1 00:00:00,590 --> 00:00:02,580 Welcome to LearnLawBetter. 2 00:00:02,580 --> 00:00:05,560 Want to know which books to read before law school? 3 00:00:05,560 --> 00:00:09,200 Are you excited, and want to get a head start? 4 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:14,460 Stay to the end, as I provide you with my list of 10 books to read before you start 5 00:00:14,460 --> 00:00:15,600 your legal education. 6 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,780 Don’t forget to hit the like button if you enjoy the episode and click the subscribe 7 00:00:19,780 --> 00:00:24,340 button and bell if you don’t want to miss any future episodes. 8 00:00:27,860 --> 00:00:32,800 Hi, this is Beau Baez, and today I want to provide you with some books you might find 9 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,230 interesting before you start law school. 10 00:00:35,230 --> 00:00:40,360 The list includes books in fiction, academic success, biography, 11 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,800 writing, history, and the Supreme Court. 12 00:00:43,810 --> 00:00:48,070 One: Getting to Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams. 13 00:00:48,070 --> 00:00:50,680 I have recommended this book for years, 14 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:55,360 and it is on almost everyone’s list of books to read before law school. 15 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:59,400 Because law school exams are radically different from college exams, 16 00:00:59,420 --> 00:01:04,280 you need to start thinking about this topic now. 17 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:08,700 If you only have time to read one book, this is the one to read. 18 00:01:08,700 --> 00:01:11,540 Two: To Kill a Mockingbird. 19 00:01:11,540 --> 00:01:14,120 This classic novel, which is also a movie, 20 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,260 follows the life of a small town lawyer and his family. 21 00:01:18,270 --> 00:01:24,270 This novel is a classic because it shows a lawyer defending the legal rights of an unpopular 22 00:01:24,270 --> 00:01:28,490 defendant charged with committing a horrible crime. 23 00:01:28,490 --> 00:01:30,260 Three: One L. 24 00:01:30,260 --> 00:01:35,160 This autobiographical work follows the life of a first year law student 25 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:36,760 at Harvard Law School. 26 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:38,600 Though it's a few years old, 27 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:44,380 it still captures much of what law students go through during the 1L year of law school. 28 00:01:44,380 --> 00:01:46,980 Four: The Bramble Bush. 29 00:01:46,980 --> 00:01:48,820 Another book on many lists, 30 00:01:48,820 --> 00:01:53,899 this collection of lectures was given to Columbia law students in 1929. 31 00:01:53,900 --> 00:01:59,180 The author discusses legal reasoning, exam taking skills, and other topics 32 00:01:59,180 --> 00:02:02,139 that are still relevant to law students. 33 00:02:02,139 --> 00:02:05,299 Five: The Elements of Style. 34 00:02:05,300 --> 00:02:10,280 This book is needed in every writer’s library because, guess what, 35 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,240 law students and lawyers are writers. 36 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:17,780 Read through this book and begin learning how to write well 37 00:02:17,780 --> 00:02:22,560 because the top grades in law school go to the best writers. 38 00:02:22,569 --> 00:02:25,900 Six: Gideon’s Trumpet. 39 00:02:25,900 --> 00:02:31,099 Read the story of a poor man who was arrested for a crime he did not commit. 40 00:02:31,099 --> 00:02:37,129 But, because he could not afford a lawyer, he was convicted and sent to prison. 41 00:02:37,129 --> 00:02:41,950 Follow his story as he takes his case all the way up to the Supreme Court. 42 00:02:41,950 --> 00:02:45,159 Seven: A History of American Law. 43 00:02:45,159 --> 00:02:51,390 This is a history of American law from the colonial period up through the 21st century. 44 00:02:51,390 --> 00:02:56,049 Learn about the successes and failures of the American legal system. 45 00:02:56,049 --> 00:02:58,579 Eight: The Paper Chase. 46 00:02:58,579 --> 00:03:06,069 This fictional story of a Harvard law student introduces the famous Professor Kingsfield, 47 00:03:06,069 --> 00:03:11,999 who takes pleasure in destroying first year law students in his contracts class. 48 00:03:11,999 --> 00:03:18,019 Though Kingsfield is a fictional character, many believe there was an actual professor 49 00:03:18,019 --> 00:03:21,550 that was like Kingsfield at Harvard. 50 00:03:21,550 --> 00:03:26,749 Several years ago I was talking to a Harvard Law School graduate, who claimed he had the 51 00:03:26,749 --> 00:03:30,730 real-life professor that inspired Professor Kingsfield. 52 00:03:30,730 --> 00:03:35,960 This lawyer told me that he and another law school student were on a rowboat shooting ducks, 53 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:39,200 when another rowboat approached their boat. 54 00:03:39,219 --> 00:03:43,749 To their surprise it was their professor, Professor Kingsfield. 55 00:03:43,749 --> 00:03:49,209 He asked them if they had shot all the ducks in the boat, and after they told him yes, 56 00:03:49,209 --> 00:03:54,459 he took out his shotgun and shot out the bottom of their boat. 57 00:03:54,460 --> 00:03:58,180 Apparently there was a time when professors could sink someone else’s boat 58 00:03:58,180 --> 00:04:00,820 and not get arrested. 59 00:04:00,820 --> 00:04:05,300 By the way, you can watch the movie if you don’t want to read the book. 60 00:04:05,300 --> 00:04:10,980 Nine: Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention. 61 00:04:10,980 --> 00:04:17,810 In this easy to read book, follow the fascinating story on how the U.S. Constitution was created. 62 00:04:17,810 --> 00:04:20,260 Ten: Yankee from Olympus. 63 00:04:20,260 --> 00:04:26,120 This mid-20th century classic is a biography of the great supreme court justice, 64 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,919 Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. 65 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,060 The story begins with a fascinating account of his family, 66 00:04:32,060 --> 00:04:34,040 including his famous father, 67 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:40,800 who a Harvard Medical School Professor and Dean, as well as a noted minor poet. 68 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:45,400 The book then delves into the story of the great supreme court justice. 69 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,700 And with that, go and read! 70 00:04:47,700 --> 00:04:52,440 And in the comments, provide me with the books you would recommend to future law students. 71 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:56,520 If you enjoyed this material, hit the like button. 72 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,040 Also, to avoid missing any future episodes, hit the subscribe and bell buttons. 73 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:04,979 For more resources to help you get ahead, including my blog and newsletter, check out 74 00:05:04,979 --> 00:05:05,979 LearnLawBetter.com. 75 00:05:05,980 --> 00:05:07,680 Thanks for watching.