0L Summer prep Forum

[sudijajd]

Does anyone have any insight into the pre-law prep courses some schools offer? I am considered joining one the week before 1L at Berkeley, and it seems to provide an overview of how classes will be along with a 'meet your classmates' aspect. A chunk of it seems to be working off of Cracking the Case Method book -- is something like this worthwhile? Or are we better off doing individual prep with Getting to Maybe, etc... Thanks y'all!

[lymenheimer]

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 3&t=170599

[n1o2c3a4c5h6e7t]

Law students are the worst.

[buttasaurusflex]

Well does anyone wanna talk about what they're getting out of Delaney's or Getting to Maybe without having taken a class yet?

[Joscellin]

Does anyone have any insight into the pre-law prep courses some schools offer? I am considered joining one the week before 1L at Berkeley, and it seems to provide an overview of how classes will be along with a 'meet your classmates' aspect. A chunk of it seems to be working off of Cracking the Case Method book -- is something like this worthwhile? Or are we better off doing individual prep with Getting to Maybe, etc... Thanks y'all!

If you really want something to begin thinking about the law, I'd recommend The Brethren, gives some insight into the Court that you will spend a lot of time reading opinions out of. And it's entertaining, to boot.

[lawschoolbound13]

Well does anyone wanna talk about what they're getting out of Delaney's or Getting to Maybe without having taken a class yet?

I read Getting to Maybe before entering law school, and while the points the book brings up are true and insightful I did not find it very helpful. For me, reading this book was somewhat confusing having no context of what a law class or exam is like to apply the points I read about. To prepare for law school (or prior to entering) I WISH I would have spent more time doing things I love and enjoy. Trust me when I say once you enter law school you're going to have plentiful opportunity to learn about the notorious law school exam and to read about the law. I know it's an exciting time, but there is nothing you can truly do to prepare for the difficult challenge that awaits. If anything, this book would be worth skimming a couple of weeks before exams. I think it's a poor use of time to read during the semester or even prior to law school. Again, you do not realize how much your life will be consumed by law school, and your time should be spent with family, friends, significant others, etc.!

[brorepresentation1]

lol

[cavalier1138]

I'm not sure why "Getting to Maybe" is getting so much hate on this thread.

I knocked it out in a few commutes, and it was a very enjoyable read. Even as a 0L, the general principles the book teaches were easy to grasp, and it's already got me thinking about the right way to approach classes and exam prep.

(Hint: If you came away from the book thinking, "I should just read this a few weeks before exams," then you may want to go back and re-read the parts about exam prep. The authors are pretty clear on when that should start, and it isn't three weeks before the test.)

[lavarman84]

I'm not sure why "Getting to Maybe" is getting so much hate on this thread.

I knocked it out in a few commutes, and it was a very enjoyable read. Even as a 0L, the general principles the book teaches were easy to grasp, and it's already got me thinking about the right way to approach classes and exam prep.

(Hint: If you came away from the book thinking, "I should just read this a few weeks before exams," then you may want to go back and re-read the parts about exam prep. The authors are pretty clear on when that should start, and it isn't three weeks before the test.)

That's the problem. There is no right way to approach classes and exam prep. Which is why 0L prep is useless imo. There are plenty of wrong ways to approach classes and exam prep but not a one-size-fits-all right way to do it. You have to figure out what works for you. And you figure that out in law school.

[cavalier1138]

I'm not sure why "Getting to Maybe" is getting so much hate on this thread.

I knocked it out in a few commutes, and it was a very enjoyable read. Even as a 0L, the general principles the book teaches were easy to grasp, and it's already got me thinking about the right way to approach classes and exam prep.

(Hint: If you came away from the book thinking, "I should just read this a few weeks before exams," then you may want to go back and re-read the parts about exam prep. The authors are pretty clear on when that should start, and it isn't three weeks before the test.)

That's the problem. There is no right way to approach classes and exam prep. Which is why 0L prep is useless imo. There are plenty of wrong ways to approach classes and exam prep but not a one-size-fits-all right way to do it. You have to figure out what works for you. And you figure that out in law school.

Which is also kind of the point of the book. And why I said it had me thinking about the right way to approach classes/studying.

I'm not saying it's an invaluable tool that nobody should go without, but I think that the people saying that it's useless unless you want a last-minute cram guide didn't bother reading it very closely.

[NoDayButToday]

"I respectfully dissent."

I did a ton of 0L summer prep and I don't regret it. I don't know how much the prep helped my performance, if at all, but I went into law school feeling confident and none of the content was "new" to me--I'd hit the major concepts without digging myself into a substantive rut. I got solid overviews of the courses without closing myself off to new ways of understanding the content. I did very well at my T40, made law review, and transferred to T6 where I again made law review.

I read Law 101 for a basic substantive overview of the 1L subjects, read 1L of a Ride for a good overview of the 1L experience, and read Getting to Maybe to get a sense of 1L exams. I also attended the weeklong Barbri Law Preview course to get back in the swing of doing homework, taking notes, and get used to getting cold called.

Again, I can't know what effect prep had on my outcomes, and I'm sure tons of people crush law school without doing prep in advance--but I personally wouldn't do it any differently.

I also had a ton of fun the summer before 0L so it's not like that was my whole summer--I traveled abroad with my husband, read a bunch of books for fun, binged a few Netflix series, and hit up a bunch of museums in DC, where I was at the time.

You can do both in your 0L summer - prep and have fun.

Also, edit, re: Getting to Maybe, I agree with others who've pointed out that you can't get as much out of it before you've had a class. It's very examples-driven. I suggest skimming over the summer and then re-reading in October or early November.

[lavarman84]

I'm not sure why "Getting to Maybe" is getting so much hate on this thread.

I knocked it out in a few commutes, and it was a very enjoyable read. Even as a 0L, the general principles the book teaches were easy to grasp, and it's already got me thinking about the right way to approach classes and exam prep.

(Hint: If you came away from the book thinking, "I should just read this a few weeks before exams," then you may want to go back and re-read the parts about exam prep. The authors are pretty clear on when that should start, and it isn't three weeks before the test.)

That's the problem. There is no right way to approach classes and exam prep. Which is why 0L prep is useless imo. There are plenty of wrong ways to approach classes and exam prep but not a one-size-fits-all right way to do it. You have to figure out what works for you. And you figure that out in law school.

Which is also kind of the point of the book. And why I said it had me thinking about the right way to approach classes/studying.

I'm not saying it's an invaluable tool that nobody should go without, but I think that the people saying that it's useless unless you want a last-minute cram guide didn't bother reading it very closely.

You'll be doing that the entire semester. You're just not gaining anything.

[GreenEggs]

The best prep is having a good summer. You're gonna have 9 months of the year to worry about this shit. Enjoy the few months before it all starts

[mornincounselor]

Hit the gym frequently. Listen to some podcasts/audiobooks. Read good books. Don't blow too much money. Have fun.

If you got a scholarship for the law preview go for it. But, I wouldn't drop the $1200.

[JGMotorsport]

Don't pay for a class just get some practice exams and look at model answers.

On the test break down every R in an IRAC and number them at conjunctions.

I.e Assault occurs when (1) blah blah, (2) blah blah, and (3) blah blah. The in your analysis break down each number quickly.

1/2 of writing exams is visual rhetoric. What is a reader friendly exam? One that has a set format with a lot of headers, sub headers, and numbers.

My grades went up dramatically semester to semester just writing this way instead of blocked answers. I don't think the answers were necessarily better, but they were easy to read and profs like analysis that's easy to follow.

There I saved you 1200. Now when you read cases try to find the rules in the case and break them into factors. Don't be afraid of looking stupid when cold called, we all look stupid.

Good luck.

[twenty]

There is absolutely zero reason to take a class. Law school is very easy; the hard part is doing better than everyone else who all have similar LSAT scores and GPAs.

Imagine a test where you were graded on how fast you could add two single-digit variables

4+6?
7+1?
9+9?
8+3?

Super easy.

Now imagine that graded on a curve where some people get A+s and some people get B-s.

[landshoes]

the best prep is getting all your non-law school shit together so it doesn't distract you

people who have things like, say, a dental emergency or a bad cold, or a sick pet, get fucked by the curve.

sucks but it's true

[GreenEggs]

Get your appendix out to just to be on the safe side. An emergency appendectomy during 1L year guarantees median grades

[NoDayButToday]

Get your appendix out to just to be on the safe side. An emergency appendectomy during 1L year guarantees median grades

Please. They can do it laproscopically now so s/he'd only be out for a day or two.

[landshoes]

Naw, anything bad enough to need surgery gets you accommodations. The worst is like, stomach flu that puts you out of commission for a week but is never bad enough for anyone to feel sorry for you.

[Kinky John]

people who have things like, say, a dental emergency or a bad cold, or a sick pet, get fucked by the curve.

lol do you honestly believe this

[landshoes]

people who have things like, say, a dental emergency or a bad cold, or a sick pet, get fucked by the curve.

lol do you honestly believe this

lol are you really that passive aggressive

just say why you think it's dumb or don't

[Kinky John]

people who have things like, say, a dental emergency or a bad cold, or a sick pet, get fucked by the curve.

lol do you honestly believe this

lol are you really that passive aggressive

just say why you think it's dumb or don't

Is this hitting close to home or something? A bad cold isn't going to result in worse grades--people miss class and do just fine. Don't freak out the 0Ls.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I assumed she meant if it happens during exams. If I'm doped up on Nyquil during an exam or have to spend a bunch of time during finals at the vet, it could make a difference.

[landshoes]

Yeah, timing makes a big difference.

Also this is a scenario where the quarter system vs the semester system probably makes a difference. You're basically always close to finals or a major due date.