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I just got into law school, and I want to get a slight head start on reading (I only have 1 class that meets 1 day per week next semester, so I'm going to have a ton of free time). I figure if I look over some of the material now, I will understand the concepts better and hopefully not have to study as much. Anyway, can anyone recommend the best books used to teach the traditional L1 classes (torts, civil procedure, contracts, legal research & writing, criminal justice, property...already took a few con law classes so don't need one for that). Thanks!!

Pick up Planet Law School II. It breaks down how to study prior to law school and what books to use.

I would read "getting to maybe", see if you can find an audio copy of LEEWS on the internet, and if you are really ambitios buy a barbri "first year review" book (it outlines your first year classes).

thanks! do you know where you can get the Barbri book? Also, about how long is it?

You can look on amazon, half, or ebay. It is pretty long, but it covers about 7 subjects. Well worth it when school starts. You don't have to get a brand new one. Just make sure it isn't much more than a few years old.

Used 2003/2004 barbri first year review books are going on Amazon.com for $4.95. For that price, if it helps me add one good sentence to one of my final exams, it's worth it!

I'd read through the Examples and Explanations series. Hornbooks won't stick, and frankly, there's only so much "how to study" material you can read in advance... law school is NOT a time crunch from the get-go, so you'll have time to learn how best to study, do hypos, etc... but it'll be nice to have some background in the materials. Maybe even get a little pocket copy of the Federal Rules or the rules for your state, depending on where you're going to school, and try to get an overview. That way, the real material will stick more easily.

Personally, I might pick up getting to maybe or a similar book with very general advice and then just sit back and relax. Do things you enjoy so that you feel refreshed and ready to go when you get to law school.

I'm skeptical of how important it is to "study" before you get here. In law school, everyone knows all the material. It's more of a test of spotting the issues and being comfortable with nuanced arguments than knowing any of the rules.

Maybe it's just me, but I'd relax for now.

Don't try to learn the subjects before you get to school. If you do that you will probably shortcut the work and not learn what you are really supposed to learn, which is how to think in a way a lawyer does. As posted above everyone knows the black letter material (including you, without studying ahead of time).

Voyager, nice. hahahah

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Fine. I had a surreal moment of life imitating art. I had some weird eye spasms a couple weeks ago (bad light? stress?) that required the use of an eyepatch.

The first link has a list of books (at the bottom) recommended by TLS site readers as being good. The second link is a unique approach to law school success that is an interesting read.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/law-school-books.html

http://www.top-law-schools.com/success- ... chool.html

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hi,

I am sorry to necro this, but does this advice stand the test of time? Are these still the books that are advisable to purchase? If not, what should I be reading?

181plz wrote:hi,

I am sorry to necro this, but does this advice stand the test of time? Are these still the books that are advisable to purchase? If not, what should I be reading?

You don’t need to read anything law-related as a 0L. People sometimes quibble over whether it adds any value, and the typical GtM and such is at best debatable.

0L prep is unlikely to help as much as just enjoying your time prior to law school kicking into gear. 1L you will thank 0L you when you do anything that makes you happy and fulfills you personally.

IME/O, 0L prep is as likely to be harmful as it is to be helpful. Grades and test-taking are incredibly professor-specific, and so is the subject matter. You don’t just take contracts, you take [professor A]’s contracts class.

pleasure reading. From August 2014, i didn't get to pleasure read until after the bar in August 2017.

nothing you read now will give you a leg up on anything. spending the x-hours reading getting to maybe as a 0L can be condensed into:

there are 2 sides to every argument. present those sides (clearly, factually, and with detail) in your exam, and cite to the law accordingly.

and, ya know... shitpoast.