Learning The Law Success in Law School and Beyond

by Frank, J. Steven

• ISBN13: 9780806518718
• ISBN10: 0806518715
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-06-01
• Publisher: Citadel

Summary

The ultimate guide to law school, study,strategies, what to expect after graduation, how,to take the bar exam, and different career,options.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xiii
Acknowledgments	xvi
A Note on Footnotes	xvii
PART ONE LEARNING THE LAW
The Institutions	3	(19)
The Legislature	4	(3)
The Executive	7	(4)
The Judiciary	11	(7)
The ``Fourth Branch''	18	(4)
Reading Cases and Statutes	22	(28)
Stop and Smell the Roses	22	(2)
Elements of a Case	24	(9)
Recurring Themes	33	(6)
Understanding Statutes	39	(11)
Relationships Among Cases	50	(18)
Vertical Relationships	51	(2)
Horizontal Relationships	53	(7)
Research and Casebooks	60	(8)
The Logic of the Law	68	(16)
Deductive Reasoning	69	(13)
Inductive Reasoning	82	(2)
Thinking About the Law	84	(21)
The Emergence of Formalism	85	(1)
Conceptualism and the Art of Analogy	86	(5)
The Realist Assault	91	(4)
Other Schools of Legal Thought	95	(4)
Problems of Retrospectivity	99	(6)
PART TWO LEARNING THE ROPES
Coping Strategies	105	(10)
The Lay of the Land	105	(2)
Case Briefs	107	(2)
Studying: Alone or Together?	109	(1)
Outlines	110	(5)
Commercial Study Aids	115	(8)
Hornbooks	115	(2)
Nutshell Series	117	(1)
Substantive Outlines	118	(3)
Topical Outlines	121	(1)
Prepared Briefs	121	(1)
Cassette Tapes	122	(1)
The Marks of Distinction	123	(20)
The Stuff of Resumes	123	(3)
A Head Start on Experience	126	(1)
Facing the Inevitable: Exams and Examsmanship	127	(16)
PART THREE LIFE AFTER LAW SCHOOL
Passing the Bar	143	(4)
The Traditional Options	147	(20)
Life in a Large Firm	147	(8)
Life in a Small Firm	155	(5)
Life on Your Own	160	(2)
Life as an In-House Lawyer	162	(5)
Getting Your Foot in the Door	167	(8)
Interviewing	167	(2)
Preparing and Broadcasting Your Resume	169	(3)
Summer Positions and Judicial Clerkships	172	(3)
Starting Out as a Lawyer	175	(26)
Positioning Yourself for Success	175	(3)
Resources	178	(8)
Writing Like a Lawyer	186	(14)
Effective Oral Expression	200	(1)
Index	201