Slaying the Law School Dragon: How to Survive--And Thrive--In First-Year Law School (Paperback)

by George Roth (Author) "Annually, thousands of new students enter law schools all over the country..." (more)
Key Phrases: directing someone, unilateral contract, reviewing court, United States, New York, Albert Bottom (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The classic survival guide to one of the toughest academic challenges you’ll ever face—first - year law… Slaying the Law School Dragon Second Edition First-year law classes are notoriously competitive and the pressure to excel is intense. Yet, each year, nearly 50,000 students willingly subject themselves to that ordeal. Written by a graduate of New York University Law School who went on to become a California Deputy Attorney General, Slaying the Law School Dragon gives law students precisely the brand of no-nonsense, practical advice they need to overcome the obstacles and pitfalls that can trip them up in their first year. While preparing students for all the intellectual rigors of law school, this witty, at times irreverent guide also steels them against the emotional demands placed on first-year students by professors’ attempts to intimidate and appraise them. In Slaying the Law School Dragon, readers will find invaluable tips on how to prepare in advance of the first day of classes; how to study effectively for class; how to prepare for exams; how to put together a brief; how to compose an argument; as well as overview chapters on first-year law courses. Offering the kinds of insights and advice that most students learn the hard way, Slaying the Law School Dragon gives students an indispensable competitive edge.

From the Publisher
Why do thousands of top notch students drop or flunk out of law school? This primer examines the problems that law student face and shows them how to stay in school, pass the bar, and go on to a rewarding professional career. Offers an overview of day-to-day law school existence. It offers a capsulized view of the four major first-year courses and illustrates novel methods of study, using real case studies to give a clear idea of what to expect in assignments. Finally, chapters on how to choose a specialty and a place to practice as well as how to get clients, help students with overall career planning.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (March 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471542989
• ISBN-13: 978-0471542988
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #282,172 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative - but in a different way., February 1, 2002

By A Customer

Let me begin this stellar review by noting: if you are looking for a book that gives you step-by-step advice and ideas on how to get through law school successfully, step-by-step then DO NOT buy this book. Go out and buy "Law School Confidential" - which will give you the low down on everything.

HOWEVER, if you've already bought your step-by-step books, but would like to get the big picture on law school, law practice and the history of law...BUY THIS BOOK. I've already done the shopping and read the books that are informative and quick. But in the back of my mind, fresh with the knowledge of how hard I'm going to work my first year, I've been wondering if I got the interest to go at this whole-heartedly (or do I just want to make money?) Call me a dork, but I loved the attention this author placed on the history of law, coming from the Common Law of England and citing cute little stories about punishing lawyers for writing too long of briefs or knights jousting to settle a case. Roth gives great attention to the extra-mile on how to go about legal research, studying for the bar and life after law school. I admit he doesn't dwell much on how to study, but rather gives a summary on each first year subject, he mentioned NOTHING on the Law Review, but suggests getting practice on writing briefs by involving yourself in Moot Court, and he has one chapter with the misleading title of "How to Study for Exams" although he pretty much talks about the Bar. And I'm not sure that you study the same for the Bar as for exams.

But at the risk of sounding uppity, I feel if you cannot appreciate the insight, advice and information that this book has to offer - then you don't have a genuine interest in law itself. I was hesistant about this book after reading everyone else's ... review - BUT AM NOW VERY GLAD THAT I BOUGHT IT. This makes me more excited about law school than any other book I read (which usually made me scared to death) And this book does offer some little tidbits and know-how of what to do when beginning law school - provided you are devoted enough to your studies to do this. This book goes beyond 'going to law school - here's how to do well and get a high paying job at a big firm and buy a yacht and a million dollar home', this book is talking about pure interest people, and devotion to your work. If you aren't willing to put forth such effort as he suggests than I question if you heart is in it. But hey, your heart doesn't have to be into Law in order to excel at it, it's just kinda nice to have happen.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent summary of what to expect in law school., December 9, 1998

By A Customer

I enjoyed the presentation of topics in the book. It includes some helpful tips on how to prepare for a rigorous course of classes.

21 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book provides very few useful tips, April 10, 1999

By A Customer

The law school I attend suggested books to read before attending the first day of class. This wasn't one of them. I now know why.

The book provides very few (and I mean few) useful tips for first year. The tips it does provide are pretty useless. You will have enough to do in law school without attempting the strategies he suggests. I'll give you four tips if you are attending law school in the near future (for free): 1)Buy study guides geared to the text the teacher uses(emanuel's, blonde's, etc.) 2)Get into a good study group 3)Study 4)Get outlines from second years 5)Don't buy this book.