Getting To Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams
by: Richard Michael Fischl, Jeremy Paul
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Product Description:
Professors Fischl and Paul explain law school exams in ways no one has before, all with an eye toward improving the reader's performance. The book begins by describing the difference between educational cultures that praise students for 'right answers,' and the law school culture that rewards nuanced analysis of ambiguous situations in which more than one approach may be correct. Enormous care is devoted to explaining precisely how and why legal analysis frequently produces such perplexing situations.
But the authors don't stop with mere description. Instead, Getting to Maybe teaches how to excel on law school exams by showing the reader how legal analysis can be brought to bear on examination problems. The book contains hints on studying and preparation that go well beyond conventional advice. The authors also illustrate how to argue both sides of a legal issue without appearing wishy-washy or indecisive. Above all, the book explains why exam questions may generate feelings of uncertainty or doubt about correct legal outcomes and how the student can turn these feelings to his or her advantage.
In sum, although the authors believe that no exam guide can substitute for a firm grasp of substantive material, readers who devote the necessary time to learning the law will find this book an invaluable guide to translating learning into better exam performance.
Professors Fischl and Paul explain law school exams in ways no one has before, all with an eye toward improving the reader's performance. The book begins by describing the difference between educational cultures that praise students for 'right answers,' and the law school culture that rewards nuanced analysis of ambiguous situations in which more than one approach may be correct. Enormous care is devoted to explaining precisely how and why legal analysis frequently produces such perplexing situations.
But the authors don't stop with mere description. Instead, Getting to Maybe teaches how to excel on law school exams by showing the reader how legal analysis can be brought to bear on examination problems. The book contains hints on studying and preparation that go well beyond conventional advice. The authors also illustrate how to argue both sides of a legal issue without appearing wishy-washy or indecisive. Above all, the book explains why exam questions may generate feelings of uncertainty or doubt about correct legal outcomes and how the student can turn these feelings to his or her advantage.
In sum, although the authors believe that no exam guide can substitute for a firm grasp of substantive material, readers who devote the necessary time to learning the law will find this book an invaluable guide to translating learning into better exam performance.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- beyond exams
This book is about thinking like a lawyer.No other book breaks down the "taxonomy" of legal problems like this book.It should be required reading for all entering 1Ls.
Rating: - Great book
As a struggling 1L who didn't do so well her first semester, I would highly recommend this book.Professors/study groups do not teach you HOW to ace exams, they merely teach you the law.
Rating: 
- worth your time
This book is a classic for a reason: it provides practical advice that can actually help you improve your scores on law school exams.I don't know of a better book out there on this topic (though there are many similar books on the market).I suggest reading this before you even start your first term in law school because the concepts discussed in the book--such as issue spotting--are useful (even necessary) to know before going to class you 1L year.I'd recommend this book to anybody attending ... Read More
Rating: 
- Not particularly useful
This book breaks down issues you'll find on exams categorically. Then you can study each category and learn to spot similar issues on exams (the idea is that you can develop strategies to handle each issue). This is all great. The unfortunate thing is that these categories overlap and are... somewhat arbitrary. I follow the "forks in the facts" vs "forks in the law" distinction, factual issues vs legal issues. But then the categorization gets taken to excess with divisions and subdivisions of categories. ... Read More
Rating: - "Overstating Their Case...Maybe"
"Getting to Maybe:How to Excel on Law School Exams" by Richard Fischl and Jeremy Paul, Carolina Academic Press 1999, ISBN 0-89089-760-3, SC 328 pgs.15 Chapters and 3 pgs Sources.8 ½" x 5 ½".No inveiglements.
The book's mission, to teach law students how to write meritorious exams and look forward to Law Review, was co-authored by two Harvardian law school graduates who took bold issue with using IRAC methodology, i.e. issue, rule, application & conclusion, that they found, interestingly, ... Read More
- beyond examsThis book is about thinking like a lawyer.No other book breaks down the "taxonomy" of legal problems like this book.It should be required reading for all entering 1Ls.
- Great bookAs a struggling 1L who didn't do so well her first semester, I would highly recommend this book.Professors/study groups do not teach you HOW to ace exams, they merely teach you the law.
- worth your timeThis book is a classic for a reason: it provides practical advice that can actually help you improve your scores on law school exams.I don't know of a better book out there on this topic (though there are many similar books on the market).I suggest reading this before you even start your first term in law school because the concepts discussed in the book--such as issue spotting--are useful (even necessary) to know before going to class you 1L year.I'd recommend this book to anybody attending ... Read More
- Not particularly usefulThis book breaks down issues you'll find on exams categorically. Then you can study each category and learn to spot similar issues on exams (the idea is that you can develop strategies to handle each issue). This is all great. The unfortunate thing is that these categories overlap and are... somewhat arbitrary. I follow the "forks in the facts" vs "forks in the law" distinction, factual issues vs legal issues. But then the categorization gets taken to excess with divisions and subdivisions of categories. ... Read More
- "Overstating Their Case...Maybe""Getting to Maybe:How to Excel on Law School Exams" by Richard Fischl and Jeremy Paul, Carolina Academic Press 1999, ISBN 0-89089-760-3, SC 328 pgs.15 Chapters and 3 pgs Sources.8 ½" x 5 ½".No inveiglements.
The book's mission, to teach law students how to write meritorious exams and look forward to Law Review, was co-authored by two Harvardian law school graduates who took bold issue with using IRAC methodology, i.e. issue, rule, application & conclusion, that they found, interestingly, ... Read More
