What Law School Doesn't Teach You...But You Really Need to Know! (Career Guides)

Received in a timely fashion. No complaints!

Interesting. Great knowledge for people like me that are not lawyers but work in the legal system.

I bought this for a gift for a friend,but I flipped thru it, I am sure she will love it

I read this book in law school partially because the first chapter walks you through having a successful internship or externship depending on whether you are getting paid or not. This book also has a great chapter on being a judicial clerk but refers you to the "clerk's bible" for more information. You are not going to find this kind of critical information elsewhere. I found this book a great heads up to what you are in for as a lawyer and a fun read. I finished reading this book between studying for bar exams as pleasure reading before passing the bar exam.I spoke to Kimm, aka Kimbo, when she was alive when I was looking for work and got great guidance. Kimm has since passed away from a neurological disease at far to young an age but she was a brilliant lawyer. Kimm worked as an attorney for the prestigious Jones Day law firm, but moved on to writing books. Kimm has been there and done that so she knows what she is talking about. This book would be a great gift for any aspiring lawyer.

This book is well written and has a lot of do's and don'ts of the practical legal world. The author speaks a lot about what to do on the job and frequently gives a few good ideas. A huge percentage of those ideas are supported by real-life anecdotes from various legal professionals. The major problem I had with it, is that throughout almost the entire book I kept finding myself saying, "Yeah, duh." As just one of many many potential examples, there is an anecodote about a summer clerk who goes into a firm, whines that he needs his own office and is allowed to use the office of a lawyer who is out sick. The lawyer wants to connect to her computer from home, so the summer clerk is told he absolutely cannot touch the computer. The clerk does so anyway thus preventing the lawyer from being able to connect to the computer and gaining for the clerk the contempt of everyone in the office. There are a lot of little stories like this where somebody does something just blatantly stupid (and a smaller number where somebody does something blatantly correct). Some of the stories are amusing but are almost always connected to advice that seems really obvious. If you think you have really poor judgement then by all means read this book.I also found the organization a little irritating. There were no distinct chapter breaks. Although it's got a very methodical organization scheme, it READS as though it's one big continuous text. I like to read at night and stop at the end of a chapter. I kept feeling as though if I were to stop reading I would be cutting an idea midstream and that irritated the heck out of me.In the book's defense, it is well written and the text flows nicely. There's a wonderfully colloquial feel to how it reads.I've been reading a lot of law school prep-type books of late and this one was not my favorite. It's not terrible, but it doesn't seem entirely useful to me either.

Although I was very skeptical when I first bought this book, I was pleasantly surprised. I want to work in a law firm but was very disappointed with my first summer associate experience (and the outcome). I turned to this book to offer a fresh perspective and insight. I found it.In this present climate of law firm cut-backs and recession, law students need all the help they can get. This book is very informative and offers great tidbits to keep the summer associate on his/her toes. It offers great stories (some ridiculous and others sad), humor, and a easy to read style. It also presents a multitude of information about a young associate's life in the law firm. Most importantly (for a law student), the book gives the reader the inside scoop on what law firms want and how to best go about showing your best side at all times and to keep your eyes on the "prize" (a job offer).This book does not offer jobs and it is not a cure-all for personality problems or adverse attitudes. But it does offer the reader insight into what law firms want out of their summer associates and young associates. It also gives insight into the reality of work and play at a law firm.Listen, the book is not expensive - but it could be costly if you don't read it and want to work in a law firm. I have given the book to friends and they have all stated that they wished they had read it LAST year! I strongly encourage 1Ls, 2Ls, and (especially today) 3Ls to read this book and to take a fresh look at the way they handle themselves.

I picked this up at the urging of my career services office, and I was not disappointed. Upbeat, friendly, straightforward, and accessible, the book is both helpful and encouraging.Some of the advice may not seem profound--most of us know to be nice to support staff and many of us know which water glass at a formal dinner is ours--but you are bound to learn a few new things. Considering how much is at stake, it probably isn't a bad idea to review even some of the basics either.I also think the book helped me secure my summer clerkship--especially the discussions of the economics of law firms and the insights into how hiring partners think.