Mercer University School of Law: Library Faculty Services

Anticipating what law school will be like can be a matter of considerable thought by incoming first year law students, especially during those long summer months prior to the first day of school. The following list provides some helpful information on the study skills necessary for success, along with some interesting and inspiring readings and films on the practice of law. These materials may be available through Amazon.com, your local bookstore or public library. Many of them are also available in our law library collection.

The Brethren is an illuminating look at the inner workings of the Supreme Court. Despite the term covered, 1969-1975, the book is a revealing account of court personalities, the wide range of factors which influence a court's opinion, and how a court is "built” (a majority opinion).

The Buffalo Creek Disaster: The Story of the Survivors' Unprecedented Lawsuit
Stern, Gerald M.

The story of the pro bono publico partner of Arnold & Porter who was the lead counsel for over 600 survivors of a coal mine disaster in West Virginia, it shows both the procedural and human side of the practice of law.

This is the story of a lawsuit brought by families of eight leukemia victims against two corporate giants for dumping cancer-causing materials into their water table.

This is a history of the landmark case of James Earl Gideon's fight for the right to legal counsel.

The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town
Grisham, John

Based on a true story of how Ron Williamson, a major league baseball prospect, was arrested and charged with a crime he did not commit.

An Introduction to Law, Law Study, and the Lawyer's Role
Moliterno, James (Revised 2004)

Often lighthearted, this pragmatic book combines an innovative introduction to the American legal system with material on how to read cases and understand them, and as importantly, the lawyer's role in interacting with the client.

A Nation Under Lawyers: How the Crisis in the Legal Profession is Transforming American Society
Glendon, Mary Ann

This is a thought-provoking critique of the role and impact of the legal profession in today's society.

Written in 1977, this is still a fascinating and revealing account of author Scott Turow's turbulent but ultimately jubilant experience as a first year law student at Harvard Law School.

Though the Heavens May Fall: The Landmark Trial That Led to the End of Human Slavery
Wise, Stephen H.

This book recounts the 1772 London trial of James Somerset, a black American slave who accompanied his slave master to England, and legally petitioned the British court to remain in England as a free man. This case confirmed that slavery was not legal in Great Britain, and as the case drew to a close, the famously conservative judge, Lord Mansfield, spoke these stirring words: "Let Justice be done, though the Heavens may fall."

A Lawyer Walks Into A Bar
Eric Chaiken. DVD. 2008. 92 min.

This documentary explores the influence of the law and its practitioners on American culture while following six characters as they do whatever it takes to become lawyers. This film features cameos by legal luminaries, politicians, well-known comedians, celebrity lawyers and other notables, including Mercer alumna and CNN's Nancy Grace, novelist Scott Turow, Harvard law professor, Alan Dershowitz, and many more.

The Trials of Law School
Porter Health Morgan. DVD. 2007. 87 min.

This documentary follows eight law students through their first year of law school at University of Oklahoma School of Law with commenatry from 25 legal scholars around the country. The film depicts the type of pressures and anxiety students undergo during the first year of law school. Most significantly, the film carries the important message that students need to remember who they are and to maintain a life outside of the law school, including maintaining contact with family.

Blogs & Podcasts:

CALI's Pre-Law Blog - Chock-full of suggestions and insights on what to expect from the law school experience, including the cost of textbooks, laptops in the classroom, moot court competitions, etc.

Ten Tips for Future Law Students: How to Succeed in Law School - advice to students by students on Res Ipsa Blog.

Advice to a 1L From a Law Professor Podcast - A Question and Answer session with a professor who has been teaching for over 30 years. His comments in this podcast about the first semester of law school focus on the Socratic method, preparing for class, note-taking during class, class participation, "riding out" that "lost at sea" feel common during the first few weeks of law school, the appropriate use of study aids, advice about law school exams, and general advice on doing well in law school. (Click on "download.")

Books:

1000 Days to the Bar, But the Practice of Law Begins Now
Tonsing, Dennis J. 2003.

This book explains the relationship between the professional practice of law and the practice you need to perform each week to achieve your objectives, and includes information on how to read and brief court opinions, take and transform class notes into course summaries, outlines and flow charts, and gain fluency in the "language of the law."

1L of a Ride: A Well-Traveled Professor's Roadmap to Success in the First Year of Law School
McClurg, Andrew J. 2009. (Highly recommended on Amazon's "Customer Reviews")

Written by an award-winning professor with wide experience teaching at many different law schools, 1L of a Ride provides a step-by-step navigational guide to both academic and emotional success in law school's crucial first year.

Acing Your First Year of Law School: The Ten Steps to Success You Won't Learn in Class
Noyes, Shana Connell. 1999.

This book focuses on the first year, providing many helpful tips for not only surviving, but also coming out on top. This book has a readable, conversational tone. It includes particularly valuable information about outlining, learning from Socratic class discussions, briefing cases and studying for exams. -- National Jurist (September 2008)

Bridging the Gap Between College and Law School: Strategies for Success
Stropus, Ruta K. 2001.

Bridging the Gap Between College and Law School will help students make the transition from their undergraduate experience to law school learning. The text explains the "why" of law, providing students with the context necessary to understand why law school is taught in a certain manner. It also explains the "how" of the law, setting out a step-by-step process that will help students adapt to the law school setting. Finally, this text explains the "what" of the law, giving students the opportunity to practice the problem-solving process by providing numerous exercises in a variety of subject matter areas.

Controlling Stress and Tension
Girdano, Daniel, et al. 2008.

How To Succeed in Law School
Munneke, Gary A. 2001.

Introduction to the Study and Practice of Law in a Nutshell
Hegland, Kenney F. 2003.

The Insider's Guide to Your First Year of Law School: A Students Handbook from a Law School Survivor
Spizman, Justin. 2007.

Written by a recent law school graduate, this book addresses current issues that law students face every day, including computers in the classroom, electronic databases, the Socratic method, outlining and study tips, balancing a heavy workload with everyday life, and making time for friends and family.

Law School Basics: A Preview of Law School and Legal Reasoning (*written by a current Mercer Law School faculty member - highly recommended)
Hricik, David. 2000.

Law school has the reputation of being one of the hardest academic programs. It is a reputation well earned. However, Law School Basics is chock-full of insights and strategies that will prepare you well and give you a head start on the competition. Law School Basics was written with one overriding goal: to enlighten you about everything the author wishes he had known before starting law school.

The Law School Breakthrough (strategies for graduating in the top 10% of your class)
Yianilos, Christopher. 2005.

Law School Confidential: The Complete Law School Survival Guide: By Students, For Students
Miller, Robert H. 2004.

Law School Without Fear: Strategies for Success
Shapo, Helene S. 2002.

The Law Student's Pocket Mentor: From Surviving to Thriving
Lijima, Ann L. 2007

Making Law Review: The Expert's Guide to Mastering the Write-on Competition
Henricksen, Wes. 2008

The Practice of Law School: Getting In and Making the Most of Your Legal Education
Carey, Christen and David, Kristen. 2003.

Succeeding in Law School
Ramy, Herbert N. 2006. (Several excellent "Customer Reviews" on Amazon.com)

As the Director of Suffolk University Law School's Academic Support Program, the author has incorporated examples, a few cases, hypotheticals, and exercises so that students can practice their new skills and measure their success.

The Ultimate Guide to Your Legal Career: What Every Young Lawyer Must Know to Avoid the Mistakes and Maximize the Value of a Career in the Law
Cannon, K. Charles. 2007

Legal Writing in Plain English - online exercises from Bryan A. Garner's book, Legal Writing in Plain English. The book provides lawyers, judges, paralegals, law students, and legal scholars sound advice and practical tools for improving their written work.