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Orientation Required Readings

Background Readings

The goal of orientation is to give you an opportunity to get to know your fellow students and to get you ready for the start of law school classes.  With that latter goal in mind, we are planning two sessions that will require you to do some preparatory reading.  Many first-year law students have had no experience in reading cases.  Even those of you who have read a few cases for undergraduate courses are likely unprepared for the volume of cases you will be expected to read. 

Please read these articles
before tackling the cases:

  • Tips on reading cases 
  • Briefing cases

Case Briefing

You will meet with your first semester small section professor. During this time you will review how to read and take notes on cases.  This process is often referred to as “briefing” a case.  Before this meeting you MUST have read the case indicated for your small section (below) and think about how you would go about taking notes on it in order to be prepared for a classroom discussion of it.  You may want to write out your notes on this case, but this is not mandatory. 

Class Simulation

You will participate in a class simulation with the goal of giving you a sense of what a law school class feels like.  The professors leading these sessions has prepared materials for you to read that will serve as the focus of discussion.  Again, you MUST read the materials indicated below.

Reading Assignments

To be announced.






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Last Updated: Monday, February 6, 2012 | Copyright © 1998-2012 The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. All Rights Reserved.