Invaluable advice for Aspiring and Current Law School students!
927566
This book is an absolutely must-read for anyone who's thinking about or currently attending law school!  It goes way beyond most "how to" books, by not only providing practical advice, but also provides specific examples (like actual CVs, reference letters, personal statements) from successful applications.  The author writes in a very easy-to-read and honest, pragmatic manner and his advice shows a depth of thoughtfulness that could only come from someone who was a mature student who first attended Brooklyn law school before he transferred to Harvard.  He answers the questions like a kind, mentor/friend would, providing you with the facts, his own personal opinion, his own experience as well of others, so that when you make that decision for yourself, it's a very informed decision.  Because the book covers the entire period of his law school experience, from application to graduation and even the first year at a law firm, it's really an insider's view of what to expect from law school and a law career.  What surprised me about the book was that it was also enjoyable to read even just as an inspiring memoir.  I bought this book to give to my nephew as he contemplates his future career options, in the hopes that maybe he'll pursue a career that his aunt dreamed of but who didn't have the benefit of such advice.  Now he's armed with all the info he needs about this path.  Highly recommended!
4419142
A MUST READ for both law students, law professors, and those in the legal profession!! As a recently new lawyer, it was incredible and inspirational to read a book like this that actually relates to our generation and day in age where it seems like substance abuse is growing more and more each day. This makes the Substance Abuse courses law students and lawyers attend more personable, heart-felt, and realistic. It takes alot of courage to write what must have been painful experiences in such a unique piece of art and be able to share it with others. I have recommended this to friends in Ohio, Texas, New York, and all across the states with my Semester At Sea alumni.

Thank you for this powerful read and cheers to you on surviving and advocating for such a devastating cause!
3064602
Superb resource.  I would suggest reading this, probably twice, before showing up for first year.  I wish I had, although I got hold of this in time to make a difference in what I produced.  I mean it - if you want to suck all there is to get out of the Law School process, pick this up.
212796
Amazing and vivid description of one man's turbulent lifestyle at Harvard Law School. The 269 page book was hard to put down once you delved into Turow's world. As a college bound high school senior and prospective law  school student, I now have a better glimpse of "law life."  Competition, envy, jealousy and the occasional back stab all make better  the reality of a law student's life. Any who wishes to add a new  perspective for the life of a lawyer should keep this as a "MUST  READ!" Harvard Bound!!
2648911
I know Will takes a lot of heat for being "too negative" about the Biglaw experience (and a lot of the material in this book is definitely negative!). But, having been-there-done-that, I can assure you it's basically on point.

If you know anyone who's applying to law school, please send them this book. Most applicants have little to no idea what they're signing up for, and things can get pretty ugly when you've wasted three years of your life, spent $150K in loan money, and hate your job (if you can even get a job).

Maybe they'll ignore what he's revealing, but at least they'll have a better idea what they're getting into when they decide to join the legal profession!

A must read.

Alison
[...]
1039000
I'm a second-year law student and had the opportunity to read this book in preparation for law school exams.  Reading this book was probably one of the best decisions I've made in terms of preparing for exams.  This is a great supplement for how to think about test-taking and I'd categorize it as a "must have" aid for any law student.

The book doesn't make taking law school exams fun or write your outline for you, but it does give you information and structure about how to prepare for exams and do well on them.  Of the exam books out there, Writing Essay Exams to Succeed in Law School (Not Just to Survive) is the best I've come across.  It's an easy read and it provides practical tips on how to spot issues and write essays that will set you apart from the other students.

Apply the advice and specific instructions for exam prep in this book and you'll see the results.

You are the individual responsible for your education and grades.  Reading this book and preparing in earnest will provide you with an understanding on how to analyze complex legal material. You need to learn the material and work with it daily. Reading a case and briefing it is not sufficient to do well.

The book will help you with understanding your own learning strategy, which is vital to know prior to entering law school. You need to know how to study, prepare, and practice law school exams prior to entering.

Hope this helps and best of luck with exams.
2425464
I haven't read the book (though it sounds like it contains good advice); this book came up as a product I may be interested in on Amazon. I sincerely wish I had read something like this before I went to law school, graduating in 2008. Ouch.
Here's my advice:
1. Don't go to law school unless it is a state school with cheap(ish) tuition, or you get a great scholarship.
2. Don't go to law school without a definite plan. Line up those internships early, and make yourself stand out.
3. Don't go to law school if you want a career affecting public policy, want to work for a nonprofit, work for the government, human rights, or anything altruistic. Go to grad school.
4. Recognize that the market is terrible- hundreds of resumes pour in for those low-paid ADA and Legal Aid jobs.
5. Employment stats lie by omission. They consider ANY form of employment, even waiting tables, in creating those stats.
6. More and more attorneys are having to do document review to get by. If you don't know what that is, look it up. It's terrible.
7. It is very hard to graduate from law school and open up your own practice. Law school doesn't really teach you how to practice law.

In sum, you are trading what could be a mortgage on a house, three years of your life, and possibly a satisfying career in another field to go to law school. Contrary to what admissions will tell, a law degree does NOT help in getting other jobs (compliance, contract management, etc). It actually hurts more than it helps, because hiring managers believe you are applying only as a stop-gap measure.
2603235
"The Law School Breakthrough" is a well-written, inspiring, insightful glimpse into the nerve-wracking experience of law students everywhere.  Yianilos' approach to the topic -- with humility and self-deprecation -- makes this an easy and sympathetic read from the beginning, and his journey does much to dismantle the jitters experienced by most law students.  I would recommend this book to all law students (and aspiring law students, for that matter!) and look forward to future books from this writer.

- Caty B. (Los Angeles, Ca.)
3181242
It's worth the read. It helped me learn a lot about what to consider when going to law school. It is a honest telling of the law school life. I especially enjoyed being able to read able different lawyers and their perspectives in entering the job market, choosing a school, and picking a specialization. Read this if you are even slightly intrigued in going to law school.
1207974
Mark Griffin has authored a terrific book for the college student looking for guidance in planning a successful career beyond college.  College to Career is packed with a wealth of information, tools, resources and expert advice that students can begin applying immediately -- no matter what year of college you're currently in.

Most collegians are graduating today with massive debt and enormous student loans to repay.  If you're a college student and fall in this camp (and even if you arent), this indispensable book can increase the likelihood that you will find a career youll love, maximize your days in and outside of the classroom and best prepare for the transition into todays technology-based, volatile and uncertain workplace.

A must read for every college student.. and their parents!
3670326
Given today's shrinking availability of law jobs, large tuition charged by schools, and the amount of crippling, undischargeable debt law students potentially go into, the importance of this book is ever more relevant. Definitely a must read for anyone considering going into law school in the near future.
1989255
As a pre-law adviser I've read many books about preparing for law school or what to expect in the first year.  This is by far the best!  The combination of first-hand, practical information and advice, coupled with comments from other professors and students, all seasoned with just the right amount of humor, makes this an easy, enjoyable and informtive read.  I'd recommend this to any students who are just thinking about law school and am giving a copy to one of my students who has already been accepted. I would think students reading and following Professor McClurg's advice would enter law school with much less apprehension and should have a fighting chance of being in the top part of their class.
1134180
I write a lot of legal crap....literally...until i got this book.  My writing has skyrocketed to amazing clear briefing to the Court.  There are endless ideas of specific points to improve your legal writing.  Thank Mr. Garner wrote this book!  My income will vastly improve too.  What a small price to pay for such wisdom.
727654
When facing the prospect of life, aspiring semi-successful cowbell player and magician Rick Lax decides to go to law school and follow in his fathers footsteps (sort of).  But this is more than a coming of age story.  This is a glimpse into the mind of the future of law (or humor.  Or literature).
This book finally paints a picture of law school that isn't as doom and gloom as One L and 'The Paper Chase' (neither of which I would recommend to an aspiring law student).  Rick Lax crafts a humorous book full of personal experiences and the minutia of law school while avoiding (thankfully) the staggeringly frustration and boring enterprise that can be the study of law.
Highly recommended to anyone applying to law school (or any grad school for that matter), this book takes the reader through the hills and valleys that a law student faces.
I found no typos or grammatical errors and see hints of A.J. Jacobs in Lax's lighthearted and witty style.
While this is a quick read, some of the best books are - keeping the reader involved and unable to stop until the last page.  I read this book in about 4 hours and loved every page.
I hope we see more from Rick!
3190796
If you want objective reviews of law schools (but only the ABA-approved law schools), this book is the ultimate Bible to them.  In my opinion, in your search for a law school, you need to have this book as a reference.  It describes the specialties of different schools, and the grid comparing  your chances of admission against your LSAT and GPA is priceless.  However,  many top-ranked schools do not provide that information, so if you're  hoping to determine your chances at Harvard or Columbia, guess again.  You'll just have to apply to find out!  It's also useful in that it  provides e-mail addresses, snail mail addresses, phone numbers and websites  for all of the schools.  That is a handy way to request catalogs and other  information.
3807524
I really enjoyed Harlan York's new book, Thee Degrees of Law.  The style and approach to his tips on starting and growing a legal approach are engaging and utterly relatable.  I definitely recommend this book for any would-be lawyer, young attorney and grizzled veteran alike.

The read of this book felt more like collection of morning mentoring sessions with Mr. York.  I imagine, rightly or wrongly, Mr. York's office just off the reception area (for better connection with his clients, I think he'd say).  Inside is a comfortable clutter with an energetic buzz which is both inviting and engaging.  Pictures of family, fighters and maybe a musician dot the walls which are also laden with professional accolades.  Two computer monitors set off to the side of his desk give his clients no barrier in their communications either in person or virtually.  Mr. York knows every detail of each stacked box and paper in his office.  These are the deeply personal stories of his clients.  Everything about this office speaks of the passions in Mr. York's life, especially his passion for his clients.

So I imagine myself many years younger as perhaps a 1st or 2nd year attorney (though I do so more for variety because I could also imagine myself doing this today), morning coffee in hand, plopping myself down in Mr. York's office every Tuesday morning for casual mentoring session.  The conversations we have and Mr. York's sage stream of consciousness in these sessions are, in my mind, what make up this book.  Thats not true of course, it just that this is how the style and writing of this book make me feel.

 I'm drawn into each topic as Mr. York effortlessly drops knowledge on life and the law.  His intense focus on me only briefly interrupted after he's completes his view on a topic so that he can quickly respond to a client.  Always respond quickly to your clients, he tells before launching into the next topic triggered by something I had said.

That Mr. York is a passionate person is obvious.  That he is passionate about his clients is crystal clear. That he is passionate about the law is absolute.  But what's more, Mr. York carries a passion for life and people and it's infectious.

Three Degrees of the Law is an easy and must read for every law student, young lawyer and even use 40somethings firmly (or not so firmly) in the midst of our careers.  Mr. York delivers practical, real word advice about building a legal practice and representing clients.  While the advice itself is not new cure-all in a "I discovered the simple secret to success" kind of way, it is fresh voice on some fundamental truths.  As Mr. York speaks (the one in my head of course) I can almost hear Duke himself (Mr. York's father who appears regularly in the book) speaking to me.  In his words I feel the humble encouragement of a Coach who could probably remember by name every kid he has coached.  The kind of Coach that would tell-it-like-it-is and allow for no excuses because he believes in you.

Mr. York's book says it's about the law, but I think it's really about passion.  It seems clich to say "find your passion" and that is not exactly what I think Mr. York is saying in his book.  Rather, he's saying "be passionate" make "being" something that you are passionate to do.  Bundle those things for which you are passionate into a focused endeavor, preferably, one that helps people, and never ever stop.
131103
This book was recommended to me by a friend who recently graduated from law school. I had asked her about interesting reading material before my first year, and she felt that Turow's "One L" would be a good start for me. As soon as I picked up the book, I was captivated by the narrative and honest tone of Turow's account. Although the account itself is from the 70s, there is a timeless quality in Turow's writing that brings his law student experience to life. This novel is definitely worth reading, especially for those who are thinking about law school.