[zosolobos0]

How much did you rely on textbooks during your undergraduate studies?

I've seen some of the ginormous sized textbooks mentioned on here (often more than 3 per module) and thought "am I realistically supposed to digest of all that?" in the span of one year? For 4-5 modules, no less!

How does one decide how much of __ material from which book is enough in terms of revision? Ideally I'd like to get the best mark possible from year one (as my studies are being funded by an international body, and I'm the first one in the family to enter university), so I really could do with your insights. I really don't want to lose it all. I never thought I'd be able to make it abroad to be honest. I was guaranteed a place at a national university back home, so the turn out of events has been quite exciting . But mostly really daunting!

How can I ensure a high quality study pattern from day one? I really would like to be systematic with all of this. I've read all the threads on here and got quite a bit of a scare myself! Especially as a non-brit!

If you prefer to pm me any advice instead, please do. I shall be utmostly grateful!


Thanks

[Aspiringlawstudent]

I read very little of the textbooks, if I'm honest. I use them as reference material -if I want to know about a specific topic, I will look up that section.

I've never sat and read an entire chapter and I can't ever see myself reading one from cover-to-cover. It would be a waste of time, in my experience.

My results are not amazing, but seem adequate so far.

I certainly haven't needed to go to extraordinary lengths yet, and I've just about finished my first year (my exams are next week).

[ForensicShoe]

(Original post by Aspiringlawstudent)
I read very little of the textbooks, if I'm honest. I use them as reference material -if I want to know about a specific topic, I will look up that section.

I've never sat and read an entire chapter and I can't ever see myself reading one from cover-to-cover. It would be a waste of time, in my experience.

My results are not amazing, but seem adequate so far.

I certainly haven't needed to go to extraordinary lengths yet, and I've just about finished my first year (my exams are next week).

Not amazing?

You've got 1st class marks in every module you've done so far (Yeah ELS is piss easy but still )

[zosolobos0]

(Original post by Aspiringlawstudent)
I read very little of the textbooks, if I'm honest. I use them as reference material -if I want to know about a specific topic, I will look up that section.

I've never sat and read an entire chapter and I can't ever see myself reading one from cover-to-cover. It would be a waste of time, in my experience.

My results are not amazing, but seem adequate so far.

I certainly haven't needed to go to extraordinary lengths yet, and I've just about finished my first year (my exams are next week).

(Original post by ForensicShoe)
Not amazing?

You've got 1st class marks in every module you've done so far (Yeah ELS is piss easy but still )

So how did you go about your revision? What techniques did you find useful and effective? I'm just very new to all this. What is this ELS? Are you an international student? I went to a government school so all of this is a whole new world..

[Lawyer92]

Well it depends how high your aiming. For example, if your aiming for a first, a good range of textbooks and reading a wide variety of journal articles is essential. However, anything lower, IMO just one reliable textbook will do.

And as the above post, you shouldn't read textbooks from page to page, word to word. You are marked on how selective you are in the knowledge you use. Try use the contents page and index in order to find out what you should write in a essay question. Keep it concise and stick to the point. You are expected to summarise key issues, but avoid waffling on, being to descriptive etc etc. Try read the introduction and conclusion of each topic. The introduction briefly introduces the content that will be covered and in the conclusion, the main points are summarised and therefore can be expanded more easily and selectively.

[Aspiringlawstudent]

(Original post by zosolobos0)
So how did you go about your revision? What techniques did you find useful and effective? I'm just very new to all this. What is this ELS? Are you an international student? I went to a government school so all of this is a whole new world..

ELS is the English Legal System.

It's pretty much just an introductory module.

In terms of revision, I don't do a massive amount - I go over my notes and re-watch the lectures (my university records them all and puts them on our intranet). Re-watching the lectures is incredibly effective in my experience. You can go over an entire unit (for example, Tort or Contract) in a day.

It's much easier than just reading textbooks that give you more information and cases than you actually require.

[ForensicShoe]

(Original post by zosolobos0)
So how did you go about your revision? What techniques did you find useful and effective? I'm just very new to all this. What is this ELS? Are you an international student? I went to a government school so all of this is a whole new world..

ELS = English Legal System.

I'm a first year as well so I haven't had my exams yet. To be honest it depends on the way you learn. I revise best throuh making notes out of the textbook and just re-writing/re-reading them again and again.

[Aspiringlawstudent]

(Original post by ForensicShoe)
Not amazing?

You've got 1st class marks in every module you've done so far (Yeah ELS is piss easy but still )

Well, considering I've only sat one semester of exams so far it seems pretty standard! If I manage to keep it up through the entire three years I'll be a bit more jovial about it, not that it's likely to happen... it appears every semester is markedly harder than the last, though it's hardly unexpected.

[Ras17]

(Original post by Aspiringlawstudent)
Well, considering I've only sat one semester of exams so far it seems pretty standard! If I manage to keep it up through the entire three years I'll be a bit more jovial about it, not that it's likely to happen... it appears every semester is markedly harder than the last, though it's hardly unexpected.

Out of curiosity, which uni is that?

[zosolobos0]

(Original post by Aspiringlawstudent)
ELS is the English Legal System.

It's pretty much just an introductory module.

In terms of revision, I don't do a massive amount - I go over my notes and re-watch the lectures (my university records them all and puts them on our intranet). Re-watching the lectures is incredibly effective in my experience. You can go over an entire unit (for example, Tort or Contract) in a day.

It's much easier than just reading textbooks that give you more information and cases than you actually require.

Wow. Okay, you make it sound easy. Do you have photographic memory?! I think going over an entire unit a day is beyond my capability. You are at university right?

[Tsunami2011]

(Original post by Ras17)
Out of curiosity, which uni is that?

Probably not a very 'reputable' one. Most people who downplay getting 70%+ at university are people who don't find it challenging to obtain one.

[roh]

(Original post by Tsunami2011)
Probably not a very 'reputable' one. Most people who downplay getting 70%+ at university are people who don't find it challenging to obtain one.

If their A*A*Aa at A Level is true it's likely somewhere decent.

[Lawyer92]

(Original post by roh)
If their A*A*Aa at A Level is true it's likely somewhere decent.

I'm quite sure that no law university asks for those requirements.

[jackclarke1995]

(Original post by Lawyer92)
I'm quite sure that no law university asks for those requirements.

No they dont, however although Oxford may give offers of AAA they're unlikely going to give them to people who are predicted AAA and would pick those who are predicted with A*s

[Tortious]

(Original post by Lawyer92)
I'm quite sure that no law university asks for those requirements.

(Original post by jackclarke1995)
No they dont, however although Oxford may give offers of AAA they're unlikely going to give them to people who are predicted AAA and would pick those who are predicted with A*s

Churchill College Cambridge (which is very much in the minority of Cambridge colleges in this respect!) "prefers" applicants who have four A Levels, and makes offers of A*A*AA.

That said, Aspiringlawstudent can't be at Cambridge because (s)he isn't studying the right first year subjects...

[roh]

(Original post by Lawyer92)
I'm quite sure that no law university asks for those requirements.

No, other than as above Churchill's A*A*AA (even higher) nowhere does, I was just trying to point out that anyone who has grades that high is likely to be at a reputable university.

[suffocation1992]

When I was in first year, things like public law, contract and EU - I never used the textbook, but read cases in full (particularly for judicial review) and journals and I was fine.

This year, I've used textbooks a lot. My antitrust course book is something like 1500 pages, but I've summarised it during the year and mostly read cases in full for that because the textbook is quite waffly.

[zosolobos0]

(Original post by suffocation1992)
When I was in first year, things like public law, contract and EU - I never used the textbook, but read cases in full (particularly for judicial review) and journals and I was fine.

This year, I've used textbooks a lot. My antitrust course book is something like 1500 pages, but I've summarised it during the year and mostly read cases in full for that because the textbook is quite waffly.

Hi,
thanks for the informative post. However, I am sure I remember seeing one by jacketpotato somewhere which said that reading cases in full was unnecessary? Do you disagree then? Granted I will not be attending the likes of Oxford, Cambridge and LSE.

I do know that my university will rely on external marking which I am scared about, as ultimately the decision will rest on that of another university? (I am wondering if there is any way I could possibly find out but I'm not sure how to phrase the question and who to ask exactly in the law department).

So I am really freaking out now..

[suffocation1992]

(Original post by zosolobos0)
Hi,
thanks for the informative post. However, I am sure I remember seeing one by jacketpotato somewhere which said that reading cases in full was unnecessary? Do you disagree then? Granted I will not be attending the likes of Oxford, Cambridge and LSE.

I do know that my university will rely on external marking which I am scared about, as ultimately the decision will rest on that of another university? (I am wondering if there is any way I could possibly find out but I'm not sure how to phrase the question and who to ask exactly in the law department).

So I am really freaking out now..

What are you freaking out about exactly ?

Reading cases in full is generally unnecessary and time consuming, you will just learn naturally which ones you may have to read in full and which ones you just need a short ratio. Tutors will also point out which ones are important.

[zosolobos0]

(Original post by suffocation1992)
What are you freaking out about exactly ?

Reading cases in full is generally unnecessary and time consuming, you will just learn naturally which ones you may have to read in full and which ones you just need a short ratio. Tutors will also point out which ones are important.

Of having my full scholarship by an international institution taken away and of barely passing (due to being unfamiliar with the demands of UK higher education after having attended an ordinary government school where the learning style and expectations were very different). If not for my admission, I would be at a local state university.