1 00:00:00,590 --> 00:00:02,290 Welcome to LearnLawBetter. 2 00:00:02,290 --> 00:00:05,640 Want to know which books to read before law school? 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:09,023 Are you excited, and want to get a head start? 4 00:00:09,023 --> 00:00:15,600 Stay to the end, as I provide you with my list of 10 books to read before you start your legal education. 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:20,060 Don’t forget to hit the like button if you enjoy the episode and click the subscribe button 6 00:00:20,060 --> 00:00:23,240 and bell if you don’t want to miss any future episodes. 7 00:00:27,730 --> 00:00:29,430 Hi, this is Beau Baez, 8 00:00:29,430 --> 00:00:35,132 and today I want to provide you with some books you might find interesting before you start law school. 9 00:00:35,132 --> 00:00:40,360 The list includes books in fiction, academic success, biography, 10 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,800 writing, history, and the Supreme Court. 11 00:00:43,810 --> 00:00:48,070 One: Getting to Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams. 12 00:00:48,070 --> 00:00:50,680 I have recommended this book for years, 13 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:55,040 and it is on almost everyone’s list of books to read before law school. 14 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:59,400 Because law school exams are radically different from college exams, 15 00:00:59,420 --> 00:01:04,280 you need to start thinking about this topic now. 16 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:08,700 If you only have time to read one book, this is the one to read. 17 00:01:08,700 --> 00:01:11,540 Two: To Kill a Mockingbird. 18 00:01:11,540 --> 00:01:18,260 This classic novel, which is also a movie, follows the life of a small town lawyer and his family. 19 00:01:18,270 --> 00:01:25,057 This novel is a classic because it shows a lawyer defending the legal rights of an unpopular defendant 20 00:01:25,057 --> 00:01:28,439 charged with committing a horrible crime. 21 00:01:28,439 --> 00:01:30,260 Three: One L. 22 00:01:30,260 --> 00:01:36,760 This autobiographical work follows the life of a first year law student at Harvard Law School. 23 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:38,600 Though it's a few years old, 24 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:44,380 it still captures much of what law students go through during the 1st year of law school. 25 00:01:44,380 --> 00:01:46,980 Four: The Bramble Bush. 26 00:01:46,980 --> 00:01:48,820 Another book on many lists, 27 00:01:48,820 --> 00:01:53,899 this collection of lectures was given to Columbia law students in 1929. 28 00:01:53,900 --> 00:01:57,830 The author discusses legal reasoning, exam taking skills, 29 00:01:57,830 --> 00:02:02,139 and other topics that are still relevant to law students. 30 00:02:02,139 --> 00:02:05,149 Five: The Elements of Style. 31 00:02:05,149 --> 00:02:10,280 This book is needed in every writer’s library because, guess what, 32 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:13,240 law students and lawyers are writers. 33 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:17,780 Read through this book and begin learning how to write well 34 00:02:17,780 --> 00:02:22,560 because the top grades in law school go to the best writers. 35 00:02:22,569 --> 00:02:25,530 Six: Gideon’s Trumpet. 36 00:02:25,530 --> 00:02:31,099 Read the story of a poor man who was arrested for a crime he did not commit. 37 00:02:31,099 --> 00:02:36,779 But, because he could not afford a lawyer, he was convicted and sent to prison. 38 00:02:36,779 --> 00:02:41,950 Follow his story as he takes his case all the way up to the Supreme Court. 39 00:02:41,950 --> 00:02:45,145 Seven: A History of American Law. 40 00:02:45,145 --> 00:02:51,170 This is a history of American law from the colonial period up through the 21st century. 41 00:02:51,170 --> 00:02:56,049 Learn about the successes and failures of the American legal system. 42 00:02:56,049 --> 00:02:58,399 Eight: The Paper Chase. 43 00:02:58,399 --> 00:03:06,069 This fictional story of a Harvard law student introduces the famous Professor Kingsfield, 44 00:03:06,069 --> 00:03:11,551 who takes pleasure in destroying first year law students in his contracts class. 45 00:03:11,551 --> 00:03:14,236 Though Kingsfield is a fictional character, 46 00:03:14,236 --> 00:03:21,330 many believe there was an actual professor that was like Kingsfield at Harvard. 47 00:03:21,330 --> 00:03:24,913 Several years ago I was talking to a Harvard Law School graduate, 48 00:03:24,913 --> 00:03:30,510 who claimed he had the real-life professor that inspired Professor Kingsfield. 49 00:03:30,510 --> 00:03:35,960 This lawyer told me that he and another law school student were on a rowboat shooting ducks, 50 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:39,200 when another rowboat approached their boat. 51 00:03:39,219 --> 00:03:43,639 To their surprise it was their professor, Professor Kingsfield. 52 00:03:43,639 --> 00:03:49,081 He asked them if they had shot all the ducks in the boat, and after they told him yes, 53 00:03:49,081 --> 00:03:54,389 he took out his shotgun and shot out the bottom of their boat. 54 00:03:54,389 --> 00:03:58,615 Apparently there was a time when professors could sink someone else’s boat 55 00:03:58,615 --> 00:04:00,668 and not get arrested. 56 00:04:00,668 --> 00:04:05,300 By the way, you can watch the movie if you don’t want to read the book. 57 00:04:05,300 --> 00:04:10,980 Nine: Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention. 58 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. 59 00:04:17,810 --> 00:04:20,430 Ten: Yankee from Olympus. 60 00:04:20,430 --> 00:04:26,003 This mid-20th century classic is a biography of the great supreme court justice, 61 00:04:26,003 --> 00:04:28,799 Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. 62 00:04:28,799 --> 00:04:32,060 The story begins with a fascinating account of his family, 63 00:04:32,060 --> 00:04:34,040 including his famous father, 64 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:40,800 who a Harvard Medical School Professor and Dean, as well as a noted minor poet. 65 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:45,280 The book then delves into the story of the great supreme court justice. 66 00:04:45,280 --> 00:04:47,610 And with that, go and read! 67 00:04:47,610 --> 00:04:52,591 And in the comments, provide me with the books you would recommend to future law students.