I read that someone on here was about to start law school and just wanted to give a nickles worth of free advise. Maybe others that have been through this (how can I put this kindly) unique experience can chime in also. I wrote this to another person that was asking about my experience in part time law school before he started, and I thought this was one of the more important points. The one thing I wish someone had told me before I started is that for the most part, you are going to have to learn the black letter of the law on your own. Normally in undergrad or grad school classes you read the material and then go to class so that the professor can lecture and explain the material to you. The reading is to give you the basics, the professor explains the details. I’m sure you had classes where the professor assigned a book but you really didn’t need to read it that thoroughly, just go to class, take good notes and you had what you needed for the exam. It took me two semesters to figure out that simply is not the case in law school. Granted, I KNEW that it would be different and that I would do things more on my own to study, but I still expected the professors to provide the base knowledge needed for the subject matter. With a few exceptions, it simply isn’t case. I guess I just didn’t want to believe that I would have to teach myself the law. Now I know that the closer example from undergrad would be like going to a review session with a TA or professor before an exam. Imagine this scenario: you sign up for a class but never once attend lecture, never pick up notes from other students, and simply read the text book on your own. Then when you go to the review session, the professor looks over to you and asks you to explain something to the entire class! You are now reviewing the material for the entire class and the professor is not teaching, but rather asking YOU detailed questions. When you get something wrong, instead of immediately correcting you for your benefit and that of the class he leads you down this new path to a conclusion you then figure out later to be incorrect. You then have to back track to where you went wrong, all the while feeling like a jerk. That’s a law school class. Why do they do this? The best answer I have received for that question is “That’s the way it’s always been done.” Thankfully you should have some professors that don’t stick to the Socratic method that firmly and actually teach the black letter of the law in their classes. Sadly others will make you think that you are taking a History class in which the exam will emphasize minute details of cases you have read and re-read in an attempt to pull a single, elusive, legal nugget to hold up to say “This is law, I have found it, and it is good.” When the exam comes and there will not be a single mention of Old John Smith and the train door that cut off his arm or the woman that was hit by fireworks at the train yard, or the thousand other cases that have a freaking train in them! As hard as you studied for class, reading cases over and over, so that if you got picked to recite you would know every minute detail of the case, as much as they emphasize case law the cases are only there to drive home the point of the black letter law. It would be like reading the story of the tortoise and hare and concentrating so hard on the fact that the hare was a 10 lb north american jack rabbit with brown fur and white puffy tail that traveled a top speed of 22 miles an hour at a maximum sustained time of 7 minutes then decelerating to 15 miles an hour for 12 minutes before climbing to top speed... but never learned that slow and steady wins the race. Now that someone has told you, hopefully you won’t have to struggle with it on your own. Hopefully I haven’t freaked you out. For all of law schools difficulty and craziness, it is a very rewarding experience, one that I would not want to miss.
Thanks for the post. I'm starting law school in August, though I think there are a couple more of us here as well. I'm still wrapping my head around the whole method of becoming a successful law student. Briefs, outlines, IRAC, supplements... my head is swimming I just can't wait to be a student again. The information overload part of law school is scary, but I've always been able to maintain a big picture view amid a flood of details. I just hope I'll end up with a job on the other end of this that will make up for the 100K of debt I'll be incurring.
You ain't just whistling dixie... and let me know if you need anything. I am very close to the UH law center during the day and might be able to help you out. My email is mulderfoxx@gmail.com Thanks. After last semester I need a compliment.
When I got my MBA this past May, I said that was all the advanced higher education for me. I am SOOOOO glad that I don't have to worry about that **** anymore.
If you have it available, I would recommend you read the BAR/BRI materials first. They do a fair job of simplifying the black letter law. Then you can go back to the finer points as necessary for contributions in class.
My torts professor scared a lot of us into not getting it by telling us that some people that studied it got a fundamental part of one topic in torts confused... Now I'm starting to think he was trying to throw us off on purpose so that he could borrow questions from it without us knowing.
Besides BAR/BRI, what other supplements/outlines did you guys use in your first year? I managed to snag a first year set of Gilberts for fifteen bucks at Goodwill , along with a few Examples and Explanations I've gotten from Half.com. I also got a good deal on the LEEWs tapes off eBay, and I'll probably listen to those before I start class.
Ahh. I remember the good 'ole law-school days. Good times. Except the first semester when I would get out of class, stop by James Coney Island for some dogs, head to the apartment, then READ CASE AFTER FREAKING CASE until around 10pm. Wake up, then do it again. All. Over. Again. Keep your heads up, guys. Prepping for trials, hearings, dealing with attorneys, going to crime scenes, and being in a constant mental state of litigation (which my girlfriend absolutely *loves* BTW ) makes me long for the days of reading International Shoe. Okay, maybe not. But good luck fellas.
Thanks for the impromptu advice session, Mulder! I was about to start a thread just like this... actually, I think I already have once before I'll be starting at UHLC in August, too, so I might give you an email for some insider scoops. bejeezus, I don't know if you'll be at UHLC, too, but here's an AWESOME page about tricks of the trade and specific advice on UHLC profs: http://members.aol.com/djmcarter/uhlc.htm The dude that runs that site is really nice. I just can't wait to move back to Houston. Haven't been there since graduating high school in '99! bej, what was the bookstore where you picked up that guide??
Yeah, I'm headed to UHLC too. I've seen that link before but forgot to bookmark it. Thanks! Which one? I got BAR/BRI's first year outline from a friend. I'll probably get an updated one if/when I pre-pay for BAR/BRI's bar review. You can get everything else from just about any online bookstore in existence. My favorites are half.com and eBay. The steal at Goodwill was a total fluke.
I think the best advice for a first year is no advice...other than to relax while you have time instead of worrying. I know that sounds harsh but here is my philosophy. The first year is about taking lumps. You are going to be humiliated...deal with it. You will learn so much more finding out on your own what to study, how to study, how to prepare for class etc. than hearing from someone else how they did it. Find what works for you and stick to a schedule. Don't hesitate to ask for help. Remember everyone in your class is a first year...I don't care if they have been lawyer's asst for 20 years, they don't know squat more than you do. You will learn how to brief, outline, etc. in due time. Prepping now is a waste of time IMO.
Good advice, I'm sure. I've heard it before, in fact. I just can't do it. I can't stop myself from trying to prepare. I can't relax. So what are you to do? Oh well, I figure it's for the best. I know no preparation prepares me for the real thing, but it sure beats focusing on my dead-end job!
First year is the worst, it will get better. Trust me. And professors in 2nd and 3rd year lecture more and grill their students less. But I think the Socratic method is very effective for teaching. To me, what you're suppose to be learning in law school is not the black letter law - it's how to think like a lawyer. How to critically analyze and how to explain and defend a position. A professor lecturing to you is never going to teach you that.
Thank you so much to everyone who has responded. While I'm still a year away from lawschool, it is comforting to hear things like this. I feel better hearing about your experiences. One quick question......is the movie "the Paper Chase" and fair example of what to expect in lawschool (how the professors are, and the class structure) or is it highly exaggerated? I'm also trying to get into UHLC but I want to go the whole Health Law route, any advice on that? How big is the program? Know anyone whos in it? Thanks so much for the info, this Board is really something special because of yalls contributions, thanks.
It's normal to be anxious. After your first year, you'll be like WTF was I doing? Have you gotten your orientation packet? If they assigned you cases, read and brief them, but don't look at anything else. At least I wouldn't.
Thanks for the free advice. I'll be attending my first year of law school this august and your advice is helpful. Also, much thanks to MadMax for helping me out earlier in the year. I have a question though. Right now I'm deciding on a place to stay for law school. I have a choice between a so-so apartment that is 1 mile away from the law school, or I could choose this high rise luxury condo that is 11 miles away from the law school for the same price. If I choose this awesome condo, I give up proximity to the law school, library, and classmates, but what I gain is... well... a really nice place. My question to those who have gone to law school is: is the proximity to the school, classmates, and the library, helpful towards my academics that I should go for the nearby apartment? Is having a nice place even worth it because I'll be spending so much time in class and the library? Thanks once again for the advice.
I agree, one of our renound LRW profs told me that i should read books that I enjoy ONLY just to get used to reading again, not law books, never Paper Chase or One L. I also agree with taking your lumps, you will feel like a moron, but your peers will be telling you what a good job you did when you recite. I hope you get a group of people as nice as the ones I have classes with. Maybe because we are all part time but there is no animousity at all. People are not only willing to share notes and help each other when asked, a lot of times they will take notes for you if they notice you are gone and will offer them up without you having to ask.
