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Study Skills

School of Law Orientation 2017

Structure

•  Two semesters (12 weeks each)

•  Course outlines and reading lists

•  Lectures and tutorials

•  End of year/semester exams and or assignments •  (Moot court/placements)

•  External examiner system

Examinations

•  Exam Papers Collection (Library Website) http://www.library.nuigalway.ie/

•  Search by subject code

•  Exams – generally a mix of problem questions and essay questions

•  (F) IRAC formula : (Facts) Issues, Relevant law, Application and Conclusion.

•  Be aware that some questions will be outdated by changes in the law

•  Important to practise exam questions

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Lectures

•  Lectures and lecture style

•  Materials: Slides or handouts •  Often not all necessary information

•  Interactive / encourage discussion / tangents

•  Important to attend, listen and take notes

Reviewing and Revising Notes

•  Self directed learning

•  Important to make useful notes

•  Easiest done when it is fresh in your mind

•  Active learning – both in the class room / library

•  Begin to think about how the law impacts everything we do

Note-taking exercise

• Dr Brian Tobin on surrogacy

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpEVAylDxRA

Summarising and Outlining

•  Summaries – of sections

•  Outlines – comprehensive overview of a topic

•  SQ3R

•  Survey •  Question •  Read •  Recall •  Review

•  Check everything – Do not assume!

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Keeping up to date

•  Primary source of information is the Law itself

•  Become familiar with the Oireachtas website/ courts.ie •  http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/

•  www.courts.ie

•  Important to read outside of your course

•  Keep in touch with current affairs – follow the Irish Times on Twitter

Supports

•  Contact your class advisor, programme director or lecturer

•  Form study groups

•  Academic Writing Service

•  Student counselling (confidential and free of charge)

•  Students’ Union Welfare Officer

• Ask lots of questions • Use the library and the librarians • Be an active listener and note -taker • Take your own notes • Prepare for the examination

Key issues in studying law

• Professor James Devenney on contract law • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2wnedSheVo