How to self-learn law today, like those lawyers in the past who never went to law school?
<p>One can simply read law textbooks and judgements of legal cases, but what else? </p>

<p>If you simply want to acquire knowledge in law, reading is the most effective way.</p>

<p>Even law courses (at least where I am from) consists of tons and tons of reading. <strong>Read, read, read.</strong> Usually the items are:</p>

<ol>
<li>Legislation (i.e. the actual law). If you are attending an Intellectual Property class, you will be assigned to read Copyright laws. In a Criminal Law class you will read the laws about prosecution, and legal definitions of various crimes.</li>
<li>Textbook / lecture slides. They will provide a laymen explanation of the concepts and terms you come across in the legislation, along with simple examples.</li>
<li>Legal cases. These are especially important in a country where Common Law is in practice.</li>
</ol>

<p>Here is a fact: you cannot learn <em>every</em> aspect of law. There is simply too much. That is why there are lawyers who specialize in contract, accident compensation, land dispute, etc.         </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In the states of California, Maine, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington,
  an applicant who has not attended law school may take the bar exam
  after reading law under a judge or practicing attorney for an extended
  period of time.<br>
  In 2013, 60 people became lawyers this way out of 84,000 via law schools.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>from Wikipedia®</p>

legal-education