Preparing for Law School

We recognize that some of you may expect that attending law school will be an intimidating experience. USC Law School offers all of its students the help of our Academic Support Program, which provides a variety of resources to assist all students as they learn how to study law. As a first-year student at USC, you will have access to a number of resources including workshops, weekly email tips and student tutors. You will meet the Academic Support staff and student tutors during Orientation, and you will learn more about the Program at that time.

Because law school will most likely be different from any academic endeavor you have faced up to this point, it is probably a good idea to take some time this summer to understand fully the challenges you will face next fall. We have two recommendations to prepare for the first year of law school before the fall semester begins.

We encourage you to consider enrolling in a law school preparation course that provides an overview of law study for entering law students. One program we are very familiar with is "Law Preview." Scholarships and special discounts are available for entering USC Law students who would like to attend this program. Details will be sent via email and regular mail to all incoming students. While enrollment in Law Preview is completely optional, students who have enrolled in this particular program in the past have found it helpful with their transition to law school. You can get more information about Law Preview online at www.lawpreview.com.

There are several fine books on the market, and we have listed some recommended titles below. While these are not "required reading," we recommend that you take some time to read at least one of these books this summer.

• Bridging the Gap between College and Law School: Strategies For Success, Ruta Stropus and Charlotte Taylor
• Getting To Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams, Michael Fischl and Jeremy Paul
• Law 101, Everything You Need To Know About the American Legal System, Jay Feinman
• Law School Confidential - A Complete Guide to the Law School Experience, Robert Miller
• Reading Like a Lawyer - Time-Saving Strategies for Reading Law Like an Expert, Ruth McKinney
• Starting Off Right in Law School, Carolyn K. Nygren
• 1000 Days to the Bar - But the Practice of Law Begins Now; How to Achieve Your Personal Best in Law School, Dennis J. Tonsing

If you have any questions about any of this information, please contact Linda Bassett, Director of Student Affairs and Academic Support at (213) 740-6314 or AcademicSupport@law.usc.edu.