Indiana University - Bloomington students taking questions Forum

[LogosEther]

I can probably assume the answer to the question, but I will ask anyway. So do any of you [at least somewhat serious] law students get to have fun during Lil 5? Lol.

I'm ONLY speaking for myself here: I definitely had fun in law school, but not during Little 5. The timing is just awful. It's at the end of the year, near finals, so it's really tough to spend the time. Still, I know plenty of law students who went to the race, partied a bit, etc.

[RMstratosphere]

I can probably assume the answer to the question, but I will ask anyway. So do any of you [at least somewhat serious] law students get to have fun during Lil 5? Lol.

Little 5 is a must. If you don't participate, you aren't serious, you're silly.

[crazyblink653]

Does anybody have any info on hoffmann?

as a summer starter i had hoffman for crim pro, but not for crim law (which is what you most likely have him for). Needless to say, i didn't like him all that much. he assigned a shitload of reading, yet covered maybe 1/2 of it in class. from what i heard from people who had him for crim law, he also teaches his own way and uses a quirky casebook that he wrote that he has yet to find a publisher for.

still, he's a brilliant guy and kind of funny. more personable than a lot of other law profs. he didn't cold call in crim pro (though he might in crim law), which means you have to motivate yourself to pay attention (sometimes he can go off on tangents).

his exams are also very different from your usual 1L exams. he doesn't grade you only for spotting the issues, but rather for overall coherence and organization. plus, he has a section on short answer questions, two issue spotters, AND a policy question, so it really runs the gamut of type of question you have to prepare yourself for (as contrasted with a professor like gjerdingen, whose exam is basically spot as many issues as you can in the time period).

[c-monster]

Does anybody have any info on hoffmann?

as a summer starter i had hoffman for crim pro, but not for crim law (which is what you most likely have him for). Needless to say, i didn't like him all that much. he assigned a shitload of reading, yet covered maybe 1/2 of it in class. from what i heard from people who had him for crim law, he also teaches his own way and uses a quirky casebook that he wrote that he has yet to find a publisher for.

still, he's a brilliant guy and kind of funny. more personable than a lot of other law profs. he didn't cold call in crim pro (though he might in crim law), which means you have to motivate yourself to pay attention (sometimes he can go off on tangents).

his exams are also very different from your usual 1L exams. he doesn't grade you only for spotting the issues, but her for overall coherence and organization. plus, he has a section on short answer questions, two issue spotters, AND a policy question, so it really runs the gamut of type of question you have to prepare yourself for (as contrasted with a professor like gjerdingen, whose exam is basically spot as many issues as you can in the time period).

Thanks. Maybe he'll tell us which half of the reading we actually need to do.

[crazyblink653]

Does anybody have any info on hoffmann?

as a summer starter i had hoffman for crim pro, but not for crim law (which is what you most likely have him for). Needless to say, i didn't like him all that much. he assigned a shitload of reading, yet covered maybe 1/2 of it in class. from what i heard from people who had him for crim law, he also teaches his own way and uses a quirky casebook that he wrote that he has yet to find a publisher for.

still, he's a brilliant guy and kind of funny. more personable than a lot of other law profs. he didn't cold call in crim pro (though he might in crim law), which means you have to motivate yourself to pay attention (sometimes he can go off on tangents).

his exams are also very different from your usual 1L exams. he doesn't grade you only for spotting the issues, but her for overall coherence and organization. plus, he has a section on short answer questions, two issue spotters, AND a policy question, so it really runs the gamut of type of question you have to prepare yourself for (as contrasted with a professor like gjerdingen, whose exam is basically spot as many issues as you can in the time period).

Thanks. Maybe he'll tell us which half of the reading we actually need to do.

my understanding is that the reading load is not as heavy in crim law as it is in crim pro. still, it's likely that he'll fall behind the syllabus and try to cram everything else in at the very end. that's what he ended up doing in crim pro, anyway.

[superflush]

Is there usually reading required for the first class?

Yes, definitely.
If I remember correctly, they had a PDF last year for 1Ls.

[Verity]

Is there usually reading required for the first class?

Yes, definitely.
If I remember correctly, they had a PDF last year for 1Ls.

When would we usually get it? Like, a week, a day, an hour in advance? Just asking, so I can figure out when to get my books.

[downstream]

You will get it about 3-4 days before the first class.

Relax, it's all going to be fine.

[eve2490]

.

[crazyblink653]

I will have Reichard for LRW and, for those that have already taken the class (assuming you had the same textbook list as I do now), are the CDs that come with the 'package' really necessary or even helpful?

Book + ISBN:
PROCESS OF LEGAL RESEARCH-W/CD 9780735569775
JUST WRITING-W/CD 9780735576681

i don't think i even took the CDs out of shrink-wrap. if they come in a cheaper version w/o the CDs, just get that.

[johnnyutah]

Is it true that a wild boar was seen near the law school last year?

[Chippy]

I will have Reichard for LRW and, for those that have already taken the class (assuming you had the same textbook list as I do now), are the CDs that come with the 'package' really necessary or even helpful?

Book + ISBN:
PROCESS OF LEGAL RESEARCH-W/CD 9780735569775
JUST WRITING-W/CD 9780735576681

You don't need the CDs. Just get the crappiest, most highlighted used book ever- you are hardly going to use it.

[LogosEther]

I will have Reichard for LRW and, for those that have already taken the class (assuming you had the same textbook list as I do now), are the CDs that come with the 'package' really necessary or even helpful?

Book + ISBN:
PROCESS OF LEGAL RESEARCH-W/CD 9780735569775
JUST WRITING-W/CD 9780735576681

You don't need the CDs. Just get the crappiest, most highlighted used book ever- you are hardly going to use it.

This is pretty much right.

[eve2490]

.

[superflush]

If I remember correctly, they had a PDF last year for 1Ls.

When would we usually get it? Like, a week, a day, an hour in advance? Just asking, so I can figure out when to get my books.

It should be here at some point: http://apps.law.indiana.edu/degrees/courses/lookup.asp

I'm sure they will email it to you as well.

[Verity]

Are any 2Ls or 3Ls selling their used books?

Also, would we need to bring formal wear for any events?

[superflush]

Also, would we need to bring formal wear for any events?

During orientation? No
During 1L year? Yes

[Verity]

During 1L year? Yes

How many events like this occur?

[jaydizzle]

Do any upperclassmen mind sending me some outlines and case briefs? I just want to slowly figure out how I am supposed to outline and brief. I have Professor G. for torts. I would really appreciate it!

[Chippy]

Do any upperclassmen mind sending me some outlines and case briefs? I just want to slowly figure out how I am supposed to outline and brief. I have Professor G. for torts. I would really appreciate it!

Go ahead and PM me. Might still have G, among others. Also, briefs are a waste of time and effort.

[kings84_wr]

Heres a quick analysis for a few profs.
Hoffman teaches crim law through statutory interpretation. He actually teaches it in a much more acedemic way then a lot of standard crim profs. No issue spotting common law crimes or memorization etc.

So I'm not the biggest hoffman fan as a teacher, he tends to grade way to leniently in hte middle which screws up the curve. But he is a huge deal for Academia (for example my crim pro prof at UCLA uses his Crim Pro book). His casebook is still not published i take it? He was writing it with Professor Stuntz from Harvard who died last year, which obviously set things back. From my understanding though, Aspen is going to publish it when its ready.

As for Shreve. I really like the guy. He's a former Plaintiffs attorney. Teaches civ pro in his own style. His supplement really is a must. Read his exams early as well. THey are very short and to the point with a tight curve.

Boshkoff. Is pretty old. I personally loved him, but I know some people that hated the guy. He teaches a bit different, rather then on a case method, he teaches through hypos. I particularly found this really helpful because it showed where the forks or twists in the law were in his mind. It really just helped prepare for the exam throughout the semester. THat being said i know people who couldn't stand his teaching style.

[superflush]

During 1L year? Yes

How many events like this occur?

A few. There are interviewing events at the law school (there was a regular one in the fall, and an IP Association one in the spring).
You can also do the job shadow opportunity over fall break (in whatever cities they have listed).
There's stuff in the spring as well: interview opportunities (Spring OCI, or off-campus interviews) and other events.

[Verity]

Anyone have any comments about Geyh, and how his name is pronounced (!)?

[crazyblink653]

Anyone have any comments about Geyh, and how his name is pronounced (!)?

didn't have him but it's pronounced "jay," from what i understand. i've heard good and bad things about his class. i've heard it can get kind of boring because he uses a lot of PPT slides, but from my limited interactions he seems like an engaging enough person.

[c-monster]

Finished day one. I personally think Heidt is awesome.