Law School Discussion

We get graded based on our mid-term and/or solely on final exams.

To me, it makes sense to prepare for the writing portion. Knowing the black letter law is not enough. We need to know how to write a darn good analysis essay that is structured well to get a good grade.

I try to stay ahead of what is taught in the classes. I took LEEWS over the summer, but then took Fleming's Exam Writing Workshop in addition to LEEWS. After I had taken LEEWS, I understood what it would take to write a good essay, but I could not write one. After taking Fleming's, I started to feel like I can write a good essay now.

I am done with casebriefs for my cases up until the final week. I used the "Casenote Legal Briefs" to do the casebriefs. I have a good overview of what we are going to learn up to finals. I have used the Fleming's Outlines (they come with CDs) to learn the substantive law and have adjusted that outline to fit what we are covering in class. (The CD lectures go over the content of the classes, but also focus on what prof's love to test.)

Having finished this, I am focusing on writing final exam essays. Right now, I am doing open notes/open book exams where I am not timing myself. As we get closer to finals, I am going to get more strict with my timing.

I am only a 1L, part-time student, full-time career person...so I cannot tell you that my strategy is working. But, if you can write a great final exam essay and you can do well on the multiple choice questions (if you get those), then why not focus on being able to do this.

We had mid-term exams and the contracts professor rushed through material at the end (keep in mind that we did not have any additional study time and legal writing memos were due one day prior to mid-terms which were held on the weekend). She covered material at lightening speed on Wednesday, probably 2 weeks worth of material. Guess what was on the mid-term on Saturday? The material that had just been covered three days prior. I was so glad that I had prepared in advance using the method described above. We won't get our grades back for another week or two, but I was able to cover all the issues in a well organized essay.

Vera

Since the grades are based solely on your exam writing performance, focus on getting good at exam writing. I am a 1L also, so I cannot tell you that this strategy is successful, but it makes sense.

I took an exam writing class that was very useful. I practice write exams. It was very helpful for the mid-terms that I just took (one more tomorrow)...do not have grades yet, but I felt good about the exams. There is a lot in those exam hypos, you need to get good at organizing the issues in addition to spotting them. You need to learn how to organize your writing, not just memorize the law. (Though you need that too.)

My strategy is to practice...practice...practic e...I will see what happens when grades are given for our mid-terms.

Vera

I almost decided on Concord. I work full-time and have to because I am a single mom. I ended up not starting with Concord because they lack the ABA approval. The only reason that Concord does not have ABA approval is not because they are a terrible school, but because the ABA will not approve online law schools. Maybe that will change in a few year, but personally, I doubt that requirement will change.

I am in law school now, as a part-time student at an ABA approved school. I still catch slack because it is not some T14 school...but there are people who have family, careers, etc. who have no other choice but to attend an online school or a local T3 or T4 school on a part-time basis. If I did not have my family responsibilities, I would attend full-time and may have moved out of the local area.

I know somebody who graduated from Concord, passed the bar exam (first try for him also)...I think it is what you make out of it. Also, if you are older and already have a career and are wanting to enhance your career options, an online JD degree may be for you...if you are 22, fresh out of undergrad, the online is probably not an option.

Vera

When there is an offer made, for example that I am offering you my house for rent over the vacation and I tell you that I will leave my offer open until the end of the month. Even though I said that to you, I can rescind the offer at any time prior. However, you can give me something to keep the offer open. So, if we negotiate and you tell me that you are paying me $100 to ensure to keep the offer open until the end of the month, I agree and you pay me...then we have created an option contract.

There has to be new consideration for the option contract. The consideration was you paying me the money and in return I am keeping the offer open until the end of the month. It was bargained for exchange and there was a legal value to the exchange.

Vera

I did LEEWS as a CD program and I took Fleming's as a live 12 hour class. LEEWS is good because it explains, but Fleming's actually gets you to write the exams and gives you additional exams by class (torts, contracts, property, civil procedure, criminal law, etc.). I liked it a lot and found it helpful. I am only a 1L, but at my law school we have mid-term exams (though they only count 10% of our final grade). I took Fleming's and really appreciated the exam writing practice. I would have been "up the creek without a paddle" had I not taken Fleming's Exam Writing Workshop.

Hope this feedback is helpful... Vera