Law School Essentials 2025: What Every Law Student Needs in Their Bag

The second semester is coming to a close and a new school year is already upon us. It’s time to stock up on law school essentials and to save time (and definitely money), having an organized and complete to-buy list is a must. 

Right on time for the Academic Year of 2026-2027, this article will guide you through some of the essentials you’ll need to pack in your law school bag. While you may not need to carry every single reading with you, a well-packed bag can make a world of a difference in managing the busy, demanding days of law school.

Starting Law School? Here’s Why Preparation Matters

There’s a famous saying “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail" and this very much applies to your law school life. While having complete sets of books or readings at your disposal is not everything in law school, they are still essential in mentally preparing you for your busy days.

Aside from feeling prepared for the day, you can even look the part and fit the “law school aesthetic”. This further boosts your confidence and helps you keep motivated. 

Must-Have Law School Essentials for Every Law Students

Aside from the law school essential listed below, the most important of them all is a sturdy and trusty bag. Most law students stick to practical options like a backpack, satchel, or a shoulder bag. However, make sure that the bag you will pick can carry the heavy weight of everything you have to bring everyday:

• Codals and Commentaries 

The heaviest and most important of all law school essentials are your commentaries and codals. A codal is a book containing the exact and unedited text of a statute, law, or legal code whereas a commentary interprets or analyzes these statutes. 

While having a physical copy of the codals is beneficial for retention or easy recall, it can add significant weight to your everyday bag. As such, you can opt to refer to digital or online copies of the law from Digest PH or other online legal tools.    

• Laptop or Tablet

Laptops and tablets are the most important tools for law students because they aid in literally every single task involved in law school. You can take notes, do research, create digests, manage requirements, and stay organized, all in one compact device. 

Having these two gadgets also significantly lightens your load compared to carrying stacks of books and printed materials. A tip though, never ever forget to pack chargers and power banks to power through long study sessions and classes.

In the Philippines, there are a lot of laptop or tablet brands to choose from. Aside from the ever-reliable yet more on the pricier side, Apple products, you can get laptops and tablets from Huawei, Samsung, or Acer.

• Notebooks, Sticky Notes, and Stationary

Notebooks and stationery are law school essentials for every law student despite having the abovementioned gadgets. These stationary needs can easily be bought from huge bookstores in the Philippines such as Muji, National Bookstore, or even the SM Department Store.

Writing down notes is also known to improve memory retention compared to typing them down since it allows you to practice active listening skills for personalized, easily accessible material that can be quickly updated.

• Highlighters and Writing Tools

Writing tools and at least five different-colored highlighters are not only part of a law student’s aesthetic but they also serve practical purposes. They help you annotate textbooks, highlight important passages for easy recall during recitations, and organize notes for easy reference, making the process of reviewing and studying complex legal material more efficient and effective.

• Planner or Calendar

Another important tool is a planner or calendar. These are vital for managing deadlines, class schedules, and study sessions as well as keeping track of all the tasks you have to accomplish per day. They help you stay organized and ensure you don’t miss important dates, making your academic life more structured and efficient.

A tip to keep you motivated throughout the day despite the load of tasks you have is to list them down and check them once you’re done so you can celebrate every small win. 

If you don’t want to lug an additional weight in your school bag, you can opt for free digital alternatives such as Notion or Google Calendar.

• Snacks and Water Bottle

Studying is a very strenuous activity and thus part of the law school essentials are snacks and water which help keep you healthy and energetic to go about your busy day. Studies even show that eating the right foods can fuel our brains and enhance cognitive function, making brain foods crucial for productive study sessions.

Have a handy water bottle by your side at all times and remember to eat healthy but filling snacks such as nuts, crackers, or fruits during your breaks.

• Headphones or earbuds

Sometimes, when you’re studying outside, you cannot control the other people who are going to be there as well. To tune them out, it is essential to have your headphones or earbuds with you at all times to help keep you focused and efficiently finish your tasks.

Remember to keep them charged however as you don’t want them dying on you in the middle of a grueling study session. 

• OPTIONAL: Study Aid and Flashcards

Especially when it is not midterms or finals season, having study aids and flashcards with you are not that needed. Instead, you can bring them on days you wish to memorize and practice recall to lighten your law school bag’s weight.

Tips for Staying Organized and Avoiding Burnout

These law school essentials wouldn’t be as useful as they are if you are burnt out or demotivated. To ensure that you are ready to go at all times, don’t forget the following:

1. Get enough sleep

The recommended hours of sleep for adults are 7-8 hours per day. This is sometimes impossible to achieve even for law students.

To at least get a decent amount of sleep, avoid using your gadgets 30 minutes before sleeping so that your brain can easily wind down and take less time in trying to fall asleep. Aside from that, you can also opt to sleep early when you don’t feel like studying yet and wake up early the next day to jumpstart you busy schedule.

2. Manage your time wisely

With the many subjects and commitments you have to study for, managing your time is your way to studying smarter. Since reading takes up a huge chunk of your law school workload, time-blocking can help in managing your time. Minimizing your distractions during these time periods can help you finish your tasks faster.

Use legal online tools for finding summaries efficiently such as Digest AI and use your rest days wisely for both school and rest activities. 

3. Eat healthy food

While eating may be one of your stress relievers, don’t forget that the fuel you put into your body heavily impacts your energy levels for the whole day. As such, one of the most important health essentials for law students is to choose the healthier food option always. 

In this manner, you can go hours of studying without feeling hungry or groggy in the middle of the day.

FAQs

Is a laptop or tablet required for law school?

No but it is a necessity. A laptop or tablet nowadays helps in keeping your digital files organized as well as in note-taking. These are likewise necessary if the professor decides to hold online classes/a hybrid learning set-up.

Should I take notes by hand or rely on digital note-taking?

This depends on your study style. While others swear by handwritten notes for memory retention, some may opt for digital notes for efficiency.

Do I need a planner or diary to stay organized in law school?

While a planner or diary is not a need, it is a helpful tool in keeping yourself organized and up to date with you tasks.

What are the best sources for accessing case law and jurisprudence?

Online legal databases such as the Supreme Court library or the Collections page of Digest PH which contains curated folders according to law subject is provided are some of the best sources for accessing updated jurisprudence. 

Conclusion

In the demanding world of law school, where readings pile up and backlogs are inevitable, having a reliable bag packed with essentials is a gift you’ll thank yourself for later. It’s a simple way to reduce stress and stay prepared. Stick to one practical bag, avoiding the hassle of switching for aesthetics. 

Now, focus on equipping yourself with the essentials that will make your law school experience a little smoother