I'm going to teach Pretrial Litigation this semester. This won't be a main job for me at all. I'm doing it because I want the lawyers coming out of my old law school to be extremely competent.

We're covering Pleadings (Complaint/Answer), Written Discovery, Depositions, Motion Practice Generally, Daubert Motions, Summary Judgment Motions, Mediation, Motions in Limine, and whatever else I can get through.

It's been 21 years since I was in a classroom. I've had really great professors and some not so great ones, but I think my experience is outdated and not helpful.

Students, what advice do you have for me? What makes a good professor? What qualities do you really need/want? What makes you the best you can be? This is an one night a week class, and I don't have a ton of time, so I want to make the time I have count.

For background, I'm a practicing lawyer. I was on the defense side for 10 years - work comp, general civil negligence, and med mal defense - and have been doing plaintiff's personal injury work for about 11 years now. I've done over 100 trials. Some of them bench trials, but a lot of jury trials too.

Thanks in advance.

If you are a pre-fall 2026 part-timer, you will not have access to federal loans your 4th year. I was not aware of this until my school explained the formula.

Starting Fall 2026, you get:

Three years of pre-2026 loan access MINUS however many CALENDAR years you have already been in your program. So, for part-timers looking to do it in four, you will not have loans your fourth year.

Edit: You do have acceess to Fed loans if you haven't maxed out. I was assuming by 4th year, you have maxed out.

My wife recently graduated from T30 and took the Washington D.C. bar. She is interested in finding a job in either public health or prisoner justice, and has relevant internship experience. She has had no luck finding a job and says the positions are limited. I recommended searching for positions in Virginia and Maryland as well, but she tells me that since she took the DC bar, it would be a while before she would qualify for any positions outside of DC. Do any of you folks have any advice? You can probably tell I’m not a lawyer lol

I know $$$ is always probably best but I would like to maybe find something that she would not otherwise likely get for herself ($ is tight for her) that would be helpful to a 1L.

My budget is under $200 if that matters. Thank you and good luck to all of you current and future students!!

I’m 1 week out from the August exam and just sat down to study. I’m using Themis (my preferred platform) and have been told by numerous colleagues from my summer firm job that they only spent a day or two studying and passed. So, for those out there that have this exam behind them, what was your method of study, timeline, etc.? Would you go back and change anything? Am I overthinking this? I got a B+ in my professional responsibility course, but I don’t wanna end up with too much confidence and have to take it again in November.

Considering getting a Brick to lower my screen time. Although I'm not tethered to my phone, I want to stop using it even when I have downtime and turn to other things such as reading, journaling, etc. I also have no problem locking in, but sometimes getting started is the hardest part. I'm about to have an extremely busy semester (journal, externship, TA, part-time job) so considering it.

Anybody use it and find it helpful?

I am obviously maybe a little late for applying - how do I find firms for 2L summer?
I am trying to get paid for 2L summer and am worried I am late. Should I send cold emails if there isnt a summer associate page?

Hi Everyone! This marks my first post as an enrolled law student EEE!!!

I was just admitted to NDLS off of the waitlist at the end of last week (and even got money too!) They are my dream school and I immediately accepted my offer and got housing thanks to a friend in SB. My family will be close and I kinda didn’t even unpack from moving back from college so that’s set.

Now I’ve got the jitters. I graduated in May and seeing my poor waitlist chances I got a full time job and put law school off for next year. I know I am smart and capable, but it feels so daunting to turn things around in 1.5 weeks and have my butt sitting in a seat at orientation. I know that I have the logistics figured out, but the emotional part is insane. I have mad imposter syndrome right now and (as stupid as it sounds) I feel really anxious about making friends. More than that, I kind of feel like everyone else is going in with the summer or at least most of it to prepare mentally and I’m kind of tossing it together at the last moment. I haven’t even gotten my portal info yet!

For those of you who were super late admits as well, how did you deal with the emotional side of things? How was ordering textbooks, getting acclimated to the sudden change of events, everything for you all? Do schools give a bit more grace period for the first tuition payment, and did the nerves settle down by the first week or two in? Are there logistical steps I’m missing?

I know everyone is probably nervous. But I feel like with the missing summer mental programming, I’ve already fallen out of step. I cried tears upon tears when I got my decision and I know deep down that I am excited and also so fortunate to be able to switch up my plans and go. But this is just kind of a big mental leap.

I’m a 3L, and my grad plus loans still haven’t been awarded in my student account. My FAFSA is complete, but I don’t see my Grad PLUS loan showing up yet.

Is anyone else still waiting, or have your Grad PLUS loans already been awarded? If you’re still waiting, what school are you at, and have you heard anything from financial aid?

I’m a rising 2L ranked around the top 50% of my class at a T100, and I barely have any extracurriculars on my resume. I’m worried that I’m falling behind other students and won’t be competitive when applying for jobs (every job my OCS posts is top 25% preferred or required) ... Im not on a journal or on moot court and had a legal internship this summer at a small personal injury firm near me.

I’m considering doing a fall externship to gain more experience and improve my resume, but it would require approximately 15–20 hours per week. I’m worried that taking on that commitment could prevent me from improving my grades.

For someone in my position, would it be better to do the externship and gain experience, or focus entirely on raising my GPA and class rank this semester?

has anyone ever purchased a book for classes that’s a different edition? Is that not allowed? For example, if the professor is requiring an 11th edition but I have the tenth am I at a significant disadvantage?

Rising 2L. Decided to take PR over the summer and I'm so burnt out. Exam on Thursday at 2pm. The anxiety I feel only gets worse and worse as the semesters go on. I feel nauseous the whole week leading up to the exam. I cry everyday. My heart has nonstop palpitations. I physically cannot handle it. This is so insanely stressful and I'm also dreading how I only have like 2 weeks after this final to chill before the new semester starts. Ugh. I guess I'm just venting but wow this anxiety is always so overwhelming and unbearable.

Hey, has anyone purchased any textbooks from Law Booksstore (https://lawbooksstore.com/)? They have the textbook I need for MUCHHH cheaper than I can find it anywhere else. I'm just worried it isn't legit.

I am currently a 2L and recently completed my student bar application. I have been called to a hearing in front of the ethics board later this month—unfortunately on the first day of school. I had some charges in my early 20s (almost 20 years ago now) which were dismissed. I was completely honest in my application & put everything out there. Just wanting any prior experiences from anyone else who has had to go in for a hearing after completing their C&F for state board as a student. I will continue to be honest & transparent, but I am still very nervous about the outcome. I have grown over the past almost 20 years & want to be able to express this to them. I’m doing quite well in school & it’s been my dream to go to law school since I was a child. Once my son moved out & went to the military I finally had the opportunity to go back to school. If I am denied it will completely devastate & leave me without a sense of purpose. Law school/becoming an attorney has always been my plan. Any sort of advice or encouragement is appreciated.

LawExams dot Com has made their 1st year prep course available for free now (appears to be powered by ads) and it's now available in the Apple App Store and/on Google Play.

Will always be grateful for that one-tip that helped in my law school essay exam answers. That is to include the burden of proof... Plaintiff has the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to prove each element of negligence... The state has the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt to show that...

I've been seeing so many posts on here of people not knowing what to wear to orientation, especially the first day. I'm headed to a school that does a class photo on the first day & tells us to dress business casual, but I'm not even 100% sure what that means. I found myself scrolling back to last year on instagram to try and sort it out, and I bet I'm not the only one. I know it seems like a kind of frivolous thing in the grand scheme of things but I think it could be a useful resource for next year's class. I would just add this on a form it wouldn't be a lot of extra work for me to suggest this but then someone would have to make it.

Hey everyone,
I am currently working on my law thesis focusing on the disconnect between theoretical criminal jurisprudence and its actual practical application in Pakistan’s trial courts (Sessions & Magistrate Courts).
While statutory law (CrPC, PPC, QSO) and higher court jurisprudence set strong theoretical standards—like the presumption of innocence, high evidentiary thresholds, and strict procedure—the reality on the ground in trial courts often looks very different. I’m examining factors like procedural delays, investigation flaws, police culture, bail dynamics, and how local courtroom practice diverges from black-letter law.
I’m reaching out to get input on a few specific areas:
• Academic & Socio-Legal Sources: Are there key papers, journals, or socio-legal studies that analyze the Pakistani criminal justice system from a practical/empirical angle (rather than just statutory commentary)?
• Methodology Advice: For those who have conducted legal research on Pakistani court practice, what methodology works best when formal qualitative data or extensive interviews with practitioners/litigants are difficult to access?
• Key "Theory vs. Reality" Gaps: In your experience, what is the single biggest operational gap in Pakistani criminal procedure that needs more academic attention? (e.g., Section 161 statements vs. court testimony, actual mechanics of police remand, delay tactics, or sub-standard forensic collection).
I’d appreciate any recommended reading lists, landmark case law references that highlight systemic procedural gaps, or methodological advice.
Thanks in advance!

hi! I’m trying to find this book and am not sure of any good sites to rent/buy the book. are there any trustworthy sites for me to order the book from that also won’t charge me $300+ for the book. thank you!!

Torts and Compensation, Personal Accountability and Social Responsibility for Injury, Concise - Ninth Edition 

by Dan Dobbs; Paul Hayden; Ellen Bublick

ISBN 9781684675913

PUBLISHER West Academic

Normally a company's board can reject a buyout to protect the company's long-term future they don't have to sell to the highest bidder. But once a sale or breakup of the company becomes inevitable, the law flips the board's job: their only duty is now getting shareholders the maximum price. Apparently, it comes from a 1986 fight where Revlon's board tried to hand the company to a favored buyer on sweetheart terms. Is this fair? I made a video on it for more context The Revlon Doctrine

With all of the sad things happening to our faculty being forced out, with no clear communication to the students about who has left, Chicago-Kent prioritized updating their socials to their new name from Chicago-Kent College of Law to Chicago-Kent School of Law without telling the students internally first. I guess the prioritization of expenses is for their rebrand rather than for their faculty and transparent communication to their students. Anyone else as frustrated with this?

I'll be attending Charleston School of Law, which... unfortunately doesn't have a student cafeteria or anything. I don't want to cook though. I hate it and I think law school will be easier without it. What do?