Law Preview: worth it? Forum

[claylester]

I've been getting a lot of mailings for "Law Preview" courses... what's the general consensus on these? Are they worth the cost ($1000 plus)? Do they actually get you more prepared than people who don't take them? Are they geared towards T-14 or the masses?

[TTT-LS]

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[Corsair]

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[chris0805]

I'll add a concurring opinion:

I don't believe they are worth it, but I distinguish my opinion from TTT in that the dollar and time cost is not in my eyes "steep." I think there are some programs that are a little over $100 and one day. I think you're wasting your time, but considering what you're paying for law school, and the three years you'll be there, it's not such a huge risk if it turns out to be a waste... you may consider taking one for the hell of it. I didn't because I saw zero value in them, but it's not a huge cost, at least not all of them.

[aguyingeorgia]

Concur. Designed to prey on insecurities.

[waytofailself]

Waste of time, waste of money, and to an extent, a waste of learning.

Maybe it's just me, but I'm really excited about going to law school with a blank slate on pretty much the whole field. I feel like I'm getting a fresh start. Furthermore, the nature of many of these programs is that they're going to break you down and break it down for you so that they can build up your knowledge from scratch. If anything, it could do more harm than good depending on if your two teachers (from the university and from the preview) approach a subject from different angles.

[bailey79]

I will take the opposite position, well, just because. Personally, I did go. While I can say that the con law lecture I had back in july did not particularly help me that much come this spring, I think what the entire week did was get me a little less nervous about everything. I knew essentially nothing about the law, so by going I at least was familiar with some of the most basic concepts in each subject and didn't have to struggle quite as much with them when I arrived. I also think the crash course in LRW was excellent, and I was well ahead of the curve research wise. Finally, the study/exam skills seminar was pretty great. Now, I am sure you can get some of the information from various books (law school confidential/getting to maybe), but for me it was worth it. I ended up top 10% my first semester, and got a 3000$ scholarship for my efforts my first semester (so deducting the price of the course i end up way ahead). I am also at the top of my class, have a shot at even more money and law review, not to mention transferring to a MUCH better school than where i am now. So you should ask yourself how you are feeling, and just decide whether it is worth it or not. The various programs may count on people's fear in part for signing up, but it worked for me. There you go.

p.s. I can safely say that after a year of law school I know about 1% more than I did when i started. That is, just enough to get myself in serious trouble. Peace out.

[jspillner]

I am entering law school this fall and I was contemplating whether to take the law preview six day course. Can I get some more feedback from anyone else who took it and if it was helpful or not.
thanks

[TTT-LS]

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[jspillner]

I would just like to hear some more feedback from a larger pool of people who actually went to the law preview six day course. Some more opinions of whether it helped them in their first year of law school or not?

[rtp2008]

Do you think the course would be worth taking had it been free? Would it be a complete waste of time if you had been given a stipend to show up? I doubt that it'll give you an automatic ticket to the top 5%, but does anyone know if it's useful at all?

[abioticn]

I attended it last summer. I thought all through fall semester it was worth it, until I took exams. The course did nothing to prep me for what to REALLY expect and what ended up happening is that I was overconfident. I know others that took it and feel it helped them. But I think the best advice I have gotten so far has come from 2L's and 3L's. I am much better prepared this semester and had a lot more time to study the overall picture of the course rather than almost memorize case briefs. Case briefs are helpful for in class but in class is NOT exams.

That's my 2 cents.

[niclaw]

Ok, so I definitely have heard the opinion that they are not worth the money and are not helpful from many people. However, I'm still considering taking one because I am going from Peace Corps service in Africa in July to the beginning of school in August. I'm a little worried about being out of school for 3 years now, living on Africa time, and jumping into the most competitive academic experience in my life. In light of this fact, would anyone change their opinion of the value of a course for my situation?

I would really appreciate additional input.

[TTT-LS]

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[GodSpeed]

Concur. You'll all be equally retarded and full of yourselves when you arrive, regardless of the course you took

[niclaw]

Lol, thanks for both of your responses. I'm convinced, I'm just going to buy some books to try and get me into the school mindset again. I have no lack of energy and enthusiasm for studying and working hard, that's for sure. I can't wait to get back to school! Thanks again.

[GodSpeed]

Lol, thanks for both of your responses. I'm convinced, I'm just going to buy some books to try and get me into the school mindset again. I have no lack of energy and enthusiasm for studying and working hard, that's for sure. I can't wait to get back to school! Thanks again.

If you think law school is going to give you enthusiasm....

[bigben]

I've been getting a lot of mailings for "Law Preview" courses... what's the general consensus on these? Are they worth the cost ($1000 plus)? Do they actually get you more prepared than people who don't take them? Are they geared towards T-14 or the masses?

No, no, no. A thousand times no.

[zeezoo]

they surely do not justify the steep dollar cost or opportunity cost (time) associated with attendance.

Ok I am a 0L, but if pre-law prep even marginally increases your chance of getting ONE grade higher in ONE class, it is probably worth the time and money.

[mumbling2myself]

they surely do not justify the steep dollar cost or opportunity cost (time) associated with attendance.

Ok I am a 0L, but if pre-law prep even marginally increases your chance of getting ONE grade higher in ONE class, it is probably worth the time and money.

They won't. Coming to law school fresh, excited, and ready to learn will. By all means, do whatever prep you like and spend however much money you want, but don't be too shocked when it doesn't equate to better performance.

[BlueDevilSarah]

Read for pleasure and enjoy yourself (I can't tell you how much I enjoyed my first non-law book after winter exams). If you want to focus on something, maybe focus on learning some terminology or exam writing. Opinions on nuances of the law will come from your professors and those are the things they'll want to see on the exams.

[orangeswarm]

FWIW, I know two people that did the law preview course at my school. One ended up right on the median and the other ended up a little below. They both said they should have saved their money and bought a supplement or two.

[TTT-LS]

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[Corsair]

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[Da Stain]

0L Wading into the Lion's den:

It's a one-week class. "Doing other things (e.g. relaxing, seeing friends, going running, sleeping in)" do not have to come at the expense of the other. That's all I have to add.

If you have the money and think it might help, there's no harm. It's not like the kid is saying should I take 12 credits of Con law through my university's summer program....