Needing guidance for coping with law school? Searching for credible advice on studying for finals? Here are some books in the Law Library collection that are worth checking out:

ACING YOUR FIRST YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL: THE TEN STEPS TO SUCCESS YOU WON’T LEARN IN CLASS by Shana Connell Noyes and Henry S. Noyes (1999). KF283/.N69/Reserve. Authors include chapters giving advice on reading and briefing cases, using the Bluebook, conducting general legal research, mastering legal writing, using study aids, outlining, preparing for exams and writing exam answers.

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN COLLEGE AND LAW SCHOOL: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS by Ruta K. Stropus and Charlotte D. Taylor (2001). KF283/.S77/Reserve. Chapters include advice on reading and briefing cases, taking notes, synthesizing cases, outlining, flowcharting, preparing for exams and managing time.

THE COMPLETE LAW SCHOOL COMPANION: HOW TO EXCEL AT AMERICA’S MOST DEMANDING POST-GRADUATE CURRICULUM, 2nd ed. by Jeff Deaver (1992). KF283/.D4/1992/Reserve. While the first few chapters arefor those who are contemplating attending law school, the bulk of this work provides advice to entering law students. Chapters include “Daily Survival in the Classroom,” “How to Brief Cases,” “The Course Outline,” “Preparing for Exams,” “Taking Exams,” “Sample Exams,” and “Writing a Course Paper.”

CONQUERING LEGAL EXAMS: THE ART OF PREPARING FOR AND WRITING OUTSTANDING LEGAL EXAMS by David R. Simon (1994). KF283/.S65/Reserve. Short book on preparing for and taking final exams. Latter third of book provides sample exam questions, an outline of applicable law, and model answers.

THE EIGHT SECRETS OF TOP EXAM PERFORMANCE IN LAW SCHOOL: AN EASY-TO-USE, STEP-BY-STEP PROGRAM FOR ACHIEVING GREAT GRADES! by Charles H. Whitebread (1995). KF283/.W48/1995/Reserve. A short, easily read book telling how to outline and organize exam answers, use your exam time, and identify issues. The appendix provides sample questions and model answers for first-year subjects.

FIRST YEAR LAW SCHOOL SURVIVAL KIT by Jeff Adachi (1996). KF283.A32/Reserve. Author, after initially giving brief descriptions of first-year class subjects, provides an easily read chapter on preparing for class. The largest section of the book is devoted to giving advice on how to write essay answers for specific first-year subjects (i.e., “How to Answer a Torts Problem”). “The Problem Solving Approaches” found in the latter fourth of the book provide short outlines of concepts for the first-year class subjects.

FROM HERE TO ATTORNEY: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EXCELLING IN LAW SCHOOL AND LAUNCHING YOUR LEGAL CAREER by Robert Arnett II, Arthur Coon, and Michael DiGeronimo (1994). KF272/.A76/Reserve. This book contains sections dealing with getting into law school and finding legal employment, but also has chapters discussing the use of study aids, taking final exams and the significance of being a member of a law review. Appendices include sample course outlines, a sample formal brief, a class flowchart and sample exams with answers.

GETTING TO MAYBE: HOW TO EXCEL ON LAW SCHOOL EXAMS by Richard Michael Fischl and Jeremy Paul (1999). KF283/.F47/Reserve. Authors try to “tackle the exam process by breaking it down into discrete analytical components.” Two-thirds of this book provides an in-depth discussion of how to analyze issues and think like a lawyer. Latter third of the book includes chapters on preparing for and writing law exam answers, along with a good FAQ chapter and some sample first-year subject exam questions and model answers.

HOW TO DO YOUR BEST ON LAW SCHOOL EXAMS by John Delaney (1988). KF283/.D44/1988/Reserve. While this book is certainly not an easy read, it does provide extensive analysis on how to outline for your classes, identify issues, and write exam answers. It also includes sample exam problems and good and bad answers to these problems.

HOW TO MAKE IT THROUGH LAW SCHOOL: A GUIDE FOR MINORITY AND DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS by J.P. Davis (1982). KF283/.D38/Reserve. Author writes brief chapters on issues such as dealing with first-year law school trauma, teaching methods, study groups, briefing cases, legal reasoning, and exam preparation.

HOW TO STUDY LAW AND TAKE LAW EXAMS IN A NUTSHELL by Ann M. Burkhart and Robert A. Stein (1996). KF283/.B87/Reserve. Some of the more valuable chapters describe types of materials found in the law library, methods for preparing for class, outlining, study aids, how to prepare for and take the exam. The final third of the book provides exam questions and model answers for first-year subjects.

HOW TO SUCCEED IN LAW SCHOOL, 3rd ed. by Gary A. Munneke (2001). KF283/.M86/2001/Reserve. Author provides an invaluable perspective in chapters 3 and 7 entitled “Understanding the Law School Experience” and “Avoiding the Pitfalls of Law School,” respectively. Other chapters well worth the reader’s time are “Studying the Law” and “Taking Exams.”

INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF LAW IN A NUTSHELL, 4th ed. by Kenney Hegland (2003). KF273/.H4/2003/Reserve. The more valuable chapters in this book for freshmen include “Reading Cases,” “Briefing Cases,” “General Study Tips,” “More Stuff on Taking Exams,” “Fear and Loathing in the First Year,” “Mechanics of the Oral Argument,” “Legal Research,” “Legal Writing,” and several chapters providing an introduction to the litigation process.

LAW SCHOOL BASICS: A PREVIEW OF LAW SCHOOL AND LEGAL REASONING by David Hricik (2000). KF283/.H75/2000/Reserve. This author writes several easily-read chapters on basic concepts of learning the law. Chapters include discussions on “The Common Law Reasoning Process,” legal research, the American legal system, “Bluebooking,” and “How Lawyers Write About Cases,” as well as examples of outlines for several courses.

LAW SCHOOL COMPETITIONS IN A NUTSHELL by Larry L. Teply (2003). KF279/.T46/Reserve. Author gives detailed advice on participating in moot court, negotiation and client counseling competitions. LAW SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE LAW SCHOOL EXPERIENCE: BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS, REV. ED. by Robert H. Miller (2004). KF283/.M55/2004/Reserve. This is probably one of the better books giving advice on how to handle law school life. This is not a book discussing the technical aspects of writing or preparing for exams; rather, it is more like a best friend’s discussion on how to get through law school and find clerking jobs.

LEARNING LAW: THE MASTERY OF LEGAL LOGIC by Sheldon Margulies and Kenneth Lasson (1993). KF273/.M37/Reserve. Author’s purpose is to explain basic legal principles to entering freshmen law students, with most examples centering on the subject of torts.

LEARNING THE LAW: SUCCESS IN LAW SCHOOL AND BEYOND by Steven J. Frank (1992). KF283/.F73/Reserve. Chapter 1 provides a good introduction to the structure of U.S. legal institutions. Chapters 2 through 5 introduce the reader to different aspects of legal reasoning; pretty in-depth reading, however. Chapter 7 provides some specific, though dated, recommendations on commercial study aids for the law student.

MAXIMIZING THE LAW SCHOOL EXPERIENCE II (2000). KF273/.M3/2000/Reserve. This special issue of Stetson Law Review is an update of the 1983 Stetson publication designed to “provide entering law students with the knowledge and confidence to grasp the many opportunities that a legal education yields.” Sections include “Insights on Legal Education,” “Developing Analytical Abilities,” “Gaining Lawyering Skills,” “Building Relationships,” and “Life After Law School.”

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO WRITING LAW SCHOOL ESSAY EXAMS by John C. Dernbach (2001). KF283/.D47/Reserve. This is a short book designed to “keep you focused on the most important things you need to know” to be successful in writing an exam, according to the author. Chapters include “Knowing Your Reader,” “Preparing to Write,” “Writing Your Essay,” and “Explaining Your Analysis.” The author also provides a few sample questions with answers.

SLAYING THE LAW SCHOOL DRAGON: HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE IN FIRST YEAR LAW SCHOOL, 2nd ed. by George Roth (1991). KF283/.R68/1991/Reserve. Chapters include “How to Prepare for the Semester,” “How to Study for Class,” “How to Read a Case,” “How to Study for Exams,” “How to Answer Exam Questions,” and “How to Write a Brief.” The book also gives a quick review of the first-year class subjects.

STARTING OFF RIGHT IN LAW SCHOOL by Carolyn J. Nygren (1997). KF273/.N97/Reserve. Author states that her purpose in writing the book is twofold: to provide a very basic understanding of the legal system, and to describe techniques of studying and exam preparation which can prove successful. The book is fairly short and is easily read.

SUCCESS IN LAW SCHOOL: EXAM TAKING TECHNIQUES by Charles H. Whitebread (1989). KF285/.Z9/W3/2nd Floor. Author includes chapters on dealing with intimidation, allocating time during the exam, reading the question, organizing an answer, analyzing legal issues, and writing the exam. Appendix includes sample exam questions with steps involved in answering each question.

SURVIVING THE FIRST YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL by Ralph Canada, Charles Cheatham, and Tony Licata (1978). KF283/.C36/Reserve. Very readable, this book provides advice on buying study aids, briefing cases, answering when called upon in class, taking notes in class, participating in moot court, and preparing for and taking exams.

WRITE THE “A” LAW EXAM ANSWER by Betty Brody (1988). KF283/.B76/Reserve. Fifty-four page book gives advice on reading, analyzing, and answering exam questions. Provides sample questions and their answers for first-year subjects.

[This bibliography is an update of one that appeared in the September 2003 issue of Check It Out at: http://lawlib.samford.edu/cio.]

The Montgomery Advertiser has good online coverage of the now dismissed case against former Governor Don Siegelman. The web site is: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/specialreports/siegelman/index.htm.

Law students at the University of Pennsylvania Law School have been offered a unique opportunity. Their job is to draft an updated criminal code for the Republic of Maldives, an island nation of 278,000 people in the Indian Ocean. This project is sponsored by the United Nations. An article about the project can be found at: http://www.cnn.com/2004/EDUCATION/10/08/penn.islamic.law.ap/index.html.

With elections right around the corner, editorial cartoons are at their best. A daily listing can be found at: http://www.cbsnews.com. From the main page, look to the right and click on Opinion: Editorial cartoons.

The following web sites are a few favorites from a reference librarian’s perspective. The sites offer valuable free information for present and future lawyers. When using the Internet, remember the cardinal rule: always evaluate the currency, scope, authority, objectivity, and accuracy of each site.

Alabama Attorney General Opinions (http://www.ago.state.al.us/opinion.cfm)

Alabama's Office of the Attorney General provides opinions from 1979 to the present. Search by keyword, date, opinion number, or other fields. Full text searching is available from 1998 to date. Besides the official formal opinions, this web database also includes the full text of opinions previously designated as informal. Adobe Acrobat PDF files are scanned images of the actual signed opinions. Alternatively, view or download the opinions in Microsoft Word.

GPO Access (http://www.gpoaccess.gov)

The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) distributes official information from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government. Find quick links to documents of current interest like the Final Report of the 9-11 Commission. The GPO provides electronic copies of the U.S. Code, the Code of Federal Regulations, the Federal Register, Presidential materials, Congressional documents, and much more. Scan the A-Z Resource List for a comprehensive overview of available resources. For instance, choose the link for "U.S. Constitution" for the full text of the Congressional Research Service’s Analysis and Interpretation of the Constitution (1992 Edition with supplements).

Municipal Code Corporation (http://www.municode.com)

This site provides free, though unofficial, codes from cities nationwide, including twenty-three municipalities in Alabama. Keyword search or browse through ordinances for Calera, Gulf Shores, Hoover, Huntsville, Irondale, Mobile, Mountain Brook, Tuscaloosa, Vestavia Hills, and other cities.

StateScape (http://statescape.com/Resources)

StateScape is a state legislative and regulatory analysis firm. The firm’s services are fee-based, but the company offers some resources free on its web site. Find links to all fifty state legislatures and the District of Columbia. A handy table indicates the dates that each state legislature convenes and adjourns. Another table gives the general rule for the effective date of signed legislation in each state. Additional links provide budget timetables, terms of state governors, and more.

Thomas: Legislative Information on the Internet (http://thomas.loc.gov)

At this site, the Library of Congress provides a wealth of information on federal legislation. Follow activity in the House of Representatives for the current day or the current week. Find information about bills and amendments from 1973 to date. Search the full text of all bills from 1989 to present. Access public laws, roll call votes, the Congressional Record, committee reports, hearing transcripts, and many other resources.

U.S. Department of State: Judicial Assistance (http://travel.state.gov/law/judicial_assistance.html)

In today’s global economy, lawyers may need to serve documents in Japan or take a deposition in Brazil. The U.S. Department of State offers valuable information on obtaining evidence abroad, service of process abroad, letters rogatory, enforcement of foreign judgments, and more. The Department enhances its general guidance with country-specific data for many foreign jurisdictions. Though prudent attorneys may need to retain foreign counsel, the Department of State’s web site is an excellent starting point for research.

Pcounter is software that tracks printing in the labs. Students are allotted 500 printed pages per semester in their Law Library Lab print accounts. Student accounts are not charged for printing to Westlaw and Lexis dedicated printers. Go to http://lawlib.samford.edu/labs/wexprint.shtml for instructions on how to print to the dedicated printers.

To check the balance on a print account, hover the mouse pointer over the dollar sign in the system tray located in the lower right corner of the computer screen. This icon will show the balance that remains in the account. Students may print more than 500 pages, but their accounts will be charged ten cents per page beyond that allotment. Only print jobs sent to the networked laser printers in the labs are deducted from the 500 pages. There are a few exceptions:

Exceptions include résumés, writing samples, and envelopes on their own paper, directed research, student organization material (Law Review, Trial Journal, Trial Board, Moot Court, SBA, etc.), and poor-quality print jobs. If an account should not be charged, please fill out an Exemption Form located in the Lower Level Lab, or request one at the Circulation Desk. If the charge should be waived due to poor quality, please include a sample of the printout with the form. User error may also be an exception, as well as printer malfunction.

Please contact Grace Simms (glsimms@samford.edu or 726-2687) if help with Pcounter is needed. More information about the Law Library's Pcounter policy can be found at http://lawlib.samford.edu/labs/ppolicy.txt.

This is the last issue of CHECK IT OUT for this semester. Three issues will be published during the Spring Semester, beginning in January 2005. The editors work hard on each issue and we welcome ideas or suggestions. If you have any ideas as to ways we can improve, contact Becky Hutto via e-mail at: Becky Hutto at rmhutto@samford.edu.We welcome new ideas!