false 3 0 false false Wed Oct 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Oct 28 07:10:18 -0700 2009 Wed Oct 28 07:10:38 -0700 2009
As she was relatively young when she went to law school at Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington, as she only took one year off (as I recall her mentioning) from her BA until she went back to get her JD, this handbook has a decidedly twenty-something bent – which I found endearingly cute, but of little help to someone like me, who’s already been to graduate school, and who will be forty-two when he obtains his J.D. In short, I was mostly bemused for much of the book. (I think I can certainly survive the Socratic method, as that is almost what I think about and do in my current job as an elementary educator; albeit in a slightly altered form that forces students to work in dyads and teams in order to problem-solve before presenting their ideas publically.)

When Greene says that you should expect 100 pages of reading a day, I’m certainly not frightened. I found that quite doable in grad school, and I do that now – outside of working an 8 ½ hour workday. (Okay, okay. So I’m not color-coding cases studies and writing briefs in these pre-law school days. But I will gushingly admit that that sounds fun, if you ask me.)

Some of the better and more exciting chapters include: a crash course in the 1L curriculum (I’m already poised for contracts, property, and family law – according to my future boss who I plan to work for), reading and briefing cases, the importance of outlining (now made easy with creating them instantaneously on your laptop in class), as well as Greene’s helpful hints on how to get the most out of law school by getting involved with extracurriculars.

But as for the much forewarned law school gossip? That’s silly, if not petty. (Although to be expected in any human endeavor.) There was some of it when I was last in grad school in my late twenties, and there certainly is in virtually any profession, including my current one working in a public school. (Most of it has to do with why a particular kid is acting out in a self-destructive way; which is usually the direct result of a crappy home-life and irresponsible parents.) But participating in and encouraging immature, high-school drama based upon insecurities and slights (either real or perceived), as well as one-upping each other on the GPA-front are all downright silly. Personally and professionally, I just want to get my work done, and get outside and play at recess.

So, bring on the blood, sweat, and tears, I say.
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