What Every Law Student Really Needs to Know: Introducing New Law Students to the Study of Law

13 Pages Posted: 29 Jul 2016 Last revised: 2 Aug 2016

See all articles by Tracey E. George

Tracey E. George

Vanderbilt University - Law School

Suzanna Sherry

Vanderbilt University - Law School

Date Written: July 26, 2016

Abstract

Law school is an exciting and enriching experience but also an intimidating and difficult one for students. Students and professors want students to succeed. We have written this essay and a book in order to decrease students' anxiety and increase their chances of achieving academic success. We offer here a short introduction to how a new law student can succeed, taken from the Introduction and first chapter of the book. The full book serves as a law school success guide, featuring insight into how and why law school works the way it does and the tools and techniques to fully understand first-year substantive law. In addition to teaching techniques for getting the most out of reading and out of class, the book also conveys information about the American legal system and court structure, and about cross-cutting legal concepts such as burdens of proof and standards of review. By reading this book before law school, students will be able to not only get by, but thrive in the classroom. We want to help law students feel more confident starting their new academic endeavor and be better prepared with the knowledge of what is to come and how to conquer it. We provide a foundation on which law teachers can build in the first year.

Keywords: 1L, case method, class preparation, law school pedagogy, law school success, law school, legal education, Socratic Method, study skills, teaching

Suggested Citation

George, Tracey E. and Sherry, Suzanna, What Every Law Student Really Needs to Know: Introducing New Law Students to the Study of Law (July 26, 2016). Vanderbilt Public Law Research Paper No. 16-34, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2814657 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2814657

Tracey E. George (Contact Author)

Vanderbilt University - Law School ( email )

131 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203-1181
United States

Suzanna Sherry

Vanderbilt University - Law School ( email )

131 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203-1181
United States
615-322-0993 (Phone)

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