What "school supplies" are really needed for a 1L??

[jacy85]

I second most of what's been said.  Having a back up system for your computer is an absolute necessity.  This is said over and over again; yet no matter how many times a classmate loses half a semester of notes and information, it will inevitably happen again to someone else.  And again.  And again.  People never seem to learn.

That aside, I used a ton of highlighters, pens (get different colors for editing your work), legal pads, etc. 

Aside from the basic stuff, I had a good supply of binder clips, and found myself using them fairly often.  A travel mouse is nice if you hate using a trackpad.  And a decent planner is a necessity, IMO.

[OingoBoingo]

OH--and backup printer cartridges, black and color if applicable

Thank you for reminding me of this. One question: Did you spring ofr a Laser Printer? I have a really, really good Canon inkjet that I do not want to replace (you really can't tell it isn't laser)

Oingo

[lexinash]

Thanks for the input to all!!!!! 

[OingoBoingo]

I second most of what's been said.  Having a back up system for your computer is an absolute necessity.  This is said over and over again; yet no matter how many times a classmate loses half a semester of notes and information, it will inevitably happen again to someone else.  And again.  And again.  People never seem to learn.

That aside, I used a ton of highlighters, pens (get different colors for editing your work), legal pads, etc. 

Aside from the basic stuff, I had a good supply of binder clips, and found myself using them fairly often.  A travel mouse is nice if you hate using a trackpad.  And a decent planner is a necessity, IMO.

About the planner......every tempted to use Microsoft Outlook for this purpose? It worked for Matthias but I wonder how much of a pain in the a$$ it was to have to go back to the laptop everytime you wanted to check your schedule or added something?

Oingo

[jacy85]

I used MS Outlook for things like bills or anything that has an extremely important deadline.  I need the constant pop up reminders.

Otherwise, I like having a physical planner to use.  I like having something I can just pull out and write in, as opposed to waiting for my laptop to start to put a meeting date in.

I think as long as you have some sort of organizational system to keep aware of what you need to get done when, you'll be ok.  I know a few people that went out and got the cell phone/computer/planner things, and they seem to like that.  (sidekicks or whatever they are now.  I don't keep up)

[OingoBoingo]

I used MS Outlook for things like bills or anything that has an extremely important deadline.  I need the constant pop up reminders.

Otherwise, I like having a physical planner to use.  I like having something I can just pull out and write in, as opposed to waiting for my laptop to start to put a meeting date in.

I think as long as you have some sort of organizational system to keep aware of what you need to get done when, you'll be ok.  I know a few people that went out and got the cell phone/computer/planner things, and they seem to like that.  (sidekicks or whatever they are now.  I don't keep up)

Thanks man. Even though I have a tablet and planned to try and use it for this purpose, I am somewhat reluctant though because of the whole ackwardness factor. I've been imagining the scene, where I bring out the tablet to make an appointment and the person I'm meeting with looks at me in horror, shielding themselves from me with their Franklin Planner

I might just try a dual system (planner plus outlook) and go from there.

Oingo

[bass]

The dual system is SO annoying.  I had it going for a while, and it sucked big time.  Outlook either becomes redundant or useless.  The point of outlook is to simplify, not to complicate.

The solution is a PDA or phone that syncs with outlook.  I have the MDA, and it's fantastic.

[OingoBoingo]

The dual system is SO annoying.  I had it going for a while, and it sucked big time.  Outlook either becomes redundant or useless.  The point of outlook is to simplify, not to complicate.

The solution is a PDA or phone that syncs with outlook.  I have the MDA, and it's fantastic.

Eh....I am so trying to not spend any more money this summer. The stupid thing (on my part) is that I sold my PDA (an iPAQ 3835) earlier this year in an attempt to "simplify." Perhaps I'll buy a cheap used Sony Clie or something or the other.

bah

OIngo

[greengrl]

OH--and backup printer cartridges, black and color if applicable

Thank you for reminding me of this. One question: Did you spring ofr a Laser Printer? I have a really, really good Canon inkjet that I do not want to replace (you really can't tell it isn't laser)

Oingo

I didn't spring for a Laser yet either. I'm going to rely on regular printer head cleanings and a little TLC to see if I can get my current printer to hang in long enough. I figure if there is anything I really want to look nice (resumes, cover letters etc...) then I could always take it somewhere to be printed

[Law2k6]

Regarding backing up, see this thread: http://www.lawschooldiscussion.org/prelaw/index.php/topic,67438.0.html

You don't need a laser printer if you have a high quality inkjet. But, you don't want a low quality inkjet. High quality ink jet or a laser.