Top Law Schools

Kilpatrick wrote:The problem with OL prep on specific subjects is that every law school professor will teach the subject differently. (IMO prep on how to take an exam is OK). Before actually taking the class you will have no idea what the prof will cover, what you should focus on for the exam and what you should ignore. It might not hurt you to read an entire CivPro supplement but it would definitely be a huge waste of time. My CivPro professor for example covered only about half of what was in the E&E. And of the half that was covered, there were things that were covered only briefly and clearly weren't going to be the focus of the exam. Some Contracts classes at my school spent a lot of time with the UCC, but my class hardly mentioned it at all and there was only like one thing from it that was on the exam. So how would you know as a 0l what to read? Read the entire UCC and memorize it just to be safe? Sounds miserable and totally counterproductive to me.

kaiser wrote:

Kilpatrick wrote:The problem with OL prep on specific subjects is that every law school professor will teach the subject differently. (IMO prep on how to take an exam is OK). Before actually taking the class you will have no idea what the prof will cover, what you should focus on for the exam and what you should ignore. It might not hurt you to read an entire CivPro supplement but it would definitely be a huge waste of time. My CivPro professor for example covered only about half of what was in the E&E. And of the half that was covered, there were things that were covered only briefly and clearly weren't going to be the focus of the exam. Some Contracts classes at my school spent a lot of time with the UCC, but my class hardly mentioned it at all and there was only like one thing from it that was on the exam. So how would you know as a 0l what to read? Read the entire UCC and memorize it just to be safe? Sounds miserable and totally counterproductive to me.

Good point. My contracts professor hardly ever mentioned the UCC, while another section had to buy a copy and they referred to it almost every single day. My professor also shunned any black letter rules and always managed to think of an exception, while the other section's professor loved black letter outlines.

JamMasterJ wrote:

kaiser wrote:

Kilpatrick wrote:The problem with OL prep on specific subjects is that every law school professor will teach the subject differently. (IMO prep on how to take an exam is OK). Before actually taking the class you will have no idea what the prof will cover, what you should focus on for the exam and what you should ignore. It might not hurt you to read an entire CivPro supplement but it would definitely be a huge waste of time. My CivPro professor for example covered only about half of what was in the E&E. And of the half that was covered, there were things that were covered only briefly and clearly weren't going to be the focus of the exam. Some Contracts classes at my school spent a lot of time with the UCC, but my class hardly mentioned it at all and there was only like one thing from it that was on the exam. So how would you know as a 0l what to read? Read the entire UCC and memorize it just to be safe? Sounds miserable and totally counterproductive to me.

Good point. My contracts professor hardly ever mentioned the UCC, while another section had to buy a copy and they referred to it almost every single day. My professor also shunned any black letter rules and always managed to think of an exception, while the other section's professor loved black letter outlines.

This is why reading GTM is seen as the most substantive 0L prep one should do?

lisjjen wrote:I guess I'm not asking how to prep so much as I'm just wondering how many of my classmates will have prepped.

kaiser wrote:Yes, since exam preparation and exam understanding is something that applies across the board. Sure, you will have some professors who have relatively unique exam structures, but the vast majority follow a certain approach that can be learned. I'm not saying that 0L prep can't possibly be helpful. If you get lucky, it can. But certain professors cover certain things in particular and unique ways. Knowing Glannon's approach to a concept won't help you if your professor has a differing opinion. An important thing to remember throughout the semester is that you aren't learning torts/contracts/etc. in general. Rather, you are learning Professor so and so's approach to torts/contracts, etc.

kaiser wrote:Thats impossible to know, nor is it particularly important. I know tons of people who did 0L prep and didn't do all that well. Don't ever think that, by virtue of them reading some E&E books over the summer, that they have an advantage over you. As with much of law school, people will try and mentally psyche you out with statements such as "Oh, I spent all summer reading supplements, so I already know the elements of negligence". Trust me, by the time you reach exams, everyone is on equal footing, and the big talker has no advantage.

clone22 wrote:Yea, for those of us who are too lazy to read GTM, can someone summarize it please? kthx

taxguy wrote:Most will tell you that doing any prep during the summer before law school is a waste of time. However, Not only do I not agree with that,but some of the top people in law schools wouldn't agree either. See Arrow's excellent posting found in TLS's Law Student Forem.

I would strongly recommend that you get the Examples and Explanations books for each suject that you will have in the first semester. Read them over during the summer. You don't need to study them, outline them, underline them. Just read them.

Secondly, get the excellent LEEWS course and listen to it twice.

Third, if time permits, read the book, " Getting to Maybe."

That's it. You will find that all this will put you far ahead of most other students.

clone22 wrote:Yea, for those of us who are too lazy to read GTM, can someone summarize it please? kthx

paulinaporizkova wrote:

clone22 wrote:Yea, for those of us who are too lazy to read GTM, can someone summarize it please? kthx

i hope you're going to my school

taxguy wrote:Taxguy's advice

WSJ_Law wrote:Taxguy is a fuckin moron

paulinaporizkova wrote:

clone22 wrote:Yea, for those of us who are too lazy to read GTM, can someone summarize it please? kthx

i hope you're going to my school in my section

chimp wrote:

taxguy wrote:Taxguy's advice

This is the first thing that came to mind when I read this:

WSJ_Law wrote:Taxguy is a fuckin moron

FeelTheHeat wrote:

paulinaporizkova wrote:

clone22 wrote:Yea, for those of us who are too lazy to read GTM, can someone summarize it please? kthx

i hope you're going to my school in my section

clone22 wrote:

paulinaporizkova wrote:

clone22 wrote:Yea, for those of us who are too lazy to read GTM, can someone summarize it please? kthx

i hope you're going to my school

Are you going to siberia soon? If so, yes.