Cecily Zamora
Studying law is a challenging but rewarding endeavour that doesn't always require traditional law school attendance. While law school provides a structured approach, it's possible to learn law independently through various avenues. These include online courses, paralegal or legal assistant courses, and apprenticeships, which are increasingly popular due to the high costs of law school. Self-taught individuals can access a wealth of resources, including books, YouTube videos, law blogs, and free online content. However, it's important to note that simply reading about the law won't qualify someone as a lawyer; applying those laws in the right scenarios is a crucial skill.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Study Method | Creating an outline for each class, using the case method, and learning to read legal opinions and cases efficiently |
| Resources | Law School Secrets, Law School Academic Success Project Videos, How to Brief a Case, online courses, YouTube videos, law blogs, books, and apprenticeships |
| States with Apprenticeship Options | Virginia, Vermont, Washington, California, New York, Maine, Wyoming, and Washington State |
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What You'll Learn
Online courses
Online certificate programs and career training are also available. While a certificate will not allow you to become a practicing attorney, it can provide opportunities to learn about a specific field of law and boost your resume. The Center for Legal Studies, for example, offers virtual career training and classes on topics including intellectual property law and alternative dispute resolutions. Duke University and Ashworth College offer online paralegal certificates. Online law degrees are also an option, although the American Bar Association does not currently accredit any fully online J.D. programs. However, there are blended or partially online options available, such as at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
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Apprenticeships
In the United Kingdom, the government introduced an apprenticeship levy in 2017, requiring businesses making over £3 million per year to invest in training apprentices. Law firms have responded by launching their own apprenticeship schemes, including solicitor apprenticeships. To become an apprentice, one must be 16 or older, not in full-time education, and a UK citizen or resident. The entry requirements for most legal apprenticeships are five GCSEs (grades A* to C or 9 to 4), and for paralegal apprenticeships, two to three A levels (grade C or above).
While apprenticeships provide an affordable and accessible route to a legal career, they are demanding and require dedication. The passage rate for apprenticeship programs can be low, and balancing work and life can be challenging. However, with the support of experienced attorneys and a strong work ethic, it is possible to succeed in an apprenticeship and become a licensed lawyer.
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Paralegal courses
Paralegals play an important role in the legal industry, often working alongside attorneys and performing many of the same tasks such as legal research and preparing case files. They can also choose to specialize in different types of law, including criminal, family, immigration, and real estate law.
Several online paralegal courses are available, such as the Paralegal Certificate Course offered by CLS by BARBRI. This course consists of two seven-week parts that must be taken consecutively. The course is designed to train students to work as paralegals, provide advanced legal workers with additional skills, and educate students about the American legal system. It covers topics such as the history of the American legal system, important legal terminology, how to prepare legal documents, and the rules of civil procedure and evidence.
Another option is the online Paralegal Course offered by the University of Houston. This course prepares students for the Certified Paralegal (CP) exam, offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). It teaches students how to perform various tasks that paralegals encounter daily, such as legal research, interviews, and analysis.
These courses can provide a solid foundation for those interested in pursuing a career as a paralegal or seeking to gain a better understanding of the legal system. They offer interactive and flexible learning opportunities that can be accessed from anywhere in the world.
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Learning to read cases
Reading legal cases is a skill that all lawyers need to acquire. Here are some tips on how to approach this task:
Understand the Context
Before diving into the case, it is important to first understand why you are reading it. Reviewing the table of contents or your professor's syllabus can help provide context. This will enable you to grasp how the case fits into the broader legal landscape and what key takeaways you should focus on. Understanding the context will help you identify the relevant parts of the case and make your reading more efficient.
Familiarise Yourself with Legal Terminology
Legal cases often contain specialised terminology and jargon that may be unfamiliar. Whenever you encounter a new term or word, take the time to look it up. By doing so, you will gradually build up your legal vocabulary, making it easier to navigate legal texts. While legal dictionaries can be helpful, simply using a search engine to look up unfamiliar terms can also be effective.
Focus on the Bigger Picture
While reading legal cases, it is easy to get bogged down in the minutia and complex details. However, it is important to remember that the primary goal of assigned cases is often to help students understand the current state of majority law and the reasoning behind it. Therefore, try to focus on the broader principles and how the case contributes to the formation of the current law.
Utilise Available Resources
There are various resources available to assist you in reading and understanding legal cases. Casebooks, for example, present cases in a logical order, providing relevant excerpts and context. Case summaries can also be helpful in quickly grasping the legal principles and background facts. Additionally, online databases such as Westlaw, LexisNexis, and free case law databases offer access to complete texts of opinions and law reports.
Develop a Systematic Approach
When reading a case, consider developing a structured process to help you identify and summarise the relevant details. Start by noting down the case name and citation, and then work on summarising the facts, constantly asking yourself if a particular part of the judgment is crucial to the legal issue. This will help you create a concise and digestible fact file. Additionally, consider using tools such as flashcards or apps like Anki to aid memorisation and retention.
Understand the Structure of a Case
A typical case will include several key components, such as the headnote, which provides a summary of the facts and the court's decision. The judgment, or holding, is another critical aspect, as it contains the court's ruling and the legal reasoning behind it. Understanding the structure of a case will help you navigate and interpret the information more effectively.
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Understanding the case method
The case method in legal education was invented by Christopher Columbus Langdell, Dean of Harvard Law School from 1870 to 1895. The case method eschews explanation and encourages exploration. In a course that relies entirely on the casebook, you will never come across a printed list of "laws". Instead, you will learn that in many areas of law, there is a constantly evolving system of principles.
The case method works by assigning students a number of cases to read for each class meeting. These cases are written judicial opinions rendered in court cases that were decided at the appellate level. This is because such cases turn on issues of law, not fact. Students are expected to understand the law through a critical examination of a series of cases that were decided according to such principles.
To prepare for class, students are expected to come ready to analyze the cases during Socratic question-and-answer sessions. This method of teaching is supported by research from political science professor Matthew Krain, who suggests that case studies and problem-based activities enhance certain types of learning over other types of pedagogy.
Outside of the classroom, students can use outlines to help them succeed. Outlines can be self-written, created in a study group, or bought as a commercial variety.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can learn law without law school. There are several online courses, books, YouTube videos, and law blogs available online that can help teach you about the law. However, you will not be able to qualify as a lawyer by simply reading about the law.
LegalEagle and Law By Mike on YouTube are great resources for learning about the law. Additionally, there are several online courses available that can help you learn law, such as special online courses and apprenticeships.
Learning law without going to law school can be a more affordable option, as law school can be expensive and result in significant debt. It also allows for more flexibility in terms of learning style and pace.
One of the challenges of learning law on your own is that you may not have the same opportunities to practice and apply what you've learned as you would in law school. Additionally, it may be difficult to know where to start and how to structure your learning.
