Written by a recent law school graduate with an extraordinary success story,
Excelling in Law School: A Complete Approach transcends merely surviving
the experience, demonstrating how to earn high grades by working smart, excel
in extracurricular activities, publish, and land top jobs. The author aced his
first year at a fourth tier law school and transferred to a top-10 school from
which he graduated, magna cum laude. Now, he shares his insights and his
experience, surpassing expectations set by his less-than-lustrous LSAT scores.
Miller relieves some of the anxiety about law school by conveying proven
strategies that will appeal to today’s tech-savvy law student. He outlines the
available resources and study-aids and shows how to effectively use new
technologies such as websites that distribute outlines, companies that provide
MP3s of detailed lectures on first year courses, student-maintained outline
banks, recorded lectures, professor podcasts, and PowerPoint slides. Students
learn the specific, unique skills required to approach law reviews and
scholarships and to hunt for jobs. Excelling in Law School: A Complete
Approach observes successful tactics used by other students and guides
readers in selecting the strategies and resources that best fit each
personality
Features of Excelling in Law School:
• A unique book written by a recent law school graduate with a
stunning success story
• Goes beyond the basics of surviving law school
o earning high grades
o excelling in extracurricular activities
o publishing
o landing top jobs
• Helps students excel
o shows how to work smart
o relieves some anxiety about law school
o conveys proven strategies
Designed for today’s tech-savvy law student
•Showcases the study-aid market and effective use new
technologies
o websites that distribute outlines
o companies that provide MP3s of detailed lectures on first year courses
o student-maintained outline banks
o recorded lectures
o professor podcasts
o PowerPoint slides
• Reveals effective, specific skills and unique approaches
o law reviews
o scholarships
o job-hunting
• Outlines available resources
• Illustrates the author’s personal success, one that can
be tailored for any law school student
o how the author personally aced each area
o strategies and tactics observed in use by other students
o how to select the strategy and resources that best fit the reader’s
personality
Summary of Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction
a. What to do before Law School
b. Plan the Work and Work the Plan – A General Approach to Law School
Chapter 2. Acing Law School Classes Means Acing Law School Exams
a. The preeminence of the final exam in law school grading
b. How to focus on the final exam before class has even begun
c. The big picture approach to classes
d. Outlining
e. The question and answer preparation method: applying law to facts
f. Using study aids and preparing for the exam
g. How to write a law school exam: developing an approach to spotting issues
h. Other variations: multiple choice, short answer, and take home exams
Chapter 3. Preparing for and Participating in Class
a. Introduction to class
b. How class participation affects your grade
c. Reading and Briefing Cases to Prepare for Class
d. Note taking
e. Getting to know your professor without brown-nosing
f. Participating in class without being hated by your peers
Chapter 4. Legal Writing and Legal Practice Classes
Chapter 5. Writing Seminar Papers and Notes
Chapter 6. Getting on a Law Review or Journal
Chapter 7. Student Organizations, Moot Court, and Clinics
Chapter 8. The Married & Family Law School Experience
