Mason Law Library Study Aids

What are commercial case briefs?

Commercial case briefs are summaries of foundational case law covered in your law school courses that are prepared by third-party companies. They include major components of the case in a standardized format that typically includes key facts, central issues, prominent rules, final holdings, and summarized analysis of the court's reasoning. Some commercial case briefs also include engaging video breakdowns and related resources for deeper study of the relevant topic areas. 

When should I use commercial case briefs?

After completion of your own reading and initially drafted briefs, when you are outlining, and at the beginning of exam prep.

How do I use commercial case briefs to study?

After drafting your initial case briefs, use the commercial case briefs to confirm you have identified all relevant parts of the case; including, the correct rule(s), holding(s), and key facts. Case briefs may also be used to extract concise rule statements and simplify difficult analyses into more digestible summaries to include in your course outlines. 

What are simple supplements?

Simple supplements are resources that are designed to clarify legal concepts, summarize rules, and help students better understand and apply the law taught in their courses.

When should I use simple supplements?

Simple supplements may be used after your readings, after each course unit, and during exam prep.

How do I use simple supplements to study?

Use simple supplements to clarify and organize any confusing concepts and verify you are capturing the essential blackletter law. After you complete your readings, review the same topics contained in the supplement to see if the reviewed material provides a better understanding of the material when explained differently. Use the information included to customize your course notes in a way that is most easily understandable to you. 

What are comprehensive supplements?

Comprehensive legal supplements are in-depth study aids that provide detailed explanations of legal concepts. Unlike simple supplements that focus on clarity and brevity, comprehensive supplements aim to give students a deeper understanding of specific subject areas. 

When should I use comprehensive supplements?

Comprehensive supplements may be used after encountering complex and/or confusing readings, when outlining, and during exam prep. 

How do I use comprehensive supplements to study?

Use comprehensive supplements selectively to look up specific topics you're struggling with rather than reading cover to cover. Take notes on key rules or explanations and integrate them into your course outlines to ensure your summaries are accurate and in a form most easily understandable to you. 

What are exam prep materials?

Exam prep materials are resources specifically designed to help law students prepare for final exams. They allow students the opportunity to review how the law is tested before encountering graded exams. Common types include practice essays, model answers, multiple-choice questions, flowcharts, short summaries of blackletter law, and exam-specific strategies to ace your midterms and final exams. 

When should I use exam prep materials?

Use these materials at the end of each course unit and/or more extensively before midterms and final exams.

How do I use exam prep materials to study?

Use exam prep materials first as a refresher to understand the bigger picture for each course. They may also be used to identify concise rule statements and key terms and phrases to include in your course outlines. Review exam strategies to outline a plan of attack for different styled questions. Then practice, practice, practice!

Begin by practicing untimed question sets, reviewing both right and wrong answers to ensure you are understanding and applying the law in the correct manner. During this time, identify any weaker areas to review more closely and bolster your accuracy. Follow-up with short, timed question sets or essays to get a clearer real world assessment of your exam performance.

Finally, ace your exams!

What are audio study aids?

Audio study aids are recorded legal study materials that help students review legal concepts through listening. These include lectures, summaries, case brief narrations, or blackletter law explanations. They're especially useful for auditory learners or students looking to reinforce material on the go.

When should I use audio study aids?

Audio aids are helpful when you’re commuting, exercising, doing chores, or want to review passively without sitting at a desk. They're particularly useful for reinforcing material you've already studied. 

How do I use audio study aids to study?

Use audio aids as a supplement to your primary materials, not a replacement. Listen to relevant topics that align with your class syllabus, ideally after reading or outlining. As you listen, take brief notes or pause to reflect on key rules and examples. Some students find it helpful to replay certain topics multiple times to reinforce understanding. For exam prep, you can also listen to concise blackletter law summaries to strengthen recall.

What are CALI lessons?

Hosted by the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI), CALI Lessons are interactive, computer-based tutorials created by law professors. Each lesson focuses on a specific legal topic and tests your understanding through questions, hypotheticals, and immediate feedback. 

When should I use CALI lessons?

Periodically, throughout the semester. Early on, they’re great for reinforcing topics after class or clarifying material that confused you. During the middle and later parts of the semester, they’re ideal for self-assessment and review.

How do I use CALI Lessons to study?

Choose a lesson that matches the topic you're studying in class or outlining. Work through it slowly, reading the explanations for both correct and incorrect answers. Take notes on rule statements, common mistakes, and analysis tips. Use the questions to identify gaps in your understanding, and revisit related readings if needed. You can also repeat lessons later in the semester as a form of active review.