Law School Confidential

After going through 1.5 years of law school, I realize this books is wrong on many points.

This book is a good primer for students entering law school, but also severely outdated since it was written before computers became mainstream. Law school is actually a lot easier than it once was, a testament to the prevalence of laptops and availability and speed of the internet.

With that said, it does give some good tips for briefing cases that I still use to this day. Just work hard and you will do well; it is as simple as that, even if one thinks I am oversimplyifying the experience.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

I regret buying this book.

This book was depressing. I didn't like it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Really disappointing. There are better books

Was not helpful. Gives you the basics, especially in regards to the LSAT. Find a better book, and you will be better off.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Please don't waste your time or money

I am in my final year of law school and made the mistake of not only reading this book the summer before I started law school, but actually religiously followed this guy's advice for the first year. The author, regardless of his intentions (which are probably pure), cashes in on the fear of first-year law students by scaring readers into using his tricks and angles to beat the law school system. He recommends an intricate method of combining study aids and assigned readings to get an edge on the competition. He lays out a study plan for you every step of the way. This appealed to me because I wanted to do well, of course. There are two main problems with his advice: (1) The author never actually applied this system to his own first year studies because he, admittedly, developed them after three years of trial and error. Thus, it is an untested approach that he foolishly swears by and, (2) His advice is to actually do double the reading (text plus study aids) when all it takes to finish in the top is to read what is assigned and study hard. Once I switched to this more traditional approach, my grades went up. Unfortunately, I dug too deep a hole using this garbage method to really get ahead later in school. This book is really a collection of random strategies that could theoretically work if put all together. Also, the career advice is inapplicable to most law students as most law students don't attend top-10 schools like Penn (e.g., the book's brief discussion of 'fly-back' interviews overseas). Save your money and work hard. I wish I had.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great Overall Guide

This is a great guide for law school. It gives practical tips for your first year. I would definitely recommend it to any entering 1L.

A reviewer

If you are considering law school or gearing up to start a law school career this book is perfect and a must read. I bought it before I began law school and it helped immensely in picturing what the next three years would be like. You can read it all at once and then follow-up based on what chapter/year in law school you are. I am now a third year law student in California and looking back can say that this book provides some useful insight and paints an accurate picture of law school.

Color Coded for Success

This book is the best of the law school 'how to succeed' guides, filled with advice that is detailed, practical, current, easy to read, and intended to take you all the way through the bar exam. Just one example of how this book can enhance your law school experience: the advice on color-coded highlighting alone is worth the price of the book. Though no substitute for writing up your own case briefs (as noted in another review), the method is invaluable in the classroom when the professor wants your answer to come word-for-word from the casebook. In the pressure of the moment, while all eyes focus on you and all ears wait for your answer, I guarantee you will be unable to read your own handwriting or typing, if you even included the exact phrasing in your brief. But if you can quickly skip to the correct language in your casebook--and you can, thanks to the color-coded highlighting--you can deliver the answer. With this book as your guide, you will work hard and also work smart as you start your law career. That combination equals success.

Best of all the law school guides!

I have probably bought every book available to prepare for my first year of law school, but this is the one I keep picking up over and over again. The advice given is straightforward and sensible. The interview with an admissions office from Cornell was also helpful. All in all, one of the best books to buy for a beginning law student.

Law school demystified and in layman's language

I bought this book on a Friday...and by Sunday I was done. I think this is the most eyeopening book I have read thus far, and I couldn't have bought it at a better time. After being rejected from all the law schools I applied to, I saw this book in the bookstore a while ago and something told me to buy it. I am so glad I did. After reading it, I discovered so many of the things I did wrong during the law school application process...things I can just kick myself in the you-know-where for doing. Not only that, but I learned so many things about the law school experience in general. I loved how the book was so specific, and pinpointed just about every aspect of the law school and pre-law school process that one experiences, from applying to law school to passing the bar exam. I also enjoyed how the book included insights from so many 'mentors' from different walks of life. With them all being recent law school graduates, I felt like I was getting information and tips from people who truly knew what they were talking about. I now feel like I have a leg up on my peers who still have questions or are intimidated by what law school might be like. After reading this book, I have a better idea about what to expect, and hopefully I can prepare in the proper fashion for it. I intend on applying to law school again, and now that I have read this insightful book, I feel like I'm a lot smarter and am in a position to make wiser choices. This book is wonderful!

Must have!

I am dead set on going to law school and even if you are just thinking about law school, this book is great. The way it is written is straightfoward and to the point. I thought I knew a lot about law school and what to expect and this book gave me tons more information. If I am fortunate enough to get into law school, this book was a tremendous investment. If you are lucky enough to be on your way to law school DO NOT leave without having read this book. I can't say it enough. This book will prepare like no one else can!

Great Advice

I definitely would recommend this book, not just for people like me who have already been accepted to law school, but also for people who who are just thinking about going. This book guides the reader through the entire process. It starts prior to taking the LSAT, and concludes with tips for passing the bar exam, and all three years of law school are covered. This book was on a list of recommended readings from the law school that I will be attending, and for good reason. There is one caveat, however, to consider. The shortcut that they suggest for breifing cases was advised against in something else I read for getting ready for law school. This does make me wonder if there are other things in this book that other experts would not recommend.

Great Book!

I read this book over the course of a couple of days because it is such an easy read, and I really enjoyed it. I will be attending law school in the fall, and it gave great explanations as to the importance of a lot of the things most coveted in law school, i.e. judicial clerkships, law review. Also, having exerpts of other lawyers' opinions on subjects was helpful too. If they made mistakes, they let you know it. This is a great book that I would recommend to anyone considering law school or is getting ready to attend law school.

This book was a HUGE help

I really enjoyed this book. It minimized my law school fears big time. The chapters were very informative and I refer to this book and others when I need to step back and re-evaluate my progress. I would definitely pick up this book if you want to make sure you're on the right track.

Extremely helpful!

I read it from cover to cover in a minute. This is an extremely helpful, not only does it help with the steps leading up to law school, but it also provides tips for how to live your life throughout the law school experience. Lots of information - but it's not a book to buy if you want help with applying. It's got everything else though.

A 'MUST-HAVE' book for law school bound students...

Robert Miller, along with about a dozen of his cohorts, have put together an excellent book that definitely is invaluable to any student either thinking about or preparing for law school. You will find in this book all you need to know about what to expect before, during, and after law school. The authors share to a great extent how to study for exams, prepare briefs, compete for law review, and apply for those critical summer associate positions, just to name a few. Each author's credentials speak for themselves as most of them have undergone law school at the most prestigious institutions and are currently working for top law firms in the United States. I also highly recommend Scott Turow's One L and Starting Off Right in Law School by Carolyn Nygren for further insight into what one can expect in law school.

Before you attend law school, read this book!

Folks, If you're even thinking about attending law school, read this book! LSC walks you through every stage of the process: thinking about law school; determining if it's right for you; applying to law schools; how to settle in to law school; how to do well once classes begin; how to secure employment; and, LSC tells you how to pass the bar exam. In short, LSC takes you from beginning to end on how to become a lawyer. Get this book, and you won't say, 'I wish I knew then what I know now...' With LSC, you can have that wish granted! Regardless of whether or not you ultimately attend law school, buying LSC is the BEST $20 you'll ever spend. The worst that could happen is that you could save tens of thousands of dollars and learn about what law school is like. That alone was fascinating reading, at least for me. For an insider's view of law school and the legal profession, LSC can't be beat!

A MUST READ!!!!

I have been out of school for about 8 years and am going to law school in the fall. I was very nervous about learning how to study all over again. This book has calmed my fears. It gave me a great sense of what to expect and how to tackle the work load. I would recommend this to anyone that's even just thinking about going to law school.

A helpful guide for all prospective law school students

I first picked up Law School Confidential in the summer before my senior year of college to get advice about the dreadful law school application process. Being the first in my family to go to law school, and without personally knowing any professionals in the law world, I was quite anxious about what to stress in my personal statement, what impresses admissions committees, and how choose which schools to apply to. I found straightforward and helpful suggestions in this book. By the time I was done applying to schools, my copy of the text was filled with sticky notes marking off bits of advice I thought were especially helpful. I even used Miller¿s outline of a good personal statement to jumpstart my own essay. More than that, however, Law School Confidential has followed me through my law school experience. After completing my applications, I revisited the book in order to get some advice on where I should actually enroll. Miller presents the reader with an enlightening method of sorting out what school provides one with a best fit, along with realistic accounts of a law school student¿s debts. In addition, as a future IL, I also had concerns about what to expect in school in September. Once again I consulted Law School Confidential. Along with taking me through the application process, Miller¿s book reveals what to expect in the first, second, and third years at law school. Among the many topics discussed are classroom subjects, how to secure internships, and ways to study that have worked well for previous students. I plan to be attending a competitive law school in the fall, and reading Miller¿s book has made me feel much more confident about what to expect, how to react, and how I will succeed in my schooling and future career. This book truly is a complete guide to the law school experience. While those simply considering law school will learn from this book whether or not this route is for them, I highly recommend Law School Confidential to all serious pre-law students. Even if you¿re at the end of the application process, Miller¿s offers great advise for how to survive the three years you¿ll spend in law school. However, if you¿re lucky enough to discover this title before you start applying, read through to find invaluable advise on the application process and give yourself the best possible chance to get into the school of your choice.

the one you must buy and read cover to cover

I've read 4 books on the topic thus far and this is by far the best. It's the most thorough and covers the topics I am most interested in, the others were quite lacking in comparison. Go ahead and trust all of the positive reviews on this website, this time they're not just hype! This book is by far the most informative and gives you a strategy on notetaking and studying for the consistent student and the procrastinator. Great tips on what to do, how much time you can expect to study, even a suggestion on a schedule for studying. LSC is tremendously helpful, before you go to law school you need to read this book!

It Works!

I returned to law school after having worked for many years. I read several books on law school and found this one to be BY FAR the BEST! It provides a system for excelling in law school that works. I followed the advice on briefing in technicolor, outlining as you go, case maps, bullet lists etc. I also followed the advice on getting my resume together before starting law school. I am happy to say that I just finished my first semester with a 3.8 GPA and I landed a summer job with a large firm over Christmas break! Thanks Robert Miller!!! I will definately recommend this book to incoming 1L's next year!