Top Law Schools

I realize the usual wisdom on TLS is to not worry about prepping or reading 0L summer apart from maybe Getting to Maybe...

But, as an international student who did NOT study any arts major classes (history, poli sci, etc.) and therefore has the knowledge of aforementioned subjects of a international-raised high school student, does anyone have any books or website to recommend on any of the following:

US History
US Court System (not like Civ Pro, but more general, like what you learn in high school)
US Government (although I guess even Wiki could be good for this one)

Not really looking for in-depth knowledge like becoming a History major, but more to get up to speed on the most relevant and important bits

Or you can tell me I'm being stupid and not to do this, IDK.

I can see why you want to do this, and I'm sure there's some stuff Americans will just know by virtue of growing up here that could be useful to get a grasp on. But to be honest, most Americans (even law students) don't really understand the US court system, and will learn it in law school, so I don't think you'll really be behind. Wikiing what's unfamiliar should be sufficient. (Though mostly I don't have good recommendations for an overview that would be at all helpful. I mostly want to say, watch Schoolhouse Rock, which is the only way I know the preamble to the Constitution.)

Best prep for an international is probably finding yourself a potential spouse with U.S. citizenship a.s.a.p. so you can have that greencard ready to go by the time graduation rolls around

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Hand wrote:Best prep for an international is probably finding yourself a potential spouse with U.S. citizenship a.s.a.p. so you can have that greencard ready to go by the time graduation rolls around

I know you were responding casually here, but I was wondering if you had any insights into what Big Law hiring looks like for international students. I understand the H1-B process, and that advanced degrees get that special group of 20,000 H1-B visas marked for them. But what I don't get is how can a firm say "there are not enough Americans/Green Card Holders to fill this position" when its clear there is a glut of lawyers in the market?

I know that people find ways of getting around things like the way you suggested, but do you know anything more about this? Sorry for the vague questions.

togoornottogo wrote:

Hand wrote:Best prep for an international is probably finding yourself a potential spouse with U.S. citizenship a.s.a.p. so you can have that greencard ready to go by the time graduation rolls around

I know you were responding casually here, but I was wondering if you had any insights into what Big Law hiring looks like for international students. I understand the H1-B process, and that advanced degrees get that special group of 20,000 H1-B visas marked for them. But what I don't get is how can a firm say "there are not enough Americans/Green Card Holders to fill this position" when its clear there is a glut of lawyers in the market?

I know that people find ways of getting around things like the way you suggested, but do you know anything more about this? Sorry for the vague questions.

As a 0L who already has a greencard and no interest in big law myself I haven't spend time trying to get clear on this issue, but as far as I can tell the best thread for finding the collected wisdom of TLS on the topic is this: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=214275

Gray wrote:I'm actually in the same boat, and did this mostly because I felt like a bad American for knowing next to nothing (having grown up and gone to university in Canada too) - I picked up a few books from Oxford's very short introduction series:

- The US Supreme Court
- American Legal History
- American Political History

They're very efficient learning tools and they are obviously cost effective. Indigo has them for like 11.95 I think. The Supreme Court one was the most interesting, IMO.

I second these "very short introduction" books. I only read American Legal History, but it was helpful for me - and not a taxing read at all

Hand wrote:

togoornottogo wrote:

Hand wrote:Best prep for an international is probably finding yourself a potential spouse with U.S. citizenship a.s.a.p. so you can have that greencard ready to go by the time graduation rolls around

I know you were responding casually here, but I was wondering if you had any insights into what Big Law hiring looks like for international students. I understand the H1-B process, and that advanced degrees get that special group of 20,000 H1-B visas marked for them. But what I don't get is how can a firm say "there are not enough Americans/Green Card Holders to fill this position" when its clear there is a glut of lawyers in the market?

I know that people find ways of getting around things like the way you suggested, but do you know anything more about this? Sorry for the vague questions.

As a 0L who already has a greencard and no interest in big law myself I haven't spend time trying to get clear on this issue, but as far as I can tell the best thread for finding the collected wisdom of TLS on the topic is this: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=214275

Thanks! I'll see what I can find in that thread.

blueberrycrumble wrote:I realize the usual wisdom on TLS is to not worry about prepping or reading 0L summer apart from maybe Getting to Maybe...

But, as an international student who did NOT study any arts major classes (history, poli sci, etc.) and therefore has the knowledge of aforementioned subjects of a international-raised high school student, does anyone have any books or website to recommend on any of the following:

US History
US Court System (not like Civ Pro, but more general, like what you learn in high school)
US Government (although I guess even Wiki could be good for this one)

Not really looking for in-depth knowledge like becoming a History major, but more to get up to speed on the most relevant and important bits

Or you can tell me I'm being stupid and not to do this, IDK.

If English isn't your primary language, working on your writing skills, one way or another, would be more important. But it's not like you're going to be terribly disadvantaged either way; I know several people at my lower T14 with good grades who write like children.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:I can see why you want to do this, and I'm sure there's some stuff Americans will just know by virtue of growing up here that could be useful to get a grasp on. But to be honest, most Americans (even law students) don't really understand the US court system, and will learn it in law school, so I don't think you'll really be behind. Wikiing what's unfamiliar should be sufficient. (Though mostly I don't have good recommendations for an overview that would be at all helpful. I mostly want to say, watch Schoolhouse Rock, which is the only way I know the preamble to the Constitution.)

Thanks! I know it isn't a huge deal, but I'm also generally interested in learning a bit about US History anyway

Gray wrote:I'm actually in the same boat, and did this mostly because I felt like a bad American for knowing next to nothing (having grown up and gone to university in Canada too) - I picked up a few books from Oxford's very short introduction series:

- The US Supreme Court
- American Legal History
- American Political History

They're very efficient learning tools and they are obviously cost effective. Indigo has them for like 11.95 I think. The Supreme Court one was the most interesting, IMO.

Thanks, Gray I'll look into those books

Traynor Brah wrote:If English isn't your primary language, working on your writing skills, one way or another, would be more important. But it's not like you're going to be terribly disadvantaged either way; I know several people at my lower T14 with good grades who write like children.

Luckily English is my first language at least. I just know almost nothing about the US other than maybe the past decade or so.

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