Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid!!!

You’ve chosen Section 3/Curriculum B at Georgetown, which, according to that bastion of scientific reporting, the US News and World Report, isn’t even in the top 10 law schools in the country.   You’re going to learn reams of useless theory, be branded a legal pariah, prove to be completely unemployable, and much worse than all that, have more reading than the average first year student at the school.  Sucker!!

Well, if you’ve managed to avoid the small but hysterical minority who espouses the above views, here’s a quick last minute summer reading idea for upcoming Section 3 students. 

I’m sure your professors will say things like “relax, don’t worry, don’t study, enjoy your summer.”   Personally, I wished they hadn’t, as much of the “extra-legal” material in Section 3 focuses on economics and history, areas that I’m only moderately well versed in.  Were I in my own shoes again, at this time last year, I’d have read the US Constitution, a brief overview of 19th and 20th century American history (in conjunction with a legal history of the same period).  ((Actually, I did this, and it was very helpful.))   I’d also pick up some kind of basic legal primer on the legal system. 

The historical transformation of legal theory and culture broadly parallels the changes in other academic and artistic fields – which should be grossly obvious, and probably was to everyone but me.  I went well into the first semester treating my studies as though they were some kind of mystical sealed system.  My advice would be to try thinking of the cases in their time and place (although one prof will tell you to view your studies as an anthropological journey into some exotic culture – bear in mind that it’s a human culture and one that existed in the US).

**

While I didn’t find many of the “1L how-to” books useful, you should probably skim them for anything you think might work for you. 

However, I’d advise you to have all your ducks in a row before you begin classes.  Make a folder with all your important personal documents in it, birth certificates, tax forms, parents’ tax forms.  Get multiple (5) certified copies of ALL of your transcripts, even HS if you can swing it (you never know who will want them.)  Make sure your passport is up to date.  Make sure you have no outstanding anythings that you need to take care of (library fines, etc.).  Update what you can on the resume.  While it seems like these things are minor, your downtime in law school becomes very precious indeed – no one wants to waste it standing in line to take care of this or that. 

I’d also advise taking out renter’s insurance (even if you’re in the dorms) and getting the full insurance package on your laptop.  (One of my classmates accidentally dumped coffee in another classmate’s laptop and there was a horrified gasp from the assembled class as though something had died.  It all turned out well, but it’s best to be safe.)

Lastly, (for those like myself, years out of school) I’d practice the “campus run” if you’re living off campus – assemble a small collection of commuter items (in particular a light sweater/vest/fleece for the lecture halls/coffee thermos/comfy backpack, etc.) which you can use to stake out and survive in an institutional setting without dropping tons of cash at the cafeterias.  In many ways it’s like camping. 

I’ll write in with more post-arrival tips later in the summer, but as a sobering note, here's the box full of my assigned first year reading. 

Comments

[Sister School]

As far as historical primers go, I suggest anything written by Alan Brinkley. He's quite fun to read and touches most of the themes (even if its a thumbnail version). The Unfinished Nation (2 volumes) is my recommendation, but his surveys are good as well I hear.

[blm]

Yeah, and if we thought 1L was rough, we're certainly in for it this year. I've just been working out schedules and whatnot for my upcoming classes/clinics/etc. and had a brief glimpse into what can only be described as nonstop, frenetic, law-filled action.

Boy, am I excited! (Seriously).

[Scoplaw]

I'm sure we'll have *some* goof off time. SS and I will be sure to have you over for wine, dinner, and movies, now that you are part of The Takoma Collective (tm). And, I expect the SF hills will have been good training for some of the hills out there. I expect you'll kick my ass - I've been doing the river trail this summer - mostly flat, just enough time to heat up and then, kathunk, I'm either home or at the office. I miss our riding excursions.

[blm]

I miss our rides too. I've got to plan a route to and from Takoma that doesn't involve Georgia Ave or North Capitol....

And I'll also have to have you and SS over for same, even tho I don't have a garden and my kitchen is probably 1/3 the size of yours.

Who else is in The Takoma Collective(tm)? Is there a large contingent of GULC'ers out there?