Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ PhotoReading, Memory Optimizer Ph for lawyers!

Sara,

Your organization is actually very similar to the laws of my state. I am in Louisiana where our laws are organized in "codici" or codes of law. There are state codes, parish codes and city codes. Other states in the U.S. began under English Common Law which was based on the 'case' system. (For example, each new decision became law by the very fact of the decision alone.) However, even other states have moved toward a 'codal' organization such as SEC and other federal regulatory agencies.

Our laws were adopted from european countries when Louisiana was under French and Spanish rule. So, I totally understand your organization.

My application of the photoreading process using your and my form of laws is to do the whole process on all the material. Then, consciously read the *rules* or 'black letter law'. Finally, photoread the examples (also called annotations) that concern the law.

What I have found is that I quickly understand the purpose of why the black letter law was created because their application or an example of their application is in my unconscious mind.

This method has proven effective in law school, in research and at trial.

My last question is this: Are you in law school or are you just reading this because you think it is important? Are you a lawyer or a person with an interest in law?

Good luck,
CommonSense

ps - Don't try to memorize all the laws. You can't possibly do that. After photoreading, try to *discover* the *principles* which underpin all the laws. For example, hurting another is inappropriate behavior. Therefore, murder, rape, armed robbery, molestation, etc. are illegal.

Thanks for the reply.
I'm in a lawyer school at university I'm at the beginning and I'm studying to become a layer(I'd like the one who defend children ).I really found a lot of problems in studying...as I usually studied just little bit in the last year and I was really insicure of my self,my results in studing were isufficient.
I hope with this method I could reintegrate my self!!!
I do believe in it and this forum helps me a lot...
But listen: What do u intend with black letters?
I know there's a logical in all the laws and I know I can't memoryzing them at all but at the moment I haven't find it!
What do u think I have to do?To begin with laws books?I'm at my third activation and I really don't feel sure of this method at all.
How much time do u send before interiorised the photoreading method?
And applied it in your studies?
*Sara*

Hi Sara!
I've been following this thread and wanted to say that I too am in legal studies/criminal law at a university. I am a Junior (3rd yr total) and just starting on this major -- becoming a Legal Assistant, or Paralegal.

I am using the PR method on my HUGE criminal justice book - not laws themselves but the application of them, and crime scene management and investigation protocol. Fascinating. What I am finding is that whenever I now glance through the chapters we're on, I am so sick of seeing those same photographs and diagrams I could scream!! They are just so darn familiar to me now!!

This is what I have been doing this past month:

I preview the chapters needed and mark the end of the one I'm working on with a piece of light cardboard, PhotoRead it, wait a while (from a half hour to a day), go back and drift through the material, look for the trigger words (what the chapter or subchapter is about)- then do the "skitter and dip"; I go through the pages quickly and pick out places that draw my attention and read carefully there or at least go over those paragraphs to see if there is something there that I don't consciously know. I am also PRing the material a second time, perhaps a few days later, as the mood strikes.
As for time envolved, I stay at my special study place at a particular table for as long as it is comfortable and I stay focused on what I'm doing.

What is happening is that now when I actually "read" anything as I flip through the books, or see those darn pictures!!, it is all just too familiar. Which is good - because that's how I know it's sticking in my memory.

We do have a couple of books that deal with substantive laws, and as I get to these I'll tell you what is happening with me there as far as the PR method goes. I have known PR for maybe 2 years, but this is the first time I've applied it to university studies. Before, I felt too intimidated by the work to relax enough to give the PR method a fair shot. I am a "returning student" (aka: non-traditional student) - meaning I am old enough to be the mother to nearly every one of my fellow classmates!!

Take care and have "fun" practicing the PR methods. I'll check back in here with you as the semester goes along.

Ann

Hey Ann!These things sounds great to me!!!
So...is the first time u applied the Ph.method at university?!?!
I think I will try, I have about 5 exames to do as quickly as I can...
I will be very happy if u support me with other suggestion that I'll surely need .
Tnx a lot for the moment.
Tomorrow I'll activate my fourth book..
IT WILL BE A SUCCESSS!!!!!!!!
Ciaooooo

*Sara*

Sara,

My intention when just reading the black letter law is to 'find the principles or concepts which are at the root of the area of law I'm am studying.'

For example, during a trial I had to fully utilize the code of evidence. My trial was against an older lawyer who had more trials than I had.

My purpose was simple: "What rules of evidence will I really need to keep opposing counsel's evidence out and allow my evidence in?"

I already knew what evidence I needed for the jury to see and hear and what evidence I needed to keep away from them. So, I used the whole system. When I came to the superreading and rapid reading, I knew exactly where to focus most of my time.

After I had fully understood those black letter laws, I went back and photoread the cases or annotations that went along with the laws. I then re-stated and refined my purpose as 'What principles or concepts are at the root of these black letter laws?'

I slept on this question overnight. When I awoke, I went on to try my case. During the trial, I could explain to the judge why my evidence should 'go in' and my opposing counsel's evidence should 'stay out'. I made very convincing arguments and easily won the trial.

Keep it up and do well,
-CS

Emmm...I'm talking with a real lawyer? .
I thought you were a simple student!!I'm very pleased; and I'm really exciting about your reply: you put me already in the context of job...and makes me exciting in telling about procesand juri and "I won"!!
I've never thought Ph could be even so important in ours jobs...but it's so!It let you know what you whant!
Can I use questions like"I want to know evryhings in this book that let me pass this exame?".
Or it's too general?

That question is too vague and can lead to a problem. Your inner mind knows that your conscious mind cannot know "everything" whatever that might be.

Consider the subject when you form a question... imagine talking about the suject with the author. What would you ask them to tell you... you don't want them to tell you stuff you already know. Image asking them and they just start talking about stuff you already know. Wouldn't you stop them and ask them to explain what you don't fully understand?... Do that when activating focus on getting answers to the stuff you don't already understand.

Alex

Sara,

I would ditto Alex response to you.

However, I would also more precisely suggest that the professor's old tests that are on file in your law school library would provide great questions for setting your purpose.

Another set of purpose setting or activation questions would be provide actually by your professor during the class time.

Look to the level of question asked. For example, is the professor asking about:

1. The 'what' of the law? The 'what' kind of question is more like a fill-in the blanks, vocabulary or definition question.

2. The 'how' of the law? The 'how' kind of question is the application of those laws to a specific situation or context.

3. The 'why' of the law? The 'why' kind of question is the history of the law question. Why did this 'rule' become a formal law.

4. The 'what if' of the law? The 'what if' (similar to 'how') kind of question is where the professor wants you to be creative and use your intuition in a new context. This is where not only comprehension but understanding is involved.

The 'what, how, why and what if' types of questions are not new categories of questions. They follow specific learning styles and, as such, specific personal teaching styles of your professors.

Good luck,
CS
-gene_bryson@yahoo.com