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101 Things I Learned
101 Things I Learned® in Law School
A provocative, accessible, and cleverly illustrated guide to legal principles and practice, by a law instructor and internationally experienced attorney
This might be the most useful book law students ever read. Not because it contains the details of case law, but because it teaches them how to think like a lawyer. From the fundamentals of effective argument to the principles, structures, and assumptions underlying our legal system, 101 Things I Learned in Law School makes the impenetrable clear and the complex understandable. Illustrated lessons summarize landmark cases and illuminate a fascinating range of questions, including:
* What is the difference between honesty and truthfulness?
* Why is circumstantial evidence often better than direct evidence?
* How does one find the proper sources to substantiate a legal argument?
* Why do states deliberately pass unconstitutional laws?
* How can testimony from a hostile witness be helpful?
Written by an internationally experienced attorney and law instructor, 101 Things I Learned in Law School is a concise, highly readable resource for law students, graduates, professionals, and anyone else fascinated--or confused--by our legal system.
This might be the most useful book law students ever read. Not because it contains the details of case law, but because it teaches them how to think like a lawyer. From the fundamentals of effective argument to the principles, structures, and assumptions underlying our legal system, 101 Things I Learned in Law School makes the impenetrable clear and the complex understandable. Illustrated lessons summarize landmark cases and illuminate a fascinating range of questions, including:
* What is the difference between honesty and truthfulness?
* Why is circumstantial evidence often better than direct evidence?
* How does one find the proper sources to substantiate a legal argument?
* Why do states deliberately pass unconstitutional laws?
* How can testimony from a hostile witness be helpful?
Written by an internationally experienced attorney and law instructor, 101 Things I Learned in Law School is a concise, highly readable resource for law students, graduates, professionals, and anyone else fascinated--or confused--by our legal system.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
39 people are currently reading
575 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 14, 2018
The book I actually ready was Law School for Everyone, one of the Great Courses series available on Audible.
So why I am putting a review of another book here? Because Goodreads recently made the (IMO) absurd decision that the Great Courses lecture series "aren't books." Thus they were all filed as "NOT A BOOK" and deleted, including all my reviews of previous Great Courses series I have listened to.
I'm not going to argue about the decision (there is a Goodreads Librarians thread about it already, and Goodreads staff has already said, basically, "Tough, this is how it is"), other than to point out that all sorts of other audio-only productions are shelved as books on Goodreads. But since I am participating in the annual Goodreads challenge and I am anal enough that it really, really annoys me that a book I spent 25 hours listening to now "doesn't count" as one of my books... well, sorry Vibeke Borgaard, I promise I'll try to actually read your book one of these days, because it looks interesting, but you become a placeholder here.
Anyway, Law School for Everyone is now one of my favorite Great Courses. It covers all the basics of the American legal system, both historically and how it evolved into its current form. The history of legal scholarship, how judges have shaped the reading of the laws, how individual cases caused major shifts in legal theory, and even the nitty gritty details of procedure and torts, are much more interesting than you'd think, and after listening to this series, it really does feel like I've taken a class or two of law school.
Once upon a time, I thought I might like to be a lawyer, and the thought of going back to law school for something to do in retirement has occurred to me (despite all the warnings current lawyers give about how hard it is to actually get work if you're not a top graduate from a top school), and this course really made law school actually sound interesting. I know it's really a lot of dense reading of very thick and technical legal cases, sometimes about very dry subjects, but if you're into highly persnickety technical details, it almost seems like it would be like learning one of my super-complex boardgames with insanely thick rulebooks to cover all sorts of situations that almost never happen.
So why I am putting a review of another book here? Because Goodreads recently made the (IMO) absurd decision that the Great Courses lecture series "aren't books." Thus they were all filed as "NOT A BOOK" and deleted, including all my reviews of previous Great Courses series I have listened to.
I'm not going to argue about the decision (there is a Goodreads Librarians thread about it already, and Goodreads staff has already said, basically, "Tough, this is how it is"), other than to point out that all sorts of other audio-only productions are shelved as books on Goodreads. But since I am participating in the annual Goodreads challenge and I am anal enough that it really, really annoys me that a book I spent 25 hours listening to now "doesn't count" as one of my books... well, sorry Vibeke Borgaard, I promise I'll try to actually read your book one of these days, because it looks interesting, but you become a placeholder here.
Anyway, Law School for Everyone is now one of my favorite Great Courses. It covers all the basics of the American legal system, both historically and how it evolved into its current form. The history of legal scholarship, how judges have shaped the reading of the laws, how individual cases caused major shifts in legal theory, and even the nitty gritty details of procedure and torts, are much more interesting than you'd think, and after listening to this series, it really does feel like I've taken a class or two of law school.
Once upon a time, I thought I might like to be a lawyer, and the thought of going back to law school for something to do in retirement has occurred to me (despite all the warnings current lawyers give about how hard it is to actually get work if you're not a top graduate from a top school), and this course really made law school actually sound interesting. I know it's really a lot of dense reading of very thick and technical legal cases, sometimes about very dry subjects, but if you're into highly persnickety technical details, it almost seems like it would be like learning one of my super-complex boardgames with insanely thick rulebooks to cover all sorts of situations that almost never happen.
July 17, 2013
This is a great little read. Each page details a different legal concept, principle, or term. A glance at the title makes it sound like it would be a book of anecdotes or jokes, but it really is a glimpse into the legal way of thinking.
The intro explains that although it's impossible to know everything about the law, attorneys learn in school how to think like lawyers and use the law. Fredereick explains concepts like deductive vs. inductive logic and debunks ideas like the mythical "twinkie defense" having anything to do with twinkies, and he does it in a way that is accessible and relevant.
There are illustrations for the concepts as well, which I loved. The whole book takes a bunch of information about the law and the legal system and boils it down into easy to digest paragraphs without oversimplification.
The cover is great, too; this is a tiny book that looks like a miniature legal hornbook, but much more interesting for a layperson.
The intro explains that although it's impossible to know everything about the law, attorneys learn in school how to think like lawyers and use the law. Fredereick explains concepts like deductive vs. inductive logic and debunks ideas like the mythical "twinkie defense" having anything to do with twinkies, and he does it in a way that is accessible and relevant.
There are illustrations for the concepts as well, which I loved. The whole book takes a bunch of information about the law and the legal system and boils it down into easy to digest paragraphs without oversimplification.
The cover is great, too; this is a tiny book that looks like a miniature legal hornbook, but much more interesting for a layperson.
July 28, 2013
The only complaint I have is that I wish this book had more than 101 entries. I found it very informative and enjoyable. The illustrations were charming and helpful, and the info was presented in a way that I (a person who isn't terribly knowledgeable on legal matters) could easily understand.
While I won't be taking a bar exam any time soon, I feel that this book has given me a better understanding of the legal system, and I wouldn't mind reading another book like it.
While I won't be taking a bar exam any time soon, I feel that this book has given me a better understanding of the legal system, and I wouldn't mind reading another book like it.
December 20, 2015
Despite the gimmicky title, this book is actually packed with numerous important law concepts made comprehensible. However, because each concept is briefly summarised into a page, you might not get the depth that you may want as a reader. If you just want a quick grasp of what the U.S legal system is like, consider this book; it's a gentle start.
November 30, 2024
not very groundbreaking, even from a non-law student perspective
March 15, 2024
My mom got this for me to prepare me for law school.
3/14/24- Before law school
Great pieces of advice mixed in with some confusing terms. The most confusing things were the different levels of state courts, abstract maps, and unknown terms. I enjoyed the content mixture including: quotes, court rulings, law school advice, court room procedures and much more.
3/14/24- Before law school
Great pieces of advice mixed in with some confusing terms. The most confusing things were the different levels of state courts, abstract maps, and unknown terms. I enjoyed the content mixture including: quotes, court rulings, law school advice, court room procedures and much more.
August 24, 2019
Not bad but since the book follows case law system of the US so it does not help me at all with tips to be applied in my study.
August 16, 2019
101 Things I Learned in Law School by Vibeke Norgaard Martin is a great little book filled with humor and levity about how lawyers are not all-knowing but fallible human beings. There are illustrations, history lessons, definitions, explanations, and more in bite sized chunks, so you can look smarter the next time lawyering comes up in a conversation.
https://onthebl.org/2019/08/15/101-th...
https://onthebl.org/2019/08/15/101-th...
September 16, 2014
This book had a lot of interesting items in it. They are presented one to a page, with good explanations for those of us not involved in law. That said, it was still a bit too involved for me. Even thought the 101 items are presented one to a page, with an accompanying cartoon, it was deeper that I wanted to go.
November 12, 2016
This series is brilliant. Contains equal portions of subjective periphery (e.g., where precedents are useful vs not; when a Supreme Court could be the lower court etc.) and insights (e.g., lawyers are incrementalists; don't try to be objectively right just be better than the alternative; Toulmin Model).
This is likely the best book in the series.
This is likely the best book in the series.
January 29, 2015
Excellent as an entry-level introductory book of the legal system. Each page contains a small passage concerning a legal concept/quotation relevant to law/famous cases in US. Suitable for people looking to gain fundamental knowledge about the legal system or people considering law school.
June 8, 2022
Short but informative read, I honestly don't know who the audience is for this book. Probably a good alternative to a 30 min YouTube explainer on legal system? There's no real structure or pattern to these things. US focus. Here's a few things I liked.
Most of the time, people just want to be heard and understood
• Over 90 % of both criminal and civil cases are resolved prior to trial. "Often, conflicts can be resolved without litigation , by making sure each party fully hears the other side and is fully heard itself... People will usually live with disagreement when they are certain they have been heard and understood."
How to find an argument
A large part of the legal process is research/discovery. "Writing isn’t recording your thoughts; it’s thinking on the page." "Through writing , thinking , researching , rewriting , rethinking , and rewriting again , an argument is discovered and clarified." The argument is the preferred solution. It may not be 100% correct but it is preferable to whatever else has been offered as an alternative.
Every case sits within a long chain of previous decisions
"Stare decisis — the requirement that each court stand by previous decisions made by it , and by higher courts in its jurisdiction — ensures that the law is predictable , that similar acts are adjudicated similarly.""The integrity of the system is more important than the truth of one case." The goal is to maintain a working system that keeps getting better at finding the truth.
Facts are only one component of a compelling story
There's an obvious performance aspect to the law. You are making an argument in words and with your voice. There's two filters to pass through so your audience can hear you: "Rationality makes an argument worthy . Passion makes it worthwhile." "A proper argument is not driven by emotion , but if an argument lacks an emotional component , it is unlikely to connect with a judge or jury."
Most of the time, people just want to be heard and understood
• Over 90 % of both criminal and civil cases are resolved prior to trial. "Often, conflicts can be resolved without litigation , by making sure each party fully hears the other side and is fully heard itself... People will usually live with disagreement when they are certain they have been heard and understood."
How to find an argument
A large part of the legal process is research/discovery. "Writing isn’t recording your thoughts; it’s thinking on the page." "Through writing , thinking , researching , rewriting , rethinking , and rewriting again , an argument is discovered and clarified." The argument is the preferred solution. It may not be 100% correct but it is preferable to whatever else has been offered as an alternative.
Every case sits within a long chain of previous decisions
"Stare decisis — the requirement that each court stand by previous decisions made by it , and by higher courts in its jurisdiction — ensures that the law is predictable , that similar acts are adjudicated similarly.""The integrity of the system is more important than the truth of one case." The goal is to maintain a working system that keeps getting better at finding the truth.
Facts are only one component of a compelling story
There's an obvious performance aspect to the law. You are making an argument in words and with your voice. There's two filters to pass through so your audience can hear you: "Rationality makes an argument worthy . Passion makes it worthwhile." "A proper argument is not driven by emotion , but if an argument lacks an emotional component , it is unlikely to connect with a judge or jury."
September 18, 2023
These '101 Things I learned' series are amazing. Strip away the complexities and you arrive at the same message: All professions stem from a human nature to tell stories.
1. Honesty and truthfulness are different things.
2. There should be only one theory, consisting of a few sentences, that will always tell you where you are and where you need to go when in the midst of an oral argument, deposition, or research.
3. The Toulmin Model of Argument lists 6: Claim, Ground, Warrant, Backing, Rebuttal, Qualifier.
4. The Peerless Case: There was no meeting of the minds and therefore no binding contract. (Irony of two ships named Peerless)
5. Keep it slightly above room temperature: Rationality makes an argument worthy. Passion makes it worthwhile.
6. The U.S. Constitution grants local sovereignty to over 300 American Indian reservations.
7. "The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be." - Lao-Tzu-
8. "We don't see things as they are, but as we are." -Anaïs Nin-
9. Memory is a crime scene: More than 3/4 of convicts exonerated by DNA testing had been found guilty on the basis of eyewitness testimony.
1. Honesty and truthfulness are different things.
2. There should be only one theory, consisting of a few sentences, that will always tell you where you are and where you need to go when in the midst of an oral argument, deposition, or research.
3. The Toulmin Model of Argument lists 6: Claim, Ground, Warrant, Backing, Rebuttal, Qualifier.
4. The Peerless Case: There was no meeting of the minds and therefore no binding contract. (Irony of two ships named Peerless)
5. Keep it slightly above room temperature: Rationality makes an argument worthy. Passion makes it worthwhile.
6. The U.S. Constitution grants local sovereignty to over 300 American Indian reservations.
7. "The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be." - Lao-Tzu-
8. "We don't see things as they are, but as we are." -Anaïs Nin-
9. Memory is a crime scene: More than 3/4 of convicts exonerated by DNA testing had been found guilty on the basis of eyewitness testimony.
September 21, 2019
I haven't finished all 101 but wanted to say I am enjoying it. I love the way it gives you the facts in "just so many words". Total understanding of a concept without pages and pages of info... thanks!
February 3, 2022
Excellent read. Very insightful. I learned quite a bit about how much time a lawyer spends researching, and how little time is spent in a courtroom. Case law is discussed quite frequently. There is definitely some filler pages related to very specific cases.
July 7, 2022
Good and funny read but the focus on US law is overbearing at times but appreciated nonetheless. Furthermore, while this has nothing to do with the quality of the book, 30 AUD for this book is pretty steep
January 13, 2023
This entry in the 101 Things I Learned... series was pretty good but I knew most of it and I found it didn't spark as many reflections and ideas as some of the other books. The best parts were the interesting quotes.
August 12, 2023
The New York Supreme Court is actually its trial-level (lowest level) court. And like 100 other things.
I liked the formatting. I might read like all the other books in this series before I move in 5 days. Not the best ideaaaa. JK this is not really related to SZA.
I liked the formatting. I might read like all the other books in this series before I move in 5 days. Not the best ideaaaa. JK this is not really related to SZA.
June 10, 2019
This was fun.
August 15, 2020
Was not expecting to learn anything, but instead picked it up for the catchy title. It's a short book that can definitely be read in a day. It's ok.
September 15, 2021
Loved this! This book made me realize that i am glad I chose to NOT go to the law school.
October 27, 2021
Good, quick read
January 14, 2025
Yummy tasty delicious little read. I learned a lot!
March 2, 2025
A silly afternoon read. I shall bestow this book upon my children when teaching them about exculpatory and inculpatory evidence.
April 5, 2020
The Author has managed to select 101 unique statements, which highlight items you ought to know, whether you are an experienced lawyer or simply a layman. Some "obvious" truth suddenly gets new meaning and importance, when you see the statement reduced to powerful 3 -4 liners. The addditon of simple but powerful drawings, sketches, which beautifully illustrate the points made in the book, makes for a most fascinating read. You continously tell yourself - "I must remember this statement", so useful for future debates, even dinner table conversations. Read it and keep it handy to review and continously update your memory of these subtle true statements.
April 28, 2015
...a clever little book but may prove harmful to those ordinary folk undergoing trial. Though it is concise & truthful; in the wrong hands it could prove powerful in a destructive fashion. If lawyers are reading it; I hope they are brave spirits with quite a sense of fairness and knowledge of other aspects of laws and life.
May 10, 2015
The no-frills approach definitely worked for this little book. Obviously not deep in any regard, but that is to its advantage -- I certainly would have loved to have a summary overview book like this some years ago when I was covering legal proceedings as a reporter. One need not be interested in law specifically to get something out of this.
March 10, 2021
I thought this little book was really enjoyable! It gives out tidbits of information that serve as an outlet to deeper questions regarding law. Moreover, the authors give some pretty chill advise about what to do during law school without being cliche nor condescending. Anyone going to law school should read it.
May 7, 2021
如原文標題「101」所記載，本書如數列了101項內容，也是一本了解美國法律制度的基礎小書。搭配的圖示恰如其分，有助於理解，也補充了一些資訊（像是項目74，就以長條圖呈現不同規模的事務所、機構、政府單位，任職其中的律師每週工時；項目84則把民事刑事的舉證責任標準，以光譜的方式呈現，有助於理解）。缺點是翻譯的文字水準仍稍嫌僵硬，甚至疑有誤譯問題，不過瑕不掩瑜。執業多年再看看本書，一些所載事項也頗足省思（如項目86，提到應該慎選戰場，而非多點開戰），這些內容微言大義，實際上不僅僅是101的水準，很有意思。
December 29, 2015
Informative and entertaining. I learned a couple of things and enjoyed the author's sense of humor.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews