How to do law readings ?

How do I do the law readings considering I get 150-200 pages of textbooks per week. In the text books there are judges or other influential people giving different povs about stuff. Is that important ? The readings are for tutorials and the teacher gives us questions to answer from the reading but is answering those questions enough or should I be understanding the rest of the reading to ? Should I read to remember or should I read to understand??

Reply 1

Stiffy Byng

Is this for A level law or undergraduate law?

You should always read to understand. The opinions of Judges sitting in the High Court and above are of the first importance in the study of law. The judgements of appellate Courts are more important the the judgments of Courts of first instance. I assume that you are familiar with the doctrine of precedent and the concepts of ratio decidendi and obiter dicta The common law and equity evolve through the decisions made by Judges in the Superior Courts of Record.

The opinions of academic commentators are sometimes influential in Court, but they do not have the same status as judicial opinions. It is always better to read the judgments themselves rather than summaries of judgments or glosses upon judgments.

When reading judgments, textbooks or academic papers, focus on what principle or principles the text you are reading demonstrate or explore. Consider the policy issue which a particular piece of legislation or a judicial decision addresses. Identify the societal problem, and what the law's answer to that problem is. Think in terms of actions and consequences. If X happens, what is the legal consequence of X?

Reply 2

UniofLaw Student

Official Rep

Original post by Twisted17

Hi there!
Balancing 150-200 pages of law readings each week can be quite demanding, but effective strategies can help you manage this workload,

Prioritise Understanding: Always prioritise understanding over rote memorisation. Law is about applying principles to real-world scenarios, so grasping the concepts is crucial. Aim to comprehend the key legal principles, how they’re applied in different cases, and their implications in practice.

Importance of Judgments: Reading judgments is essential, as the opinions of judges in higher courts shape the development of the law through the doctrine of precedent. Understanding both ratio decidendi (the legal principles that form the basis of the decision) and obiter dicta (additional remarks that may not be essential to the decision) will deepen your grasp of legal reasoning.

Engage with Different Perspectives: The diverse viewpoints presented in judgments are significant. They provide context and illustrate how legal principles are interpreted. Familiarising yourself with these perspectives will enhance your ability to engage in discussions and critically analyse legal issues.

Skimming and Scanning: Start by skimming judgments to identify their structure and main arguments. Focus on the introduction, conclusion, and key sections that relate to the issues at hand. This will help you understand the core points without getting bogged down in excessive detail.

Active Reading Strategies: Take notes as you read judgments, highlighting key concepts and arguments. Summarising sections in your own words can reinforce your understanding. Creating a system for organising your notes based on themes or topics can also be beneficial.

Ultimately, reading judgments to understand and critically engage with the material will be far more beneficial for your legal studies than simply reading to remember. If you have any more questions or need further advice on tackling your readings, feel free to ask!

Best of luck with your studies!