One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School

Good perspective

Enjoyed reading authors experiences

1L

Although I have no interest in entering law school, the story of Scotts experience was really informative. I always wondered what it was like in HLS, and even if this exp. is decades old...well, its much better than what Legally Blonde tells you.

Greast for Parents of a One L

Great read for a parent of a One L. Although many things have changed with the style of law education it gives you a good idea what your daughter or son is going through. It also helps you understand the "lingo" of law school so you don't have to keep asking them "anyoing" questions.

It is a fast and fun read.

Informative and Well written

Scott Turow gives a detailed account of his first year in law school. It serves to enlighten aspiring law school students about the tribulations of being a One L. I found it very informative and has led me to plan to enter law school with caution and fully prepared.

An interesting period piece without much application to today's law students.

I appreciate the perspective Turow's book provides, but I must say that the law school of 30 years ago is quite different from the law schools of today. Professors are no longer mean spirited, students no longer rip pages out of books (everything is online), and the advent of the laptop has radically changed the way law students do work. If you are looking for an interesting read, I would recommend the book. If you are looking for a book to provide you with realistic expectations about what your first year of law school will be like, look elsewhere. Take it from someone who is a first year law student at a top tier school, it is not anywhere near as bad as Turow's experiences would have you believe.

WOW! A fine piece of writing

Not only is this a fine piece of writing, it is also very informative and entertaining. This is a must read for anyone considering law school or for any one who is simply interested in the hallowed tradition of one of America's finest educational institutions.

Good book, but things have changed

As a lawyer who followed Turow into Harvard Law School's hallowed halls a decade later (I'm certain they raised the standards after I graduated), I found One L entertaining. Unlike Turow, though, I actually enjoyed my experience -- and I was nowhere near the top of the class. Aspiring law students should read Turow's book, but not take it too seriously. I think most 21st-century U.S. law schools -- including Harvard -- are more humane institutions than the place Turow describes. For anyone who has read One L, I recommend another book, Dead Hand Control. I'd go so far to say that novel should be required reading for anyone considering law as a career, especially if their only insight into law school is from One L. Dead Hand Control chronicles a second-year law student's journey through classes, interviews, and the law firm environment. The author, Tim Stutler, is an attorney who attended Harvard as well as Boalt Hall (U.C. Berkeley). The law school experiences described in Stutler's book are much more realistic (and far more entertaining) than those in One L. Equally enlightening is the book's depiction of life after law school.

A good reminder to expect the worst and prepare your mind for an experience like no other

Turow does an excellent job of relating his experience at Harvard in the 70's to the attitude one may still expect to find lingering in the halls of American law schools today. Although I will not begin my legal journey for a few months, I observed a couple of classes at one of the 'top ten' schools where my brother attended a few years back and I can assure you that the intimidation factor between the professors and the students is alive and well! This book was more entertaining to me than anything, but has also helped me to get into the mindframe of being a law student. I think One L is especially good for those who have yet to enter law school; it gives you a great idea of what the 'worst case scenario' could be and encourages you to ask yourself if you are really ready for the challenge you will soon be facing.

A Dramatic Account of a First Year at Law School

If contemplating law school or just simply interested, this book does a good job of taking you inside the doors of America's top law school and portrays the trials and victories that are found there. Turow does a successful job of making a difficult education interesting and his account of his first year in law school is worth reading.

Only read if not comptemplating law school....

this is a good book, will keep your interest if interested in the law. However, this book will cause anxiety if read by someone contemplating law school, or about to start law school. One must remember that it is no long 1975, and most people do not attend Harvard Law school.....

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