Complete your undergraduate studies and obtain your bachelor's degree. This is a prerequisite for getting into law school. You do not, however, have to study pre-law in order to get into law school. Programs of study in history, political science and sociology can all serve as adequate foundations for studies in law.
Apply to law school. Determine which field of law you wish to enter and apply to schools that offer specializations in that area. Law schools will evaluate your application based on a number of criteria such as grade point average, extracurricular activities and your scores on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
Take classes and begin working on your course work. Law schools vary widely on which course that they offer. Put together a class schedule that will provide you with the courses you need for your area of specialization. Generally, it takes most students about three years to complete law school. Pursuing joint-degree programs in conjunction with your law degree could extend the required time by a year or more.
Take extensive notes in each class that you take. The study of law is extremely intensive and time-consuming. Learning how to take good notes in class as well as over all of your reading will help to solidify the information in your mind. Lawyers must be able to commit large portions of material to memory, so taking notes will only serve as an initial step in that process. The University of California-Davis School of Law recommends taking notes on everything from PowerPoint slides to student questions and comments. Staying actively engaged in the material throughout the course will help you remember it better.
Summarize and organize all of your notes. It is one thing to take extensive notes, but it is a completely different thing altogether to remember everything that you have written. One way to do this is to simply summarize your notes that you took in class or from your reading. You can also create an outline of your class sessions so that your work is organized and categorized into smaller chunks of material. This makes it easier for the mind to keep the material straight. For additional retention, write down portions of your notes and outlines on note cards and carry them with you to serve as flashcards you can study during your spare moments. Trips to the restroom, for instance, can turn into mini study sessions if you just pick up your note cards and take them with you.