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People talk a lot about these on this site, and was wondering what they are? Should I get one and skim through it over the summer?

It's a type of supplement you can use for certain classes. It's very helpful. Search for it and you'll find lots of information.

gustrock wrote:People talk a lot about these on this site, and was wondering what they are? Should I get one and skim through it over the summer?

Hornbooks are comprehensive overviews of legal subjects. They tend to be rather expensive, though, and very involved. If you want to do some substantive reading during the summer, a shorter supplement, like an Examples & Explanations book might be a better choice.

Most law schools should have at least a few hornbooks in their libraries that you could consult during the academic year proper after you start your classes.

Aeon wrote:

gustrock wrote:People talk a lot about these on this site, and was wondering what they are? Should I get one and skim through it over the summer?

Hornbooks are comprehensive overviews of legal subjects. They tend to be rather expensive, though, and very involved. If you want to do some substantive reading during the summer, a shorter supplement, like an Examples & Explanations book might be a better choice.

Most law schools should have at least a few hornbooks in their libraries that you could consult during the academic year proper after you start your classes.

You could do that, if you want to be at the bottom of the class. All the top kids will have read and memorized the hornbooks for all 1L subjects during the summer prior to school starting.

LawandOrder wrote:

Aeon wrote:

gustrock wrote:People talk a lot about these on this site, and was wondering what they are? Should I get one and skim through it over the summer?

Hornbooks are comprehensive overviews of legal subjects. They tend to be rather expensive, though, and very involved. If you want to do some substantive reading during the summer, a shorter supplement, like an Examples & Explanations book might be a better choice.

Most law schools should have at least a few hornbooks in their libraries that you could consult during the academic year proper after you start your classes.

You could do that, if you want to be at the bottom of the class. All the top kids will have read and memorized the hornbooks for all 1L subjects during the summer prior to school starting.

oy

gustrock wrote:People talk a lot about these on this site, and was wondering what they are? Should I get one and skim through it over the summer?

If there is an opposite of this, that's what you should do. You cannot get a leg up by prep-reading for law school. But you can teach yourself wrong ideas that will confuse you late,r and get a jump-start on the inevitable 1L burnout. Surely you have some other way to spend your time.

Renzo wrote:

gustrock wrote:People talk a lot about these on this site, and was wondering what they are? Should I get one and skim through it over the summer?

If there is an opposite of this, that's what you should do. You cannot get a leg up by prep-reading for law school. But you can teach yourself wrong ideas that will confuse you late,r and get a jump-start on the inevitable 1L burnout. Surely you have some other way to spend your time.

+-0 on this.

Different people who have finished 1L have posted on TLS recommending different things. Some posters love the hornbooks and would recommend reading them ahead of time others said they thought it was a waste. I would find what makes you comfortable in terms of prep.

wired wrote:Different people who have finished 1L have posted on TLS recommending different things. Some posters love the hornbooks and would recommend reading them ahead of time others said they thought it was a waste. I would find what makes you comfortable in terms of prep.

I think this overstates your case. I have never (on this board) seen a strong, resounding endorsement for 0L prep, nor a real recommendation to 0L's to do it. There is disagreement, but the opinions I have seen range from "strongly detrimental" to "not completely useless."

wired wrote:

Renzo wrote:

gustrock wrote:People talk a lot about these on this site, and was wondering what they are? Should I get one and skim through it over the summer?

If there is an opposite of this, that's what you should do. You cannot get a leg up by prep-reading for law school. But you can teach yourself wrong ideas that will confuse you late,r and get a jump-start on the inevitable 1L burnout. Surely you have some other way to spend your time.

+-0 on this.

Different people who have finished 1L have posted on TLS recommending different things. Some posters love the hornbooks and would recommend reading them ahead of time others said they thought it was a waste. I would find what makes you comfortable in terms of prep.

Am I just gullible or are people being serious? Prepping by reading a hornbook 0L? This is absurd. Possibly lead to burnout, definitely utterly useless.

Just skim through wikipedia if you are curious about the subjects.

Ipsa Dixit wrote:Just skim through wikipedia if you are curious about the subjects.

+1, debating o not going to law school based on the in-depth learning I can get from wikipedia.

Renzo wrote:

wired wrote:Different people who have finished 1L have posted on TLS recommending different things. Some posters love the hornbooks and would recommend reading them ahead of time others said they thought it was a waste. I would find what makes you comfortable in terms of prep.

I think this overstates your case. I have never (on this board) seen a strong, resounding endorsement for 0L prep, nor a real recommendation to 0L's to do it. There is disagreement, but the opinions I have seen range from "strongly detrimental" to "not completely useless."

In my travels I have found almost everyone says, "Don't bother prepping, it is a waste of time!" and they get a big laugh out of anyone who wants to prep during the summer. But then whenever someone posts about doing well their first year and what they did, I think a lot mention they did SOME kind of summer prep.

traehekat wrote:

Renzo wrote:

wired wrote:Different people who have finished 1L have posted on TLS recommending different things. Some posters love the hornbooks and would recommend reading them ahead of time others said they thought it was a waste. I would find what makes you comfortable in terms of prep.

I think this overstates your case. I have never (on this board) seen a strong, resounding endorsement for 0L prep, nor a real recommendation to 0L's to do it. There is disagreement, but the opinions I have seen range from "strongly detrimental" to "not completely useless."

In my travels I have found almost everyone says, "Don't bother prepping, it is a waste of time!" and they get a big laugh out of anyone who wants to prep during the summer. But then whenever someone posts about doing well their first year and what they did, I think a lot mention they did SOME kind of summer prep.

I think reading E&E's thinking you'll know shit in law school is a mistake. I think reading E&E's with the intent to familiarize yourself with terms and basic concepts is a big help.

Inygma wrote:

traehekat wrote:

Renzo wrote:

wired wrote:Different people who have finished 1L have posted on TLS recommending different things. Some posters love the hornbooks and would recommend reading them ahead of time others said they thought it was a waste. I would find what makes you comfortable in terms of prep.

I think this overstates your case. I have never (on this board) seen a strong, resounding endorsement for 0L prep, nor a real recommendation to 0L's to do it. There is disagreement, but the opinions I have seen range from "strongly detrimental" to "not completely useless."

In my travels I have found almost everyone says, "Don't bother prepping, it is a waste of time!" and they get a big laugh out of anyone who wants to prep during the summer. But then whenever someone posts about doing well their first year and what they did, I think a lot mention they did SOME kind of summer prep.

I think reading E&E's thinking you'll know shit in law school is a mistake. I think reading E&E's with the intent to familiarize yourself with terms and basic concepts is a big help.

Well said.

Thanks for the input, guys. I have also heard that pre-prep is superfluous. I have been listening to lectures online about Intellectual Property, which will be my concentration. It interests me, and I believe it will assist me with a broad overview of the material. You guys should check out this site: http://www.openculture.com/2007/07/free ... urses.html. It's pretty cool.

if you're just genuinely interested in a subject or want to get a feel for legal jargon then by all means, have at it. In fact, go for it no matter what your intentions. Just don't expect it to benefit your grades.

As far as some of those who did really well first year and saying they prepped the summer before. General statistical bias. Those are not independent. Those who do really well are more likely to be gunner types who are likely to prep the summer before. Check your causation.

gustrock wrote:Thanks for the input, guys. I have also heard that pre-prep is superfluous. I have been listening to lectures online about Intellectual Property, which will be my concentration. It interests me, and I believe it will assist me with a broad overview of the material. You guys should check out this site: http://www.openculture.com/2007/07/free ... urses.html. It's pretty cool.

That site is cool. BTW I am jealous that you are so interested in a legal niche already. I have no idea... that being said, I think it is all pretty damn interesting. But i'm a nerd.