Book recommendations before starting law school Forum

[Paulaaxox]

I was wondering if anyone has any book recommendations/study guides that can be helpful for someone who is just about to start their 1L.
I'm not looking for anything intensive, but something along the lines of introductory books, that have general information about each topic.

The topic's I'm specifically interested in are: Torts, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, and Contracts.

Thanks!

[gregfootball2001]

Getting to Maybe is an extremely helpful book on how to take exams. They'll teach you all those subjects at school - but they won't teach you the skill of how to take an exam.

[Sprout]

Getting to Maybe is an extremely helpful book on how to take exams. They'll teach you all those subjects at school - but they won't teach you the skill of how to take an exam.

Getting to Maybe is good. I would re-read it though after your first round of exams. (or after a midterm if you're lucky enough to have something like that as a test drive during your 1L)

I wouldn't waste your time trying to learn basics of any 1L classes this summer honestly. It likely won't help and you should really be enjoying your last summer of free time. Pick a book to read for leisure and enjoy it while you can

If you want supplements to help you during the year (I would not recommend reading them ahead of time -- use them for clarification as you prep during school) the Chirelstein Contracts supplement is great. Freer for Civil Procedure. Chemerinsky for Con law. And I really liked the E&E for Torts (I forget who wrote that one). good luck with 1L!

[HonestAdvice]

GTM is most useful around exam period. You won't get as much out of it now. Watch Rashomon now, think about it and then watch it again after your first week of school. Try to imagine one case from each class playing out like Rashomon. Profit.

[gregfootball2001]

GTM is most useful around exam period. You won't get as much out of it now.

I disagree. Knowing even a little bit about how to take an exam before classes begin can help you take notes in a more efficient way. If you know to look out for forks, for example, you can highlight each little case that distinguishes the main case. Read it again before exams, for sure, but I think it's helpful now (or really, in August), as well.

[rwhyAn]

Don't read anything law or law school related. You'll thank me later.

[BaileyJohnson]

Don't read anything law or law school related. You'll thank me later.

No. Just no.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Don't read anything law or law school related. You'll thank me later.

No. Just no.

Why? Prep is absolutely not necessary.

[Hand]

Don't read anything law or law school related. You'll thank me later.

No. Just no.

Why? Prep is absolutely not necessary.

^^

OP just read some stuff for fun, because you won't want to when you're reading for classes

[NoDayButToday]

People have strong opinions on preparing for law school. Of course, it's by no means required to do well, but if it would make you feel more comfortable starting off, I think it's not a bad idea.

I found One L of a Ride by Andrew McClurg to be the most helpful and readable 1L guide.

Mixed feelings on reading GTM before starting school. All of its examples are based in substantive law, which might not mean much to you until a little later in the semester. I think it can't hurt to skim it to get the idea, but on the whole, I didn't find it particularly useful to pick up until about October of 1L.

Most people would not suggest learning any substantive law, and I think that's probably a good idea on the whole, but if you want a good overview of the major principles of the 1L courses, I suggest Law 101.

Spending your 0L summer reading books about law school and reading for fun are not mutually exclusive. I did a lot of law school prep stuff--read a lot of books and did LawPreview--but I also binged a bunch of shows, traveled abroad, and read probably 10-12 books for fun. You can have it both ways if you want.

[twokings]

What about the Constitution? Is there any benefit to studying it inside and out?

[A. Nony Mouse]

What about the Constitution? Is there any benefit to studying it inside and out?

No. You'll learn what you need to know in school. I don't think I'd ever read it before I started (bad American, I know).

[sublime]

What about the Constitution? Is there any benefit to studying it inside and out?

No. You'll learn what you need to know in school. I don't think I'd ever read it before I started (bad American, I know).

I still haven't read most/all of it.

In fact, I JUST found out what the 11th Amendment was. Had no idea that was a thing.

[sublime]

On topic, I thought it was helpful to skim GTM around the start (knowing you won't understand it) then reading it again closer to exams where you will actually understand it.

[A. Nony Mouse]

On topic, I thought it was helpful to skim GTM around the start (knowing you won't understand it) then reading it again closer to exams where you will actually understand it.

Agree with this.

[Nachoo2019]

On topic, I thought it was helpful to skim GTM around the start (knowing you won't understand it) then reading it again closer to exams where you will actually understand it.

+1

I'm about halfway through GTM(and I'm an 0L) and not all of it makes sense but it's not tough to grasp the overall ideas they are talking about. I think I'll be much better off knowing what to look for from day one in class rather than playing catch up.

I definitely plan on reading it again during the semester

[Charlestonsfb60]

New Harry Potter is released at end of July. I would devour that

[thesealocust]

On topic, I thought it was helpful to skim GTM around the start (knowing you won't understand it) then reading it again closer to exams where you will actually understand it.

Agree with this.

Also strongly agree. Skimming it over the summer (or just as classes start) will give your brain at least a general sense for what will be expected of you on exams. Without that, the first few weeks of class are likely to feel even more insane, because you'll be totally without context for how the rules you're learning will be implicated on exams.

[bsktbll28082]

I read:
-1L of a Ride: helpful to understand the competitive nature of law school
-GTM: summed up as 'forest through the trees' or something like that. I thought the book was a bit long
-Ivy Briefs: probably unnecessary, but I was pumped for law school

Paged through the supplements I bought for 1L (just to become familiar with terms):
-Torts E&E
-Con Law- Chemerinsky
-CivPro E&E

Listened to LEEWS: did not find the audio helpful, but perhaps the book would be.

It's hard to 'learn the law' before law school because your professor writes the exam and chooses what you need to focus on. Like, they may be a big fan of policy instead of BLL.

[bretby]

I read:
-1L of a Ride: helpful to understand the competitive nature of law school
-GTM: summed up as 'forest through the trees' or something like that. I thought the book was a bit long
-Ivy Briefs: probably unnecessary, but I was pumped for law school

Paged through the supplements I bought for 1L (just to become familiar with terms):
-Torts E&E
-Con Law- Chemerinsky
-CivPro E&E

Listened to LEEWS: did not find the audio helpful, but perhaps the book would be.

It's hard to 'learn the law' before law school because your professor writes the exam and chooses what you need to focus on. Like, they may be a big fan of policy instead of BLL.

I read the Torts E&E (sort of randomly picked torts, but it turned out to be a good one since the topics are more intuitive than say, Civ Pro). I didn't have Torts until the 2nd semester and I don't think it helped me in the class BUT it did give me a good introduction to legal thought in general which did help my first semester, and it was kind of fun.....

[barkschool]

Googling "how to brief a case" sometime in August usually works out fine

[dj_spin]

I liked Breaking Down the Curve. I thought it was funny and I appreciated that it was short.