Top 0L/1L General Prep Books
Below is a list of the top 15 0L/1L general prep books based on purchases by TLS visitors through our Amazon.com affiliate links in 2013. Additional details on how we ranked these 0L/1L general prep books can be found at the bottom of the top law school books page.
Below is some commentary on a few of the 0L/1L general prep books. The commentary was written years ago, but much of the advice is still applicable today.
Guides to Law School Success
Law School Without Fear
Written by two Northeastern Law School Professors, this succinct and clearly written book provides an excellent overview of law school and will give you a leg up in your first-year classes and resulting first-year grades, which determine job success.
Getting to Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams
Boils down law school success to essential ingredients, such as (a) reading only those assignments provided by the professor; (b) only caring about and taking notes on what the professor lectures upon, for you are never tested on any students’ comments or answers to Socratic questions; (c) craft your own outline based upon the professors lectures and assignments; and (d) if available, review and take the professor's prior exams right before your exam. Also teaches students about the all important skill of issue spotting on law school exams.
Law School Confidential: The Complete Law School Survival Guide by Students for Students
Effectively covers all aspects of succeeding in law school, including doing well on first-year grades, the job hunt, and of course staying sane during three very intense years.
Law School Insider: The Comprehensive 21st Century Guide to Success in Admissions, Classes, Law Review, Bar Exams and Job Searches
Written by a recent Cornell Law School grad, also discusses how to succeed in all aspects of law school.
Going to Law School
A good book for those considering whether or not they want to attend law school and become lawyers.
