Comments for Law School Ninja http://lawschoolninjabook.com An Unconventional Strategy for Mastering Law School Sun, 05 Sep 2010 02:47:14 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Ah, the Wonders of the Law School Study Group by Gary Young http://lawschoolninjabook.com/2010/09/ah-the-wonders-of-the-law-school-study-group/comment-page-1/#comment-170 Gary Young Sun, 05 Sep 2010 02:47:14 +0000 http://lawschoolninjabook.com/?p=213#comment-170 Nicolas: What part are you trying? The sit still part? Gary Nicolas:

What part are you trying? The sit still part?

Gary

]]> Comment on Ah, the Wonders of the Law School Study Group by Nicolas http://lawschoolninjabook.com/2010/09/ah-the-wonders-of-the-law-school-study-group/comment-page-1/#comment-168 Nicolas Sun, 05 Sep 2010 02:07:19 +0000 http://lawschoolninjabook.com/?p=213#comment-168 Three weeks into my 1L year and I am devoting my weekend to trying out your idea. 1 day down, 2 to go. I will report back with the results. Cheers Three weeks into my 1L year and I am devoting my weekend to trying out your idea.

1 day down, 2 to go. I will report back with the results.

Cheers

]]> Comment on Ah, the Wonders of the Law School Study Group by Not a sheep http://lawschoolninjabook.com/2010/09/ah-the-wonders-of-the-law-school-study-group/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Not a sheep Mon, 17 May 2010 22:07:59 +0000 http://lawschoolninjabook.com/?p=213#comment-86 Seriously, IMO study group in law school is definitely a relief from loneliness for most students. I was given grief by classmates who didn't know squat about my abilities, just because I refused to join study groups. The reason of their attitude was that I wasn't scared or anxious about the whole law school experience and I guess that wasn't normal to them. I needed to be fixed. I have a very smart friend who also works alone. However, she's a free spirit who doesn't project an image of a bright student so nobody has ever harassed or pestered her to join a study group. I bet, the minute they find out that she has great grades, they'll jump her and accused her of not being a team player and being weird (yeah I was told that) for not wanting to help her lovely classmates Seriously, IMO study group in law school is definitely a relief from loneliness for most students. I was given grief by classmates who didn’t know squat about my abilities, just because I refused to join study groups. The reason of their attitude was that I wasn’t scared or anxious about the whole law school experience and I guess that wasn’t normal to them. I needed to be fixed. I have a very smart friend who also works alone. However, she’s a free spirit who doesn’t project an image of a bright student so nobody has ever harassed or pestered her to join a study group. I bet, the minute they find out that she has great grades, they’ll jump her and accused her of not being a team player and being weird (yeah I was told that) for not wanting to help her lovely classmates

]]> Comment on What Matters in Law School (or, what Doesn’t) by Not a sheep http://lawschoolninjabook.com/2010/09/what-matters-in-law-school-or-what-doesnt/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Not a sheep Mon, 17 May 2010 21:57:34 +0000 http://lawschoolninjabook.com/?p=209#comment-85 Why don't we have enough people like you in law school? This is what I wrote to my law school student newspaper after less than 1 month into 1L. "Dear Legalese Editor, "Another non-insightful comment...", you might probably think after reading me but the nearly discouraged and kind of put-off first-year student I am desperately needs to have an answer to the following question: "Is the herd mentality which is rampant in every law school - unfortunately the U of O's Common Law faculty is not an exception - a mandatory condition to the success of any law students and future lawyers?" I am asking because I haven't met yet one student who was able to make a sentence without saying: " You have to do this and that if you want to get in a law firm; If you want to get noticed by the teachers, you have to... bla bla bla". I am like: "But, have you tried or thought about something else? Do you know that there may be different views or ways?". Reply: "Uuh? Whatever! Everybody knows that you have to act like that." Seriously, are we trying to all become parrots or lobotomized lawyers? It's just like once you set foot in law school, you have to been brainwashed into becoming a sheep and nobody is allowed to think differently. So I seriously need to know, if the aim of law school is to produce an unlimited series of lawyers who will barely be able to make a difference because they were and are too busy to follow, apply and abide by the norms of the herd. A disillusioned law student." As far as I am concerned, I've managed to achieve good grades by reading case digests on Westlaw, on focusing on the black law letter like you said and guess what: "I did better than those scared packs of students who thoughts that study groups were the only way you can feel safe and beat the curve in law school". I hate law school, I hate the herd mentality that is promoted by the law society, the law firm. However, I still look forward to the day when someone is gonna take a different approach like you and demystify the whole law school myth. Why don’t we have enough people like you in law school? This is what I wrote to my law school student newspaper after less than 1 month into 1L.

“Dear Legalese Editor,

“Another non-insightful comment…”, you might probably think after reading me but the nearly discouraged and kind of put-off first-year student I am desperately needs to have an answer to the following question: “Is the herd mentality which is rampant in every law school – unfortunately the U of O’s Common Law faculty is not an exception – a mandatory condition to the success of any law students and future lawyers?”

I am asking because I haven’t met yet one student who was able to make a sentence without saying: ” You have to do this and that if you want to get in a law firm; If you want to get noticed by the teachers, you have to… bla bla bla”. I am like: “But, have you tried or thought about something else? Do you know that there may be different views or ways?”. Reply: “Uuh? Whatever! Everybody knows that you have to act like that.”

Seriously, are we trying to all become parrots or lobotomized lawyers? It’s just like once you set foot in law school, you have to been brainwashed into becoming a sheep and nobody is allowed to think differently. So I seriously need to know, if the aim of law school is to produce an unlimited series of lawyers who will barely be able to make a difference because they were and are too busy to follow, apply and abide by the norms of the herd.

A disillusioned law student.”

As far as I am concerned, I’ve managed to achieve good grades by reading case digests on Westlaw, on focusing on the black law letter like you said and guess what: “I did better than those scared packs of students who thoughts that study groups were the only way you can feel safe and beat the curve in law school”. I hate law school, I hate the herd mentality that is promoted by the law society, the law firm. However, I still look forward to the day when someone is gonna take a different approach like you and demystify the whole law school myth.

]]> Comment on The Most Important Thing to Do Before Law School Bar None by Gary Young http://lawschoolninjabook.com/2010/08/if-you-have-law-student-add-do-this/comment-page-1/#comment-81 Gary Young Tue, 04 May 2010 13:53:35 +0000 http://lawschoolninjabook.com/?p=205#comment-81 Let me know how it goes -- Gary Let me know how it goes –

Gary

]]> Comment on The Most Important Thing to Do Before Law School Bar None by Sine Metu http://lawschoolninjabook.com/2010/08/if-you-have-law-student-add-do-this/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Sine Metu Tue, 04 May 2010 05:03:25 +0000 http://lawschoolninjabook.com/?p=205#comment-80 This seems to jive with a lot of research coming out that discusses "deliberate practice", not just repetition, as the way to improve most effectively -- the painful (at first), reflective, and disciplined grind. I will be doing this before heading off to 1L this fall to conquer the five minute problem. Thanks for the tip! This seems to jive with a lot of research coming out that discusses “deliberate practice”, not just repetition, as the way to improve most effectively — the painful (at first), reflective, and disciplined grind. I will be doing this before heading off to 1L this fall to conquer the five minute problem. Thanks for the tip!

]]> Comment on Ah, the Wonders of the Law School Study Group by Gary Young http://lawschoolninjabook.com/2010/09/ah-the-wonders-of-the-law-school-study-group/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Gary Young Tue, 04 May 2010 02:14:30 +0000 http://lawschoolninjabook.com/?p=213#comment-79 Well, I am glad to hear it worked for you. You had an exceptional study group. Trouble is, very few study groups in law school work at all, let alone this well. I would be the numbers would be 1 in a 100. On the whole, people are far better off slugging through the stuff themselves and using a hornbook to find the black letter law. But thanks for the comment -- Gary Well, I am glad to hear it worked for you. You had an exceptional study group.

Trouble is, very few study groups in law school work at all, let alone this well. I would be the numbers would be 1 in a 100. On the whole, people are far better off slugging through the stuff themselves and using a hornbook to find the black letter law.

But thanks for the comment –

Gary

]]> Comment on Ah, the Wonders of the Law School Study Group by M.R. http://lawschoolninjabook.com/2010/09/ah-the-wonders-of-the-law-school-study-group/comment-page-1/#comment-78 M.R. Sat, 01 May 2010 04:27:30 +0000 http://lawschoolninjabook.com/?p=213#comment-78 I disagree that study groups are to relief loneliness. Study groups can be extremely useful when they are properly organized and structured. My study group had a designated "expert" for each topic, who regularly went to the professor with questions, and reported the answers back to the group. We often took up a portion of the library in different rooms and at different tables, and only met to talk when we had an issue. Then each person would weigh in, and the group would come to a consensus on what was the most reasoned law (although no one was absolutely certain, and difficult matters were sent to the professor). I'm not sure if a model like that would benefit everyone, but I feel like I did significantly better this semester using that method than I did last semester, when I studied alone. Actually, there might be some amount of "loneliness" reduction going on, but that certainly helps when you've become crazy from the info-overload and you just need someone who can sympathize. I disagree that study groups are to relief loneliness. Study groups can be extremely useful when they are properly organized and structured. My study group had a designated “expert” for each topic, who regularly went to the professor with questions, and reported the answers back to the group. We often took up a portion of the library in different rooms and at different tables, and only met to talk when we had an issue. Then each person would weigh in, and the group would come to a consensus on what was the most reasoned law (although no one was absolutely certain, and difficult matters were sent to the professor).

I’m not sure if a model like that would benefit everyone, but I feel like I did significantly better this semester using that method than I did last semester, when I studied alone. Actually, there might be some amount of “loneliness” reduction going on, but that certainly helps when you’ve become crazy from the info-overload and you just need someone who can sympathize.

]]> Comment on So, you got into Law School. Congratulations. Enjoy it before the One L fear sets in. by Angie http://lawschoolninjabook.com/2010/03/so-you-got-into-law-school-congratulations-enjoy-it-before-the-classic-one-l-fear-sets-in-better-yet-don%e2%80%99t-let-it-get-to-you-in-the-first-place/comment-page-1/#comment-55 Angie Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:16:52 +0000 http://lawschoolninjabook.com/?p=129#comment-55 You hit the nail on the head!!! WOW! As a 2nd semester 1L, I could identify with everything you said (I've experienced a few of those examples personally!!!) and wholeheartedly agree!!! I read OneL a few weeks before school began in August and it did scare the crap out of me - funny thing is, tho, I didn't believe it could be that bad, and yet in some respects it is worse!! I look forward to LMAO about it this summer when I watch the movie!! :) We joke it is like hazing all the time!! HATE what we're going thru but it will sure feel good in about 2.5 months!! Thanks for writing this!! You hit the nail on the head!!! WOW! As a 2nd semester 1L, I could identify with everything you said (I’ve experienced a few of those examples personally!!!) and wholeheartedly agree!!! I read OneL a few weeks before school began in August and it did scare the crap out of me – funny thing is, tho, I didn’t believe it could be that bad, and yet in some respects it is worse!! I look forward to LMAO about it this summer when I watch the movie!! :)

We joke it is like hazing all the time!!

HATE what we’re going thru but it will sure feel good in about 2.5 months!! Thanks for writing this!!

]]> Comment on That’s right: Stop briefing cases. by candybeans http://lawschoolninjabook.com/2009/10/thats-right-stop-briefing-cases/comment-page-1/#comment-54 candybeans Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:41:13 +0000 http://lawschoolninjabook.com/?p=52#comment-54 totally, 100% true. took me far too long in my 1L year to figure out the tremendous parts of my life i was wasting on briefing, instead of actually learning the material. totally, 100% true. took me far too long in my 1L year to figure out the tremendous parts of my life i was wasting on briefing, instead of actually learning the material.

]]>