greatest set of notes ever to have existed. A good outline will capture the main points of each topic, giving you valuable clues about the direction of classroom discussions. It will also quickly become clear which other students have these notes, since their answers to the professor’s questions will mirror the language in the notes.[4]
Rule #2 – R-E-S-P-E-C-T. If you get called on, pause and reflect upon the question, perhaps even giving a wrong answer now and again.[5] When you give the right answer, never use the same wording as the notes.
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