Now that I'm admitted and going, do I prepare? Forum

[verdandi]

MVP 1L (2L now?) here.

My advice would be to get all the logistics ready for law school (computer, apartment, tuition, finaid, etc.) and then RELAX. Law school will have you working harder than you have ever worked before, so take what time you have before law school to enjoy yourself.

First, fighting off burnout will be one of the biggest challenges you'll deal with your first year. You won't think that's possible with so much interesting and difficult work coming at you, but trust me, when you finish you're first round of finals you will feel like sleeping for a week. Therefore, take your summer before law school to do something that will ensure that you are completely recharged -- travel, work at a non-law job you always wanted to try, hang out with your friends, sleep a lot, whatever.

Second, you have to realize that you can't learn the law from just reading the casebook and a load of supplements. If you could, we'd have correspondence law schools or lawyers who just instructed themselves to a JD. Professors really add a lot of value, so sitting a reading the supplements or even the casebook before law school has limited utility. It might even stress you out, since you're going to get exposure to many concepts that 1) are confusing, 2) you've never heard of, 3) operate on a logic you are completely unfamiliar with, and/or 4) you don't understand at all.

Finally, what I would recommend doing is anything that makes you exited or passionate about the law. Sure, you can read books like Law School Confidential or Getting to Maybe, but I would actually recommend something a little different: read the New York TImes, the Economist, the Wall Street Journal, and any popular book written by a historian or a law professor about legal issues. If you think you might be interested in Corporate, get a student rate subscription for the WSJ and read their law section every day. If you are interested in Con Law, read some of the great books out there on the subject: The Nine, The Dynamic Constitution, Supreme Power, etc. For the more libertarian among you, try a book by Epstein such as Takings (also a good primer for some aspects of property). If you are a feminist, pick up something by Kitty MacKinnon. In other words, if reading the book jacket makes you exited about the law, you should buy it and read it.

[ellakay]

^ That is really good advice. Couldn't have said it any better.

[Paichka]

That is GREAT advice, Verdandi (love the name, btw).

I've got my summer reading list:

Let's Get Free, a Hip Hop Theory of Justice
The Nine
John Adams
Justice at Nuremburg

Yay books.

[CaptainSnuggleBunny]

l.

Finally, what I would recommend doing is anything that makes you exited or passionate about the law. Sure, you can read books like Law School Confidential or Getting to Maybe, but I would actually recommend something a little different: read the New York TImes, the Economist, the Wall Street Journal, and any popular book written by a historian or a law professor about legal issues. If you think you might be interested in Corporate, get a student rate subscription for the WSJ and read their law section every day. If you are interested in Con Law, read some of the great books out there on the subject: The Nine, The Dynamic Constitution, Supreme Power, etc. For the more libertarian among you, try a book by Epstein such as Takings (also a good primer for some aspects of property). If you are a feminist, pick up something by Kitty MacKinnon. In other words, if reading the book jacket makes you exited about the law, you should buy it and read it.

I see what you did there.

[Bosque]

Oh, and watch Law and Order. Because Jack McCoy is a Pimp with a capital P.

[shepdawg]

Download and watch season 1-3 of Damages.

[trialjunky]

Download and watch season 1-3 of Damages.

For some reason, I just can't get into Damages. Why does everyone else LOVE it??

[david?]

That is GREAT advice, Verdandi (love the name, btw).

I've got my summer reading list:

Let's Get Free, a Hip Hop Theory of Justice
The Nine
John Adams
Justice at Nuremburg

Yay books.

That book sounds really interesting, it just got added to my list to.

Also, 3/4 of the way through The Nine, really interesting analysis of the court. +1.

[keg411]

That is GREAT advice, Verdandi (love the name, btw).

I've got my summer reading list:

Let's Get Free, a Hip Hop Theory of Justice
The Nine
John Adams
Justice at Nuremburg

Yay books.

That book sounds really interesting, it just got added to my list to.

Also, 3/4 of the way through The Nine, really interesting analysis of the court. +1.

For anyone who likes "The Nine", read "The Brethren" by Bob Woodward. It's from the 70's and it's awesome. Probably one of the most interesting books I've ever read.

[shepdawg]

For some reason, I just can't get into Damages. Why does everyone else LOVE it??

Rose Byrne is a great actress, reminds me of my wife, and the writing is great (especially season 1)

[Paichka]

That is GREAT advice, Verdandi (love the name, btw).

I've got my summer reading list:

Let's Get Free, a Hip Hop Theory of Justice
The Nine
John Adams
Justice at Nuremburg

Yay books.

That book sounds really interesting, it just got added to my list to.

Also, 3/4 of the way through The Nine, really interesting analysis of the court. +1.

Let's Get Free was written by my crim pro professor -- it's kind of awesome, actually -- he talks about how snitching is making communities less safe, and when you serve on a jury you should refuse to convict if it's a minor drug crime, even if the guy is guilty as Larry Craig in an airport bathroom. All sorts of win.

I'll have to pick up The Brethren...I really like Bob Woodward.

I found LA Confidential in my basement (forgot I had it!) so I'm rereading that, too.

[Iconoclast]

My 0L prep:

1. Built my "study cave" so I have a quiet place to study, away from the distractions of the family.

2. Joined a gym and started working out. I'm old, fat, and am going to be working full time and going to school at night. I figure that a workout between work (where I sit at a desk all day) and school (where I will sit at a desk all night) may give me the energy boost I need to make it through the long days. And dropping a few pounds certainly can't hurt.

3. Bought an ipod.

4. Bought a new laptop.
4a. Am playing around with one note.
4b. Am learning to touch-type (I can do about 50 wpm looking at the keyboard, but cant touch type).

5. Got a timbuk2 bag to carry my laptop and books.

6. Am spending extra time with my family, who won't see much of me once August gets here.

7. And here is where I go against the cumulative wisdom of TLS... I enrolled in law preview. As I mentioned in either this thread (or the duplicate that got locked), it's been over 10 years since I sat in a classroom and a week of practice will do wonders for my confidence, even if it is a placebo. Additionally, my civ pro professor is teaching at the session I'm going to, so I may gain a few directly relevant nuggets. (One other prof from my school is also teaching at the session, but i don't know yet if I'll have her). For now I'll take my lumps for ignoring the advice on the subject... and a year from now I'll be able to say whether it was worthwhile or not

Out of all of it, I'm pretty sure that numbers 1 and 6 are going to have the most impact on my first year. Being married with 3 kids (two in high school) means it's a family event when pop decides to return to school. We've talked about the sacrifices it's going to take, and I'm fortunate to have their support.