Like many soon-to-be law students all over the country, I have received my orientation package. By the way, out of curiosity, have many law schools simply forgone the printed page? I just received a PDF file and I suppose such is rather 21st Century. But damn it, I am paying a lot for law school. Would it be too much to ask for them to get off their ass and mail me something?
Its pretty standard material: A Case to Brief, How to Read a Case, How to Brief a Case, etc... At this point, those going to law school have either read about how to do this already or have had to put up with this in undergrad (albeit, nowhere near the same capacity required in law school). The truth is if you cannot distill information at this part of the game then you are in trouble. Anyone, it seems to me, should be able to figure out the facts of the case. Start at the beginning of the case. Read it (left to right, sound it out) and tell me what the hell happened in it. Forget the fancy legal analysis or issue or holding for the moment. Law school--while expecting your briefs to contain these parts from the beginning--ought to teach you how to find that sort of stuff better/faster/give you a greater appreciation for holdings and issues.
But honestly, not knowing how to find the facts of the case? These how to read/brief a case materials have spent an inordinate amount of time on explaining the process through which a student must approach, consider and record the facts. Really? You need help with that? Here, I'll keep it simple:
Just tell me what happened. I assume that having applied to law school, been accepted and every other hoop soon-to-be 1Ls have gone through in this economy and admissions cycle, then you know how to READ!
