Law School Success and Study Aids

It answers questions students have as they begin their studies. What is a tort? Hornbook? Should I join a study group? It also explains and gives examples of the best methods for studying and for taking exams. It provides questions and model answers from actual law school exams. The Nutshell also provides information about the types of legal practice that are available to you when you graduate. And it describes the opportunities that will be available to you during your second and third years of law school, such as law journals, law clinics, internships, joint degree programs, and study abroad.

The Zen of Law School Success offers a comprehensive approach to succeeding in law school. Zen is about simplicity, balance, knowing your universe, knowing yourself, and staying focused on the path to enlightenment. Similarly, these principles should be the foundation for success in law school, and this book details how to put these principles into practice in order to maximize your ability to have a successful law school career.

Cracking the Case Method is a concise and down-to-earth guide to the intellectual content of law school instruction, particularly in the first year. Readers will discover why and how law school instructors use appellate court cases as vehicles for teaching legal analysis. This book explains that legal analysis is a process by which judges and lawyers use argument (or rhetoric) to connect stories to legal conclusions, and reveals how to read judges' appellate court opinions as arguments rather than merely as sources of rules. To succeed in law school, students have to apply analytical skills to novel stories by crafting arguments of their own, both in class meetings and when answering final examination essay questions. This book promotes readers' ability to apply analytical skills by: Demonstrating how to "brief" cases in a way that captures both arguments and rules; Explaining and illustrating common types of arguments; Using actual law school classroom dialogues annotated by the authors to explain how instructors use classes to further law schools' goal of teaching argument skills; Setting forth effective final examination preparation strategies and techniques for crafting answers that demonstrate analytical skills; and Illustrating final exam strategies and techniques by providing actual law school final examination questions followed by model answers annotated by the authors. The subjects that readers will study in law school (whether rules of contracts or processes such as jury trials) all emanate from the Common Law Tradition. To further enhance readers' analytical understanding and skills, the book concludes with a chapter that provides a brief and colorful overview of this rich and fascinating tradition. The chapter includes comparisons to the common law tradition's Civil Law counterparts, enhancing the book's value to all readers.. If you want to achieve academic success in law school, this book provides you with the tools you need to Crack the Case Method.

The title of this book, The Slacker's Guide to Law School, might strike some as irreverent. "Slacker" is a term of pride and even endearment among the latest generation of student, however, and this book gives prospective law students a realistic idea of what exactly they are getting into. This book is not about laziness, but about succeeding on one's own terms. Thus the subtitle: Success without Stress .

With a total of 50 years of experience teaching law school between them, the authors of Law School Without Fear offer law students strategies for coping with law school successfully and advice on how to get the most out the law school experience. The book discusses in simple terms what students need to know about law school, covering common problems that law students encounter and solutions to those problems. Topics covered include briefing a case, precedent and how to use it, balancing competing interests and factors, legal writing, and psychological tips for the study of law. Special features include a comprehensive approach to the first year, from the bewildering first day of class through examinations; advice on how to study, how to deal with the classroom experience, and how to take exams; wonderfully brief summaries of fundamental ideas of policy common to almost all law classes; and glossary of frequently used words and phrases.

Bridging the Gap Between College and Law School will help students make the transition from their undergraduate experience to law school learning. Unlike other introduction to law school texts, Bridging the Gap offers a different approach because it: -- Explains the why of law, providing students with the context necessary to understand why law school is taught in a certain manner. -- Explains the how of the law, setting out a step-by-step process that will help students adapt to the law school setting. -- Explains the what of the law, giving students the opportunity to practice the problem-solving process by providing numerous exercises in a variety of subject matter areas.Most other introduction to law school books only provide general advice. On the other hand, subject specific aids offer only black letter law and some practice problems, but fail to explain the overall context or provide a problem-solving process. Bridging the Gap does all three -- it provides the context, the process, and the problems. Written by two law school professors who use these techniques in the classroom everyday, Bridging the Gap is an invaluable guide to what really works in law school.

Shana Connell Noyes, consultant to Julia Roberts and director Alan Pakula on the film The Pelican Brief, and Professor Henry S. Noyes

Many books give law students advice about how to navigate through their first year of law school. This book strives to be something different. The purpose of "One L of a Year" is to focus on the reading, studying and testing strategies used by the most successful law students. This book is more than advice--it is a learning guide based upon empirical research and statistical correlations between law student learning and their law school GPAs. Most importantly, this book attempts to show you what high-ranking law students have done to achieve success during their first year. It's one thing to read about how to take a law school essay exam--it's quite another thing to see examples of student essays, outlines, legal memoranda, and multiple choice questions. With drive and determination, most students can get through law school. However, "One L of a Year" gives you the research-based skills to maximize your own success.

The ultimate guide to law school, study strategies, what to expect after graduation, how to take the bar exam, and different career options.

Mindfulness for Law Students is a one-of-a-kind book that is specifically designed to introduce law students to fundamental contemplative practices as well as the cutting-edge research that shows how incorporating mindfulness techniques can alter the physical structure and function of the brain to reflect decreased levels of stress, increased levels of productivity and improved mental health. This book is based on the Jurisight(R) program - which uses legal terms and concepts to teach lawyers what they need to know about mindfulness and neuroscience to lead more balanced and effective lives - and written with input from law students, law professors and recent law school graduates to ensure that the lessons are accessible to law students and can be easily integrated into their busy schedules. "As a first-year law student, I found that I didn't need another book on the law school experience, nor a bevy of outlines and advice. What I needed was a way to help myself focus in the midst of a very intense and sometimes chaotic experience. Mindfulness for Law Students introduces mindfulness concepts in a way that will help law students remain self-aware and keep the law school experience in its proper perspective. " -- Dale Dobuler, second-year law student

This book answers the most-asked questions of first, second, and third year law school students. Exam Preparation: How long should my outline be? What should I include in my outline? What secondary sources should I use? Are study groups effective? Should I swap outlines with other students? How do I prepare for open and closed book exams? And much more Writing the Exam: What is the best way to read the exam questions? How do I schedule my time? How do I organize my answer? When do I need to assume facts? How do I impress the professor? And much more

1L of a Ride provides a candid step-by-step roadmap to both academic and emotional success in law school's critical first year. Covered topics in this newly updated, revised, and expanded second edition include: top student fears, the first-year curriculum, effective class participation, types of law students and professors, case-briefing, note-taking, course-outlining, legal research and writing, exam preparation, essay and multiple-choice exam strategies, stress management, the impact of law school on outside relationships, special challenges faced by part-time and nontraditional students, and much more. Shows rather than tells with dozens of anecdotes and comments from real law students, as well as authentic samples of Socratic dialogue, exam questions, student case briefs, class notes, and course outlines. McClurg is an award-winning professor and noted legal humorist with experience teaching at several law schools.

Recognizing that law students operate under severe time constraints, Professor Calleros employs a reassuring, accessible style that makes points quickly and clearly. Starting with creative examples and illustrations from familiar, nonlegal contexts, the author introduces students to new concepts by analogy and then advances to more complex legal examples. Exercises and practice exams, with a focus on essay questions and model answers, help students identify their strengths and weaknesses, plan strategies, and organize their efforts. Law School Exams: Preparing and Writing to Win offers techniques for maximizing scores on several types of essay questions, as well as on multiple-choice and other questions. Exam anxiety is tackled by a helpful, positive perspective: the right amount of stress can serve as a motivator. Students get help in reducing anxiety to a productive level by learning how to place exams into proper perspective. Stress-management techniques are introduced, including, stretching, meditation, and listening to motivational music. The Second Edition introduces new sample flow charts into the presentation, and additional examples, questions, and sample answers appear throughout the text. Hallmark features of Law School Exams: Preparing and Writing to Win: --accessible, reassuring style o points are clear and concise for students under severe time constraints --creative examples and illustrations from familiar, nonlegal contexts o introduces students to new concepts by analogy o then advances to more complex legal examples --exercises and practice exams organize student's effort o identify strengths and weaknesses o focus on essay questions and model answers o help plan strategies --addresses techniques for maximizing scores o several types of essay questions o multiple-choice and other objective questions --tackles exam anxiety o helps students understand that a small degree of anxiety can motivate o shows how to reduce anxiety to a productive level --place exams into proper perspective --prepare thoroughly --adopt stress-management techniques: stretching, meditation, motivational music

The second edition of Legal Analysis, the Fundamental Skill continues to teach students the critical skills of legal reasoning. This popular book is a practical and clear guide that explains the many ways lawyers analyze the law. The authors demystify legal analysis by examining the foundations and methodology of legal problem solving and by discussing the different levels of critical thinking necessary to develop effective legal arguments. The book emphasizes the importance of applying the law as opposed to relying excessively on formulaic methods of analysis. New to the second edition, the book examines rule-based reasoning and the embedded rule; deductive analysis and resolving statutory ambiguity; case-law reasoning and inductive analysis; the role of policy in legal argument; and the structure and variations of legal argument and CREAC. New examples and exercises are also included.

Much has changed in the ten years since the publication of the first edition of Women-at-Law. But, unfortunately, much has also stayed the same. Women are still confronting issues of promotions and equal pay, while also struggling to maintain a healthy work/life balance. But no woman is alone in the legal profession, and Women-at-Law, Second Edition is the guide that proves it. Author Phyllis Epstein has interviewed over 500 women lawyers of all ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles nationwide to address how women today are meeting the challenges of competing in the legal profession without sacrificing their home and family lives as well. This updated edition includes: - Wisdom and experience from women lawyers sharing their life experiences - Taking a time out from a legal career--and making a comeback - The intricacies and rewards of juggling a personal and professional life - If the option of part-time work is right, and how to make it work - Updated research on topics like attrition of women lawyers, schedule demands, and the unique focus women can bring to the profession Women-at-Law provides women with ideas and suggestions about how to deal with their professional and personal goals and challenges and make the compromises required to "have it all"--even when "having it all" can be different for each individual. You'll learn that, with some effort, a woman can redirect her career, home life, and interests in the long journey that is a successful life.

Written by a recent law school graduate with an extraordinary success story, Excelling in Law School: A Complete Approach transcends merely surviving the experience, demonstrating how to earn high grades by working smart, excel in extracurricular activities, publish, and land top jobs. The author aced his first year at a fourth tier law school and transferred to a top-10 school from which he graduated, magna cum laude. Now, he shares his insights and his experience, surpassing expectations set by his less-than-lustrous LSAT scores. Miller relieves some of the anxiety about law school by conveying proven strategies that will appeal to today's tech-savvy law student. He outlines the available resources and study-aids and shows how to effectively use new technologies such as websites that distribute outlines, companies that provide MP3s of detailed lectures on first year courses, student-maintained outline banks, recorded lectures, professor podcasts, and PowerPoint slides. Students learn the specific, unique skills required to approach law reviews and scholarships and to hunt for jobs. Excelling in Law School: A Complete Approach observes successful tactics used by other students and guides readers in selecting the strategies and resources that best fit each personality. Features of Excelling in Law School: A unique book written by a recent law school graduate with a stunning success story Goes beyond the basics of surviving law school earning high grades excelling in extracurricular activities publishing landing top jobs Helps students excel shows how to work smart relieves some anxiety about law school conveys proven strategies Designed for today's tech-savvy law student Showcases the study-aid market and effective use new technologies websites that distribute outlines companies that provide MP3s of detailed lectures on first year courses student-maintained outline banks recorded lectures professor podcasts PowerPoint slides Reveals effective, specific skills and unique approaches law reviews scholarships job-hunting Outlines available resources Illustrates the author's personal success, one that can be tailored for any law school student how the author personally aced each area strategies and tactics observed in use by other students how to select the strategy and resources that best fit the reader's personality

A concise, highly accessible guide to exam success. Provides an insider s view of what professors look for in exam answers, and how exam-taking connects to good lawyering. Accompanied by a Web site with content that is both free (e.g., sample outlines, class notes, case briefs) and for-sale (e.g., sample exams and memos written by professors giving feedback on the answers). Features: High-profile, experienced authors from elite schools with hands-on experience teaching the majority of the courses in the traditional 1L curriculum Distinctive central pedagogy: the pinball method of exam-taking Accompanied by Web site with content that is both free (e.g., sample outlines, class notes, case briefs) and for-sale (e.g., sample exams and memos written by professors giving feedback on the answers). Explains to students not just the how but the why of law school exams what makes law school exams different from exams students have encountered in other settings Detailed examples provide concrete demonstrations of exam-taking techniques Highly readable: prose is straightforward and humorous; key points accented with memorably amusing illustrations Not just an exam prep book; students are offered guidance on getting the most out of classes, and law school more generally

Here's a fine head start for college students planning to go on to law school. It describes the day-to-day law school experience, the subjects to be studied and mastered, competition, and the standard procedures that define the law school environment. The author offers advice on taking good lecture notes, effective study methods, library research, test-taking, handling the inevitable stresses of law school, and much more. There is also advice on participating in student organizations, student government, moot court, and law review journals, as well as tips on job hunting after completing law school. New in this edition is information on utilizing technology to manage law school, as well as advice on studying more effectively.

More law students than ever before come to law school having been diagnosed with a learning disability. The purpose of this book is to provide research-based learning strategies for law students who learn differently. If you are a student who has been diagnosed with a learning disability or if you simply have a unique learning style, you may need to outline differently, read cases differently, and approach law school in a more active, engaged, and efficient manner. This book offers learning strategies grounded in empirical research to help law students who learn differently maximize their academic success.