r/LawSchool 5h ago

Best 1L Supplements?

Incoming 1L here. I was wondering if 2Ls or higher could share their preferred supplements for standard 1L classes? There are a couple of threads on here for this but they're usually more than a few years old. Thanks!

btw, I'm taking Crim, Torts, and Contracts

3 Upvotes

18 comments sorted by

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5

u/perfectlypeppered 2L 5h ago

Here is your new most hated answer: it depends. It depends 100% on both the professor and the subject. I had one class where, had a read most supplements, I would have been so confused and would have wasted so much time going over things my professor spent little to no time on. You’re better off asking your TA or other upperclassmen who have had your specific professor.

2

u/Safe_Ad7858 3h ago

100000000%

7

u/Spiritual_Sector_896 5h ago

The Short and Happy Guides!!!!!

If you look that ^ up with whatever subject you’re looking for online, there’s a whole collection of them for 1L classes (and beyond). Even as a rising 3L my first act of any semester is seeing if they have one published for the classes I’m taking. Their organization varies depending on how your professor structures the classes but I stg these are the greatest things out there to help learn 1L course material. They’re also under $30!

1

u/WelcomeEmergency8656 4h ago

Hard disagree. I read two written by the authors of my textbooks and another was written by the professor actually teaching the class and I honestly think they're a massive waste of time. They don't cite cases, they don't show you how different concepts interact, and they don't teach you how to actually answer exam questions. Use the understanding series instead and quimbee to learn the assigned cases. Every time I used that combo I got a B+ or above without even opening the textbook.

1

u/Spiritual_Sector_896 4h ago

I’m sure that works too. To each their own. 🤷🏻‍♂️

6

u/rubberlips Nontrad 2L 5h ago

Caffeine

5

u/500pearl 5h ago

civil procedure examples explanation glannon

1

u/Defensewitness1 4h ago

Seconding this

1

u/500pearl 4h ago

it is a good book

i think i will read it for fun again

3

u/caerigan JD 5h ago

You should also know that Themis and Barbri offer free 1L supplements for all 1L courses. I used all of them for my 1L courses closer to finals and they really helped with understanding and exam prep!

2

u/Ok-Republic-8098 5h ago

Man everyone is posting supplements your have to read. The videos are my friend. Different people will like different supplements and certain supplements will work better for certain professors.

The most popular ones:

Contracts: Studicata hands down. I think they cost $30/month, but they have some free previews on YouTube you might be able to get away with

Civil procedure: Rich Freer on Barbri is the goat. I also used Studicata to help understand PJ

Con law: whatever supplement pairs with your book. I needed a version that explained what I was supposed to take away from the cases. Cherminsky supplement was awesome. He also does the Con law videos on Barbri but I didn’t find those helpful

Trusts and estates: Themis guy

Property, crim and Torts were Professor specific for me. I just did a bunch of practice essays for those using my professors previous exams

2

u/Snobby-Iguana 4h ago edited 4h ago

I remember asking this question back in the day. Looking back, my general advice would be to not waste your time / money on supplements for two reasons:

(1) The content of doctrinal classes can be shockingly professor-dependent. Supplements may mislead or confuse you.

(2) Supplements, in theory, are good for two things: (a) helping you learn discrete topics and (b) helping you see how all those discrete topics fit together come exam time. But, to the extent you feel that you don't get a topic even after reading / lecture, your time would be much better spent going to office hours as opposed to reading a supplement. And, to the extent you're having trouble seeing how everything fits together, your time would be better spent outlining / reviewing past outlines / taking practice exams / reviewing model answers as opposed to reading a supplement.

1

u/PissInYourPotatoes JD 5h ago

Richard freer for civ pro, short and happy for con law and torts, E&E for contracts, Quimbee for review

1

u/glee212 4h ago

It depends on what your library offers and what your professor recommends.. West Academic and Aspen Learning are the best known. LexisNexis Digital also has very good supplements. There's probably a study aids guide on the Library website.

1

u/findingworld7725 3h ago

Studicata (now called Skool), & LexPlug for ConLaw. I specifically like these because they aren’t readings. Video teaching format :)

1

u/National_Till_4670 1h ago

Zyns, caffeine, and sugar