0L Books

[adpiucf]

A spin off of the law school thread!

Thinking about law school? Then read: Should you really be a lawyer? by Deborah Schneider and Gary Belsky

Great books to have for LSAT prep:
Nova's Master the LSAT
Powerscore Logic Games Bible
Powerscore Logic Reasoning Bible
LSAC official released tests (available via lsac.org)

Get a digital kitchen timer and cut the alarm buzzer out! Use the timer when you're taking practice LSAT tests to keep time. You can use this on test day, too.

Great books to support you through the admissions process:
The Ivey Guide to Admissions by Anna Ivey
How to get into the top law schools by Richard Montauk
Essays that worked for law school
Princeton Review Law School Essays that made a difference

Websites to drive yourself crazy:
lawschoolnumbers.com
lawschooldiscussion.org
chiashu.com


Ok, now that I've suggested these books, I want some advice from our resident law students and lawyers! What are good books to read about getting through your first year? Is Law School Confidential worth reading? Planet Law School? 1000 Days to the Bar? How to succeed in law school?

Thanks for the advice! Looking for books that discuss outlining, study techniques, etc.

[Kevin]

The only book I read that wasn't for class was "Getting to Maybe." It's a good manual on how to write good tests. All of my professors praised the IRAC method. I, on the book's advice ditched IRAC and did pretty well (5th in class).

I'm not huge on self-help books. Mostly, if you just manage your time well, and do whatever works for you as far as learning the cases and rules, you'll be fine.

Don't read too much, once class starts, there'll be plenty to read. Go play some video games for now.

[kstar]

The only thing I would reccomend is "One L."

I am not in law school, and this book is what made me change my mind. I realized that it really wasn't for me. However, it was good to read it (my bf is a 2L) because I knew what to expect. It is a frank and honest description of life in law school.

[shinerbock]

I can't really give advice on the subject, but what I've been doing is reading things that will help me fill in gaps. I did this for some undergrad classes I thought might be tough as well...I just read history/law books, often ones that are still entertaining to fill in gaps that I know about, but should be more sure of. I have a habit of sometimes breezing over the basics, so getting the back story is helpful. For example, this summer I realized that while I'm by no means ignorant of the American Revolution, I haven't had a class on it in a while and I feel like my knowledge of it has faded. So rather than read a history book, I read John Adams and 1776 (Both by David McCullough), which are great books and very informative. I also have a friend who just graduated from law school, and he mentioned that I shouldn't try and "study" this summer, but rather just to read and pay attention to law-related things to keep abreast. He recommended I read books like The Supreme Court by CJ Rehnquist (which I found informative because he goes through the various courts...its a good refresh and may give you background on some things that could be brought up during law school). I also just spend a few minutes checking the washington and legal sections of the WP and CNN everyday, just because I think exposing myself to decisions and terminology may prove helpful. I've heard from law school friends that it is very frustrating for people who come in without even so much as a "hollywood" legal vocabulary.

[kddani]

Originally Posted by kstar

The only thing I would reccomend is "One L."

I am not in law school, and this book is what made me change my mind. I realized that it really wasn't for me. However, it was good to read it (my bf is a 2L) because I knew what to expect. It is a frank and honest description of life in law school.

One L is rather dated and overdramatic. It's interesting to read, but it's certainly not very applicable to today's law school world. It was probably overdramatic when it was written... otherwise no one would have bought it! Law school is NOT that exciting. It's a work of fiction.

Really, there's nothing you can read or do to prepare. There's no set method to outline cases, etc. You need to figure out what works for you. But figure it out as you go. These books aren't going to do anything but get you all worked up.

The only book I would recommend buying is a full copy of Black's Law Dictionary. You will refer to it millions of times, particularly first year.

Otherwise, don't sweat law school until you actually get there. The books are pretty much useless moneymakers aimed at overanxious law students with a need to buy something to feel more prepared. Nothing- not a book, not any person, movie, etc. - can prepare you for law school.

[KSigkid]

I don't plan on reading anything extra relating to legal works; I work for a bar association and help to copy-edit a major bar journal.

I'm just going to relax as much as possible before I start classes.

[kddani]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I don't plan on reading anything extra relating to legal works; I work for a bar association and help to copy-edit a major bar journal.

I'm just going to relax as much as possible before I start classes.

That's the way to do it. If you want to read, read something fun! You'll be doing plenty of boring reading later.

Cool that you copy edit a bar journal... my best friend is an editor of ours and loves it.

[OtterXO]

Originally Posted by kddani

Really, there's nothing you can read or do to prepare. There's no set method to outline cases, etc. You need to figure out what works for you. But figure it out as you go. These books aren't going to do anything but get you all worked up.

The only book I would recommend buying is a full copy of Black's Law Dictionary. You will refer to it millions of times, particularly first year.

Otherwise, don't sweat law school until you actually get there. The books are pretty much useless moneymakers aimed at overanxious law students with a need to buy something to feel more prepared. Nothing- not a book, not any person, movie, etc. - can prepare you for law school.

So true. Seriously, one recommendation I would add to this is STOP listening to people who haven't been there and take what people who have been there say with a grain of salt. Everyone (including current law students and lawyers) has their own theory on what you should do. My perspective has changed SO much since graduating, taking/passing the bar and starting to work as a lawyer. Just like most of life, everything works differently for different people. When it comes down to it, law school is about learning how to think, studying and preparing well for tests. Don't let the stress of what you "think" law school is fool you and stress you out.

[BobbyTheDon]

Originally Posted by kddani

Nothing- not a book, not any person, movie, etc. - can prepare you for law school.

Take away the words law school, and insert the word pledging and it sounds like something my chapter would say to pledges.