Books on law school performance Forum
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Mon Feb 08, 2016 12:44 am
Books on law school performance
Has anyone read any good books that address how to perform well in law school? In other words, address overall performance? I have found a lot of books and eBooks on how to do well on exams (which are mostly average) but nothing a little broader.
Coping stress, managing time, gradual preparation for finals, mindset, etc.
Thanks!
Coping stress, managing time, gradual preparation for finals, mindset, etc.
Thanks!
-
- Posts: 714
- Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 9:58 am
Re: Books on law school performance
I have seen there are a number of guides here on TLS. Read those before you buy anything. Some people really recommend lazy's guide.
-
- Posts: 1396
- Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2009 5:50 pm
Re: Books on law school performance
8 secrets to top law school exam performance by Prof. Whitebread was, for me, the absolute best thing I read to help me ace exams. The title is hokey but its short and truly formed the foundation for how I approached all my exams, especially the 1L exams that are more traditional format (like massive fact pattern issue spotters and MC). Yes it focuses on exam strategies, but it also shows you what your final study product should look like. So maybe not the holistic guide you're seeking, but absolutely worth the $13 or whatever it costs.
I never read the TLS guides so can't opine on those, but I do know that I read that book like 3 days before my first 1L exam, realized that I had not learned law school exam taking strategies (beyond memorizing all the black letter law just like everyone else was), and I had just enough time to implement its teachings into my final preparations, and I aced all my 1L exams. The book lays out a simple method that works, and at least for me, it crystallized how I was going to take this insane amount of detailed legal knowledge I had from making my own outlines and studying and put it down on paper in an organized way to earn points. Some things are simple but no one had told me about them, like, for example, being super strict with time management and just moving on once the time was up for me to work on a particular section - literally stopping in the middle of typing and moving on because its about grabbing points, and a perfect answer to Part 1 of 2 is far outweighed by good answers on both Parts 1 and 2. Or like outlining each and every answer on a massive issue spotter first, and only once each issue is outlined do you go back and start typing it out (which, if you've prepared well, becomes mechanical as you've already thought through the reasoning and just need to type it out. It made the volume of information less intimidating as I realized each law school course can be broken town by like 5-7 major topics, which you know will be on the exam and which helps you spot issues (and it also helps to see what issues you haven't seen yet but you know are probably in there somewhere). I highly recommend it to everyone.
I never read the TLS guides so can't opine on those, but I do know that I read that book like 3 days before my first 1L exam, realized that I had not learned law school exam taking strategies (beyond memorizing all the black letter law just like everyone else was), and I had just enough time to implement its teachings into my final preparations, and I aced all my 1L exams. The book lays out a simple method that works, and at least for me, it crystallized how I was going to take this insane amount of detailed legal knowledge I had from making my own outlines and studying and put it down on paper in an organized way to earn points. Some things are simple but no one had told me about them, like, for example, being super strict with time management and just moving on once the time was up for me to work on a particular section - literally stopping in the middle of typing and moving on because its about grabbing points, and a perfect answer to Part 1 of 2 is far outweighed by good answers on both Parts 1 and 2. Or like outlining each and every answer on a massive issue spotter first, and only once each issue is outlined do you go back and start typing it out (which, if you've prepared well, becomes mechanical as you've already thought through the reasoning and just need to type it out. It made the volume of information less intimidating as I realized each law school course can be broken town by like 5-7 major topics, which you know will be on the exam and which helps you spot issues (and it also helps to see what issues you haven't seen yet but you know are probably in there somewhere). I highly recommend it to everyone.
- RedGiant
- Posts: 466
- Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 10:30 am
Re: Books on law school performance
Planet Law School is pretty great.Squirm wrote:Has anyone read any good books that address how to perform well in law school? In other words, address overall performance? I have found a lot of books and eBooks on how to do well on exams (which are mostly average) but nothing a little broader.
Coping stress, managing time, gradual preparation for finals, mindset, etc.
Thanks!
- A. Nony Mouse
- Posts: 29293
- Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:51 am
Re: Books on law school performance
Obligatory "I hate Planet Law School" post.
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login
- twenty
- Posts: 3189
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 1:17 pm
Re: Books on law school performance
Of the guides that exist, Lazy's is the best, and even that involves way more effort than is necessary for top grades.
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2016 4:31 am
Re: Books on law school performance
guys has anyone read getting to the maybe?
http://www.amazon.com/Getting-To-Maybe- ... 0890897603
http://www.amazon.com/Getting-To-Maybe- ... 0890897603
- A. Nony Mouse
- Posts: 29293
- Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:51 am
Re: Books on law school performance
It's extremely helpful. You may find it more helpful partway through the first semester because the examples may not make much sense until you've taken some law school classes.
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2016 4:31 am
Re: Books on law school performance
sorry is that for me?A. Nony Mouse wrote:It's extremely helpful. You may find it more helpful partway through the first semester because the examples may not make much sense until you've taken some law school classes.

- cantorb
- Posts: 234
- Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2015 11:58 am
Re: Books on law school performance
I've seen many people say this on TLS - is this the generally accepted opinion of people who have actually done well on their exams, or are most of these comments coming from hopeful 0Ls?twenty wrote:Of the guides that exist, Lazy's is the best, and even that involves way more effort than is necessary for top grades.
- twenty
- Posts: 3189
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 1:17 pm
Re: Books on law school performance
Knowing TLS, probably a combination of both.cantorb wrote:I've seen many people say this on TLS - is this the generally accepted opinion of people who have actually done well on their exams, or are most of these comments coming from hopeful 0Ls?
- A. Nony Mouse
- Posts: 29293
- Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 11:51 am
Re: Books on law school performance
Are you the llm? I was assuming the OP was an 0L.sandwich8 wrote:sorry is that for me?A. Nony Mouse wrote:It's extremely helpful. You may find it more helpful partway through the first semester because the examples may not make much sense until you've taken some law school classes.
-
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2016 4:31 am
Re: Books on law school performance
I am the llmA. Nony Mouse wrote:Are you the llm? I was assuming the OP was an 0L.sandwich8 wrote:sorry is that for me?A. Nony Mouse wrote:It's extremely helpful. You may find it more helpful partway through the first semester because the examples may not make much sense until you've taken some law school classes.

but treating myself as 1/2 L
-
- Posts: 1473
- Joined: Fri Nov 22, 2013 9:34 pm
Register now!
Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.
It's still FREE!
Already a member? Login