National Jurist - September 2007 - (Page 24)

On adjusting to law school “Physically and emotionally, you have to switch over and adjust to the time constraints. Your first semester is living, breathing, eating the law. Once you’ve done that, it gets easier. It’s not that the work gets simpler. It’s just that the work becomes something you’re adjusted to.” Nathan Sheers, Columbia University Law School, 1992 not to get discouraged.” Amy Walshin, Hofstra University School of Law, 1993 On the socratic method “When I first got accepted to law school, I wasn’t sure if I was going to go that year or wait another year. I didn’t make up my mind until the very last second. I blew off orientation and just showed up for the first day of class. I didn’t know there were assignments you were supposed to read. I walk into my first-year contracts class. It was taught by Anita Hill. I showed up late. I hadn’t read. I don’t think I’d even bought a book. Professor Hill calls on me to answer a question. I had no clue. I mumbled and fumbled through it. She was pretty nice about it, though. But I decided I would wait another year, and didn’t go to any other classes. When I came back the next year, I ran into some of the people who had been in that contracts class. They told me that, after that day, Professor Hill would always joke about this mysterious kid who got called on the first day of class and never returned.” Kelly Bishop, University of Oklahoma, 1993 On reading for class “Believe the professors when they tell you it makes a huge difference to read before class. If you miss a reading assignment, there isn’t going to be any time to read it later. Plus, [if you read ahead], then you are hearing [cases] for the second or third time in class, and it really helps solidify [the ideas].” Laura McKinley, Mississippi College School of Law, 2002 “Our contracts professor sat at a table on a platform. A curtain surrounded the table. You couldn’t see his legs. We were doing hypotheticals. The professor never gave us the answers. After class the professor was getting ready to leave. A student reached through the curtain and grabbed his ankle saying, “You’re not getting out until you tell us the answers.” Murray Eckell, University of Pennsylvania, 1959 “In college, you could make up what you missed by reading on weekends. There is no way you can do that here. You will just get further and further behind. If you have a two-hour break, definitely do reading. If you go home [after class], you don’t bum around, you work. And don’t just bum around on weekends, but try to get ahead on the Monday and Tuesday readings.” Dana Seshens, Georgetown University Law Center, 2002 st, erstand gh at fir ms tou red to not und ou’re It see “ y a Be prep learning until easier. our ou’re is y alf of y what it cond h e with g the se new languag only nterin a e l t, you’l er. It’s semest lary, & at firs . You may s cabu iece new vo nd bits and p ing. w anyth , & rsta unde ’t kno w you don do revie feel like oughout and hr 007 Study t hool, 2 et it.” Law Sc h Meredit ill get but it w “That’s the biggest time saver of all, to do a little [reading] every day. If you do three or four hours every night, nothing is going to come back and catch up with you at the end.” Erin Hoffman, Harvard Law School, 2002 “I think what you have to do is force yourself to [speak in class] within the first couple of weeks, or you never will. It helps to make a bargain with yourself, maybe that you’ll speak in class at least once a week.” Nancy McGunn, Wayne State University Law School, 1998 you’llSg bridge, Vermont tro “The nine months of the first year of law school are of such paramount importance that it’s worth it to make a sacrifice. You really do need to limit your activities outside of law school. No one really ever sat me down and said, ‘You’ve really got to work and this is going to be tough and first-year grades are of paramount importance.” Anonymous, Georgetown University Law Center, 1991 “First years should look more toward the larger issues and view the whole picture throughout the semester. Don’t concentrate on the details of individual cases. I will not be doing all the reading next year. I fell into that trap this year.” David Herr, University of California–Berkeley, 1996 “Just say something, even if you can regurgitate some of your reading, and see where it gets you. Don’t be afraid that you don’t show that you’ve read the case. Most professors won’t hammer you. Some will, but most just want to know you’ve done the reading and are making the effort.” Justin Hosie, Stetson University College of Law, 2003 On briefing cases “I only outline cases that are so difficult and have such tortured fact patterns that it’s necessary. Some people are overly detailed in their studies and end up freaking out.” Michael Okerlund, at the University of Iowa College of Law “Don’t listen to other people. Study as hard as you can, but get out and have an outlet. Take an hour a day and take a walk. Grades are important, but not that important. You have to expect that everyone else will do well, too. You have to remember “Read the cases really thoroughly. Make yourself write your own brief. The best advice I can give is to make your own outlines, and put it in your own words.” Michele Castillo, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, 1999 24 THE NATIONAL JURIST September 2007 “[The Socratic method] the minds is the foremost terror in much what you’re of first-years. It’s not so on. t that you’re being called discussing but the fac ’re on the , and when you They really challenge you re. [A study ss, it’s [a lot of] pressu spot in cla tely BEST WAY to group] might be the absolu d something out loud, prepare. Once you’ve sai have your thoughts it’s easier to repeat it. You prepared.” Jason Zabokrtsky, e of Law, 2000 University of Iowa Colleg

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of National Jurist - September 2007

National Jurist - September 2007 Contents Free Speech Disturbing the Peace For the Record Judge Approves $49 million BAR/BRI Settlement Law School Causes Emotional Stress, Study Finds New Textbook Breaks the Mold Southern Illinois Settles Lawsuit with Christian Legal Society Ave Maria Law Professors Protest School’s Move The Firm Report Student Hoax Shuts Down Hastings Law NCCU Grad Expands Her Program for Troubled Kids Hawaii Grad Finds Excitement in Saving Whales Diversity Hampering Whittier Accreditation? The Paper Chase Chronicles The Supreme Court: An Insider’s View Detroit Mercy’s Innovative Changes Pay Off Career Hotline The J.D. Files

National Jurist - September 2007

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.