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Hey all -- anyone else see this article on Above the Law yesterday? It's the shopping list for starting law school...

http://abovethelaw.com/2014/08/the-esse ... ing-guide/

A lot of the stuff on the list is kind of quirky / silly. Admiral Ackbar flash drive? Yea.

The books section is pretty good with a couple of things I hadn't seen before... picked one up and i like it (Law School Done Right: 60 Tips)

Maybe ATL is onto something. I may have to get some syringe highlighters next...

I am wondering about this too. I read Law School Confidential on the advice of a law grad friend who recommended it. Also saw the Above the Law article and bought Law School Done Right - i like it, short and to the point.

The Academic Legal Writing one also seems useful.

smash17 wrote:I am wondering about this too. I read Law School Confidential on the advice of a law grad friend who recommended it. Also saw the Above the Law article and bought Law School Done Right - i like it, short and to the point.

The Academic Legal Writing one also seems useful.

What did you think of Law School Confidential? I want to get it from my library (old school, I know) but it's checked out... I have a hold on it though.

Law School Done Right is great, I honestly don't see why more books aren't like that. Honestly most of the advice books I've ever read could be boiled down to about five minutes of reading... it's like they feel they have to pad them up just to make people feel better about buying it... but it SUCKS cause then you have to waste time picking through filler just to distill out the points again

smash17 wrote:The Academic Legal Writing one also seems useful.

For what? Garner's prose guides and legal dictionary seem like they'd be a lot more valuable for 1L (if you were to need such supplements at all for LW).

ETA: Never, ever take anything ATL publishes seriously. The authors are -- almost entirely -- a washout band of no-talent ass clowns trying to drum up click bait. Joe Patrice (this author) is the worst offender.

Will_McAvoy wrote:ETA: Never, ever take anything ATL publishes seriously. The authors are -- almost entirely -- a washout band of no-talent ass clowns trying to drum up click bait. Joe Patrice (this author) is the worst offender.

Agreed.

At least Stacey's and Elie's posts are borderline trolling, which = occasionally amusing.

Also, incoming 1Ls, you really don't need to read anything to "prep" for law school. 1L is the definition of having no idea what you're doing.

Will_McAvoy wrote: ETA: Never, ever take anything ATL publishes seriously. The authors are -- almost entirely -- a washout band of no-talent ass clowns trying to drum up click bait. Joe Patrice (this author) is the worst offender.

I mean I get it, and the list they posted to a degree reflects that... I'm just saying I liked one of the things they happened to include. And as much as people may say you don't need to read anything before 1L, I don't know a single 0L who actually believes that. Hence this very forum... To be honest I read OneL long before even considering applying to LS. It's less about "prepping" and more about having some sense what you're getting into.

And if you are GOING to read something before (or during?) 1L, why not make it super quick and to the point? That's all I was saying about the one I got.

Things I wish I had for 1L - more alcohol, a nicer apartment.

flawschoolkid wrote:Things I wish I had for 1L - more alcohol, a nicer apartment.

+1. This should be the entire list.

Already got a nice apt, just need more alcohol I suppose!

gideon wrote:

Will_McAvoy wrote: ETA: Never, ever take anything ATL publishes seriously. The authors are -- almost entirely -- a washout band of no-talent ass clowns trying to drum up click bait. Joe Patrice (this author) is the worst offender.

I mean I get it, and the list they posted to a degree reflects that... I'm just saying I liked one of the things they happened to include. And as much as people may say you don't need to read anything before 1L, I don't know a single 0L who actually believes that. Hence this very forum... To be honest I read OneL long before even considering applying to LS. It's less about "prepping" and more about having some sense what you're getting into.

And if you are GOING to read something before (or during?) 1L, why not make it super quick and to the point? That's all I was saying about the one I got.

Yes i agree. I frankly am just interested in looking at a couple things and not trying to do tons of prep. LSC was helpful - gave some specifics, maybe too specific for where I'm at now, but my buddy said it really helped him in law school, so I picked it up.

smash17 wrote: LSC was helpful - gave some specifics, maybe too specific for where I'm at now, but my buddy said it really helped him in law school, so I picked it up.

Interesting. How does it compare to Law School Done Right? I've read that LSDR pretty much gives you all the actual content of something like LSC, but does it in about 10 minutes flat. I would have to say I agree so far, not having read LSC anyway, lol. But LSDR is definitely short, with zero filler. You can read the whole thing in like 10 minutes. They should make more books like that frankly... It's like a commercial outline, but... for law school itself

transferror wrote:

flawschoolkid wrote:Things I wish I had for 1L - more alcohol, a nicer apartment.

+1. This should be the entire list.

+1, that and rich parents to pay for school.

flawschoolkid wrote:Things I wish I had for 1L - more alcohol, a nicer apartment.

Seems like I'm doing fine.

Got a very nice apartment for below market and have more beer than water, juice, & gatorade combined.