One of the biggest questions facing 1L's is the question of whether or not to brief the cases we are assigned to read. Most professors will tell their students that briefing is absolutely necessary to a successful 1L year. But is that really the case? Here's what I think...The most important aspect of obtaining a legal education is reading and understanding the cases. One should brief to the extent that briefing will serve this goal. I've been seeing a lot of folks with these massive briefs: procedural posture, names of litigants, exquisitely detailed facts etc. Now if this type of brief helps you to understand the case, then by all means go forward. Be warned however that come finals time these huge briefs may not be all that helpful. One of the major challenges of law school is the amount of information we have to digest.
In order to best digest all of this information, it helps to have cases broken down into bite-sized nuggets. If your briefs are not bite-sized they won't help you.I never briefed. Well that's not entirely true. I briefed in class. This I found to be the best solution for my learning style. I would carefully read each case the night before class. Then I would go over each case again before class to ensure that I would be able to intelligently present in the event that I was called on. Then, in class as the professor went over the case I would brief the case into a bite-sized chunk that would help me remember the key points later.
This method established three things for me. 1. I enjoyed reading the cases as I wasn't worried about rushing through them to finish my briefs. 2. It forced me to understand the cases instead of summarizing them. 3. It made me focus in class on the cases instead of facebook. The end result was a set of class notes far superior to any outline and set of briefs that were actually useful in finals preparation.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Substance versus Procedure
The distinction between substance and procedure is a theme that comes up time and time again in the study of law. In addition to the subtle distinctions that we are all familiar with via Erie and its progeny, (if you don’t know, don’t ask,) the study of law itself involves both substantive and procedural aspects. One of the biggest challenges for me was recognizing that the procedural aspects of lawschool deserve as much if not more time than the substantive ones…
The substantive aspects of the law are easy to grasp. What is the definition of a promise? What are the elements of a mistake-of-law defense? These are the things that I thought lawschool was about. Substantive knowledge of the law is undoubtedly a critical aspect of becoming a lawyer, but without the procedural knowledge to use your facts you’re in big trouble. There are a lot of very, very smart people who get burned on their first round of finals because of lack of attention to procedural preparation.
Being procedurally prepared means knowing how to approach the law with a mind for how you are ultimately going to use it. When prepping for finals this means being ready to write. The only way to be ready to write is to practice. Take advantage of the past exams that are available through the library. Read over them and get a sense for how the substantive issues are presented. Then, and here’s the big secret, practice writing answers to these questions under test conditions. Take some time and go over exams with a study group, get feedback and practice some more. The people most prepared for the procedural aspects of lawschool will have a distinct advantage.
The substantive aspects of the law are easy to grasp. What is the definition of a promise? What are the elements of a mistake-of-law defense? These are the things that I thought lawschool was about. Substantive knowledge of the law is undoubtedly a critical aspect of becoming a lawyer, but without the procedural knowledge to use your facts you’re in big trouble. There are a lot of very, very smart people who get burned on their first round of finals because of lack of attention to procedural preparation.
Being procedurally prepared means knowing how to approach the law with a mind for how you are ultimately going to use it. When prepping for finals this means being ready to write. The only way to be ready to write is to practice. Take advantage of the past exams that are available through the library. Read over them and get a sense for how the substantive issues are presented. Then, and here’s the big secret, practice writing answers to these questions under test conditions. Take some time and go over exams with a study group, get feedback and practice some more. The people most prepared for the procedural aspects of lawschool will have a distinct advantage.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Paying for Law School
The costs associated with attending law school are a subject for serious consideration. Law school is expensive and you should make informed decisions regarding how you are going to pay for it. St. John's Law School offers a variety of programs to help you plan your law school finances.
All students are automatically considered for merit based scholarships, which are awarded on the basis of an exceptional undergraduate record. St. John's also participates in the federal student funding program know as FAFSA. Through this online program, students can apply for and administer their loans in one centralized location. Once admitted St. John's will recieve your FAFSA information and you will recieve your loan check. For further information you can see the FAFSA website or call the St. John's Universtity customer service line: 718-990-2000.
www.fafsa.ed.gov/
see also: http://www.stjohns.edu/academics/graduate/law/prospective/financial.sju
All students are automatically considered for merit based scholarships, which are awarded on the basis of an exceptional undergraduate record. St. John's also participates in the federal student funding program know as FAFSA. Through this online program, students can apply for and administer their loans in one centralized location. Once admitted St. John's will recieve your FAFSA information and you will recieve your loan check. For further information you can see the FAFSA website or call the St. John's Universtity customer service line: 718-990-2000.
www.fafsa.ed.gov/
see also: http://www.stjohns.edu/academics/graduate/law/prospective/financial.sju
Housing Options
Finding a nice place to live while you're in law school is a critical component of your education. The greater New York City real estate market can be intimidating. While there are beautiful private residences all over queens, St. John's Law School offers another option: law student only, near-campus housing.
The apartments, located a short distance from campus, are new, impeccably clean, affordable and beautiful. The new hardwood floors and freshly painted walls are the perfect backdrop for your studies. Students have their own rooms and are privileged to calender-year leases which makes summer employment in NYC a breeze.
The all law student nature of these apartments is another huge benefit. Law students keep their own unique schedules, often busy from dusk til dawn. Sharing in a community of like minded individuals makes everything seem all the more normal. The apartments are walking distance to several local restaurants and shopping. All in all the Law School Apartments are a wonderful opportunity for incoming students.
The apartments, located a short distance from campus, are new, impeccably clean, affordable and beautiful. The new hardwood floors and freshly painted walls are the perfect backdrop for your studies. Students have their own rooms and are privileged to calender-year leases which makes summer employment in NYC a breeze.
The all law student nature of these apartments is another huge benefit. Law students keep their own unique schedules, often busy from dusk til dawn. Sharing in a community of like minded individuals makes everything seem all the more normal. The apartments are walking distance to several local restaurants and shopping. All in all the Law School Apartments are a wonderful opportunity for incoming students.
Personalize Your Statement
When it comes time to write your personal statement (PS) take this advice: Tell YOUR story within OUR guidelines. In other words, use the PS as a showcase for your individuality but make sure it conforms to the guidelines set forth in the application. The law school admissions process involves a lot of numbers: class rank, LSAT scores, and GPA's. The PS is your opportunity to tell the admissions committee your personal story. Use the PS to express yourself. Since STJ law does not conduct evaluative interviews, use the PS as a "written interview," to tell admissions what's special about you. There's no need to give a narrative version of your resume. Instead, tell us a story that illustrates why you would be a great lawyer and an asset to the St John's University community.
It is important however, while you are telling your story, to remember that becoming a lawyer is about learning how to be a professional. This idea should permeate your thought process when applying to law school. In the PS context, this means paying attention to formatting and page limits. It means choosing appropriate subject matter for your essay, and it means proofreading. Nothing detracts from your message and announces carelessness, like a sloppy delivery. With these principles in mind, take some time and write an essay that shows us who you are and why you'll be a good lawyer. We can't wait to learn about you.
It is important however, while you are telling your story, to remember that becoming a lawyer is about learning how to be a professional. This idea should permeate your thought process when applying to law school. In the PS context, this means paying attention to formatting and page limits. It means choosing appropriate subject matter for your essay, and it means proofreading. Nothing detracts from your message and announces carelessness, like a sloppy delivery. With these principles in mind, take some time and write an essay that shows us who you are and why you'll be a good lawyer. We can't wait to learn about you.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Come Through for a Visit
There is only so much that you can learn about a community by reading about it. At some point you just need to check it out for yourself. When deciding on what school to attend, I found the visit to be the most useful and helpful tool. There are things that you can see on a visit that will never come through in a brochure, video or blog. You can get a sense of the morale of a place, get a chance to see it with your own eyes and have the opportunity to imagine yourself there.
There are a few things that you should be sure not to miss on your STJ visit. First of all make sure that you come at a time when you can sit in on a class. Nothing was more valuable to me as a prospective student than actually seeing how a lawschool class works. Pay attention to the professor to be sure but also pay careful attention to the students. The thing that made the biggest impression on me was the extent to which the students seemed completely engaged with the speaker. They hung on every word. Clearly this was a group that was committed to soaking up everything the professor had to say.
Also check out the atrium on the 4th floor. Slightly smaller and definitely less well known than the cafeteria atrium the 4th floor atrium is a great place to study or catch up on some reading before class. Somewhere between the library and the other atrium in volume the 4th floor atrium is a good spot. Not too loud to read but definitely a place amenable to some intense debate.
There are a few things that you should be sure not to miss on your STJ visit. First of all make sure that you come at a time when you can sit in on a class. Nothing was more valuable to me as a prospective student than actually seeing how a lawschool class works. Pay attention to the professor to be sure but also pay careful attention to the students. The thing that made the biggest impression on me was the extent to which the students seemed completely engaged with the speaker. They hung on every word. Clearly this was a group that was committed to soaking up everything the professor had to say.
Also check out the atrium on the 4th floor. Slightly smaller and definitely less well known than the cafeteria atrium the 4th floor atrium is a great place to study or catch up on some reading before class. Somewhere between the library and the other atrium in volume the 4th floor atrium is a good spot. Not too loud to read but definitely a place amenable to some intense debate.
Think Culture
I assure you that there is more to making an informed decision about where to attend law school than simply comparing rankings. It’s a matter of determining the culture of the school and assessing how you fit within that culture.
The culture of STJ law is one both of cooperation and competition. Both are critical to a successful educational experience. The cooperation is easy to see. Students help each other here. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a student point out a helpful point of law moments before class. I have shared my notes with dozens of students and have received just as much.
The competition is also intense. I have been involved as a student in a higher education setting for the last 12 years. I studied neurobiology, cell biology, pharmacology and biophysics at Ivy League institutions. I can say that without a doubt, that my 1L section was the smartest group of people I’ve ever worked with before. When there’s that many smart people around the competition comes naturally. It’s a good competition, not nasty or petty. It’s the kind of competition that pushes you to excel. Knowing how hard everyone else is working is a powerful driving force.
The other aspect of STJ Law culture worth mentioning is diversity. Located in the most diverse county in the United States, the STJ law student body is equally diverse. Diversity in the classroom is one of those unquantifiable benefits. With diversity comes diverse experience and diverse points of view. Valuable in any educational setting, diversity is particularly valuable in legal education. At St. Johns Law, students are exposed to the vastly differing opinions of people from varied backgrounds. The contribution of diversity to our law school is immeasurable.
One more aspect worth mentioning is the fact that SJU law is part of the greater St. John’s University campus. In addition to access to all of the University’s facilities like the gym, tennis courts and sprawling campus, law students also have access to the wide range of expertise available steps away. Working on a DNA case, not sure what DNA stands for… just ask professor Simms in the biology department. Being on the campus of a major university is a incredible bonus that will only add to and enrich your law school experience.
The culture of STJ law is one both of cooperation and competition. Both are critical to a successful educational experience. The cooperation is easy to see. Students help each other here. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a student point out a helpful point of law moments before class. I have shared my notes with dozens of students and have received just as much.
The competition is also intense. I have been involved as a student in a higher education setting for the last 12 years. I studied neurobiology, cell biology, pharmacology and biophysics at Ivy League institutions. I can say that without a doubt, that my 1L section was the smartest group of people I’ve ever worked with before. When there’s that many smart people around the competition comes naturally. It’s a good competition, not nasty or petty. It’s the kind of competition that pushes you to excel. Knowing how hard everyone else is working is a powerful driving force.
The other aspect of STJ Law culture worth mentioning is diversity. Located in the most diverse county in the United States, the STJ law student body is equally diverse. Diversity in the classroom is one of those unquantifiable benefits. With diversity comes diverse experience and diverse points of view. Valuable in any educational setting, diversity is particularly valuable in legal education. At St. Johns Law, students are exposed to the vastly differing opinions of people from varied backgrounds. The contribution of diversity to our law school is immeasurable.
One more aspect worth mentioning is the fact that SJU law is part of the greater St. John’s University campus. In addition to access to all of the University’s facilities like the gym, tennis courts and sprawling campus, law students also have access to the wide range of expertise available steps away. Working on a DNA case, not sure what DNA stands for… just ask professor Simms in the biology department. Being on the campus of a major university is a incredible bonus that will only add to and enrich your law school experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
