Law School Confidential: A Complete Guide to the Law School Experience: By Students, for Students Paperback – April 26, 2011

For several months I was mulling over the idea of taking the LSAT and applying to law school. I asked people who had been through law school or were currently attending what it was like, but I still felt unsure whether or not it was a good choice for me.I ordered a few books to read what the law school experience would be like. The mistake I made was not reading this one first, because it's the only one you really need to get a great overview of law school, beginning to end.Using the opinions of former law school students, the book demonstrates from the beginning that the purpose of the book is not simply to sell people on the idea of law school. Some students say they loved the experience, some say they're not sure if they'd do it again, and others say they made a mistake by attending and now feel trapped in their law careers.Miller then leads the reader through what to expect throughout the years of law school. In the first part he discusses the application process, taking the LSAT, how to decide which schools are for you, and the reality of law school - good and bad.Then he dedicates the next parts to what to expect in each specific year of law school. All the while he inserts testimony from former students about what they felt they did right, and what they would have done differently. By the end, all the questions I had about whether or not law school is something I should consider seriously were answered.I was reading this book from the point of view of someone new to the idea of law school, and from that point of view I found it very helpful. I also believe this book could be helpful for people in other stages of law school. The parts on each individual year seem like they would be helpful, if I were in that position.The only potential drawback I can see is that this is not a lengthy book. The first roughly 100 pages had answered most all my questions, addressing what the law school environment is like and what you should expect potential careers to be like. If you are looking for a longer and more detailed read about law school, you may want to opt for a lengthier book. However, from my perspective, this is exactly the kind of book I needed to read to settle my questions.

I loved the book itself, but on top of that, this family business is incredible! :) I also appreciated how well they packaged it.

When I first read the reviews for this book about six months ago, before I entered law school or purchased the book, I noticed that there seemed to be countless reviews from pre-1Ls saying how prepared they "felt" about law school. This was obviously worthless support since they had not used any of the advice first-hand.Although I have only completed one semester of law school so far, I believe that I can really testify that the book is a brilliant piece of writing for anybody preparing for law school. Its advice on book-briefing, using commercial outlines, and preparing for class are spot on and need to be followed by as many law students as are willing. Also, the advice it gives on securing a summer job, which I have used extensively so far during Christmas break for getting a 1L summer associateship, is terrifically helpful, especially since it provides an albeit somewhat outdated interview with hiring partners of both a small firm and a large firm.Anyone preparing for law school needs to get this book; it spells out what you need to do not just for your first year but EACH YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL, including Law Review (and the process of getting on journals), moot court, and all things 2L- and 3L-related.But if you are my classmate, don't buy the book... I want to stay on top of the curve as much as possible. :-)

INTROI have read many and varied law school preparation books. To be forward, of all the books I have read, I found this one to be the most overrated. It is indeed useful, particularly if this is your first book on law school and you are interested in a very general overview.PERSONAL SUGGESTION (*warining* personal opinion)My strongest suggestion for those interested in law school is this: take one or two years off prior to entering law school to 1) adequately prepare and 2) make a determination whether or not you *really* want to do it. Whether you enroll into a graduate program, work, relax, explore, or engage in charitable activities - give yourself some time to pursue your varied interests. If you ever wanted to start a company, see a particular part of the world, or just take some time to think .. I highly suggest you do that prior to entering law school. If you just completed or are about to complete an undergraduate or graduate program, you might not have this opportunity again. Purge those urges and pursue those interests now while you have a chance.HIGHLIGHTSThe book provides useful information regarding law school from financing your education to law school etiquette (share your class notes; do not boast about anything; avoid gossip; and never discuss grades). Furthermore, the author provides useful insights on applying for jobs to obtaining internships. Many topics are addressed in the book, and I appreciated the perspectives of former law students to hiring partners at variously sized firms. I do not necessarily agree with the author's suggestion on case briefing, however. I think it would be tedious and time-consuming to read cases using variously colored highlighters. It is better to use simply a pen and underline relevant material.SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONThe information in the book lacks depth but makes up for it for its vast breadth concerning prior to law school, while in law school (year 1, 2, and 3) and after law school. I am confident that most people who have an interest in possibly attending law school will find the book useful.