Getting to Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams

asked by lovieduvie on November 19, 2006 3:45 AM

Professors Fischl and Paul explain law school exams in ways no one has before, all with an eye toward improving the reader's performance. The book begins by describing the difference between educational cultures that praise students for "right answers," and the law school culture that rewards nuanced analysis of ambiguous situations in which more than one approach may be correct. Enormous care is devoted to explaining precisely how and why legal analysis frequently produces such perplexing situations.

But the authors don't stop with mere description. Instead, Getting to Maybe teaches how to excel on law school exams by showing the reader how legal analysis can be brought to bear on examination problems. The book contains hints on studying and preparation that go well beyond conventional advice. The authors also illustrate how to argue both sides of a legal issue without appearing wishy-washy or indecisive. Above all, the book explains why exam questions may generate feelings of uncertainty or doubt about correct legal outcomes and how the student can turn these feelings to his or her advantage.

In sum, although the authors believe that no exam guide can substitute for a firm grasp of substantive material, readers who devote the necessary time to learning the law will find this book an invaluable guide to translating learning into better exam performance.

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Reviews

I've never written a review on Amazon before, but I think this book warrants one. While everyone's approach to studying for law school is different, this book is the only one I've read (out of more than I'd care to admit) that's really helped me to organize my studying in a systematic way. It provides a rubric for understanding exam questions -- and, in truth, law school in general -- from the perspective of the teacher: in other words, it forces you to think about what they're trying to teach you, how, and why.

Obviously, I can't speak for anyone else, but I can say confidently that it'll be worth your time to check this book out.

reviewed by anton584 on November 22, 2006 10:07 PM

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I read this book right after trying to apply IRAC to my first midterm and doing horribly. After reading the first 50 pages I knew exactly what I did wrong and how I could have handled the question differently. I recommend also doing LEEWS as both methods are similar in that they teach you how to answer legal questions from both sides and arrive at a thoughtful response

reviewed by scanner on November 29, 2006 7:21 PM

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I bought this book prior to beginning law school on the advice of the summer reading list. Although I haven't gotten through even my first semester, already what I have read has really made things in class seem clearer and I feel much more confident for the exam. I wholly recommend it.

reviewed by tsu on November 29, 2006 7:31 PM

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add a new book!