Law School Confidential (Revised Edition): A Complete Guide to the Law School Experience: By Students, for Students

by Robert H. Miller

book data

103 ratings, 3.41 average rating, 28 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		18%
4		30%
3		30%
2		16%
1		4%

edit

published

January 1st 2004 by St. Martin's Griffin

binding

Paperback, 352 pages

isbn

0312318812 (isbn13: 9780312318819)

description

With over 25% new material, this is a must-have guidebook for students preparing to embark on the three-year odyssey of law school. Miller has assembl...more

find at: Amazon | Half.com | Barnes & Noble | Abebooks | compare prices…

new topic
discuss this book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

friend reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

lists with this book

This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists. Add this book to your favorite list »

other reviews (showing 1-20 of 154)

sort: default (?) | date
filters: all | text-only

02/27/08

bonnie rated it:

recommends it for: law students

I read Law School Confidential, liked it, used some of the methods it suggests, and refuse to be ashamed of any of that. I read a couple of "don't get blindsided by law school" type books, such as Planet Law School, and this one was by far my favorite. It prepares you for all the various sequential occurrences in law school (outlines, the socratic method, exams, 1L job search, on campus interviews, law review, clerkships, etc.), and does so without going all-out negative. The people wh...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

07/24/07

Alana rated it:

bookshelves: law

This was a simple, straightforward take on what to expect from law school and how to get ahead of the competition (necessary when most law schools operate on a strict curve system).

Personally, I found his study system helpful. It gave me 'a plan' to help ease my anxiety about going to a competitive law school. Most of his advice is common-sense, and his system is hardly innovative (or even something most law students don't do anyway), but it provides a stress-reliever.

Th...more This was a simple, straightforward take on what to expect from law school and how to get ahead of the competition (necessary when most law schools operate on a strict curve system).

Personally, I found his study system helpful. It gave me 'a plan' to help ease my anxiety about going to a competitive law school. Most of his advice is common-sense, and his system is hardly innovative (or even something most law students don't do anyway), but it provides a stress-reliever.

There are some blatant contradictions in this book on dorm life, studying, briefing, etc., but this is only to be expected in a book with multiple students as authors.

My main problems with the book were:

a) he seemed to assume all students wanted to (or would have to) go into large law firms and tailored his tips to that end

b) his suggestions on choosing the school that is right ignores some basic truths about selection. If you don't pay attention to the climate, urban environment etc. because 'that's not what really matters', you'll end up far more stressed out and miserable than you already will be. Take these things into consideration. You don't need to be homesick or wishing with all your heart for sun in a dreary New England climate when you're used to people calling you 'hon' when they serve you and not having to turn on the heat until November.

c) I hated, absolutely HATED, all of the plugs he got in. While I appreciated his adding which study guides he thought were best for 1L classes, his shameless plugs of the Law Preview course, the Kaplan and Princeton Review courses, the bar exam courses... It just irritated me.

d) I was irritated that *his* firm in NEW HAMPSHIRE was one of the ones that was interviewed about what kind of associates they are looking for... seriously...New Hampshire?

e) Were the biographies of the students really necessary?

All told, this helped ease my mind before I went to law school, but I definitely take the advice with a grain of salt... And do my best not to look at the overly strained metaphors... (less)

Like this review? yes

add a comment

02/16/09

Sumi rated it:

Read in June, 2006

I always recommend this book (along with Getting to Maybe) for any friends who are thinking about applying/have applied to law school. Is all of it the best advice? Not really. But it gives you a good overview and a game plan, and it's not out to scare you like 1L or other law school books.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

01/03/09

Adrienna rated it:

Read in November, 2007

This book had real stories to keep me pressing on since I am considering law school, but I want to realness of what to expect.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

04/13/08

Ruth rated it:

This is by far the best prep book for law school. I recommend reading it before signing up for the LSAT or applying to law schools because it gives important, straightforward advice about how to select a school and what to expect once school starts. I used the study methods described and found them practical and effective. Don't be dissuaded by the traditional method for success described in this book. Because the legal profession is conservative, this traditional method is the most efficien...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

08/01/08

Anthony Marek rated it:

Read in January, 2008

With so much hype about this book, I suppose I was setting myself up for disappointment. Much of the advice I gleaned from folks I know who've been to law school -- my dad, my girlfriend's parents, and so forth. I'd certainly recommend it to someone who has absolutely no idea what to expect from the law school adventure, though, and I guess it's laudable that they incorporate the thoughts of a few "real live" former law students. But to be honest, I didn't need to know what color hi...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

10/30/07

Courtney rated it:

bookshelves: law

This was actually the most helpful book that I read in preparation for law school and law exams. One might want to sneer or be snobbish about its approach, but it is efficient and effective. I am quite sure I actually had time to do things I liked -- such as read, spend time with my friends and family, see movies and generally have a life in law school as a result of some of this book's insights. I certainly reevaluated and made changes as I went on, but this helped me not only achieve my goa...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

08/26/07

Jen rated it:

Read in August, 2007

If you're thinking about law school, preparing to enter law school, or even in the middle of law school, I highly recommend this book. I've read a number of books about what to anticipate in law school, and this has been the most informative, practically helpful, and sensible- hands down. It covers everything from how to apply to law school to how to brief cases during your first year to interview tips for your final year.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

03/26/08

Laura Watkins rated it:

Read in March, 2008

I thought it was an extremely realistic approach to applying for and going to law school. It may have been "negative" at times but it brought up a lot of things I hadn't thought about, like the fact that you have to do about 150 pages of reading a week. I read this and I won't be applying to law school for another two years. I just think it's a really great way to know what you have to "look forward to" with law schools.

Like this review? yes

1 comment

09/11/07

Zsaleh rated it:

Read in January, 2007

recommends it for: pre-law people

Parts of this guide are a little fluffy, but it can be easily skimmed in a couple of hours, and does have some very good advice. Even though I think a lot of the tips are things that I might pick up eventually on my own, it's a great stress-reliever going into law school. Miller's study tips aren't as helpful as his more practical/life tips, but it's a good overview of the law school experience.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

12/18/07

Kate rated it:

bookshelves: law

DO NOT read this book before going to law school. It is alarmist and recommends ineffective study methods (at least for me). It had me thoroughly freaked out by my first day of law school. There will be enough freaking out, you don't need to add to it.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

10/23/08

Katie Hughes rated it:

GREAT information on the real life application process and expectations. I was reading it mainly for LSAT prep info and addmissions information so I skimmed through the last few chapters, but if you're even considering law school, it's a great read.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

08/28/08

Sra rated it:

Read in September, 2008

recommended to Sra by: Amazon.com
recommends it for: Law students and prospective students

This book delves into everything you need to know about getting into law school, and how to survive while you're there. It seems like an excellent guide with great advice. I'll be referencing it throughout my law school career.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

02/23/07

bryan rated it:

bookshelves: law-school

Reading this book, one would think the only successful lawyers are ones who graduated from a top 20 school and practice at a large multi-national firm. Geared toward students who have been gunning for the Ivy League since pre-school.

Like this review? yes

1 comment

04/08/08

Rebecca rated it:

Read in April, 2008

I admit, I skimmed the last half of the book. I'm not in law school and just in the beginning of the application process. This book was terrifying and full of lots of interesting and no doubt valuable information. We'll see.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

02/25/08

Scott rated it:

Read in February, 2008

The best pre-law school book I've read. Tons of great advice. I actually bought a copy before I finished the library copy because I knew that this was a book that I was going to want to have around to use as a reference.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

06/03/08

Shayla rated it:

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in August, 2008

recommends it for: If your thinking of Going to Law School

Good so far, I like it but still getting into it. I like the fact that it is giving you reviews from students who attended law school and are not working either in the filed or not....more review to come

Like this review? yes

add a comment

03/05/07

Samantha rated it:

This book is a tool to scare and indoctrinate the prospective law student. Don't let them tell you what to value and how to act Avoid at all costs, law school is really not that bad!!

Like this review? yes

add a comment

04/23/07

michelle rated it:

bookshelves: careers

Read in November, 2000

Read in high school. My Supreme Court Judge period. Thank goodness I grew out of that stage. Helpful, but makes law school sound dreadful. Well, then again, so do my friends.

Like this review? yes

add a comment