Legal Research

At this time of year, as the new law students arrive, we at ZiefBrief can feel the anxiety in the air, as 1Ls wonder if they'll be able to cope with law school.  (Confidential to new USF law students: you bet you can cope!  Our admissions office has as great track record identifying people who can succeed in law school, and you're here because they know you can hack it.)

Well, legal publishers must be able to feel the anxiety, too, and for them it signals an opportunity to try to sell books about surviving in law school. The Zief Library has bought a lot of these books so that you don't have to.

Our Succeeding in Law School research guide lists a few of the books on handling the demands of law school. It includes books dealing in general advice as well as books focusing on specific topics like taking exams and doing legal research and writing.  And our advice in a nutshell: yes, law school is a lot of work and the first year makes everyone feel stupid, but take a deep breath and remember that you are smart and capable, and you'll do fine.