Frequently Asked Questions
I never used Academic Support in college. Why should I do so now?
Law school is different. The successful strategies you used to get into law school will not necessarily be the ones that lead to success in a legal curriculum. Often even highly successful students will find law school more difficult than they anticipated.
Do all Cleveland Marshall students use Academic Support resources?
No. Many students adapt quickly to the law school environment. Others adapt more slowly, but seem to find their way without additional help. A surprising number of students, however, have found that one or more of the resources offered through Academic Support made a significant difference in their academic careers.
Do I have to “sign up” for any of your programs?
With one exception, no. The Fall Workshops on outlining, time management, and elementary legal analysis are open to all students. One-on-one sessions may need to be scheduled in advance, but not always – we see a lot of students on a walk-in basis. Our Contracts Small Groups are initially filled by invitation only. Other students must obtain permission from Daniel Dropko, the Manager of the Academic Excellence Program, to participate. In the past, we have not had to turn anyone away who was serious about participating.
I am an evening student. Are your programs available after 5 pm?
Absolutely. Anything offered during the day is also offered in the evening. Daniel Dropko, the Manager of the Academic Excellence Program, regularly keeps office hours at least two nights per week, and is available other nights by appointment.
Do you sponsor any tutoring programs in specific subjects?
We do not. Questions concerning Contracts, Torts, or other law school courses should always be directed to your professor. All the professors post office hours at the beginning of the semester. You will find that the professors at Cleveland Marshall are very supportive and helpful if you approach them with well-considered questions.
I am a first year student. How do I know if I need extra help?
This is a difficult question. Sometimes you don’t know until after the first semester grades are posted, but you don’t really want to wait until then to seek advice. All first-year students feel confused and overwhelmed at some point. The best advice I can offer is to take advantage of the Fall Workshops before you are loaded down with coursework. After that, if you sense that you are falling behind, don’t be afraid to drop by for an informal chat. You have nothing to lose, and you may find that your perceived difficulties are relatively minor and easily addressed.
I have already signed up for a bar review course. Should I take yours also?
In most cases, yes. Our bar preparation course is designed to supplement, not replace, the traditional commercial bar reviews. The additional practice you get in answering essay questions and in dealing with the MPT section of the exam is extremely valuable. It will also help you to use your time more efficiently when you do begin your commercial bar review by helping you to isolate areas where you need the most practice.
Are there any good books on how to succeed in law school that you recommend?
There are lots of good “how-to” books available. We do not promote any one author or publisher. Different people will have different needs, and no one book or set of materials will be right for everyone. You also need to remember that once the semester begins, you will need a lot of time to complete your class assignments. The time to read these types of books is before classes start, leaving time to review key concepts as needed. That being said, however, here are a few suggestions:
- Whose Monet? by John Humbach. Subtitled, “An Introduction to the American Legal System”, this is a very interesting general introduction to the workings of the court system. It may be a little elementary for those who are already familiar with legal proceedings and have a basic legal vocabulary. But for those who come to the law from other disciplines, this is a good introduction.
- 1000 Days to the Bar, by Dennis Tonsing. This is a good introduction to the entire spectrum of skills successful students employ.
- Reading Like a Lawyer, by Ruth Ann McKinney. Reading is one of the skills most essential to law school success. This book is based on the most current research in reading theory, and directed specifically at the types of reading law students encounter.
- Writing Essay Exams to Succeed, Not Just to Survive, by John C. Dembach. A good book for first-year students who have never taken a law school exam.
- Getting to Maybe, by Richard Fischl and Jeremy Paul. This is a classicintroduction to exam-taking skills. It may be a little advanced for some first-year students, but can be especially useful for any student who has already taken a law school exam.
I repeat, these are only suggestions. A simple internet search will turn up others that may be equally useful to you. Always remember, though, that you learn about law through actively participating in your studies, not by reading “guidebooks”. Study wisely.
Since I started law school, everyone is giving me advice. How do I know what to do?
Try not to be overwhelmed. There is no law student, law professor, practicing attorney, or judge who does not have some advice that they may offer you. And it’s all good! But only you know what will work for you. The most important thing is to know yourself. Understand your own strengths and weaknesses, listen politely, but make good decisions.
I have heard a lot about Study Aids. What, exactly, are they and do I need some?
Don’t be in a hurry. There are scores of “study aids” that companies are happy to sell you, and they are not cheap. They can be hornbooks, commercial outlines, flashcards, and an entire universe of computer software. They need to be selected and used with great care. They are no substitute for the careful, thorough and precise study required for successful learning in law school! Students who have failed in law school inevitably have stacks of these books! They are not always bad, and some can be very helpful. But you should not just run out and blindly load up with them. You will just waste your money and you won’t help yourself. Carefully consider what your real needs are, heed the advice of your professors (who will invariably urge caution and restraint), and resist the temptation to take what seems to be the “easy road”. This is law school, and the easy road leads nowhere.
I have been told that I may have a learning disability. Will this affect my studies at Cleveland Marshall in any way?
Law school is very demanding. There is an enormous amount of material to be covered, and law school exams are exceptionally challenging and are administered under severe time pressure. Genuine learning disabilities may effect your performance at many levels. CSU does offer accommodations for documented learning disabilities, but you must provide appropriate documentation. You are urged to contact Assistant Dean Jean Lifter in the Student Services Area or the CSU Office of Disability Services in University Center if you have questions. The Cleveland State University Handbook for Students with Disabilities, available online at http://www.csuohio.edu/clc/disability/students/index.htm, outlines the procedure for documenting a disability and requesting accommodations. Additional information on Disability Services is available at http://www.csuohio.edu/clc/disability/.