Books to Read Before Law School

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Want to know which books to read before law
school?

Are you excited, and want to get a head start?

Stay to the end, as I provide you with my
list of 10 books to read before you start

your legal education.

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Hi, this is Beau Baez, and today I want to
provide you with some books you might find

interesting before you start law school.

The list includes books in fiction, academic
success, biography,

writing, history, and the Supreme Court.

One: Getting to Maybe: How to Excel on Law
School Exams.

I have recommended this book for years,

and it is on almost everyone’s list of books to read before law school.

Because law school exams are radically different
from college exams,

you need to start thinking about this topic now.

If you only have time to read one book, this is the one to read.

Two: To Kill a Mockingbird.

This classic novel, which is also a movie,

follows the life of a small town lawyer and his family.

This novel is a classic because it shows a
lawyer defending the legal rights of an unpopular

defendant charged with committing a horrible
crime.

Three: One L.

This autobiographical work follows
the life of a first year law student

at Harvard Law School.

Though it's a few years old,

it still captures much of what law students go through during the 1L year of law school.

Four: The Bramble Bush.

Another book on many lists,

this collection of lectures was given to Columbia law students in 1929.

The author discusses legal reasoning, exam
taking skills, and other topics

that are still relevant to law students.

Five: The Elements of Style.

This book is needed in every writer’s library
because, guess what,

law students and lawyers are writers.

Read through this book and begin learning how to write well

because the top grades in law school go to the best writers.

Six: Gideon’s Trumpet.

Read the story of a poor man who was arrested
for a crime he did not commit.

But, because he could not afford a lawyer,
he was convicted and sent to prison.

Follow his story as he takes his case all
the way up to the Supreme Court.

Seven: A History of American Law.

This is a history of American law from the
colonial period up through the 21st century.

Learn about the successes and failures of
the American legal system.

Eight: The Paper Chase.

This fictional story of a Harvard law student
introduces the famous Professor Kingsfield,

who takes pleasure in destroying first year law
students in his contracts class.

Though Kingsfield is a fictional character,
many believe there was an actual professor

that was like Kingsfield at Harvard.

Several years ago I was talking to a Harvard
Law School graduate, who claimed he had the

real-life professor that inspired Professor
Kingsfield.

This lawyer told me that he and another law school student were on a rowboat shooting ducks,

when another rowboat approached their boat.

To their surprise it was their professor, Professor Kingsfield.

He asked them if they had shot all the ducks
in the boat, and after they told him yes,

he took out his shotgun and shot out the bottom
of their boat.

Apparently there was a time when professors
could sink someone else’s boat

and not get arrested.

By the way, you can watch the movie if you
don’t want to read the book.

Nine: Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of
the Constitutional Convention.

In this easy to read book, follow the fascinating
story on how the U.S. Constitution was created.

Ten: Yankee from Olympus.

This mid-20th century classic is a biography
of the great supreme court justice,

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

The story begins with a fascinating account
of his family,

including his famous father,

who a Harvard Medical School Professor and Dean,
as well as a noted minor poet.

The book then delves into the story of the
great supreme court justice.

And with that, go and read!

And in the comments, provide me with the books
you would recommend to future law students.

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