What Law School Doesn't Teach You: But You Really Need to Know [Paperback]

Kimm Alayne Walton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2000

You'll learn trade secrets like how to make a spectacular first impression, how to turn down work when you're swamped without sayint the dreaded no, how to negotiate for more money, how to use gossip to your advantage an much more!

Product Details

• Paperback: 593 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Legal & Professional Publications, Inc.; 1st edition (January 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0159004535
• ISBN-13: 978-0159004531
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #560,519 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Um...yeah, April 18, 2004

By 

David (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Law School Doesn't Teach You: But You Really Need to Know (Paperback)

This book is well written and has a lot of do's and don'ts of the practical legal world. The author speaks a lot about what to do on the job and frequently gives a few good ideas. A huge percentage of those ideas are supported by real-life anecdotes from various legal professionals. The major problem I had with it, is that throughout almost the entire book I kept finding myself saying, "Yeah, duh." As just one of many many potential examples, there is an anecodote about a summer clerk who goes into a firm, whines that he needs his own office and is allowed to use the office of a lawyer who is out sick. The lawyer wants to connect to her computer from home, so the summer clerk is told he absolutely cannot touch the computer. The clerk does so anyway thus preventing the lawyer from being able to connect to the computer and gaining for the clerk the contempt of everyone in the office. There are a lot of little stories like this where somebody does something just blatantly stupid (and a smaller number where somebody does something blatantly correct). Some of the stories are amusing but are almost always connected to advice that seems really obvious. If you think you have really poor judgement then by all means read this book.

I also found the organization a little irritating. There were no distinct chapter breaks. Although it's got a very methodical organization scheme, it READS as though it's one big continuous text. I like to read at night and stop at the end of a chapter. I kept feeling as though if I were to stop reading I would be cutting an idea midstream and that irritated the heck out of me.

In the book's defense, it is well written and the text flows nicely. There's a wonderfully colloquial feel to how it reads.
I've been reading a lot of law school prep-type books of late and this one was not my favorite. It's not terrible, but it doesn't seem entirely useful to me either.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent book, but mostly common sense., November 16, 2003

By 

"rainpaw" (Napa, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Law School Doesn't Teach You: But You Really Need to Know (Paperback)

This book was very informative as far as a typical 9-5 workday of a lawyer, but most of her strategies are common sense. Seriously, anyone who doesn't know business manners shoudln't be a lawyer anyway. Its common sense to dress appropriately, to never crack raunchy jokes to a partner, or to speak of how hot another attorney's wife is. If you have any common sense, spend your money on a more practical book with better advice or educational value.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a must buy for any law student, October 15, 2001

By 

[e-mail] (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Law School Doesn't Teach You: But You Really Need to Know (Paperback)

Although I was very skeptical when I first bought this book, I was pleasantly surprised. I want to work in a law firm but was very disappointed with my first summer associate experience (and the outcome). I turned to this book to offer a fresh perspective and insight. I found it.

In this present climate of law firm cut-backs and recession, law students need all the help they can get. This book is very informative and offers great tidbits to keep the summer associate on his/her toes. It offers great stories (some ridiculous and others sad), humor, and a easy to read style. It also presents a multitude of information about a young associate's life in the law firm. Most importantly (for a law student), the book gives the reader the inside scoop on what law firms want and how to best go about showing your best side at all times and to keep your eyes on the "prize" (a job offer).

This book does not offer jobs and it is not a cure-all for personality problems or adverse attitudes. But it does offer the reader insight into what law firms want out of their summer associates and young associates. It also gives insight into the reality of work and play at a law firm.

Listen, the book is not expensive - but it could be costly if you don't read it and want to work in a law firm. I have given the book to friends and they have all stated that they wished they had read it LAST year! I strongly encourage 1Ls, 2Ls, and (especially today) 3Ls to read this book and to take a fresh look at the way they handle themselves.