Open Book: Succeeding on Exams From the First Day of Law School [Paperback]

Barry Friedman (Author), John C.P. Goldberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 25, 2011 | ISBN-10: 1454806079 | ISBN-13: 978-1454806073

A concise, highly accessible guide to exam success. Provides an insider s view of what professors look for in exam answers, and how exam-taking connects to good lawyering. Accompanied by a Web site with content that is both free (e.g., sample outlines, class notes, case briefs) and for-sale (e.g., sample exams and memos written by professors giving feedback on the answers).

Features:

• High-profile, experienced authors from elite schools with hands-on experience teaching the majority of the courses in the traditional 1L curriculum
• Distinctive central pedagogy: the pinball method of exam-taking
• Accompanied by Web site with content that is both free (e.g., sample outlines, class notes, case briefs) and for-sale (e.g., sample exams and memos written by professors giving feedback on the answers).
• Explains to students not just the how but the why of law school exams what makes law school exams different from exams students have encountered in other settings
• Detailed examples provide concrete demonstrations of exam-taking techniques
• Highly readable: prose is straightforward and humorous; key points accented with memorably amusing illustrations Not just an exam prep book; students are offered guidance on getting the most out of classes, and law school more generally

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a book that will help law students get law school, not just law school exams. It really captures what it means to think like a lawyer. --Amy Coney Barrett, Professor, Notre Dame Law School

I would definitely recommend this book. It gives great advice to students who have no idea what to expect when they take their first law school exams. --Cynthia L. Fountaine, Dean and Professor of Law, Southern Illinois University School of Law

No book is a guarantor of better results, but this one would certainly help the majority of students to add points to their exam results, and some students could literally turn their performances around by following the advice of this book. --Michael D. Murray, Associate Professor, Valparaiso University School of Law

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Aspen Publishers (July 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1454806079
• ISBN-13: 978-1454806073
• Product Dimensions: 0.4 x 6.9 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Education & Reference > Graduate School > Test Preparation > LSAT
  • #32 in Books > Law > Law Practice
  • #33 in Books > Law > Legal Education > Test Preparation

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars wish I had this when I was a 1L October 4, 2011

By M. Innabi

Format:Paperback

I'm a 2L right now. I was looking at this book to see if there was anything particularly useful in it. My first thought was OMG I WISH I HAD THIS LAST YEAR!!! This book is really helpful. I have recommended it to a 1L that I'm mentoring and she loved it. She has a mid-term next week and she was nervous but thought the book gave her some useful tips to help her tackle her first law school exam. Also, the website that comes with the book is phenomenal. There is so much information from professors AND other students on there for free. I would HIGHLY recommend this for any 1L.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy This Book -- A "Must-Have" for Law Students August 15, 2011

By JSF63

Format:Paperback

This book doesn't make taking law school exams fun, but it does give you really helpful information about how to prepare for exams and do well on them. Of the exam books out there, Open Book is a good deal better -- 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. The approach here is to get inside your prof's head (a place you don't really want to be otherwise, but they are the ones who grade the exams so you might as well understand what they expect of you). Apply the advice and specific instructions for exam prep in this book, and you'll get great results -- this one really helped me.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to use, easy to read and extremely helpful November 8, 2011

By Daisybrainy

Format:Paperback

I found this book to be incredibly helpful with my recent mid-term for my first year of law school. The book is written utilizing small chunks of information in an eye catching format. Actually it is one of the few reasons I decided to pick up the book. It wasn't another book I had to wade through to get the information I needed. Boy am I glad I took the time, as I think this book sufficiently curbed my anxiety about taking law school exams.

The language of the book is simple and easy to understand. While much of it presents common sense, I find that the longer I am in law school sometimes the harder it is for me to remember the things I already know. This book kept me on track. A section I found most helpful was "The Bottom Line", a short synopsis at the end of each chapter to remind you of what you really need to know when taking an exam.

I suggest this book for any law student who needs a guideline for taking their exams and who is nervous about what to expect.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Secrets to Law School Success are within this Book! November 7, 2011

By mmeringola

Format:Paperback

This book is an extremely valuable resource for all law students. As a 3L preparing to graduate, I only wish I was aware of Open Book as a 1L! It gets to the heart of what it takes to become a successful law student - and the best part is, the practical advice and guidance provided is valuable no matter what stage you are at in your law school experience!

5.0 out of 5 stars Must buy May 17, 2013

By DONALD M. OBRIEN

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Excellent book, recommend for all law students, and those about to begin their career in law school. This book was recommended to me, and I'm glad it was.

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend! December 11, 2011

By Sheri

Format:Paperback

This is a great book for every law student. I am a 3L now and I wish it was around when I started. I think my GPA would be higher. It is practical and informative.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for picking up mid-semester December 4, 2011

By Kelianne Chamberlain

Format:Paperback

The subtitle is "Succeeding on Exams from the First Day of Law School," but this book actually works well even if you pick it up mid-semester. In fact, if you are already neck deep in your courses, this may be one of the stronger choices for exam prep. I have read a few exam prep books, and each has their strength. Open Book's strength is it's that it is written in concise chapters with large visual checkmarks and simple cartoons. The accessibility is a strength because you don't have time to get bogged down with an exam prep book when you have so much reading in your substantive courses. The "pinball" analogy is a helpful way to remember you can't get points if you don't hit the bumpers. Another strength is the real world perspective it offers as an explanation both for why law school exams work the way they do and how you can stay connected to your life while in school.

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for law school success December 2, 2011

By Rooh Singh

Format:Paperback

As a law student I found this book to be very helpful. They way the information is presented to the reader make it easier to understand. The book is formatted using bold headings with easy to find sections. The layout allowed me to track down the information I needed with ease. I would recommend this book for all law school students, following the instructions is easy, and the results will speak for themselves!