Comments for Law School Ninja

Comment on How to Write and Effective Outline (Part 3) by Gary Young

Gary Young — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:14:41 +0000

Very cool. Tell EVERYONE.

Comment on How to Write and Effective Outline (Part 3) by Johnnie

Johnnie — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:57:48 +0000

Your book was so on point and so funny and so candid. I tried out the recommendations from your book and scored beyond my expectations last year. Thank you!

Comment on How to Write and Effective Outline (Part 2) by Gary Young

Gary Young — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:40:56 +0000

John:

Take it from a guy who hires One Ls as law clerks and 3Ls as lawyers for my firm: clubs and orgs — save 1 — have virtually NO value in the job market. Any value that a club has is dramatically outstripped by the measurables: Class rank and GPA.

The one organization that has real value? The primary academic law review at your school. But notice, the value of that organization isn’t because of what you do when you join it. Membership on law review is valuable only because it is usually a very credible evidence of superior academic performance when some lawyer is looking at your resume. So too with “Order of the Coif.”

Comment on How to Write and Effective Outline (Part 2) by John

John — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:52:56 +0000

I’m a one L this year and your book came highly recommended to me. Its also the most concrete advice I’ve received so far. Anyway, my question is what are your thoughts on joining clubs and organizations in law school? Any benefit to the job hunt process or to life in general?

Comment on What Matters in Law School (or, what Doesn’t) by Gary Young

Gary Young — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:50:24 +0000

Thanks. Let me know what pays off.

Gary

Comment on What Matters in Law School (or, what Doesn’t) by lulu

lulu — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:46:27 +0000

thanks for the advice love your blog!!

Comment on Another Dirty Little Secret: Briefing Cases is Overrated by Gary Young

Gary Young — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:45:11 +0000

IF you are in Con Law and there is a need to understand the concurrences and dissents to count the votes and understand the ultimate holding of SCOTUS, then yes. Otherwise, NO. Leave them alone unless you have the 1 out of 100 professor that takes joy in focusing on what does not ultimately matter. And even then, my advice would be to ignore them as well, because concurrences and dissents don’t test well, and unless you are in Con Law, they almost never show up on a One L exam.

Comment on Another Dirty Little Secret: Briefing Cases is Overrated by Gary Young

Gary Young — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:39:36 +0000

Well, in the beginning — until you have your legs under you about prep for class — I would make enough notes about the case to give you the issue and the holding. But I don’t mean put together one of those long case briefs that we were all taught to do. I mean the absolute minimum — you ought to be able to identify the one or two sentences that immediately summarizes the point of the case. Write that down. That is really the only point you will need when you outline the class later. What is the point of the case? That is what you want to know.

Comment on Another Dirty Little Secret: Briefing Cases is Overrated by Jimmy

Jimmy — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 11:33:28 +0000

How much notes should I make on each case? Do you recommend reading all the concurrences and dissents(which is a big ask)?

Comment on The Socratic Method: Up Close and Personal by Rafael Zanatta

Rafael Zanatta — Wed, 18 May 2011 14:00:25 +0000

Great story, Gary.

I could imagine the whole scene.

In Brazil, some law school teachers are introducing the Socratic method. It’s a big change compared to the traditional continental method. Some classes are turning into something like what you described!