Reading material in law school

<p>What kinds of reading material should I be reading in preparation for the LSAT and law school? I know that among them should be stuff that I already like, but I'm also trying to determine, based on the reading material involved in law school, whether or not I would like law school in the first place. So something about contract law? Other reading materials I should get used to reading as an undergrad?</p>

<p>In law school, how many pages of reading per night per class is assigned? 40? How many classes do you take at a time? 3?</p>

<p>If you are taking law full time, this will usually involve 5 coures and each course will typically have 40 to 60 pages of reading per week. </p>

<p>For the LSAT and law school, no best courses other than some courses in Logic and Deduction.</p>

<p>I would suggest courses and experiences that require reading comprehension, whether involving literature and the discussion of literature, scientific reading and understanding or philosophy. Any experience, even a book club, where you read materials and then discuss and perhaps argue different points will provide excellent preparation. I would also recommend reading a newspaper every day, though I would suggest reading it with a critical eye for viewpoint. </p>

<p>Oh, and I believe that the previous estimate of 40-60 pages per week per class would often underestimate actual required reading. Often, that much reading is required per meeting of each class.</p>

<p>Law student response:</p>

<p>1) It's really hard to mimic law school reading. The only thing I can suggest is some legal analysis. Start off with Findlaw.com's writ section. They have professors who write short blurbs (maybe 2 pages or so) about current legal issues. While Anna Nicole Smith's inheritance is a lot sexier than almost anything you'll encounter in law school, see if the underlying analysis interests you. There's also books out there, like Scalia's Dissents that have a heavy amount of legal analysis. In law school, you'll be reading the cases and deciphering them yourself.</p>

<p>2) Usually, four classes + legal writing during 1L year. Most classes have about 700 pages of reading throughout the semester. One exam at the end.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>I've been reading Harvard Law Review articles but only to gauge my interest in law and to get a feel for how legal scholars think, because I know that the articles don't mimic law school reading at all.</p>