SMU Law Starter Thread

[smujd2007]

I'm a soon to be 2L at SMU . . .if you have any questions, let me know! 

[ChrystalSMU]

Are there any books you would suggest? Someone mentioned Planet Law School II, but I was wondering if there was anything you read that was particularly helpful! Also, how do the students dress? Ok, I will refrain from asking any other questions! 

[smujd2007]

Everyone pretty much wears what they want. Most people who dress up do it because they want to, or because they work part time (or have on campus interviews), not because they have to dress up for class.  I would suggest the book Getting To Maybe . . .I forget the author, but if you type that in on amazon.com they should be able to get you the publisher's information. I never read planet law school, but some people recommend it. Please don't be shy about asking questions . . .that's the whole point of the board!

Are there any books you would suggest? Someone mentioned Planet Law School II, but I was wondering if there was anything you read that was particularly helpful! Also, how do the students dress? Ok, I will refrain from asking any other questions!

[ChrystalSMU]

Thank you for being soooo helpful! I will be getting both of those books ASAP  Can I PM you if I have any further questions? (which I'm sure I will)..

[smujd2007]

sure! no problem. Welcome to SMU!!

[midjeep]

Has anyone received any info on 1L orientation? I noticed that other schools have sent out schedules, dress codes, and even names of 2Ls to contact for school info. Also, are there any decent coffee shops near campus with free wireless?

[smujd2007]

Starbucks is across the street . . .I'm not sure if they have free wireless. The entire law school should be wireless soon, and the new dining hall should be wireless so you could get coffee there.  Most of the campus is wireless, so if you want to get away from other law students (trust me, you will thank me for this later), you can go to the undergrad libraries, or even outside if the weather is nice. There's also a coffeeshop/internet cafe opening in the student center this month.

Hope this helps.

[midjeep]

Starbucks is across the street . . .I'm not sure if they have free wireless. The entire law school should be wireless soon, and the new dining hall should be wireless so you could get coffee there.  Most of the campus is wireless, so if you want to get away from other law students (trust me, you will thank me for this later), you can go to the undergrad libraries, or even outside if the weather is nice. There's also a coffeeshop/internet cafe opening in the student center this month.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info. Starbucks doesnt have free wireless but I did find a cool spot near downtown (ill probably be studying here if it remains as quiet as it is now).

How are the students at the law school? I noticed a lot of the guys wearing greek shirts which reminds me of my undergrad classes. Are the people as stuck up as the SMU undergrads? Also, what 1L professors should we watch out for (meaning the ones that try to deliberately trick you on the exams and cant/wont teach)? Sorry for all these questions, but I just finished my loan papers and all those zeros are beginning to scare me.

[smujd2007]

I don't know if you are in the day or the evening program. If you are in the day program, the trickiest profs from my section have been moved to evening. From my experience Bridge was hard, but he just wants you to know the material thoroughly.  Professor Gaba will take you through lots of hoops in class, but he really just wants you to know the black letter law and those cases that he spends 2 or three days on for the exam. Torts with Professor Dyson is supposed to be good, but his exams are rumored to be miserable.

Oh, and watch the SMU undergrad stuck up comment. I went to SMU undergrad, and so does my SO.      

Some of the students are really stuck up.  That just comes with the territory of law school, I think.  Most people find their niche in their section with 4 or 5 other classmates and they become your fastest and best friends in life. Everyone else you will just be courteous to, because you never know when your paths might cross again.

I'm surprised that you don't have a schedule yet . . .check on access and see if its posted yet, if you haven't already. Hmmmmmmm.

Don't apologize for the questions . . .that's the purpose of a discussion board! 

Good luck!

Starbucks is across the street . . .I'm not sure if they have free wireless. The entire law school should be wireless soon, and the new dining hall should be wireless so you could get coffee there.  Most of the campus is wireless, so if you want to get away from other law students (trust me, you will thank me for this later), you can go to the undergrad libraries, or even outside if the weather is nice. There's also a coffeeshop/internet cafe opening in the student center this month.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info. Starbucks doesnt have free wireless but I did find a cool spot near downtown (ill probably be studying here if it remains as quiet as it is now).

How are the students at the law school? I noticed a lot of the guys wearing greek shirts which reminds me of my undergrad classes. Are the people as stuck up as the SMU undergrads? Also, what 1L professors should we watch out for (meaning the ones that try to deliberately trick you on the exams and cant/wont teach)? Sorry for all these questions, but I just finished my loan papers and all those zeros are beginning to scare me.

[ChrystalSMU]

I finally looked at my schedule! Is anyone else in section 1?