Coming to law school : how to prepare yourself for the next three years / Ian Gallacher.
2010
KF283 .G35 2010 (Map It)
On loan from Cellar, due 22. Dec 2025
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Items
Details
Author
Title
Coming to law school : how to prepare yourself for the next three years / Ian Gallacher.
Published
Durham, N.C. : Carolina Academic Press, [2010]
Copyright
©2010
Call Number
KF283 .G35 2010
ISBN
9781594606533 (alk. paper)
1594606536 (alk. paper)
1594606536 (alk. paper)
Description
xi, 139 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm
System Control No.
(OCoLC)470360720
Note
Includes index.
Record Appears in
Gift
Purchased from the income of the Edith L. Fisch Fund
Gift
The Arthur W. Diamond Law Library
Purchased from the income of the Edith L. Fisch Fund
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
xi
1.
Introduction
3
2.
Quick Overview
9
3.
Reading
13
A.
Active Reading and Law Students
14
1.
Read for a Reason
15
2.
Place the Case in Context
15
3.
Answer Any Questions You Have before Moving On
16
4.
Don't Read on Automatic Pilot
16
B.
Active Reading in Action
17
1.
Surface Detail
18
a.
Jurisdiction
18
b.
Citation
19
c.
Finding the Case
20
d.
Level of Court
20
e.
Procedural Posture
21
f.
Existence of a Dissent
21
g.
Date of Decision
22
h.
Identity of the Judge Who Wrote the Opinion
22
2.
Reading Like a Lawyer
23
C.
Reading and the Internet
28
4.
Case Briefing
29
A.
How to Brief
31
1.
Read the Case First
31
2.
Case Title and Citation
32
3.
Identity of the Parties
32
4.
Procedural History
33
5.
Facts
34
6.
Issues
35
7.
Summary of Arguments
36
8.
Holding
36
9.
Court's Rationale for Holding
37
10.
The Court's Order
37
11.
Your Thoughts and Comments
38
B.
Briefing in Action
39
5.
Note Taking
51
A.
When to Start Taking Notes
51
B.
How to Format Your Notes
53
C.
Computer, Paper, and Recording
55
1.
Recording
55
2.
Computers and Pens
56
D.
The Content of Your Notes
58
E.
Note Review
60
6.
Outlining
63
A.
When to Start Outlining
64
B.
What Form Should Your Outline Take?
65
1.
Skeleton Outlines
65
2.
Narrative Outlines
66
3.
The Benefits of Employing Both Outlining Approaches
67
7.
Time Management
69
A.
Why Time Is at a Premium in Law School
69
B.
Treat Law School Like a Job
70
C.
Plan What Work You're Going to Do and When You'll Do It
72
D.
Maintain an Accurate Calendar
73
E.
Perform a Time Audit
76
8.
Writing
79
A.
The General Perception That Lawyers Are Bad Writers
79
B.
Good Writing Is Reader-Centered
81
C.
Good Writing Is Easy to Read
82
1.
Technical Accuracy
83
2.
Structure
84
3.
Voice
85
4.
Plain Language
86
D.
Good Writing Is Not Easy
87
E.
Good Writing Is About Character
88
9.
Structure of the U.S. Court System
91
A.
Federal Courts
91
1.
Civil versus Criminal
92
2.
Trial Court Level
93
3.
The Courts of Appeals
94
4.
The Supreme Court
98
B.
State Courts
100
10.
Hierarchy of Authority
103
A.
Court Ranking
103
B.
Legal Issues
105
C.
Persuasive Authority
108
11.
The Legislative Branch
111
A.
The Organization of the Federal Legislature
111
B.
Congressional Power
112
C.
The Legislative Process
112
12.
The Executive Branch
115
A.
Organization
115
B.
The Regulatory Process
116
13.
What Else Is There to Do?
119
A.
Read
119
B.
Read American History
120
C.
Compare the Way Stories Are Reported
121
D.
Read a Newspaper Front to Back Every Day
121
E.
Watch C-SPAN for an Hour Each Day
122
F.
Go to Court and Observe
123
G.
Learn Something About Culture and Social Behavior
125
H.
Get a Job in a Law Firm or Government Office
125
I.
If You Can't Get a Paying Job, Volunteer
127
J.
Write
127
14.
Conclusion
131
Index
135