Is success in law school only about genius or luck? Forum

[quiver]

IThat's wise advice? I have no idea how that's helpful except to say that law school is a means to an end and that there is no point in speculating about grades (which everyone has said from the start of this thread). Lots of people don't care if they make "good money."

Because it's very easy to get caught up in prestige and the delusion that doing well in law school will equal success in law practice. You may not need that advice at your particular point in time, but a 0L needs to understand the hierarchy of their objectives when they're making decisions about what to do in law school. It seems simple, but you'd be surprised how many people miss this. It is legitimate, wise advice based on experience.

See the exchange between myself and utlaw2007 on page 2.

[scifiguy]

What % of law students do you guys know of/estimate could do much higher, but didn't as a result of not knowing how to take a law school exam?

I've read from previous posts that some people didn't seem to realize they needed to write as much (and there's a bit of a "race/speed" element to it).

Do you guys find any students like that in law school. Very bright and capable, but just didn't learn how to strategize taking one of these exams?

[Scotusnerd]

What % of law students do you guys know of/estimate could do much higher, but didn't as a result of not knowing how to take a law school exam?

I've read from previous posts that some people didn't seem to realize they needed to write as much (and there's a bit of a "race/speed" element to it).

Do you guys find any students like that in law school. Very bright and capable, but just didn't learn how to strategize taking one of these exams?

That's most of the middle of the pack in law school. We're all bright and capable (believe me, it is a big mistake to assume that everyone else is not as smart as you). That strategizing is a key differences between a good grade and a bad one.

[mephistopheles]

What % of law students do you guys know of/estimate could do much higher, but didn't as a result of not knowing how to take a law school exam?

I've read from previous posts that some people didn't seem to realize they needed to write as much (and there's a bit of a "race/speed" element to it).

Do you guys find any students like that in law school. Very bright and capable, but just didn't learn how to strategize taking one of these exams?

That's most of the middle of the pack in law school. We're all bright and capable (believe me, it is a big mistake to assume that everyone else is not as smart as you). That strategizing is a key differences between a good grade and a bad one.

most people are morons. nth

[Scotusnerd]

most people are morons. nth

yeah. Most people are also not in law school. If you haven't found this out already, you will find it out. Or, I suppose, you'll be one of the lucky two or three people in the school who really IS more brilliant than everyone else.

[Naclam]

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[mephistopheles]

most people are morons. nth

yeah. Most people are also not in law school. If you haven't found this out already, you will find it out. Or, I suppose, you'll be one of the lucky two or three people in the school who really IS more brilliant than everyone else.

i've been in ls, and i stand by my statement. and by most, i literally mean 80% of the class.

[Scotusnerd]

i've been in ls, and i stand by my statement. and by most, i literally mean 80% of the class.

Okay? So have I. Also, I'm going to guess that I have better relations with my classmates than you do, by your statements.

[84651846190]

I think success in law school is a attributable to three things 1) hard work, 2) knowing how to game "the system" (i.e., reading "Getting to Maybe", talking to law profs, talking to other law students about how to get good grades in class X or Y), and 3) being a good writer. You need intelligence to know how to properly balance these three things, but I don't think people with the best grades from law school are necessarily the smartest. The material is very easy to master compared to more difficult undergraduate majors like applied physics or math. There's just a lot of it. Anyone can memorize shit given enough time, it's how to apply it in time-pressured writing exams that matters.

[imjustjoking22]

Hard work may help, but it's not necessary. IMO much better to learn how to "study smart" as exams approach and keep plenty of time for yourself to be a normal person. I hate the library, so I don't study there. Briefing cases is probably a waste of your time. Fearing cold calls is silly, no one cares if you sound smart in class and knowing the cases super well is not very helpful on exams anyway.

Probably helpful to study 9-6 or whatever daily if you want to be top of your class. But there are certainly people who do minimal work and are above median.

[slawww]

I know this has been beaten to death, but at what point does slow typing (in your opinion) become detrimental? I can type about 50 words per minute, and I'm wondering if that would put me at a disadvantage?

[ph14]

I know this has been beaten to death, but at what point does slow typing (in your opinion) become detrimental? I can type about 50 words per minute, and I'm wondering if that would put me at a disadvantage?

That's perfectly adequate. You have to think on an exam too.

[slawww]

I know this has been beaten to death, but at what point does slow typing (in your opinion) become detrimental? I can type about 50 words per minute, and I'm wondering if that would put me at a disadvantage?

That's perfectly adequate. You have to think on an exam too.

Haha, true!