When you’re starting your first outline, you’ll run into a pretty obvious question: What materials do you need? Having the right resources at your fingertips can make the difference between an efficient outlining process and a frustrating one. Let’s explore the essential materials you should gather before you begin outlining for your law school classes.
Essential Materials for OutliningFor each class, collect the following:
The syllabus is your roadmap for the course. It tells you what topics you’ll cover, in what order, and often provides insights into what your professor considers most important. Use your syllabus to create the basic structure of your outline, dividing it into major topic areas that align with the course progression.
Pro Tip: Pay special attention to any reading lists or topic breakdowns in the syllabus. These can serve as ready-made headers for your outline.
Your class notes are perhaps your most valuable resource for outlining. You might want to print these out if they’re digital, so they’re easier to mark up and organize.
Pro Tip: If your notes are scattered across multiple documents or notebooks, consider consolidating them before you begin outlining. This small step can save you significant time and frustration.
Your case briefs and reading notes contain detailed information about the law that you’ll need to incorporate into your outline. These notes often include the facts of cases, the court’s reasoning, and the legal rules that emerged.
Pro Tip: If you’ve been keeping a reading journal or creating separate case briefs, now’s the time to integrate that information with your class notes.
Even if you book briefed (highlighting and making notes directly in your casebook rather than creating separate case briefs), you’ll want to have your casebook on hand. It’s useful for double-checking facts, reviewing case language, and ensuring you haven’t missed any important points.
Pro Tip: Use sticky tabs to mark important cases or sections in your casebook for quick reference during the outlining process.
A well-chosen commercial outline or hornbook can provide valuable context and help clarify difficult concepts. It can also help you verify that you’ve correctly understood the material and haven’t missed any major points.
Pro Tip: Don’t try to read multiple commercial outlines or hornbooks—this leads to information overload. Pick one good resource that aligns well with your professor’s approach to the subject.
Prior student outlines can give you insights into how others have organized the material for your specific professor. They’re especially valuable if they’re from someone who did well in the class.
Pro Tip: It might be helpful to have more than one student outline, but don’t go overboard. Three is plenty—any more becomes overwhelming and potentially confusing.
Old exams and sample answers are gold for outlining because they show you exactly what you’re preparing for. They reveal how your professor expects you to apply the law and what types of issues they tend to test.
Pro Tip: Pay special attention to recurring themes or issues in old exams. These are likely areas your professor considers especially important and should be emphasized in your outline.
What If You Can’t Get Some of This Information?If it’s early in the semester, keep looking! (This is another reason to start outlining early.) Ask your professor for old exams, ask around for old outlines, etc.
If it’s last minute, you’ll have to work with what you have. The one exception is if you don’t have any sample exams/answers. Ask your professor to provide these for you. It’s quite unfair not to, and it’s generally expected that you’ll be given at least one old exam with an answer.
If your professor absolutely refuses to give you an old exam, try to find one from another professor, but be warned that this is far from ideal. Knowing how your professor writes a test is really critical, as is knowing what kind of answer he or she likes. If your school has an academic support program, they often distribute sample exams and answers. Be sure to contact them as well for these materials.
Bottom line: Do whatever you can to get those old exams! Unless your professor is brand new or this is their first time teaching the course, they’ll likely give you something to look at.
Technology and Tools for OutliningBeyond the content materials, you’ll also need some practical tools for creating your outline:
Word Processing SoftwareMost students create their outlines using word processing software like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. These programs offer useful features for outlining, including:
Pro Tip: Learn the keyboard shortcuts for creating and promoting/demoting outline levels in your chosen software. This small time-saver adds up when you’re creating a lengthy document.
Note-Taking and Organization AppsSome students prefer specialized apps for organizing their materials before or during outlining:
Pro Tip: Whatever software you choose, make sure it allows for easy exporting or printing, as you’ll need physical copies of your outline for many exams.
Physical SuppliesEven in our digital age, some physical supplies can be invaluable:
Pro Tip: Color coding can be extremely helpful—consider using consistent colors across all your materials (notes, highlighting, outline sections) to visually link related concepts.
My Professor Says Not to Use Supplements!Few topics cause as much consternation among law professors as commercial supplements and old outlines. Almost every professor will tell you commercial outlines are unnecessary and harmful and that you shouldn’t use them. This position is ridiculous.
Refusing to look at a commercial outline (or an old class outline) is like trying to build a skyscraper without using blueprints. Could you do it? Maybe, but it’s going to take a lot longer and probably be badly done in the end!
Go ahead and get one commercial outline or hornbook per subject, so you can consult it as needed. Similarly, try to find a good prior outline from each class (for the same professor), so you can see how this class was structured. If the professor is teaching this class for the first time, you won’t have this option, of course.
Just remember, while these resources are valuable tools, they’re not substitutes for creating your own outline. The real learning happens when you actively engage with the material, organize it in a way that makes sense to you, and put it in your own words.
Organizing Your MaterialsBefore you start the actual outlining process, take some time to organize all your materials:
Ready, Set, Outline!With all your materials gathered and organized, you’re ready to begin the outlining process. Remember that outlining is not a one-time event but an iterative process. You’ll likely revisit and refine your outline multiple times before the exam.
The effort you put into collecting and organizing your materials will pay off in a more efficient outlining process and, ultimately, a more useful study tool. By gathering these essential resources before you begin, you’re laying the groundwork for a successful outline and, by extension, a successful exam experience.
Remember, the goal isn’t to create the perfect outline—it’s to create a tool that helps you learn the material thoroughly and apply it effectively on your exams. With the right materials in hand, you’re well on your way to achieving that goal.
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