Open Book: The Inside Track to Law School Success

by Barry Friedman

A concise, highly accessible guide to exam success. Provides an insider s view of what professors look for in exam answers, and how exam-taking connects to good lawyering. Accompanied by a Web site with content that is both free (e.g., sample outlines, class notes, case briefs) and for-sale (e.g., sample exams and memos written by professors giving feedback on the answers).

Features:

High-profile, experienced authors from elite schools with hands-on experience teaching the majority of the courses in the traditional 1L curriculum Distinctive central pedagogy: the pinball method of exam-taking Accompanied by Web site with content that is both free (e.g., sample outlines, class notes, case briefs) and for-sale (e.g., sample exams and memos written by professors giving feedback on the answers). Explains to students not just the how but the why of law school exams what makes law school exams different from exams students have encountered in other settings Detailed examples provide concrete demonstrations of exam-taking techniques Highly readable: prose is straightforward and humorous; key points accented with memorably amusing illustrations Not just an exam prep book; students are offered guidance on getting the most out of classes, and law school more generally

Genres: Law

278 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2011

Reviews

[Elizabeth Pyjov · Rating 3 out of 5]

''In all probability, even your worst-case exam scenario is more of a missed opportunity to do well than it is a failure.''

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book to anyone going into their 1L year, it's excellent! Friedman and Goldberg have a super relatable and understandable writing style, and address all the academic and extracurricular themes and questions an incoming law student has. Reading this book was the best decision I took to prepare myself for this year :)

[Mulan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really nice insightful book, feel like an uncle who is talking to you.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t have much to say on this one since I just read it to prep for finals and all, but it was pretty helpful. A quick read too, which was nice. There’s also some helpful stuff in there about preparing for classes and how to study more generally, so it wouldn’t be a bad read before law school or in the early weeks either.

[Zach Welch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Through the first seven weeks at Duke Law, this book has been useful. Its guidance has helped me establish good habits and avoid potentially damaging traps. It may earn its fifth star… that depends entirely, however, on my performance on Friday’s Torts midterm and December’s finals.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read. Provides a really good overview of the law school exam process.