Getting To Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams

If you have already taken a few law school exams, or are about to take your first law school exam, this book will be extremely helpful. It is unlike any of the hornbooks or study aids out there. While it is not class specific, it will explain in clear and precise terms what you should do to understand the themes and concepts in all of your classes. It will enhance your understanding of why your professor went into one specific area and explain what you should have gotten out of the class so that you can be better prepared for the next class.

The aim of this book is to help current law students perform well on law school exams. Law school exams are famously ambiguous; hence the title of the book.

The title of the book is a play on the title of a classic book about the art of negotiation, called _Getting to Yes_. Implicit in _Getting to Maybe_ is that, unlike a negotiation, performance on law school exams does not require an exact answer or resolution.

The method by which these law professors explain this concept is especially interesting. In connection with their academic research, they propose to break down law school exams into small components, and thoroughly analyze those components. The result is a very substantial and comprehensive analysis of the structure of law school exams and the skills required to do well on these exams.

You may be asking how the professors purport to explain _all_ law school exams, for surely there are professors for whose exams these methods will not work. These professors make the interesting point that in the United States, law education is fairly uniform, and, therefore, the skills required to perform well on law school exams are fairly uniform, as well.

I read this book prior to starting law school. I found it useful primarily because I have read a number of other books about legal reasoning and the study of law and the law school experience that are more basic than the material in this book. If this is your first book regarding the study of law or peformance in law school, I would advise putting it aside in favor of a book offering a broader overview of law, its study, and law school.

This book saved me!

After my first semester exams, I realized that I needed to refocus my efforts, and reading this book is a part of that refocusing. I am in the midst of reading this book, and so far it has been enlightening and engagingly written. I especially like the issue spotting section (perhaps because the most common prof complaint was missing an issue!).

I recommend this book for the first year student who would like to improve on her midterm grade. Chances are you've heard the typical professor and upperclassman advice, perhaps you've attended after-school workshops. If you've heard the words but could not apply them, now would be a good time to get your hands on this book. For now that you know the advice, the authors go in depth explaining how to use what you know.

One caveat: I bought this book in the middle of my first semester and had trouble following it. Hence, the four stars. You may understand this book better when you have had several months of school, advice, etc. If you are an entering student, I recommend getting all the advice you can get and hold off on this book for semester 2. Be prepared to work hard!

Contrary to popular opinion, law professors really DO want you to do well! Heed them early and often -- and get this book!

**A post-graduation note: This book was not as helpful as I'd hoped it would be, but not because it's bad, but because you need to spend a good bit of time really going through it. If you are "in the thick of things" in school - well you might not have the time to go through this book and understand everything. It's not impossible to understand, but I found the book pretty challenging. Also, its not a very quick read. Therefore, I revise my prior comments about not reading it until you get through your first semester of school. If you can at all help it - read this one when you have time to reflect on the authors' message. Either read it before you get to law school, or spend your winter break on this one. I still think you'll thank yourself for putting in the effort, especially if you are very self-motivated. But if you are the type of student that learns better through classes (hey, lots of us are!) - you might be better off spending the time with LEEWS - which is actually a pretty good and legitimate program. Someone below suggested using the Examples and Explanations series to practice - an excellent suggestion. I would also add to that, ALWAYS practice on the professor's old exams, if there are any on file in your library.

After my first semester exams, I realized that I needed to refocus my efforts, and reading this book is a part of that refocusing. I am in the midst of reading this book, and so far it has been enlightening and engagingly written. I especially like the issue spotting section (perhaps because the most common prof complaint was missing an issue!). Because the authors are professors, book reads with the tone of a patient teacher.

I recommend this book for the first year student who would like to improve on her midterm grade. Chances are you've heard the typical professor and upperclassman advice, perhaps you've attended after-school workshops. If you've heard the words but could not apply them, now would be a good time to get your hands on this book. For now that you know the advice, the authors go in depth explaining how to use what you know.

One caveat: I bought this book in the middle of my first semester and had trouble following it. Hence, the four stars. You may understand this book better when you have had several months of school, advice, etc. If you are an entering student, I recommend getting all the advice you can get and hold off on this book for semester 2. Be prepared to work hard!

Contrary to popular opinion, law professors really DO want you to do well! Heed them early and often -- and get this book!