Our site uses cookies to give you the best experience. or continue shopping if you're happy.
Accept & close
The law guide
Heading off to study law, criminology, or psychology and don’t know where to start? You’re in the right place.
Ready to prep for your next big step? We’ll help you get set for success with all the essentials, handy extras, and advice from one of our very own experts.
What to look out for
Essentials
It’s an exciting time, but you’ll want to get all your ducks in a row, ready for your first day. These essentials will support you from start to finish and they won’t break the bank either.
Laptop
Get your work done wherever you are and keep your research to hand with a reliable laptop. It’s there when you need to take notes, check some tricky terminology, or reference last week’s lecture.
With powerful multitasking ability, fast loading, and a clear, easy-to-read screen, this model’s ideal for long study sessions.
Microsoft 365 Home and Student
No matter what you’re studying, Microsoft 365 Home and Student gives you all the classic programs, like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Lots of unis offer a free subscription, so check before you buy your own.
Cloud storage and backups
Whether you’re creating 10 versions of your coursework or doing your bit in a group project, cloud storage keeps everything within easy reach and lets everyone edit the doc at once. The most important part is you’ll never have to worry about your work getting lost.
Anti-virus software
Get your work done worry-free with antivirus software looking after all your docs and data. We recommend models that offer complete protection (and peace of mind), like McAfee and Norton.
Nice to have
Got all your essentials and have some spending money left? Here are a few handy extras that’ll make studying smooth and keep stress to a minimum.
Headphones
If the library’s a little loud or your housemates have people around, you’ll be able to block it all out with a good set of headphones. Keep your eyes peeled for noise-cancelling tech that’ll help you really get in the zone.If the library’s a little loud or your housemates have people around, you’ll be able to block it all out with a good set of headphones. Keep your eyes peeled for noise-cancelling tech that’ll help you really get in the zone.
Tablet or iPad
From brushing up on case law to annotating docs, a good tablet will keep everything in one place without weighing your bag down.
Page markers
Flag key cases, statutes, or important sections in all your big textbooks with some handy page markers. You can even get multicoloured ones for different topics, so you can find what you need in no time.
Smart speaker
Stay organised with reminders or pop on some background music with a smart speaker. It’s one less tab cluttering up your laptop and you can even schedule timers for regular breaks to help avoid burnout.
Productivity tips for law courses
Law-related courses need lots of reading and research, but the most important thing is managing your time effectively and keeping organised. Stay on track with our tips and tricks.
Break reading into manageable chunks
Don’t get overwhelmed with big case studies and heavy textbooks, try breaking them up into sections to stay focused and remember more.
Highlight and annotate key points
Pick out the important issues, rulings, and legal principles to make revision quicker and more effective.
Stay organised with your notes
Structure all your case summaries, legislation, and lecture notes clearly, so referring to them later is easy.
Plan your essays early
Start with an outline then build it out before you start writing to help keep everything clear, logical, and well-structured.
