WEBVTT 00:00:00.590 --> 00:00:02.580 Welcome to LearnLawBetter. 00:00:02.580 --> 00:00:05.560 Want to know which books to read before law school? 00:00:05.560 --> 00:00:09.200 Are you excited, and want to get a head start? 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 00:00:14.460 --> 00:00:15.600 your legal education. 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 00:00:19.780 --> 00:00:24.340 button and bell if you don’t want to miss any future episodes. 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 00:00:32.800 --> 00:00:35.230 interesting before you start law school. 00:00:35.230 --> 00:00:40.360 The list includes books in fiction, academic success, biography, 00:00:40.360 --> 00:00:43.800 writing, history, and the Supreme Court. 00:00:43.810 --> 00:00:48.070 One: Getting to Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams. 00:00:48.070 --> 00:00:50.680 I have recommended this book for years, 00:00:50.680 --> 00:00:55.360 and it is on almost everyone’s list of books to read before law school. 00:00:55.360 --> 00:00:59.400 Because law school exams are radically different from college exams, 00:00:59.420 --> 00:01:04.280 you need to start thinking about this topic now. 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:08.700 If you only have time to read one book, this is the one to read. 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:11.540 Two: To Kill a Mockingbird. 00:01:11.540 --> 00:01:14.120 This classic novel, which is also a movie, 00:01:14.120 --> 00:01:18.260 follows the life of a small town lawyer and his family. 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 00:01:24.270 --> 00:01:28.490 defendant charged with committing a horrible crime. 00:01:28.490 --> 00:01:30.260 Three: One L. 00:01:30.260 --> 00:01:35.160 This autobiographical work follows the life of a first year law student 00:01:35.160 --> 00:01:36.760 at Harvard Law School. 00:01:36.760 --> 00:01:38.600 Though it's a few years old, 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. 00:01:44.380 --> 00:01:46.980 Four: The Bramble Bush. 00:01:46.980 --> 00:01:48.820 Another book on many lists, 00:01:48.820 --> 00:01:53.899 this collection of lectures was given to Columbia law students in 1929. 00:01:53.900 --> 00:01:59.180 The author discusses legal reasoning, exam taking skills, and other topics 00:01:59.180 --> 00:02:02.139 that are still relevant to law students. 00:02:02.139 --> 00:02:05.299 Five: The Elements of Style. 00:02:05.300 --> 00:02:10.280 This book is needed in every writer’s library because, guess what, 00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:13.240 law students and lawyers are writers. 00:02:13.240 --> 00:02:17.780 Read through this book and begin learning how to write well 00:02:17.780 --> 00:02:22.560 because the top grades in law school go to the best writers. 00:02:22.569 --> 00:02:25.900 Six: Gideon’s Trumpet. 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. 00:02:31.099 --> 00:02:37.129 But, because he could not afford a lawyer, he was convicted and sent to prison. 00:02:37.129 --> 00:02:41.950 Follow his story as he takes his case all the way up to the Supreme Court. 00:02:41.950 --> 00:02:45.159 Seven: A History of American Law. 00:02:45.159 --> 00:02:51.390 This is a history of American law from the colonial period up through the 21st century. 00:02:51.390 --> 00:02:56.049 Learn about the successes and failures of the American legal system. 00:02:56.049 --> 00:02:58.579 Eight: The Paper Chase. 00:02:58.579 --> 00:03:06.069 This fictional story of a Harvard law student introduces the famous Professor Kingsfield, 00:03:06.069 --> 00:03:11.999 who takes pleasure in destroying first year law students in his contracts class. 00:03:11.999 --> 00:03:18.019 Though Kingsfield is a fictional character, many believe there was an actual professor 00:03:18.019 --> 00:03:21.550 that was like Kingsfield at Harvard. 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 00:03:26.749 --> 00:03:30.730 real-life professor that inspired Professor Kingsfield. 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, 00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:39.200 when another rowboat approached their boat. 00:03:39.219 --> 00:03:43.749 To their surprise it was their professor, Professor Kingsfield. 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, 00:03:49.209 --> 00:03:54.459 he took out his shotgun and shot out the bottom of their boat. 00:03:54.460 --> 00:03:58.180 Apparently there was a time when professors could sink someone else’s boat 00:03:58.180 --> 00:04:00.820 and not get arrested. 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. 00:04:05.300 --> 00:04:10.980 Nine: Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention. 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. 00:04:17.810 --> 00:04:20.260 Ten: Yankee from Olympus. 00:04:20.260 --> 00:04:26.120 This mid-20th century classic is a biography of the great supreme court justice, 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:28.919 Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:32.060 The story begins with a fascinating account of his family, 00:04:32.060 --> 00:04:34.040 including his famous father, 00:04:34.040 --> 00:04:40.800 who a Harvard Medical School Professor and Dean, as well as a noted minor poet. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:45.400 The book then delves into the story of the great supreme court justice. 00:04:45.400 --> 00:04:47.700 And with that, go and read! 00:04:47.700 --> 00:04:52.440 And in the comments, provide me with the books you would recommend to future law students. 00:04:54.760 --> 00:04:56.520 If you enjoyed this material, hit the like button. 00:04:56.520 --> 00:05:00.040 Also, to avoid missing any future episodes, hit the subscribe and bell buttons. 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:04.979 For more resources to help you get ahead, including my blog and newsletter, check out 00:05:04.979 --> 00:05:05.979 LearnLawBetter.com. 00:05:05.980 --> 00:05:07.680 Thanks for watching.