1.  What classes will I take my first year?

2.  What is the Socratic method?

• Rather than lecturing, professors assign readings and conduct the class by asking students questions about the material.

• Some professors will call on one student each day and ask that student to discuss the assigned case(s), and other professors call on multiple students.  Regardless, it is always wise to go to class prepared to discuss the cases.

• Keep up with the assigned reading. Reading the cases for the day will enable you to answer most of the questions the professor tries to throw at you.

3.  What are "Gilbert's?"

• Gilbert's is one of several commercial study aids  available for sale at the college bookstore.  Commercial study aids are available for all 1L classes.

• There are two types of study aids you can buy for first- year courses: commercial outlines and hornbooks.

• Commercial outlines are detailed skeletons of the material you need to know for a particular course. (There are several brands of commercial study aids, (Legalines,Emanuel Law Outlines and Gilbert Law Summaries, and each is good in its own manner.)

4.  Do I need to buy the commercial study aids?

• Every law student has their own opinion on study aids and which are good and which are not. 

• Talk to other students that have taken your professors and find out what worked well for them.

• Use your own best judgment on what works best for you.

5.  I heard that it was best not to listen to advice from other law students because they would intentionally give you the wrong answers.

• Most law student have heard the horror stories of pages torn out of books, book disappearing from the library the night before a paper is do, and such . . .

• In reality the students at Tech are extremely helpful and truthful and while a book occasionally gets misplaced for a few days, we know of no one who was ever unable to complete an assignment because of stolen books. 

• Second and Third year students have no reason to give you false  information.  Your class standing is not going to effect their standing in anyway.

• Don't be afraid to listen to advice from other Tech Student!

6.  What should I wear to class?

• Wear whatever you are comfortable in . . .

7.  Should I join a study group?

• You should do what works best for you. You know how you study best.

• If you decide to try a study group, make sure that the people in the group are dedicated enough to stick with it.

• Discussing difficult ideas with other law students is a good way of making sure you understand them.

• Study groups work best with four or five people.
  

8.  What is a Carrel?

• Texas  Tech School of Law provides study carrels for all law students.

• The school has both one-computer and two-computer carrels.

• One-computer carrels are shared with 2-4 students. Two-computer carrels are shared with 4-8 students.

• The carrels are small study rooms with desks, computers, and locking cabinets.

• Most1L's share carrels in the basement of the Library.

• 3L's and 2L's get first choice on the carrels.

• You will be assigned a carrel during the second or third week of school.