Customer Reviews

Glannon Guide to Civil Procedure: Student Manual

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This book is extremely useful for two purposes. First, it has great multiple choice questions with 1-5 line answers for each hypo, to help prepare for multiple choice exams. Second, Glannon works his way through Civ Pro curriculum by asking a paragraph or two question about every other page. The format helps solidify the trickier parts of the material in your mind through use of easy analysis. The four answer choices are worded in a way that allows you to analyze using typical reasoning patterns. This helps you see your mistakes and conceptualize correctly through a quick analytical process.

If other supplements are better suited to your learning style, you can use the questions as quick quizzes while outlining and preparing for exams. An added BONUS is that you can also use these as short hypos to write out a longer, more in-depth answer to prep for the exam.

I used various supplements for this class. Before buying all of them (like I did) I would go to your law library and look them over, use them for your class and see if they are presented in a way that works for you. If not, then buy whatever you can that is most useful and use the library's books as needed. My biggest mistake was thinking by using supplements to supplement my casebook I would learn less or get screwed up. Professors tell you whether they like supplements or not, but if you use them to prepare for class, still at least go through the cases and take NOTES from what they say, you will do far better.

I will explain the books I used second semester, which is less theory and rules based. Before each class topic I read Acing Civil Procedure (Acing Law School) and then outlined the rule in my own words using the Commentary sections in A Student's Guide to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Student Guides) to fill in and flesh out the rules. I then read through Emanuel Law Outline: Civil Procedure Yeazell (Emanual Law Outlines) skimming and highlighting the key points in my casebook Civil Procedure and adding the extra info to my rule outlines. This made class easy because I simply noted the key comments and wording my Prof used and modified my outline accordingly. After class I quickly organized the rule outline and moved on. This may seem like a lot of time, but it was about 3 hours a week. Beware of spending too much time on the supplements and rule outline BEFORE class. Much of the material in the supplements and casebook is not covered in class and therefore a waste of time.

When many spent extra time making their outlines, mine was complete and I spent an hour or two each week working through hypos and questions from Civil Procedure: Examples & Explanations 5th edition and this book. I added any issues and fact patterns I came across, to my rules outline. Before the exam I condensed my outlined rules, worked on hypos, and used the hypos we went over in class to see how Prof would work them into the exam. Overall I did not spend much time understanding the cases in their entirety . After the first week of class you should have typed down every question asked in class, because this is what the prof will ask the rest of the year. This makes it easier to skim cases and determine what is necessary and what is a complete waste of memory and time.

For first semester, this was my worst class. My 1st semester Prof was not very good and I did not practice hypos and writing out answers as in 2nd semester. What I learned was to USE SUPPLEMENTS. I used them in half my classes (best grades) and not in the other half (good but worse). I managed to use Emanuel to catch up and made a great outline, but I spent far too much time with my wording in the essays. This is where Understanding Civil Procedure, E&E and Glannon Guide (multiple choice) came in. Even without multiple choice exams, these short practice questions really help hammer out the trickier parts. The hypos help you learn to quickly write out your answer. The Understanding series is GREAT for your first semester, because it more in depth and helps you understand the overall concepts better. Also, many prefer E&E to other books for explanation, but I found it better suited for hypos.

These books collectively were not necessary , but they sure helped. If you are short on cash, the best books from most helpful to least are your required casebook, FRCP Student's guide, Emanuel (if not using Yeazall, the keyed edition to your casebook if possible, if not then case briefs should work), Acing Civ Pro (AMAZING short book with great checklists to work through the rules), Glannon Guide, and then E&E (if used for hypos, although there is a newer ed). For first semester, the Understanding book was excellent to read before anything else (do not read too heavy), because it is highly explanatory. I have found canned briefs useful from online and the various case brief books keyed to your casebook. Acing Civ Pro was the best book, but not the most needed if short on cash. See my other reviews regarding the above books mentioned. However only the first couple paragraphs will be different.

Good Luck, I will try and answer any comments!

Too many supplements seem to be all questions and answers, which is fine if you understood everything the first time you read the textbook, but not much help if you still had questions. This book explains a lot about civil procedure, section by section, a little at a time, and then allows you to check if you understood correctly, and then explains a little more, so you can learn or relearn if necessary. And the questions are not as absurd or trivial as the questions in some of the other supplements.

Very readable and clear.

This is absolutely a must have for any 1L. The Glannons Examples and Explanations is good, however the Guide is really indispensable for explaining those really tough concepts. Reading this along with the E & E is the best way to make it through the maze that is CivPro.

Used this for my Civil Procedure: Jurisdiction (aka "Civ Pro 2") class and found it to be pretty helpful. Glannon's E&E was probably better suited for the Civil Procedure class that's typically taught to first semester 1L classes, but this one helped me keep up decently well in Civ Pro 2. The only downside I can think of is that while it's no substitute for skipping casebook reading, I was still forced to pay close attention to my professor's take on Erie Doctrine.

I have had this book for less than 48 hours, but I can honestly say that as a first year Civ Pro student who was floundering, I can see clearly now because of this book. Anyone who is currently or has taken Civ Pro knows how convoluted and daunting this class can be with so many rules and procedures to learn. The examples and explanations are clear and concise, and the hypos are extremely helpful in analyzing the issues, such as jurisdiction or service.

Because of Glannon's book I now feel as though I have a real chance of passing Civ Pro and I will no longer lose any sleep over this class. I am also recommending this book to my classmates. If you have been thinking of buying this book, stop thinking and JUST DO IT!!! You won't regret it!