Book Review: One L by Scott Turow
This is the first book review I have put together. In the future I will be reviewing books that are related to the law and law school. As always feel free to send feedback to pointdexterish@gmail.com.
Book Review: One L by Scott Turow
Law school is an emotionally trying time. Most of the advice that I have heard from those who have survived the experience runs along the lines of "it was some of the most difficult work I have done, I'm happy to have the experience". Maybe it is the way that we interact with one another, but I had not heard anything about the emotional impact that the first year of law school has on its students.
Luckily Scott Turow's One L was recommended to me by a good, lawyerly type, friend. At 300 pages the book is a quick read taking two afternoons if you can spare the time. Turow kept a journal during his first year, known as 1L, at Harvard Law School. During his second year at Harvard he edited his journal into book form, published first in 1977.
The day to day details that Turow describes are unexceptional: heavy work loads, difficult professors and competitive class mates. Law school creates a pressure cooker and those who participate in this pressure cooker as students know what they are getting into. One detail that I had not thought much about, but in retrospect seems important, is the nature of interpersonal relationships during the turbulent first year. Turow made sure to devote a nice portion of the book to the difficulties that he and his wife Annette faced, and the ways that they managed their relationship under such a huge amount of stress. I will be recommending this book to those who will have close contact with me during my own 1L as a result.
Where One L really succeeds is detailing the emotional turmoil that a new law student goes through. Turow writes about the fact that law school requires its students to change their perceptions of justice and society in some very fundamental ways. These ideological changes, coupled with the stress induced by intense competition for top positions in the class, create an intense environment that can cause some harsh emotional reactions. The importance of distancing yourself from the rat race of hyper-competitive "gunners", or students who have a "whatever it takes" attitude, is highlighted by Turow. Stories of 20 hour study days and emotional out bursts in the hallways between classes illustrate just how bad things can get.
This book is a great read for prospective law students, friends and family of law students and anyone else who is interested in seeing law school through the eyes of a gifted writer.
Book Review: One L by Scott Turow
Law school is an emotionally trying time. Most of the advice that I have heard from those who have survived the experience runs along the lines of "it was some of the most difficult work I have done, I'm happy to have the experience". Maybe it is the way that we interact with one another, but I had not heard anything about the emotional impact that the first year of law school has on its students.
Luckily Scott Turow's One L was recommended to me by a good, lawyerly type, friend. At 300 pages the book is a quick read taking two afternoons if you can spare the time. Turow kept a journal during his first year, known as 1L, at Harvard Law School. During his second year at Harvard he edited his journal into book form, published first in 1977.
The day to day details that Turow describes are unexceptional: heavy work loads, difficult professors and competitive class mates. Law school creates a pressure cooker and those who participate in this pressure cooker as students know what they are getting into. One detail that I had not thought much about, but in retrospect seems important, is the nature of interpersonal relationships during the turbulent first year. Turow made sure to devote a nice portion of the book to the difficulties that he and his wife Annette faced, and the ways that they managed their relationship under such a huge amount of stress. I will be recommending this book to those who will have close contact with me during my own 1L as a result.
Where One L really succeeds is detailing the emotional turmoil that a new law student goes through. Turow writes about the fact that law school requires its students to change their perceptions of justice and society in some very fundamental ways. These ideological changes, coupled with the stress induced by intense competition for top positions in the class, create an intense environment that can cause some harsh emotional reactions. The importance of distancing yourself from the rat race of hyper-competitive "gunners", or students who have a "whatever it takes" attitude, is highlighted by Turow. Stories of 20 hour study days and emotional out bursts in the hallways between classes illustrate just how bad things can get.
This book is a great read for prospective law students, friends and family of law students and anyone else who is interested in seeing law school through the eyes of a gifted writer.
posted by law student @ Sunday, January 09, 2005
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