About.com

What Are the Requirements for Law School?

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:12:35 +0000

As application season comes upon us, you may want to make sure you're up to speed on essentials before you begin filling out forms.

Check out Law School Requirements for a checklist of the basics you'll need to even be considered by ABA-accredited law schools across the country. Then, when you're ready to proceed, follow the step-by-step process for applying to law school.

If you're not sure where to apply, have a look at choosing a law school as that information can help you narrow down the field -- and think about visiting law schools you're considering as well.

P.S. This is my last blog post here at About.com, but I am now offering personal statement review and editing services through Personal Statement Artist. Please feel free to come by if you need help with your personal statement or anything law-school related. Best of luck!

What's the Deal with Case Briefs?

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:55:12 +0000

Those of you entering 1L are hearing or about to hear much ado about case briefs. Everyone has an opinion on them, whether they're worth doing, what should be in them, etc., but the decision on case briefs will come down to you.

For me, I found doing a few for each class during the first couple weeks of law school was helpful for getting a feel for what the important parts of cases are. After that, in my humble opinion, they're a waste of time. Once you learn how to read a case to pick out facts, issue, holding, and rationale, you're good to go, but for more information on case briefs, see the following:

Congrats to Newly ABA-Accredited Law Schools

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:49:55 +0000

The ABA has announced the full accreditation of Drexel University's Earle Mack School of Law in Philadelphia and the Charleston School of Law in Charleston, South Carolina.

Congratulations to the schools and their students!

For profiles of many of the country's ABA-accredited law schools, be sure to check out the Law School Profiles section.

October LSAT Registration Deadline Approaching

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:11:58 +0000

Remember if you're planning on taking the October LSAT, registration online, by mail, or by phone closes August 26 for nonpublished test centers and August 30 for published test centers.

You can register late thereafter, but there will be an extra fee.

For full LSAT registration information, visit the LSAC website.

Southwestern Law Entertainment & Media LLM -- Online

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:26:02 +0000

While compiling the profile of Southwestern Law School, I came across information about the school's online LL.M. degree program in Entertainment & Media Law.

This made me wonder about other LL.M. programs around the country and whether they might increasingly move online; right now, the biggest stumbling block with online law schools is that the only state that will allow an online law graduate to take its bar exam is California. Yes, Minnesota recently decided graduates non-ABA accredited schools can also take their bar exams, but they have to be licensed by another state first.

With LL.M. programs, however, a law license isn't the end result -- that's usually already obtained before the advanced degree. So, what is stopping more ABA-accredited law schools from moving their LL.M. programs online? Is this something we'll see more of in the near future?

1L Advantage Law School Course by PowerScore

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:17:34 +0000

I recently got a message about a new law school course from PowerScore called the 1L Advantage, "an insider's guide to the law school experience, law school curriculum, and law school exams," so I thought I'd pass along word.

1L Advantage includes over 35 hours of lecture from law professors from top law schools and is entirely online; the goal of the course is to help you better understand what to expect from 1L and beyond.

For more tips on your first year of law school, be sure to check out Surviving 1L.

Are you ready?

Law School Supplies Checklist

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:04:33 +0000

Do you have everything you'll need for law school ready? While personal needs certainly vary, I've made up a checklist of law supplies to give you an idea of what you should at least think about buying before school starts.

So, former 1Ls, what were your essential law school supplies -- and what did you find you could do without?

Setting Up Your Law School Living Space

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 03:47:43 +0000

It may seem like a minor concern as you start 1L, but a little preparation of your law school living space can go a long way to providing the uncluttered organization you need to focus on the task at hand.

To help you along, I've compiled some tips about preparing your law school living space. Do you have any advice to add?

New Law School Notetaking Software

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:00:07 +0000

Have you heard about GroundBooth, the new law school notetaking software?

From the website:

Students who use GroundBooth take and save all their class notes online which can then be accessed anywhere. All documents, files and handouts related to a course can also be attached to individual outlines and stored in one place. At exam time, outlines can be auto-generated and exported to Word.

There are also social media features built in as well.

For more info on taking notes, be sure to check out 10 Dos and Don'ts of Notetaking in Law School.

Do you use notetaking software? Which is your favorite?

What to Look for in a Law School Laptop

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:22:40 +0000

Ready for a new laptop for law school but not sure what you should be looking for? I've written up a checklist of considerations, so do have a look before you plop down a wad of cash on a new computer.

Former 1Ls who have been there and done that -- any advice to share?