Non-gunner's guide to surviving law school? Forum

[mrm2083]

So I've spent hours looking through TLS reading people's explanations on how to do well in law school but they are all guide's on how to be at the top of your class. Are there any guides out there on the most efficient and easiest ways to be median? I'm sure not everyone, though this is TLS, cares to be top 10 percent of their class and I feel like it would be good to learn the best way to just do decent. Things like use old outlines, skip reading certain cases etc. So for those of you that have been through it, enjoyed your 1L year, and did just fine what did you guys do?

[270910]

That might work.

[mikeytwoshoes]

So I've spent hours looking through TLS reading people's explanations on how to do well in law school but they are all guide's on how to be at the top of your class. Are there any guides out there on the most efficient and easiest ways to be median? I'm sure not everyone, though this is TLS, cares to be top 10 percent of their class and I feel like it would be good to learn the best way to just do decent. Things like use old outlines, skip reading certain cases etc. So for those of you that have been through it, enjoyed your 1L year, and did just fine what did you guys do?

No one wants to be median, not even you. At the end of 1L, you will find yourself competing at everything. I have begun to compete for the TLS meme-generation crown. I've even defended my 'tar crown with above average ferocity.

[mrm2083]

lol I knew I'd geta lot of shit for posting that but I think it's good to hear how people get by on the minimum and then add on from there instead of hearing the maximum and reducing.

[270910]

Yeah, I agree

[mrm2083]

I get what your saying, I'm not as naive and stupid as I seam (actually I might be). Does it matter to, for example, read all the cases or is time spent better doing something else.

[mikeytwoshoes]

lol I knew I'd geta lot of shit for posting that but I think it's good to hear how people get by on the minimum and then add on from there instead of hearing the maximum and reducing.

Listen up, kid: your first year of law school everyone's balls - even people who HAVE NO BALLS - will hit the wall. You cannot slack 1L. The pressure is too intense as is the demand. If you slack, you'll be at serious risk for bottom 5%. Too much happens first semester: you're not prepping for exams, you're learning WTF the law is, an exam is, a case is, latin is, etc.

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[jp0094]

I get what your saying, I'm not as naive and stupid as I seam (actually I might be). Does it matter to, for example, read all the cases or is time spent better doing something else.

[mrm2083]

yes I am as stupid as i seem

[270910]

I get what your saying, I'm not as naive and stupid as I seam (actually I might be). Does it matter to, for example, read all the cases or is time spent better doing something else.

NO YOU FIGURED IT OUT LOLOLOLOL! WHY READ THE CASES? ROFDL YOUR WAYU TO GOOD FOR THAT. I mean really. Read the cases? AHAHAHAHAHA> Why woould ANYONE do that? WHAT A WASTE OF TIME RIGHT?

I honestly can't process the stupidity of what you're saying. You say "can I slack" and I say "no." Your response is "ok fine, do I have to read the cases?"

I don't have enough palms or faces to continue responding.

[270910]

lol I knew I'd geta lot of shit for posting that but I think it's good to hear how people get by on the minimum and then add on from there instead of hearing the maximum and reducing.

Listen up, kid: your first year of law school everyone's balls - even people who HAVE NO BALLS - will hit the wall. You cannot slack 1L. The pressure is too intense as is the demand. If you slack, you'll be at serious risk for bottom 5%. Too much happens first semester: you're not prepping for exams, you're learning WTF the law is, an exam is, a case is, latin is, etc.

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That guy's boner makes the image more AND less effective for that quote all at once.

[TTH]

All the advice for living easy in lawl school can be found here: http://barelylegalblog.blogspot.com/

[OperaSoprano]

lol I knew I'd geta lot of shit for posting that but I think it's good to hear how people get by on the minimum and then add on from there instead of hearing the maximum and reducing.

Listen up, kid: your first year of law school everyone's balls - even people who HAVE NO BALLS - will hit the wall. You cannot slack 1L. The pressure is too intense as is the demand. If you slack, you'll be at serious risk for bottom 5%. Too much happens first semester: you're not prepping for exams, you're learning WTF the law is, an exam is, a case is, latin is, etc.

--ImageRemoved--

Made my day. Thank you.

Torts!

[stinger35]

I dont mean to contradict anyones advice here, but as someone who is #1 at a T2, i don't think its necessary to read the cases, really that much at all. (I reserve the right to change this in 4 weeks when grades from this semester come out)

That being said, you obviously can't slack. The time I spend not reading cases isn't spent playin xbox or something, its reading E&E's, hornbooks, outlining, etc. You also def. need to understand the cases and the facts (i.e. pay attention in class, read Emmanuels, Legalines, old outlines, etc.) but seriously, I feel like it contributes very little to your grade/exams.

[270910]

I dont mean to contradict anyones advice here, but as someone who is #1 at a T2, i don't think its necessary to read the cases, really that much at all. (I reserve the right to change this in 4 weeks when grades from this semester come out)

That being said, you obviously can't slack. The time I spend not reading cases isn't spent playin xbox or something, its reading E&E's, hornbooks, outlining, etc. You also def. need to understand the cases and the facts (i.e. pay attention in class, read Emmanuels, Legalines, old outlines, etc.) but seriously, I feel like it contributes very little to your grade/exams.

I don't disagree with you at all in the general sense - I'm mainly referring to first semester. I feel like never reading the cases would be a good way to get your ass handed to you.

Maybe it only takes 3 weeks of reading cases so you can figure out the relationship between supplements, class lectures, old outlines, and cases well enough to never open the book again. But if you don't spend those three weeks... I just can't imagine it working out well at all.

[mrm2083]

I'm just trying to find the most efficient way of doing fine in law school; I'm not saying I'm going to play Xbox all day. If you guys that have been through it are telling me I need to read all cases for first semester and then for second I'll get the hang of it then I believe you.

[mrm2083]

And btw I never said there is anything in specific I would do. Just wondering what those who have already been through it would recommend for someone that just wants to do fine. Some people may say read all the cases but use old outlines instead of bothering with your own, or read cases for the first 3 weeks and then you can stop but make your own outlines.

[chicagolaw2013]

I get what your saying, I'm not as naive and stupid as I seam (actually I might be). Does it matter to, for example, read all the cases or is time spent better doing something else.

NO YOU FIGURED IT OUT LOLOLOLOL! WHY READ THE CASES? ROFDL YOUR WAYU TO GOOD FOR THAT. I mean really. Read the cases? AHAHAHAHAHA> Why woould ANYONE do that? WHAT A WASTE OF TIME RIGHT?

I honestly can't process the stupidity of what you're saying. You say "can I slack" and I say "no." Your response is "ok fine, do I have to read the cases?"

I don't have enough palms or faces to continue responding.

This whole thread is funny, but for some reason, this made me ROFL.

[imchuckbass58]

So I've spent hours looking through TLS reading people's explanations on how to do well in law school but they are all guide's on how to be at the top of your class. Are there any guides out there on the most efficient and easiest ways to be median?

The most efficient and easiest way to be median is to try to be at top of your class.

[270910]

Sad but true in many cases.

[apper123]

tbh once you have "figured it out" or realized you have a natural ability to pwn law exams, you can slack pretty hard

the odds you are one of those people: slim to none

wait to 2nd semester to find out. don't slack 1st.

[270910]

Both semesters?

[apper123]

tbh once you have "figured it out" or realized you have a natural ability to pwn law exams, you can slack pretty hard

the odds you are one of those people: slim to none

wait to 2nd semester to find out. don't slack 1st.

Also by second semester there's a lot of reflexive slacking going on. Law school is fucking exhausting.

honestly i realize how much time one can save by working intelligently

using old outlines of (successful) students in the same class (to incorporate into your own outline, of course) rather than taking detailed notes on a complex jumble of text yourself, not exhaustively reading every supplement on teh face of the earth and only using them when you need to, not briefing (lol) and just keeping exam skills sharp. tbh exam practice for any exam prepares me the same for a similar exam format even if it is in a different subject. the only things that change are the words you write. obv noted exceptions for some subjects which are odd ducks (like con law), but even they are similar.

however, you need to learn how to rationalize, process and incorporate legal analysis and thought first. that's why you work your butt off first semester. it may not come as easy to you, and you'll have to work hard 2nd semester too.

a lot of people use hornbooks to see logical leaps and deductions they otherwise would not come to on their own. some students are capable of coming up with these jumps on their own and don't need them presorted by a handbook. you may be one of those students. you probably aren't (speaking to OP... im not judging you here based on anything... the stats are just against you. those students make up a low % of the population).

[Unemployed]

tbh once you have "figured it out" or realized you have a natural ability to pwn law exams, you can slack pretty hard

the odds you are one of those people: slim to none

wait to 2nd semester to find out. don't slack 1st.

Also by second semester there's a lot of reflexive slacking going on. Law school is fucking exhausting.

Probably explains why I'm still reading case briefs and learning new concepts 10 hours before the exam.

[apper123]

tbh once you have "figured it out" or realized you have a natural ability to pwn law exams, you can slack pretty hard

the odds you are one of those people: slim to none

wait to 2nd semester to find out. don't slack 1st.

Also by second semester there's a lot of reflexive slacking going on. Law school is fucking exhausting.

Probably explains why I'm still reading case briefs and learning new concepts 10 hours before the exam.

+1 and everyone else

and im still pretty confident. maybe incorrectly placed confidence, but we'll see.

i learned joinder at 4 AM on the day of my 8 AM civ pro final.