Does beginning by reading books on the evidence of Fiqh, then moving on to Hanbali Fiqh mutūn at a later stage, lead to distraction and a lack of foundational grounding in Fiqh, or is it a sound approach given current circumstances?

Whoever wishes to seek knowledge of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) is advised to attach himself to a proficient shaykh who adheres to one of the recognized madhhabs (schools of thought), or to begin by studying the foundational texts of a madhhab through its authoritative commentaries. The process of weighing and preferring among different opinions is an advanced stage that a beginner student of knowledge cannot reach until after foundational study, and acquiring proficiency through practice, extensive reading, and examining the opinions of jurists, their methodologies, and their evidences.