Contents |
| Acknowledgments | xvii |
| Introduction | xix |
ch. 1 | Preparing for Law School | 3 |
| Getting Ready for the First Year | 4 |
| A. A Little Perspective | 4 |
| B. Use the Summer Before Wisely | 5 |
| C. Prepare Your Family and Friends | 5 |
| D. Visit the School | 6 |
| E. Work Out Your Finances | 6 |
| The Right Mindset | 7 |
| A. Understand the Point of Law School | 7 |
| B. Question Everything | 9 |
| C. Accept Ambiguity | 9 |
| D. Understand the Socratic Method | 10 |
| E. Cautiously Use Hornbooks and Commercial Outlines | 11 |
| F. Create a Schedule | 12 |
| G. Avoid Common Missteps | 13 |
| Understanding the First-Year Curriculum | 13 |
| A. Civil Procedure | 14 |
| B. Contracts | 14 |
| C. Criminal Law | 14 |
| D. Property | 15 |
| E. Torts | 15 |
| F. Legal Research and Writing | 15 |
| Checklist | 16 |
ch. 2 | Briefing Cases | 19 |
| The Basics | 21 |
| A. A Case Brief Defined | 21 |
| B. Why You Will Brief | 21 |
| C. How to Use Your Case Brief | 22 |
| How to Read Cases | 22 |
| A. Prepare to Read | 23 |
| B. Preview the Case | 23 |
| C. Read Carefully | 23 |
| D. Use a Legal Dictionary | 24 |
| E. Avoid Excessive Highlighting | 24 |
| F. Take Selective Notes | 25 |
| G. Keep Track of the Parties | 25 |
| H. Distinguish Kinds of Opinions | 25 |
| How to Brief | 26 |
| A. The Issue | 26 |
| B. The Facts | 28 |
| C. The Procedure | 29 |
| D. The Rules | 30 |
| E. The Holding | 31 |
| F. The Reasoning/Policy | 31 |
| Avoiding Pitfalls | 32 |
| A. You Will Not "Book Brief" | 32 |
| B. You Will Value. Substance Over Style | 32 |
| C. You Will Not Cut and Paste | 33 |
| D. You Will Not Use a Commercial Brief | 33 |
| Checklist | 34 |
ch. 3 | Professor Expectations | 37 |
| A. Arrive on Time | 39 |
| B. Be Prepared | 39 |
| C. Attend Every Class | 40 |
| D. Engage with Class | 40 |
| E. Answer as a Lawyer Would | 41 |
| F. Go to Office Hours | 42 |
| G. Ask Only Appropriate Questions | 42 |
| H. Be Supportive, Not Competitive | 43 |
| I. Take Responsibility | 43 |
| J. Professionalism Goes Both Ways | 44 |
| Checklist | 46 |
ch. 4 | Outlining | 47 |
| The Basics | 48 |
| A. Why You Will Outline | 48 |
| B. When to Outline | 49 |
| C. When to Stop Outlining | 50 |
| D. What to Outline | 50 |
| E. What to Avoid | 51 |
| How to Outline | 52 |
| A. Get Organized | 52 |
| B. Organize Around Legal Topics | 52 |
| C. Subdivide into Legal Elements | 53 |
| D. Blend in Key Cases and Statutes | 54 |
| E. Include Policy and Reasoning | 54 |
| Other Considerations | 55 |
| A. The Condensed Outline | 55 |
| B. It's a Personal Thing | 55 |
| C. Flowcharts | 56 |
| D. Open and Closed Book Exams | 56 |
| Checklist | 57 |
ch. 5 | Studying | 59 |
| Before Class | 61 |
| A. Setting a Schedule | 61 |
| B. The Right Environment | 62 |
| C. Before Reading a Case | 62 |
| D. Reading a Case | 62 |
| E. Don't Forget the Book Notes | 63 |
| F. Immediately Before Class | 63 |
| During Class | 64 |
| A. Listen Carefully | 64 |
| B. Take Selective Notes | 64 |
| C. Take Consistent and Organized Notes | 66 |
| D. Listen to Your Classmates | 67 |
| E. Use Your Laptop Appropriately | 68 |
| After Class | 68 |
| A. As Class Ends | 68 |
| B. Use Your Professor Effectively | 69 |
| C. Limits on Using Your Professor | 70 |
| D. Using Study Groups Effectively | 70 |
| E. Avoid Study Group Don'ts | 72 |
| F. As the Semester Ends | 72 |
| Checklist | 73 |
ch. 6 | Final Exams | 75 |
| Before the Exam | 77 |
| A. Know Your Professor | 78 |
| B. Keep Your Outline Updated | 79 |
| C. Schedule Practice Exams | 79 |
| D. Approach Practice Exams Effectively | 81 |
| E. Learn How Your Professor Grades | 81 |
| F. Go to Review Sessions | 81 |
| G. Know the Legal Rules Cold | 82 |
| H. No All-Nighters and Manage Stress | 83 |
| I. Typing v. Handwriting | 83 |
| Starting the Exam | 84 |
| A. Arrive Early | 84 |
| B. Arrive Prepared | 84 |
| C. Read the Instructions | 85 |
| D. Allocate Your Time | 85 |
| E. Read the Call of the Question | 86 |
| F. Read the Facts (and Again) | 86 |
| G. Outline Your Answer | 87 |
| Writing the Exam | 88 |
| A. Use Headings | 88 |
| B. Use IRAC | 88 |
| C. Write Precise and Succinct Rules | 89 |
| D. Use the Facts, All of Them | 89 |
| E. Use the Word Because | 90 |
| F. Argue Both Sides | 90 |
| G. Emphasize Policy | 91 |
| H. Use Plain English | 91 |
| I. Write Enough | 92 |
| J. Avoid Humor | 92 |
| K. Use Common Sense | 92 |
| Learning by Example | 93 |
| Emergencies and After the Exam | 97 |
| A. If Your Mind Blanks | 97 |
| B. If All Else Fails | 98 |
| C. A Few Nevers | 99 |
| D. Self-Assessment | 99 |
| E. Final Words on Exams and Grades | 100 |
| Checklist | 101 |
ch. 7 | Outside of Class | 103 |
| Law Journals (and Law Review) | 104 |
| A. What Are They? | 104 |
| B. How Do You Become a Member? | 105 |
| C. Should You Try? | 106 |
| D. Once You Are Accepted | 107 |
| E. Board Positions and the Third Year | 108 |
| F. Maintain Perspective | 108 |
| Advocacy Programs | 109 |
| A. What Are They? | 109 |
| B. How Do You Become a Member? | 110 |
| C. Should You Try? | 110 |
| Externships and Clinics | 111 |
| A. An Introduction to Extemships | 112 |
| B. An Introduction to Clinics | 113 |
| Other Opportunities | 114 |
| A. Teaching and Research Assistant Positions | 114 |
| B. Student Organizations | 115 |
| C. Faculty/Student and SBA Committees | 116 |
| D. Public Service and Volunteering | 116 |
| Checklist | 118 |
ch. 8 | Beyond Law School | 119 |
| Preparing for Your Career | 119 |
| A. Cultivate Relationships | 120 |
| B. Get Practical Experience | 121 |
| C. Take Advanced Writing/Skills Courses | 122 |
| D. Meet with the Careers Office | 122 |
| E. Jump at Networking Opportunities | 123 |
| F. Consider All of Your Options | 125 |
| Letters of Recommendation | 127 |
| A. Make Good Choices | 128 |
| B. Approach Recommenders Directly | 128 |
| C. Ask, Don't Presume | 128 |
| D. Give Plenty of Notice | 129 |
| E. Make It Easy for the Recommender | 129 |
| F. Provide Detailed Information | 129 |
| G. Remember to Follow Up | 130 |
| The Summer Clerkship | 130 |
| A. Act Professionally | 130 |
| B. Dress Professionally | 131 |
| C. Submit Assignments on Time | 132 |
| D. Always Bring Pen and Paper | 132 |
| E. Ask Appropriate Questions | 132 |
| F. Work Hard | 133 |
| G. Proof Read. Proof Read. Proof Read. | 134 |
| H. Go to Firm Functions | 134 |
| I. Take Advantage of Firm Training | 135 |
| After Graduation | 135 |
| A. Build a Professional Reputation | 136 |
| B. Join Local Bar Associations | 137 |
| C. Keep in Contact | 137 |
| D. Remain Flexible in Your Career | 138 |
| Checklist | 139 |
ch. 9 | The Bar Exam | 141 |
| Preparing for the Bar Exam | 141 |
| A. Have the Right Mindset | 141 |
| B. Focus in Law School | 142 |
| C. Understand the Exam Structure | 143 |
| D. Meet Deadlines | 144 |
| E. Prepare Financially | 144 |
| F. Research Preparation Courses | 145 |
| G. Clear the Decks | 146 |
| H. Petition for Accommodations | 146 |
| Studying for the Bar Exam | 147 |
| A. Take a Preparation Course | 147 |
| B. Create a Schedule | 147 |
| C. Study Ten to Twelve Hours a Day | 148 |
| D. Study Actively, Not Passively | 148 |
| E. Take Timed Practice Exams | 149 |
| F. Manage Your Environment | 149 |
| G. Stay Healthy | 149 |
| Answering Bar Exam Questions | 150 |
| A. Use IRAC | 150 |
| B. Allocate Your Time | 151 |
| C. Use Headings and Subheadings | 151 |
| D. Approach the Exam Methodically | 152 |
| E. Use the Word Because | 152 |
| F. Argue Both Sides | 152 |
| Some Practicalities | 153 |
| A. Reserve a Hotel Room | 153 |
| B. Tie-Up Loose Ends | 153 |
| C. Visit the Exam Site | 154 |
| D. Pack Ahead of Time | 154 |
| The Day of the Bar Exam | 154 |
| A. Wear Comfortable Clothes | 154 |
| B. Eat Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner | 155 |
| C. Arrive Early | 155 |
| D. Leave Your Study Materials | 155 |
| E. Expect the Unexpected | 155 |
| F. Do Not Discuss the Exam | 156 |
| G. Don't Obsess | 156 |
| Checklist | 156 |
| Conclusion | 159 |
| Appendix A Selected Bibliography | 161 |
| Appendix B Sample Case Brief | 163 |
| Appendix C Sample Final Exam | 169 |
| About the Authors | 179 |
| Index | 181 |