Archive for the 'Law School' Category

Top 10 Law Student Books of the Moment: Starter Edition

Published
by
Michael Law
on May 12, 2008
in Books, Law School and Law Students
. 4 Comments

We’re unveiling something new here at Law Vibe that has the promisings to be a regular feature: the hottest law school related books that you, the LawVibe community, have been buying over the last three months!

The LawVibe team is able to get a sneak peak into what our readers like in terms of law school books via Amazon. Now, we don’t know what any specific person buys so don’t worry about that. We just know in general what the collective LawVibe readership base likes to buy and finds interesting. It gives us a good vibe on what’s hot in law school books right now.

We’re going to arrange this list starting with the most bought item on the list over the past 3 months. The first line after the link is my personal comment on the book. The second line, in italics, is a clipping from the Amazon review.

  1. Disorder in the Court: Great Fractured Moments in Courtroom History
    Yes, the book most ordered by law students is the one most unrelated to law school! Read the LawVibe book sample to get a taste of what to expect.
    “Sit back and enjoy a collection of verbatim exchanges from the halls of justice, where defendants and plaintiffs, lawyers and witnesses, juries and judges, collide to produce memorably insane comedy.”
  2. Getting To Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams
    The classic book on perfecting your law school exams - preparing and excelling.
    “A study aid that takes legal theory seriously…Students who master these lessons will surely write better exams. More importantly, they will also learn to be better lawyers”
  3. Ivy Briefs: True Tales of a Neurotic Law Student
    Excellent first-hand recounting of a very nervous law student, Martha Kimes, in Columbia Law School - check out the LawVibe book review.
    “The self-deprecating wit, catty observations and healthy sense of the absurd with which Kimes describes her approach-avoidance reactions to the world of law school raise the book above the ordinary.”
  4. Law School Confidential (Revised Edition): A Complete Guide to the Law School Experience: By Students, for Students
    Walks you from the decision to go into law school all the way to the bar exam.
    “Miller covers every aspect of the law school experience-from surviving the first semester to seeking summer internships-which makes this book unique.”
  5. One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School
    The infamous story of Scott Turow’s first year as a Harvard law student.
    “Even though we know he goes on to fabulous success as both a lawyer and a writer, Turow’s initial ego is beautifully subdued by the end of his year as a One L.”
  6. Acing Your First Year of Law School: The Ten Steps to Success You Won’t Learn in Class
    Solid book with easy-to-read tips on better outlining, legal research, writing, and more.
    “This book will teach you how to stand head and shoulders above your colleagues in law school, and succeed in your most critical year of law school, the first year.”
  7. The Elements of Legal Style
    An intelligent approach to legal writing style - while still keeping itself firmly grounded.
    “A decade after the key first edition, Garner, editor in chief of Black’s Law Dictionary and other works on legal writing, provides expanded coverage of appropriate legal prose and common errors in legal language, with the goal of encouraging clarity in legal writing.”
  8. The Law School Breakthrough: Graduate In The Top 10% Of Your Class, Even If You’re Not A First-Rate Student
    Breaks down the mysteries of law school, including outlining, creating a study schedule, and taking exams in your law classes.
    “The Law School Breakthrough provides a comprehensive, holistic approach to surviving law school-both inside and outside the classroom.”
  9. The Complete Law School Companion: How to Excel at America’s Most Demanding Post-Graduate Curriculum
    Gives you specific systems to excel in law school - making law school life easier through organization.
    “Offers complete, accessible information on every topic of concern to law students ranging from the LSAT, the Bar Exam, Law Review, computerized research and videotape study aids to obtaining that important clerkship or job.”
  10. How to Succeed in Law School
    More of a jack-of-all-trades book, it gives you a little bit of everything in law school without going too deep into any one subject - a good overview of life in legal education.
    “The author offers advice on taking good lecture notes, effective study methods, library research, test-taking, handling the inevitable stresses of law school, and much more.”
Related Posts

Top 100 Law Schools in America for 2009

Published
by
Michael Law
on April 2, 2008
in Law School
. 0 Comments

1. Yale University
New Haven, CT
Score 100 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $43,750
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 586
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Score 91 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $39,325
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,734
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA
Score 91 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $39,916
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 538
4. Columbia University
New York, NY
Score 88 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $43,470
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,236
5. New York University
New York, NY
Score 85 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $40,890
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,424
6. University of California–Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Score 81 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $39,141
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 864
7. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Score 80 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $39,198
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 607
7. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Score 80 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $41,960
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 782
9. Northwestern University
Chicago, IL
Score 79 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $42,942
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 771
9. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI
Score 79 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $41,949
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,148
9. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
Score 79 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $38,500
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,175
12. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
Score 77 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $42,683
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 583
12. Duke University
Durham, NC
Score 77 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $40,748
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 583
14. Georgetown University
Washington, DC
Score 74 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $39,390
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,605
15. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
Score 72 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $39,838
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 601
16. University of California–Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Score 71 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $37,648
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,025
16. University of Texas–Austin
Austin, TX
Score 71 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $35,130
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,291
18. University of Southern California (Gould)
Los Angeles, CA
Score 68 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $42,640
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 598
19. Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Score 67 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $38,189
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 801
20. George Washington University
Washington, DC
Score 65 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $38,198
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,412
21. Boston University
Boston, MA
Score 64 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $36,806
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 815
22. Emory University
Atlanta, GA
Score 63 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $38,176
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 709
22. University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN
Score 63 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $32,005
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 793
22. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN
Score 63 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $35,950
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 563
25. Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA
Score 62 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $33,685
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 395
26. Boston College
Newton, MA
Score 61 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $36,590
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 778
27. Fordham University
New York, NY
Score 60 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $39,450
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,191
27. University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
Score 60 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $36,056
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 587
27. University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Score 60 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $32,589
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 633
30. College of William and Mary (Marshall-Wythe)
Williamsburg, VA
Score 59 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $28,536
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 617
30. University of Washington
Seattle, WA
Score 59 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $26,231
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 528
32. Ohio State University (Moritz)
Columbus, OH
Score 58 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $33,946
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 669
32. University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL
Score 58 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $22,170
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 492
32. University of Colorado–Boulder
Boulder, CO
Score 58 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $31,278
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 530
32. University of Georgia
Athens, GA
Score 58 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $29,054
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 642
36. Indiana University–Bloomington
Bloomington, IN
Score 57 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $34,486
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 619
36. University of Wisconsin–Madison
Madison, WI
Score 57 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $32,774
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 807
38. George Mason University
Arlington, VA
Score 56 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $28,532
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 503
38. University of Arizona (Rogers)
Tucson, AZ
Score 56 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $28,574
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 453
38. University of California (Hastings)
San Francisco, CA
Score 56 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $35,345
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,215
38. University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Score 56 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $25,422
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 699
42. University of Maryland
Baltimore, MD
Score 55 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $31,814
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 678
42. Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
Score 55 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $31,500
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 452
44. Tulane University
New Orleans, LA
Score 54 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $36,670
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 752
44. University of California–Davis
Davis, CA
Score 54 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $37,734
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 577
46. American University (Washington)
Washington, DC
Score 53 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $37,190
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,246
46. Brigham Young University (Clark)
Provo, UT
Score 53 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $17,400
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 457
46. Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX
Score 53 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $34,576
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 562
46. University of Connecticut
Hartford, CT
Score 53 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $36,960
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 484
46. University of Florida (Levin)
Gainesville, FL
Score 53 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $30,174
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,290
51. University of Utah (Quinney)
Salt Lake City, UT
Score 52 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $26,256
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 397
52. Arizona State University (O’Connor)
Tempe, AZ
Score 50 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $26,320
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 595
52. University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
Score 50 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $33,102
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 356
52. University of Tennessee–Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Score 50 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $27,762
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 469
55. Baylor University (Umphrey)
Waco, TX
Score 49 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $33,294
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 411
55. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Score 49 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $30,782
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 764
55. University of Houston
Houston, TX
Score 49 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $24,632
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 785
55. Yeshiva University (Cardozo)
New York, NY
Score 49 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $39,470
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 948
59. Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA
Score 48 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $35,520
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 633
59. Temple University (Beasley)
Philadelphia, PA
Score 48 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $27,078
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 754
59. University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
Score 48 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $24,804
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 426
59. University of Missouri–Columbia
Columbia, MO
Score 48 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $28,336
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 449
63. Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn, NY
Score 47 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $39,625
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,186
63. Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH
Score 47 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $35,220
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 678
63. Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA
Score 47 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $36,058
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,003
66. Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago-Kent)
Chicago, IL
Score 46 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $33,879
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 751
66. Seton Hall University
Newark, NJ
Score 46 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $38,040
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 722
68. Indiana University–Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN
Score 45 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $31,993
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 647
68. University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
Score 45 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $24,467
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 347
68. University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK
Score 45 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $24,953
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 510
68. University of Richmond (Williams)
Richmond, VA
Score 45 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $30,010
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 486
68. Villanova University
Villanova, PA
Score 45 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $30,890
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 727
73. Lewis and Clark College (Northwestern)
Portland, OR
Score 44 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $28,984
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 537
73. University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
Score 44 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $24,085
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 491
73. University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Score 44 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $20,935
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 397
73. University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Score 44 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $30,362
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 714
77. Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA
Score 43 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $27,916
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 473
77. Pennsylvania State University (Dickinson)
University Park, PA
Score 43 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $29,674
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 573
77. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey–Camden
Camden, NJ
Score 43 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $30,492
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 561
77. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey–Newark
Newark, NJ
Score 43 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $30,307
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 558
77. Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA
Score 43 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $1,175 (per credit hour)
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 728
82. Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
Score 42 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $33,300
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 621
82. Seattle University
Seattle, WA
Score 42 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $29,938
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 845
82. University of Hawaii (Richardson)
Honolulu, HI
Score 42 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $24,480
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 257
82. University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL
Score 42 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $34,652
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 1,252
82. University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
Score 42 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $24,396
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 528
82. University of San Diego
San Diego, CA
Score 42 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $37,704
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 768
88. Catholic University of America (Columbus)
Washington, DC
Score 41 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $34,505
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 607
88. DePaul University
Chicago, IL
Score 41 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $33,110
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 745
88. Louisiana State University–Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA
Score 41 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $21,286
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 570
88. Northeastern University
Boston, MA
Score 41 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $36,564
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 624
88. St. John’s University
Jamaica, NY
Score 41 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $38,400
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 748
88. University of Denver (Sturm)
Denver, CO
Score 41 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $32,752
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 855
88. University of Nevada–Las Vegas (Boyd)
Las Vegas, NV
Score 41 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $20,302
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 341
95. Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI
Score 40 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $29,410
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 530
95. St. Louis University
St. Louis, MO
Score 40 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $31,750
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 750
95. University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
Score 40 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $33,622
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 665
95. University of the Pacific (McGeorge)
Sacramento, CA
Score 40 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $34,474
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 615
99. Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY
Score 39 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $37,600
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 870
100. Mercer University
Macon, GA
Score 38 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $32,292
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 448
100. Stetson University
Gulfport, FL
Score 38 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $29,240
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 765
100. Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
Score 38 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $41,694
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 659
100. University at Buffalo–SUNY
Buffalo, NY
Score 38 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $21,433
2007 Total enrollment (full-time)746
100. University of Louisville (Brandeis)
Louisville, KY
Score 38 Tier 1
Out-of-state tuition (full-time) $25,956
2007 Total enrollment (full-time) 323

Related Posts

10 Ways to Ensure Success in Law School

Published
by
Michael Law
on March 31, 2008
in 1L, 2L, 3L, Law School and Law Students
. 0 Comments

If you’re considering entering law school or already a new student the intimidation factor can be overwhelming. Anyone who has gone through the rigors of a three-year law school program will tell you it gets less threatening as you advance. In order to get through these three years you’re going to need a lot of help. Here are some tips for you to consider as you begin your journey:

  1. Stay on top of your reading assignments. The workload will be unlike any you have encountered in the past and it’s imperative you do all the assigned readings. It is helpful to refresh with the readings just before you attend class.
  2. Speak up. Class participation is not usually factored into your grades so don’t be afraid to jump into a class discussion. It’s your chance to either strut your stuff or to clarify ambiguities you’ve encountered in the course materials.
  3. Go to class. Even if your professor doesn’t take attendance you should make every effort to make it to class. There are sure to be times when you haven’t done the reading and you feel like taking the easy way out. Avoid this urge and still go to class, at least this way you can hear what the professor feels is most important about a particular case.
  4. Listen to your professor. Only take notes of what the professor says. He or she is the one paid to present the material. Certainly listen to your classmates but don’t take their points and opinions as Gospel.
  5. Reflect on your notes at the end of each day. Take a close look at the notes you took earlier in the day in class when you get home. This will allow you to soak up and reinforce the day’s message. Repeat this process at the end of each week.
  6. Learn the rules. It may sound redundant, but you’re in law school so you should learn to accurately explain legal rules.
  7. Worry about the context. Classes are intended to revolve around discussions to reach a conclusion. Don’t be concerned with knowing the right answer right away - this isn’t the aim of a discussion.
  8. Find a comfortable seat in class. If you’re taking notes the old-fashioned way with a pen and a pad then avoid the guy pounding away on his laptop.
  9. Quality, not quantity. Put in valuable time, not just hours upon hours for the sake of looking good. Only you will know the extent of your effort. Make sure the time you study is done wisely.
  10. Classes are difficult. Accept the struggle that is going to accompany your journey. If one class session has you feeling lost, try to master the material in your own time and be prepared for the next meeting.

Susan Jacobs is a freelance writer as well as a regular contributor for CollegeDegree.com, a site helping students select an online college degree. Susan invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address susan.jacobs45@gmail.com.

Related Posts