WEBVTT 00:00:00.590 --> 00:00:02.290 Welcome to LearnLawBetter. 00:00:02.290 --> 00:00:05.640 Want to know which books to read before law school? 00:00:05.640 --> 00:00:09.023 Are you excited, and want to get a head start? 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. 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 00:00:20.060 --> 00:00:23.240 and bell if you don’t want to miss any future episodes. 00:00:27.730 --> 00:00:29.430 Hi, this is Beau Baez, 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. 00:00:35.132 --> 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 --> 00:00:55.040 and it is on almost everyone’s list of books to read before law school. 00:00:55.040 --> 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 --> 00:01:18.260 This classic novel, which is also a movie, follows the life of a small town lawyer and his family. 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 00:01:25.057 --> 00:01:28.439 charged with committing a horrible crime. 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:30.260 Three: One L. 00:01:30.260 --> 00:01:36.760 This autobiographical work follows the life of a first year law student 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 1st 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 --> 00:01:57.830 The author discusses legal reasoning, exam taking skills, 00:01:57.830 --> 00:02:02.139 and other topics that are still relevant to law students. 00:02:02.139 --> 00:02:05.149 Five: The Elements of Style. 00:02:05.149 --> 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 --> 00:02:25.530 Six: Gideon’s Trumpet. 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. 00:02:31.099 --> 00:02:36.779 But, because he could not afford a lawyer, he was convicted and sent to prison. 00:02:36.779 --> 00:02:41.950 Follow his story as he takes his case all the way up to the Supreme Court. 00:02:41.950 --> 00:02:45.145 Seven: A History of American Law. 00:02:45.145 --> 00:02:51.170 This is a history of American law from the colonial period up through the 21st century. 00:02:51.170 --> 00:02:56.049 Learn about the successes and failures of the American legal system. 00:02:56.049 --> 00:02:58.399 Eight: The Paper Chase. 00:02:58.399 --> 00:03:06.069 This fictional story of a Harvard law student introduces the famous Professor Kingsfield, 00:03:06.069 --> 00:03:11.551 who takes pleasure in destroying first year law students in his contracts class. 00:03:11.551 --> 00:03:14.236 Though Kingsfield is a fictional character, 00:03:14.236 --> 00:03:21.330 many believe there was an actual professor that was like Kingsfield at Harvard. 00:03:21.330 --> 00:03:24.913 Several years ago I was talking to a Harvard Law School graduate, 00:03:24.913 --> 00:03:30.510 who claimed he had the real-life professor that inspired Professor Kingsfield. 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, 00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:39.200 when another rowboat approached their boat. 00:03:39.219 --> 00:03:43.639 To their surprise it was their professor, Professor Kingsfield. 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, 00:03:49.081 --> 00:03:54.389 he took out his shotgun and shot out the bottom of their boat. 00:03:54.389 --> 00:03:58.615 Apparently there was a time when professors could sink someone else’s boat 00:03:58.615 --> 00:04:00.668 and not get arrested. 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. 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 --> 00:04:20.430 Ten: Yankee from Olympus. 00:04:20.430 --> 00:04:26.003 This mid-20th century classic is a biography of the great supreme court justice, 00:04:26.003 --> 00:04:28.799 Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. 00:04:28.799 --> 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 --> 00:04:45.280 The book then delves into the story of the great supreme court justice. 00:04:45.280 --> 00:04:47.610 And with that, go and read! 00:04:47.610 --> 00:04:52.591 And in the comments, provide me with the books you would recommend to future law students.