Top Law Schools

I'm trying to find some in depth posts from people who finished near the top of their class about approaching law school. I know off the top of my head there is that article "doing well in law school: a unique approach" from the NYU guy, and that thread by arrow (that I can't find), but if we could compile at least links to a handful of those threads I think that would be awesome.

adh07d wrote:I'm trying to find some in depth posts from people who finished near the top of their class about approaching law school. I know off the top of my head there is that article "doing well in law school: a unique approach" from the NYU guy, and that thread by arrow (that I can't find), but if we could compile at least links to a handful of those threads I think that would be awesome.

I'm interested in this ^^^^^^ as well.

Here is my own rogue advice for high rank, based on what worked for me:

- Use every minute. If you start feeling brain-dead, switch to something "fun" like CALI or reading a treatise.
- Outline each class, right after each class session ends. Do not deviate from this plan, and do not fall behind. Do it when you are sick, do it on trains, do it on Thanksgiving Day. This way, at the end of the semester, everyone else is in a panic trying to re-learn the course and make outlines, and you are calmly taking practice tests and focusing on the tough areas.
- You get five chances to go over each bit of material: reading before class, in class, outlining after class, re-reading your outline EACH TIME YOU OPEN IT TO EDIT, and before finals. Make sure you understand the material fully each of these five times.
- That said, the best way to study is to explain the material to an outsider or non-law student. "Hi, mom. Can I tell you about impleader?" Give your SO your outline and have them quiz you. Get a study group together, but only if it is people you will be able to stand when they are in the throes of anxiety and egomania (finals).
- All of this said, the hardest part is learning that the facts don't matter. The rules matter. But that is what gets you half-way there. Learning logical advocacy is what you must master. Logical advocacy gets A's on exams.
- Finally, never, ever, ever listen to anything a classmate says that starts with "But I heard..." The only information you need comes directly from professors and the academic handbook. The rest is gossip, fearmongering, and deliberate deception.

That is pretty much all I learned in my first semester. It was pretty fun.

Just type in A'nold to the search function and try to study every bit of wisdom that appears on the page (this will be every letter, obviously, so get started ASAP, as I post about 100 times a day and you will likely need to memorize 300 posts per day to get ready for fall).

AlasLavinia wrote:Here is my own rogue advice for high rank, based on what worked for me:

- Use every minute. If you start feeling brain-dead, switch to something "fun" like CALI or reading a treatise.
- Outline each class, right after each class session ends. Do not deviate from this plan, and do not fall behind. Do it when you are sick, do it on trains, do it on Thanksgiving Day. This way, at the end of the semester, everyone else is in a panic trying to re-learn the course and make outlines, and you are calmly taking practice tests and focusing on the tough areas.
- You get five chances to go over each bit of material: reading before class, in class, outlining after class, re-reading your outline EACH TIME YOU OPEN IT TO EDIT, and before finals. Make sure you understand the material fully each of these five times.
- That said, the best way to study is to explain the material to an outsider or non-law student. "Hi, mom. Can I tell you about impleader?" Give your SO your outline and have them quiz you. Get a study group together, but only if it is people you will be able to stand when they are in the throes of anxiety and egomania (finals).
- All of this said, the hardest part is learning that the facts don't matter. The rules matter. But that is what gets you half-way there. Learning logical advocacy is what you must master. Logical advocacy gets A's on exams.
- Finally, never, ever, ever listen to anything a classmate says that starts with "But I heard..." The only information you need comes directly from professors and the academic handbook. The rest is gossip, fearmongering, and deliberate deception.

That is pretty much all I learned in my first semester. It was pretty fun.

O.k. psychopath. I'll be sure to get on my outlining, memorizing, updating, and re-reading my outlines daily before and after class.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 2&t=108735

I liked this post.

1. Learn the law
2. Learn how to take law school exams
3. ??????
4. Profit

Cavalier wrote:1. Learn the law
2. Learn how to take law school exams
3. ??????
4. Profit

Fill in number three with "Win the lottery" and/or "marry money" and TITCR.

Also, I plan on approaching law school via public transportation or a car. Some might recommend bikes, but don't listen to those asshole gunners.

AngryAvocado wrote:

Cavalier wrote:1. Learn the law
2. Learn how to take law school exams
3. ??????
4. Profit

Fill in number three with "Win the lottery" and/or "marry money" and TITCR.

Also, I plan on approaching law school via public transportation or a car. Some might recommend bikes, but don't listen to those asshole gunners.

But seriously, there's not much more to success in law school than steps one and two. I'd still recommend reading the advice topics for various ideas, but it really doesn't matter how you approach steps one and two. As long as you learn the law well, and learn how to write a good exam, you'll be fine.

Cavalier wrote:1. Learn the law
2. Learn how to take law school exams
3. ??????
4. Profit

+1. /thread.