The number one question I get from incoming 1Ls is: how do I prepare for law school?
The short answer is: you shouldn’t prepare. Whether you’ve worked a long career or you’re fresh out of college like I was, use your time before law school to decompress and reset. I promise you won’t fall behind. The briefing, the outlining, the cold call, it’ll all come together eventually.
But if you’re looking for something to do or want to get the gears turning ahead of time, here’s a list of my favorite legal reads:
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
This is one of the best books I’ve read, law-related or otherwise. As the title suggests, Alexander tackles the issues of mass incarceration and racial discrimination in the U.S. criminal justice system. Alexander says we are not in a “post-racial America.” We are actually in the “new Jim Crow”: a system of racialized social control with effects on housing, education, voting rights, employment, and social welfare. Alexander’s writing is engaging yet easy to understand — a great introduction to the critical issues around criminal law.
- A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr
This read is based on a federal water contamination case, Anderson v. Cryovac, in our very own Woburn, Massachusetts. Unlike other examples of what I call “class action literature,” Harr steers away from melodrama to paint a compelling, legally accurate picture of big torts litigation. If you’re more of a watcher than a reader, the John Travolta film of the same name is almost as good.
- Becoming Justice Blackmun by Linda Greenhouse
This is not your typical biography. Rather, it is a fascinating look into the inner workings of the Supreme Court through the eyes of Justice Blackmun, who authored the landmark decision in Roe v. Wade. Greenhouse, a Supreme Court correspondent for the New York Times, collected over half a million of Justice Blackmun’s documents from his 24-year long tenure. The result? A powerful portrait of the Court (in all its complexity) which has stood the test of time.
- Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Bryan Stevenson is somewhat of a “legal celebrity” these days, and Just Mercy played a big part in that. Stevenson has dedicated his career to helping vulnerable communities navigate the criminal justice system. This memoir largely centers around his work with Walter McMillian who was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in Alabama. Its substantive strength aside, Just Mercy is an inspiring story for any budding lawyer. For me, it’s a constant reminder to remain hopeful and persistent against all odds.
Sangeeta Kishore is a second-year student at BC Law and president of the Impact blog. Contact her at kishorsa@bc.edu.
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