If there was ever a book to convince me not to go to law school...
Seriously thought it was a great resources but along with my stint as a paralegal that didn't enjoy reminded me of why I'm not going down this path. This had a great balance of information and anecdotes from those who have "been there, done that." Needs to be updated again but is generally still a good resource. ( )

This book is very much like others of its kind and you'll be okay if you skip it. Here's what you need to know about law school: you will be miserable (maybe even clinically so) and may see some undesirable personality traits emerge, in yourself and others; be prepared to live with the stress of high expectations for, and no feedback on, performance in an environment where everything is evaluated on a curve; keep up with your reading; and write your exams as if you were explaining the law to a two-year-old. If you still need a book like this, you might as well get this one; it's no worse than the others. ( )

This was a simple, straightforward take on what to expect from law school and how to get ahead of the competition (necessary when most law schools operate on a strict curve system).

Personally, I found his study system helpful. It gave me 'a plan' to help ease my anxiety about going to a competitive law school. Most of his advice is common-sense, and his system is hardly innovative (or even something most law students don't do anyway), but it provides a stress-reliever.

There are some blatant contradictions in this book on dorm life, studying, briefing, etc., but this is only to be expected in a book with multiple students as authors.

My main problems with the book were:

a) he seemed to assume all students wanted to (or would have to) go into large law firms and tailored his tips to that end

b) his suggestions on choosing the school that is right ignores some basic truths about selection. If you don't pay attention to the climate, urban environment etc. because 'that's not what really matters', you'll end up far more stressed out and miserable than you already will be. Take these things into consideration. You don't need to be homesick or wishing with all your heart for sun in a dreary New England climate when you're used to people calling you 'hon' when they serve you and not having to turn on the heat until November.

c) I hated, absolutely HATED, all of the plugs he got in. While I appreciated his adding which study guides he thought were best for 1L classes, his shameless plugs of the Law Preview course, the Kaplan and Princeton Review courses, the bar exam courses... It just irritated me.

d) I was irritated that *his* firm in NEW HAMPSHIRE was one of the ones that was interviewed about what kind of associates they are looking for... seriously...New Hampshire?

e) Were the biographies of the students really necessary?

All told, this helped ease my mind before I went to law school, but I definitely take the advice with a grain of salt... And do my best not to look at the overly strained metaphors... ( )