Opinions are like...

... everybody has them.

As I have learned this semester when it comes to legal research, much like any other type of research, there are primary sources and secondary sources. Law school, in general, is very much the same. Your primary sources are your professors and any materials they provide you, as well as the student handbook, and your casebook. Your secondary sources are everything else, and believe me there are a LOT of things that fall into this category. Everything from commercial supplements and outlines to advice from fellow law students and people who have already been through the ringer.

Although I have heard horror stories of people maliciously giving bad advice and information, I was lucky enough to not have experienced it first hand this semester. Though that doesn't mean all the advice and info I was given was on the up and up. Everyone I've met these past few months have been very willing to help those of us just starting out. Everyone from my fellow 1L's to 2 and 3 L's to faculty and staff and family friends have shared their different tips. Unfortunately, a lot of it is completely irrelevant.

There really is no substitute for learning straight from cases and the professor. When you have questions about class material, and you will at some point, be sure to have them resolved by your professor ASAP. There is no sense in going through the entire semester thinking one thing only to find out you were completely wrong the week before the final.

Also, be weary of relying too much on what others "know". Regardless of how confident someone else may be chances are they don't know anymore than you do, they're just better at pretending they do. The same goes for commercial outlines and supplements. If they disagree with what your professor has taught always go with what your professor has said. Neither is necessarily wrong but at the end of the day your professor will be the one grading your exam.

Always check your sources!