Ep 111: How to Ace Your Law School Exams with Jeremy Paul + Richard Michael Fischl
In this insightful interview, coauthors of the book "Getting to Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams," Jeremy Paul and Richard Michael Fischl, share their wisdom on excelling in law school exams. They discuss the origins of the book, the common mistakes students make, and essential skills for success. Discover valuable tips and perspectives to help you break into law school with confidence. Don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from experienced educators and authors who have guided countless students to success in law school.
Meet Jeremy Paul
Jeremy Paul served as dean of Northeastern University School of Law from 2012 until June 2018. He teaches Constitutional Law, Property and Jurisprudence, and co-directs the University’s Media Advocacy program. A 1978 graduate of Princeton University, he received his law degree from Harvard in 1981. Before coming to Northeastern, Professor Paul served for 23 years on the faculty of the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he was dean and the Thomas F. Gallivan, Jr. Professor of Real Property Law from 2007 until 2012.
Meet Richard Michael Fischl
Richard Michael Fischl is Constance Baker Motley Professor of Law at the University of Connecticut. After graduating cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1978, he spent four years with the Division of Enforcement Litigation at the National Labor Relations Board and a year with the Litigation Unit of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board. During his time with the NLRB, he was principal author of the agency's successful Supreme Court briefs in NLRB v. Hendricks County REMC and NLRB v. Transportation Management Inc. In 1983, he joined the faculty at the University of Miami, where he taught until his appointment at Connecticut in 2006. The year of his departure, he was the recipient of Miami's Golden Apple award for outstanding teaching and service, and he is a three-time finalist for UConn’s Perry Zirkel ’76 Distinguished Teaching Award.
Episode Highlights
The origin of the book arose from the need to address the lack of guidance on excelling in law school exams.
The development process of the book, which aimed to help students succeed in law school from day one.
Fischl & Paul discuss the importance of understanding the complexity of law and the skill of presenting arguments from both sides.
The give insight into the common mistake students make, assuming there's only one right answer on law exams.
The book's focus on teaching students to answer the specific question asked in exams effectively.
Closing remarks on the unique approach of "Getting to Maybe" as a valuable resource for all law students.
Tweetable Quotes
“The point of the book is called ‘Getting to Maybe’ because we want to encourage people to understand that there are often strong arguments on the other side of an issue that might not immediately appeal to you, but that might be convincing to someone else.”
“[The book] is a tried and true route to concrete success in law school. And some of the students who face the greatest challenges can give the best testimony to that effect.”