How to Read & Brief Cases

Your first year of law school, you will spend a big bulk of your time reading and briefing each of the cases in your assigned reading. This is super important. By your second year, you will probably be able to get away with using canned briefs (which are case summaries you can pull off the internet using your case name and citation), but your first year it's important that you understand HOW to properly read and brief a case, so you don't want to skip learning how to do this. You will need this skill come exam time and in the unfortunate event you get cold-called. Trust me.

READ

Chapters in case books are generally organized according to a broad topic. For example, in Criminal Law, there may be a chapter on Homicide and in it there will be different sections for Manslaughter, 2nd Degree Murder, 1st Degree Murder, etc. Each section will illustrate important rules of law according to the most relevant and controlling cases available. When reading your cases, keep in mind that some of the stuff may not make any sense at first. Especially in subjects like Property law, some of the cases can be really, really old and use archaic language. Just hang in there and don't get stuck re-reading the same sentence over and over again. Your professor's job is to flush the cases out during class lecture. Also, don't skip over commentary, footnotes or dissents (although by 3L year, you won't really care about Scalia's dissenting opinions). Often times, you'll find pieces of helpful info in there that your Prof wants to discuss/question on. Use your highlighter and write all over the page, you'll thank yourself later when you get cold-called and need that info fast.  

BRIEF

At the very minimum, you'll need to include the following in your case brief:

Heading: Case name, court name and date of decision

Facts: Relationship of parties and relevant facts to dispute

Procedural History: Describe what happened in the lower courts

Issue: What is the question in litigation? What is the court attempting to resolve?

Rule: Legal principle being applied by the court
Analysis: How the court came to their conclusion

Conclusion: Judgment/ court's response to question at issue

Write your brief out and take it with you to class. When you get called on in class, you're up! The Professor will ask you a series of questions about the required reading and you can use your brief to answer them. If he asks you something so specific you don't have it in your brief, revert back to your highlights and notes in your textbook.

GOOD LUCK!!

Creating a Law School Wardrobe

I'll be starting law school in about two months.

I feel like I've been waiting for this moment my entire life. I'm SO excited and SO scared/nervous all at the same time. I've started my summer reading assignments and thrown in a couple books I found on Amazon which may or may not make my first year easier.

I feel like there is lots of advice out there on how to survive the academic part of law school, but what about LOOKING GOOD? I mean, I'm a girl, after all. I like dresses and heels and feeling pretty. My school has a conservative dress code, but nothing has really been elaborated on as far as appropriate dress for classes every day.

So, I did some of my own research and came up with a list of must have items for any fashionable girl's law school wardrobe. They are as follows:

DRESS PANTS:

I love the look of the Express Editor Pants. Get them in all the basic colors (black, gray, brown). They are comfortable and professional (and will come in handy on days you don't feel like shaving.)

PENCIL SKIRTS:

This style of skirt is so flattering and polished. You'll definitely need a black one and however many others you can afford. Stick to basic colors for a classic look (gray, brown, navy blue, etc.). If you buy everything in your wardrobe in a similar color scheme, you'll thank yourself later because you can mix and match items to create lots of different looks.

BLOUSES:

I like the look and feel of silky blouses... especially in girly colors or prints. It's a nice way to change up your look and avoid looking too boring everyday. Definitely invest in one or two button downs as well for dressier events (like an interview, for example).

PLAIN TOPS:

Crew neck,v-neck, and boat neck cotton shirts are your friend. They are good for everyday wear and you can dress them up easily with a accessories or a bright cardigan. You can also wear them under a suit jacket for a nice, no-fuss look.

DRESSES:

You just can't go wrong with a well-tailored, conservative dress (no sundresses!). Sheath, pencil, and boat neck dresses offer a feminine, classic feel and you don't have to worry about putting an outfit together. Plus, they go great with either flats or heels depending on what you have going on that day. If you get them in basic prints and neutral colors, they are easy to dress up or down by adding different jackets/cardigans and accessories.

HEELS:

For the love of God, NO STRIPPER HEELS. Think "pumps". Yes, I know, it sounds like something an old lady would wear, but shoes do matter. You don't want to look like a high priced hooker, so avoid: anything too high, peep toes, crazy colors, or wacky prints. Heels in dark colors and neutrals are good. And if you can't walk in heels, go for wedges or kitten heels.

FLATS:

.... because, face it, you're not going to want to wear heels everyday when you have to lug around 50 lbs. of books plus a lap top and caffeinated beverage of choice. Switch these up and buy them in dark colors, nude, or animal print (if you're feeling sassy).

ACCESSORIES:

You're going to need a good bag (Long Champ is my personal favorite), belts, cardigans, and jewelry. When buying jewelry, buy a dependable watch and classic pieces (think studs and other pretty, understated pieces).

SUITS:

You'll need at least one of these your first year for oral arguments, interviews, and any professional events you might decide to attend. A three piece suit is a good idea because you can switch things up depending on whether you want to wear a skirt suit or a pants suit (and you can wear the pieces separately too, which is a definite plus).

BEST PLACES TO SHOP:

Banana Republic

Ann Taylor

The Limited

The Gap  

Express

LSAT... Eww.

I took the LSAT last June and I would just like to say - "THANK YOU, BABY JESUS" that it's behind me! However, I know that not everyone is as fortunate as I am to have kicked the LSAT's ass with only minor psychological trauma and one teeny, weeny anxiety attack.

I remember scouring every law blog on the web last year searching for LSAT advice from those who had triumphed before me. And since the June exam is only days away, I figured I would add some of my own advice for the benefit of any law school hopeful who happens to stumble across my page. :)

(1) For the love of God, TAKE A PREP CLASS.
I know they are expensive. You should of seen the look on my husband's face when I told him I needed $1,500 so that I could take an 8 week course - on top of my full-time school load and job.

"By the way, honey, youre going to need to be cooking dinner for yourself and JV three nights a week while I'm in LSAT class til 10pm. You might want to start figuring that out now."

Justify the expense with reminding yourself that law school is a financial investment (hellooo, crippling student loans), and that the very first step you take towards your law career is one of the most important.

I took a Test Masters class and I picked them based on their local reputation. I had a couple friends in law school who took their course and swore by it. Other people I knew who took Kaplan or Princeton Review werent as happy with their experiences, plus Test Masters was cheaper. The end result? My score went up 14 points from the diagnostic exam!
(2) Undergrads: If your school offers courses in Logic, TAKE THEM.

Lucky for me - I was a philosophy major. Majoring in philosophy will NOT get you a job, but it WILL help you with reading comprehension and analytical skills. For my degree, I was required to take Logic 2. Hardest...class...ever. It was horrible. However, being the introspective philosopher that I am, I realized how much it could help me with the LSAT later on. So, after my required logic class was over, I signed up for Logic 1 as an elective. I know, I'm a nerd. But a nerd with extensive logic training. And a great LSAT score. :)
(3) You only get what you give.


Time yourself doing sections. Take practice tests. Study on the weekends and late into the night. Dream about Logic Game strategies. Immerse yourself in the painful world that is your life pre-LSAT and embrace it.
Learn it. Live it. Love it. Well, you don't have to love it -but my point is that you actually have to STUDY for this exam (even if you're one of those people who never study and still pull As). I studied for a solid six months, mostly emphasizing on the games section. In the two months before my exam, I was a total basket case. Mr. asking me what I wanted for dinner had the ability to send me into hysterics, tears, and hyperventilation. Seriously. I lost ten pounds, became mentally unstable, and the bags under my eyes were so bad that it provoked more than one "You look so tired" comment. And I'm not even going to go into my first ever (and hopefully last) anxiety attack, which occured just days before the exam. After it was all said and done though, I can say that I gave the test everything I had... and it was the first time in my life where I felt like hard work really does pay off.
(4) Don't freak yourself out.
Worry about yourself, not anyone else. It doesn't matter what your friends are scoring on their practice tests and it definitely doesn't matter what the kid next to you in prep class is doing to study. Everyone is different with varied strengths and weaknesses. Figure out what you need to do to get the best score you can, and then do it.
That being said, be careful not to let studying for the LSAT take over your life completely. I think I was a little guilty of this and it definitely led to me freaking myself out. Try and remind yourself that this is only a test and while it does dictate whether or not you get accepted to law school next year, your score will not ruin your life. You still have your health, family, friends, and alcoholic beverages. You will live through this, I promise. And if you bomb it, you can always retake it next time! Hopefully you won't have to though.

NOTE: The freak out can continue even after you have taken your test. I went back and forth over cancelling my score until the last possible second. Mr. was the one who took the phone out of my hands as I dialed LSAC, "Let me get this right. You want to cancel your score so you can spend the NEXT six months obsessing over game strategies and logical fallacies? Umm, no." Good thing he talked some sense into me, because I ended up getting my highest score ever!
(5) Take a break.
I solicited advice from every lawyer and law student I knew in the days before my test. When my husband's 3L friend echoed the advice of my Test Master teacher in saying "Make sure to take a break from studying in the days before your test, that way you're not burnt out from the material", I took a mental note to disregard it. After all, I live my life burnt out and I had soo much I still wanted to go over before I took the most important test of my life so far.

But when my aunt (who is a successful attorney) called to wish me luck the week of my LSAT, she said the same thing. I told her that I had heard that advice before, but I just couldnt bring myself to neglect studying the test material so close to the exam when I had spent the last six months living and breathing it. She told me to shut up and listen to her because she was the succesful attorney and I was the lowly pre-law student. Yes maam. So I willed myself to spend the day before my test blackberry picking with my husband and son, cooking large amounts of comfort food, and watching trashy tv. And you know what? It helped! Clearing my head from the material for a day helped me to calm down and mentally prepare myself for the impending doom. Bonus: I found that I was able to identify question stems easier after giving my brain a day off!

GOOD LUCK!!!

Ten Rules for Admitted Students Day

1. Do NOT bring your parents.

No matter how close you are to them, even if they'll be paying for school, or if they insist to attend with you... DON'T DO IT. You'll look like an asshole, I promise. The first impression you'll make on your future classmates is either (A) you're a baby who needs your parents to hold your hand through life, or (B) you're just an idiot.

2. Be friendly, but not too friendly.

DO make an effort to meet current and prospective students, professors, etc. DO NOT become a stage five clinger to any one person (or group of people). Also, fight the urge to tell people a summary of your personal statement/life story, personal details about your life, or friend request them of facebook the minute you get home.

3. Turn your cell phone off.

Obviously. You don't want to be the rude 0L that faculty hates before you even step foot on campus as a legit student. Manners, people.

4. Make a good impression.

Shower. Dress nicely. Smile. Be friendly. A first impression is hard to live down. And since you're going to be selling your soul to law school for the next three years of your life, you want to make a good one to the people you will be stuck in hell with.

5. Dress appropriately.

People need the most help with this one, I think. At my Admitted Students Day, the attire was all over the place. I wore a dark skirt suit and heels, but removed my jacket early on because it was pretty hot (and it didn't seem necessary to keep on). Most people wore a variation of business casual and looked really nice. However, there were a few people who literally showed up in t-shirts, shorts, and sandals! I remember thinking "WTF! I would never let that hobo be a lawyer!!". Don't be that guy/girl who shows up without shaving and looks like a bum... you'll always be thought of as a bum.

6. Observe your classmates.

This is fun. Do you like people watching? I do. Instead of being loud and obnoxious, I approached my Admitted Students Day quietly and stealthily observed all my soon-to-be frenemies. It's one of the few times people will have their guards down during law school, take advantage of it and figure them out.

7. Don't ask too many questions.

You don't want to reach gunner status after the very first day. If you have loads of questions, save them for a private one on one... otherwise you'll be the first name added to Asshole Bingo when school starts.

8. Introduce yourself to professors and faculty.

Why not? Now is your chance to talk to them before the fear of the Socratic Method sets in. Don't be scared, they were 1Ls once too.

9. Get a feel for the area.

While you're in town, drive around the campus' surrounding area. Are there good places to grab lunch nearby, or will you be better off bringing your lunch everyday? Do you like their library, or would you rather find a quiet park/bookstore nearby to hangout between classes? Figure everything you can out ahead of time. When August rolls around, you may not even have time to eat/shower.

10. Don't jump to any decisions.

Admitted Students Day should not make/break your descision to attend a particular school. Instead, take everyting into consideration (location, scholarships, area of law you want to practice) and make an educated decision based on everything together.

HAVE FUN!! IT'S YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SMILE BEFORE 1L :)