LEEWS Forum

[MarkTwain]

Is LEEWS helpful at all? Any experiences? My fiance wants to know.

[caribelita]

I think LEEWS is one of the few programs that I've invested in which I really feel was worth every penny.

In my opinion, the best combination is LEEWS and Getting to Maybe (the book) since both are wonderful tools that teach how to identify the things you need to look for when analyzing law school exam questions.

Is your fiance a law student already, or is she going to go to law school next year?

[MarkTwain]

She's a 1L looking to bump her grades a bit this semester. Thanks for your response. Your name makes me ask, are you Colombian? I only ask because my fiance is.

[06072010]

I'm a big fan of leews - I'd like to think it contributed to my success. I think it's a good way of thinking through issue spotting exams. Further, I second Getting to Maybe - if only for the little section on policy (The Czars of the Universe) chapter. I think policy is one way to push yourself over the pack and into the top tier of the curve.

Start with issue spotting (it's the sine qua non)
Then do a lawyer like analysis using black letter law
Support with analysis

I'm thinking this isn't a great idea for some classes, like property. Property is like figuring out old-school D&D rules. Does Magic Missile hit or not? If so, does the skeleton die or not?

[sockpuppet]

I'll let you know in about ten months how well it works in practice. I have read the comment that it's the only thing out there for law school prep that seems to get consistently good reviews from people who are not paid to sell it. Just based on working through it, I would say it seems well worth the price. It seems to give a good framework and direction to start from in finding your style for 1L.

[snowboarder2713]

If I find a good price for it (or if I get that $600 check from the gov't), I'll buy it off of eBay or Amazon or maybe take the day class. Otherwise, I may just rely on Getting to Maybe and Law School Confidential. I'm sure with tons of studying, outlining from day one, and doing practice tests, I'll do better than fine.

LEEWS is probably a damn good deal if you have the money. I just don't.

[caribelita]

MarkTwain, I'm not Colombian, but I am Peruvian, so your fiance and I are at least "neighbors."

As for her being a 1L who wants to improve her 2nd semester grades, I think that LEEWS is a great choice because she knows a little bit more about what law school is about, how classes work, and how things fit together, but at the same time, LEEWS will help her realize what she did wrong, how she should change-up her studying habits, and why she should probably focus on some things more than others (i.e. more on practicing the application of law to new fact situations versus less time spending hours briefing each case in detail).

I will mention one other thing, though. The LEEWS "live" class doesn't allow you to take notes, and the LEEWS audio program is actually more complete than the live class. I really think that the best choice is the audio version because you can take notes if you want, you can always come back to review it or hear a certain portion again, and the audio version always gives you pauses where you are allowed to think about the question and answer things yourself before given the "answer", whereas in the live program, other students are called on and you have little time to reflect yourself.

Last thing: I actually bought mine for $75 on craigslist, so there ARE ways to get the program at a cheaper, reasonable price (considering how much money we already spend on casebooks and supplements). Honestly, if you can spend some time looking for a second-hand version, I'd make the small sacrifice and invest in the program 'cause it really does teach you what you don't get taught in law schools (and which they should be teaching).

[Duchess85]

How soon into the first semester should one start LEEWS?

[caribelita]

I actually think it's a mistake to start it too late, which is why I never understood why the "live" program is offered in the latter-half of the first semester.

In my opinion, it helps to get a feel for how law school classes work a bit before doing the program, but at the same time, I think that you can get a "sense" of this fairly quickly. A lot of the value in LEEWS is that it teaches you what is important to note in lectures and why you shouldn't be transcribing class. Most students just want to get every word down, and I think that's a mistake.

Additionally, LEEWS teaches you what to emphasize in your study period and how to best prepare for the final exam throughout the ENTIRE semester (and not just the last few weeks like most 1Ls do).

Therefore, I think the optimal time to do the LEEWS program is somewhere near the beginning of the first semester OR (if you've already past your first semester and want to do better on your 2nd semester), before your 2nd semester starts or at least at the beginning of the 2nd semester so that you can tailor your study habits. [of course, this is all just my humble opinion, for what it's worth]

[orangeswarm]

I did LEEWS and read "Getting to Maybe" the summer before 1L. More than anything, I really think it helped me focus my studies throughout the semester and keep focused on the big picture. Although I didn't consciously focus on conflict pairings and all the other stuff he recommends, I think taking LEEWS made the approach a little more intuitive. I ended up doing very well and think that had a lot to do with taking LEEWS. I am planning on going over it again later this semester.

[caribelita]

Paul, you've always been a smarty.

I definitely agree with Paul's strategy, so much so that I "refreshed" myself with the program recently during this Spring semester.

Although I had heard it all before, it was still very helpful to review it all again in light of my overall experience during my fall semester.

[themillsman22]

And don't forget you can also get the CD's if you can't attend the live program. It's like 20 bucks more expensive, but much more convenient.

[BkGirl22]

Has anyone read the book offered by LEEWS, The Legal Essay Exam Writing Primer ? Just wanted to know if it is any good.

[06072010]

That comes with the LEEWs package, and is worthless (because it's designed to be all out of order) without the audio portion.

[snowboarder2713]

That comes with the LEEWs package, and is worthless (because it's designed to be all out of order) without the audio portion.

Ha really? That seems absurd (though likely).

[06072010]

yeah, it's like a choose your own adventure book without the page prompts at the bottom!

[BkGirl22]

Oh really, I thought I could just buy the audio cds without getting the book.

[06072010]

You can buy the audio with the primer, but buying just the primer won't help you at all. It's like random chapters - it's designed like that to either force you to go to the live lecture or buy the audio cds.

[BkGirl22]

No no I dont want to buy the primer at all, I just thought I can buy the audio without buying the primer. I guess not.

[themillsman22]

The primer works in concert with the audio, so you sort of need it. That's why you can't just buy the audio.

[BkGirl22]

Oh I see. Thanks!

[snowboarder2713]

The primer works in concert with the audio, so you sort of need it. That's why you can't just buy the audio.

Oh shit thanks. I probably would have just bought the CDs.

[Attucks]

So, my used copy definitely did not come with the bookmark that's being repeatedly referenced. Would anyone be so kind as to PM me with the basics of what's on that? If it's too lengthy, I understand.

[tha trev]

[redacted]

[chicoalto0649]

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