Comments on: How I prepare for class http://legalgeekery.com/2009/06/28/how-i-prepare-for-class/ Mon, 21 May 2012 13:17:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chad http://legalgeekery.com/2009/06/28/how-i-prepare-for-class/comment-page-1/#comment-4726 Chad Sat, 26 Jun 2010 01:12:53 +0000 http://legalgeekery.com/?p=1916#comment-4726 @Chad, scratch that. This article is by Adam, not Josh. Adam is the only human I have ever heard of that prepared so whole heartedly. I assume he got much better grades than me. In closing, 0Ls -- you can still get out of it @Chad,

scratch that. This article is by Adam, not Josh. Adam is the only human I have ever heard of that prepared so whole heartedly. I assume he got much better grades than me. In closing, 0Ls — you can still get out of it

]]> By: Chad http://legalgeekery.com/2009/06/28/how-i-prepare-for-class/comment-page-1/#comment-4725 Chad Sat, 26 Jun 2010 01:10:37 +0000 http://legalgeekery.com/?p=1916#comment-4725 Josh, why did you put case holdings in two colors? 0Ls, Josh is absolutely the only human that (1) read his casebooks over the summer, and (2) read his casebooks more than once. Then again, he got way better grades then me. In sum, don't go to law school. Josh, why did you put case holdings in two colors?

0Ls, Josh is absolutely the only human that (1) read his casebooks over the summer, and (2) read his casebooks more than once. Then again, he got way better grades then me. In sum, don’t go to law school.

]]> By: 0L/1L Advice Roundup « HATE is easy…love takes COURAGE http://legalgeekery.com/2009/06/28/how-i-prepare-for-class/comment-page-1/#comment-2868 0L/1L Advice Roundup « HATE is easy…love takes COURAGE Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:58:12 +0000 http://legalgeekery.com/?p=1916#comment-2868 [...] Take a pass…or three.  [Legal Geekery] [...] [...] Take a pass…or three.  [Legal Geekery] [...]

]]> By: Laptops in the Classroom: Learning Tool or Time Waster? http://legalgeekery.com/2009/06/28/how-i-prepare-for-class/comment-page-1/#comment-2655 Laptops in the Classroom: Learning Tool or Time Waster? Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:33:17 +0000 http://legalgeekery.com/?p=1916#comment-2655 [...] found that organizing my outlines on my laptop using OneNote has made studying for exams significantly easier than re-organizing a ton of partially illegible [...] [...] found that organizing my outlines on my laptop using OneNote has made studying for exams significantly easier than re-organizing a ton of partially illegible [...]

]]> By: ouij http://legalgeekery.com/2009/06/28/how-i-prepare-for-class/comment-page-1/#comment-2607 ouij Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:43:48 +0000 http://legalgeekery.com/?p=1916#comment-2607 @Adam Vella, don't get me wrong, I like having my answers ready, but if I get called on and get my ass handed to me, well, that's just part of the game. I think a lot of 1Ls are too intimidated by class to get the maximum benefit. It's tough to follow a discussion if you're paralyzed by nerves. I also read things more than once; but I tend to re-read cases quickly AFTER class. It's a good check to see if I picked up on the right thing. Granted, I have plenty of time to do this, since I've got a one-hour commute each way on the [DC] Metro. @Adam Vella, don’t get me wrong, I like having my answers ready, but if I get called on and get my ass handed to me, well, that’s just part of the game. I think a lot of 1Ls are too intimidated by class to get the maximum benefit. It’s tough to follow a discussion if you’re paralyzed by nerves.

I also read things more than once; but I tend to re-read cases quickly AFTER class. It’s a good check to see if I picked up on the right thing. Granted, I have plenty of time to do this, since I’ve got a one-hour commute each way on the [DC] Metro.

]]> By: Adam Vella http://legalgeekery.com/2009/06/28/how-i-prepare-for-class/comment-page-1/#comment-2606 Adam Vella Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:02:40 +0000 http://legalgeekery.com/?p=1916#comment-2606 @ouij, Like I had said, its not for everyone. One reason I believe this works best for me is that I got part-time at nights while working 60+ hours during the day. I do my first past before classes even start and then handle my briefings on the weekend. Having kids and a job makes it a lot of work. Call me a gunner, I also like having the answer prepared when called upon. @ouij, Like I had said, its not for everyone. One reason I believe this works best for me is that I got part-time at nights while working 60+ hours during the day. I do my first past before classes even start and then handle my briefings on the weekend. Having kids and a job makes it a lot of work.

Call me a gunner, I also like having the answer prepared when called upon.

]]> By: ouij http://legalgeekery.com/2009/06/28/how-i-prepare-for-class/comment-page-1/#comment-2603 ouij Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:15:46 +0000 http://legalgeekery.com/?p=1916#comment-2603 Preparing for class doesn't have to be elaborate: do the reading, understand what you can, and be prepared to know what you don't know. Unless class participation is a substantial component of your final grade--and it won't be--you're better off relaxing. If you understood that reading on the first pass--good for you. If not, don't panic. The humiliation you suffer when Professor Crotchetypants cold-calls you is transitory, and your exam isn't till the end of the semester. If you don't know it, take your lumps, sit down, shut up, and learn it for the final. If your classmates think you're a dumbass for fumbling through your recitation, fuck 'em. They're not grading your final. I have found that the longer I stay in law school, the less I highlight. I was a fiend with the highlighter first semseter 1L; a judicious user by second semester. By 2L, I hardly highlighted anything at all. Technicolor highlighting is confusing. Plus, the whole process slows my reading down to the point that I can never get any work done. I spend more time fishing about for a goddamned highlighter in the appropriate color than actually understanding the substantive law. We're in law school, for the love of God, not primary school. I don't even bother writing out briefs for most cases, but generally attempt to commit a three- or four-sentence summary to memory, in case I'm under pressure and have to vomit a holding out. Generally speaking, reported opinions of American appellate courts published after ca. 1900 are extremely easy to read. They all look alike and are similarly structured, and no wonder: by that time, Langdell's (in)famous "case method" had become the dominant mode of instruction for both bench and bar. Fortunately for modern law students, the style of writing hasn't changed substantially, so the clever can easily mine these opinions for their relevant bits. Older cases (and even more recent British cases) merit careful reading, especially from courts whose judges give seriatim opinions. You won't see too many of these, though. Last thought: class is the rehearsal; the exam is the performance. Better to forget your lines at rehearsal than to fuck up on opening night. Stay calm and remember: this too shall pass. Preparing for class doesn’t have to be elaborate: do the reading, understand what you can, and be prepared to know what you don’t know. Unless class participation is a substantial component of your final grade–and it won’t be–you’re better off relaxing. If you understood that reading on the first pass–good for you. If not, don’t panic. The humiliation you suffer when Professor Crotchetypants cold-calls you is transitory, and your exam isn’t till the end of the semester. If you don’t know it, take your lumps, sit down, shut up, and learn it for the final. If your classmates think you’re a dumbass for fumbling through your recitation, fuck ‘em. They’re not grading your final.

I have found that the longer I stay in law school, the less I highlight. I was a fiend with the highlighter first semseter 1L; a judicious user by second semester. By 2L, I hardly highlighted anything at all. Technicolor highlighting is confusing. Plus, the whole process slows my reading down to the point that I can never get any work done. I spend more time fishing about for a goddamned highlighter in the appropriate color than actually understanding the substantive law. We’re in law school, for the love of God, not primary school.

I don’t even bother writing out briefs for most cases, but generally attempt to commit a three- or four-sentence summary to memory, in case I’m under pressure and have to vomit a holding out.

Generally speaking, reported opinions of American appellate courts published after ca. 1900 are extremely easy to read. They all look alike and are similarly structured, and no wonder: by that time, Langdell’s (in)famous “case method” had become the dominant mode of instruction for both bench and bar. Fortunately for modern law students, the style of writing hasn’t changed substantially, so the clever can easily mine these opinions for their relevant bits.

Older cases (and even more recent British cases) merit careful reading, especially from courts whose judges give seriatim opinions. You won’t see too many of these, though.

Last thought: class is the rehearsal; the exam is the performance. Better to forget your lines at rehearsal than to fuck up on opening night. Stay calm and remember: this too shall pass.

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