One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School

I approach this work as a multiple graduate degree scientist, not a lawyer. That said the moral conundrum, here in 2025 as experienced during that graduate education are not so different. What does science, per se, owe the folks that pay for it? Is the system of graduate education, in my case, as a PhD chemist, designed to do anything other than breed more academicians? Is that a useful enterprise, particularly when the less than stellar tier of graduates, PhD or not, are quite simply never going to be allowed to perform true academic science?Mr. Turow’s work here provides a framework, and a highly thoughtful and provocative one at that, as I consider these questions.

I've just completed this book, even though I graduated from law school in 2000. I wish that I had read the book before law school or after the first semester, because it would have helped me understand the insanity that prevailed during that first year. (When I speak of insanity, I am referring to the never-ending anxiety, classroom competition, attention-seeking, obsession with grades, and the personality changes that occur when the first-semester grades are finally posted.) Turow did a great job of explaining how the Socratic method operates. I attended a "regular" Midwestern law school, and my experience with the Socratic method in 1997 was not as severe as Turow's was at Harvard in the 1970s. However, it was similar.I appreciated the fact that Turow did not have any command of legalese when he began law school. I had no command of it, either, and, like him, I spent countless hours reading only a few pages in the beginning. It was reassuring to learn that he had the same experience.I do not believe the purpose of the book is to dissuade others from going to law school. It is simply one man's account of his experiences in the first year of law school. It is still very interesting after all these years.I gave the book four stars instead of five because it became boring near the end. Nonetheless, I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone considering going to law school.

One of these days I shall have to replace my copy of One-L. It's falling apart. Turow writes so well, and his One-L is a great read. I live in Minnesota. On cold and rainy days when I want to avoid the elements by hunkering down with a good book, I often turn to old favorites. They provide company with their familiarity. One-L is such a favorite. It is, however, more than just another great read. I come from a family peopled with attorneys. In the 1800s they, like Lincoln, read the law. Then they began going to law school. My father graduated from The University of Chicago Law School in 1923. Uncles and first and second cousins, all of whom were male, have been attorneys. Now the children and grandchildren of these cousins, now both male and female, are either practicing attorneys or going to law school. They all, even the oldest of the codgers, sound like Turow clones when they speak of their law school days. Apparently, the more things change, the more they really do stay the same. This book, it seems to me, should be a "must read" for anyone planning to go to law school. May each and every one of you ace the LSAT and get into the law school of your choice. And, once you are accepted, may you find a perfect study group.April 14,2013 -- Since the weather really has been frightful day after day after day, I picked up my falling-apart-copy of One-L. Was I ever ready to hunker down and read! Alas, the book disintegrated. I ordered a new used copy which arrived in fine condition. Today, it's either snowing or raining, but I'm prepared. I'll stay inside, warm and dry, and read my new used book.

Item arrived quickly and in brand new condition as described. Packaged well. I'm a huge Scott Turow fan and happy to receive this.

One often hears about Harvard. And, with this book, the reader is given the opportunity to see glimpses of one student’s life as a first-year Harvard law student. The student is Scott Turow (who later wrote the book “Presumed Innocent”). The school year is Fall1975 - Spring1976.I suspect any young person, who is considering a career in law, would want to read this book to get some idea of what to expect in law school. Presumably, methods for teaching law have evolved somewhat since the Seventies. And, presumably, different law schools have somewhat different cultural approaches to teaching law. Yet I presume the basics described it this book still apply. (And, yes, perhaps I presume too much.)As a retired engineer, I was simply curious about the education of law student – especially at such a prestigious and ultra-competitive school. I found the educational process for a lawyer to be markedly different than that for an engineer. Engineer students build on what they already know to solve problems and design systems; law students use what they know to argue either side of the coin. Definitely different worlds.The author talks about his highs and lows as he contends with the high work load, peer competition, pressure to make Law Review, the make or break nature of Final Exams, and the interrogative style of teacher/student classroom interaction.Bottom line: Somewhat like being back in school, but the pressure is on someone else rather than you. Certainly of greater interest to a budding lawyer.

I went to law school, 20 years after Mr. Turow. I’m now 25 years out of law school and I hear the same stories. I didn’t know what to expect when I walked into my first law school class. I wish I had read this book first. I’ve always said, law, school is horrible. However, it is a necessary evil in order to engage in the wonderful practice of law.