Law School Discussion

Quote from: thorc954 on January 29, 2008, 09:58:50 PM

Quote from: 1Lchica on January 29, 2008, 07:50:05 PM

Someone slap me. I was sure I was headed for the bottom half of the class, and I was ecstatic to find out I'm in the top 15 percent. However, I also found out all the total d-bags in the class are in the top TEN percent. So it's like.. I shouldn't be letting this bother me, but it inevitably is. And like I'm somehow feeling craptastic about it -- what the HECK? how can I get out of this mindset? Nuts!

welcome to law school you will always be competitive and happy/yet pissed.

Thank you for this quote.  Tonight we had our first of two 1L oral advocacy competitions.  I made finals, and won an award for distinguished advocacy, but failed to place in the top three.  So, I'm happy with my success, but feel that I should have beaten the people who beat me.  Not that I fault the judges.... just that I wish I had done better to come in higher.

Oh competition!

Stop putting this poor student down.  There's a lot of "holier than thou" advice, some of which is dangerous. 

Studying in law school is a lot like golf.  You have to know how to swing before you practice.  Otherwise, you'll perpetuate your bad habits and make your situation even worse. 

You need to study smart.  Do not necessarily listen to what the Profs tell you.  Don't fall for the conventional advice about focusing on cases.  Cases are important, but you need to know the black letter first.  This is the dirty little secret professors do not tell you.  How can you apply the law when you don't even know the law?  How can you use cases if you don't know the law?  Focus on the basics and go from there.  Also, there are classes like Property where cases are not as important as black letter application IMO.  I had a similar experience with Contracts.  Cases are more important in some classes (Con Law, Torts) than others. 

The biggest mistake people make is their slavish adherence to reading and briefing cases.  Yes, that is important.  But if you sacrifice black letter, YOU WILL HAVE WASTED YOUR TIME.  In my opinion, if you're struggling with the Black letter, it's better to FOCUS ON THE BLACK LETTER and maybe skim the cases.  Ideally, you'll want to master the black letter and read the cases completely, but I find that most people who struggle with certain classes (myself included) often miss the black letter completely.  Indeed, in classes where I didn't do well, this is precisely what happened.  That is why I always start with black letter when I'm studying. 

Good luck!

Quote from: 1Lchica on January 17, 2008, 07:54:47 PM

I'm still waiting on my effing grades.... I'm so terrified, and I don't know how I should prepare myself. Did you guys cover each grade before you looked? lol ahhh!!!

I scan really fast to the bottom while trying not to look, then check the in progress courses to see what hasnt been posted, then nervously move it up to the grades slowly with my heart pumping...


you got all A's 1L chica, so no stressing