eBook So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? Law School in Canada now available on Kindle

I just found out that the eBook version of my book, So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? Law School in Canada is now available on Kindle through Amazon.ca.  Readable on any device.

Find the Kindle book here.  Print version is available on Amazon.ca here.

How to be (Sort of) Happy in Law School - Review

I finished reading How to Be Sort of Happy in Law School by Kathryne M. Young, JD, PhD.  It was a fun and quick read. Here is the review that I left on Amazon.ca:

I had to buy this book when I read the title on Amazon.ca.  It was most intriguing.  As the author of So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? Law School in Canada, Third Edition, I was very interested in what Ms. Kathryne M. Young, Ph.D., JD meant by "Sort of".  I have spoken to many, many law students, former law students and lawyers or former lawyers who have shared numerous stories of how great law school is or was, or how terrible it is or was.  Ms. Young has collected a wide range of similar stories in her academic work (especially about difficult or poor experiences), and she has shared many of those comments in this book.  This was most engaging to read, especially in that many of the shared anonymous comments were from a large cross-section of law students across the US from a variety of law schools.  This lends great credibility to her very entertaining commentary about the law school experience.

At first, I was skeptical of Ms. Young, when reading the beginning of this book when she shared that she had quite despised many aspects of law school.  I actually enjoyed many aspects of law school at the University of Alberta in Canada, but as I continued to read this book, I smiled often as I remembered various experiences and possibly even traumas throughout my law school experience and as I started in my legal career.

My favourite parts of this very well written, introspective, and quite complete commentary about the law school experience was Ms. Young's personal commentary about law school professors (especially the crappy ones) and her individual thoughts about how the law school experience and law school pedagogy could be improved upon.  As an instructor of law-related courses at the Dhillon School of Business, I am always looking for more effective ways to teach university students about the law.  Ms. Young, although not a law school professor, has many good ideas here that she is willing to share.  I do hope that some, or rather many, law school professors read this book and take note of the student commentary and Ms. Young's thoughtful suggestions for improvement.

This could have been a depressing read, with many of the student comments being quite negative or even shocking.  However, Ms. Young has provided many resources and suggestions for getting through the more obviously difficult experience of law school, and to find potential success in the legal field.  She does not sugar coat law school at all.  It is obvious that Ms. Young has more to say about how we could improve law schools.  However, she comes across as being optimistic in the end.

The sociological approach and commentary are a welcome addition to the law school guidebook libary, and I hope that many of my readers will consider this entertaining and enlightening book as they approach law school or as they navigate their way in or out of law school.

I think that many of my law school and legal colleagues might have benefited from reading this book and possibly leaving law school or the legal profession before it became a true chore to them.  Many people enter law school with naive ideologies and are afraid to pursue a different path that might be more agreeable to their personalities.  It is well worth considering the commentary in this book as you contemplate your career choices.

As I said, I really quite liked law school, and many people have shared that sentiment with me.  However, it is important to look at law school from many perspectives before plunging in.

In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any prospective or current law student, or to all law school professors or law school administrators.

You can view and buy the book on Amazon by clicking here. They have the print version and the Kindle eBook version.

eBook available on Kodo - So You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? Law School in Canada

The eBook is now available for our book, So, You Want to be a Lawyer, eh? Law School in Canada.  It can be purchased and downloaded for Desktop, eReaders, Tablets, Apple IOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows by clicking here - Kodo.  It is currently listed at $14.39 CDN, which is a steal of a deal, given that the print version has a recommended sale price of $29.99.  If you want the print version, you can get it here - Amazon.ca for $25.29 CDN plus shipping.

Think about it. $14.39 to save hundreds of hours of research, and to get the latest information about how to get into law school in Canada and how to succeed in law school in Canada, as well as how to land law articles, and what life is like as a lawyer in Canada.

UPDATE: The eBook is now also available on iBooks on your Apple device for $17.99.  Search Adam Letourneau.

Happy reading! and Happy weekend!

There are other law school guidebooks out there.  I really enjoyed Law School Confidential. How to Get into the Top Law Schools is pretty good.  However, there wasn't, and isn't much out there for how to get into Canadian Law Schools, and how to succeed in Canadian Law Schools.  That's why I wrote So, You Want to be a Lawyer, eh?  I wanted to provide a Canadian perspective, specific Canadian law school information, and information about the articling and application process for legal jobs.  The third edition also adds a variety of new information, including how to apply for law school in the US as a Canadian (written by my co-author Mitchell Heyland, JD).  There are also chapters on what it is like to be a lawyer, my experience as a Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta, and how I was appointed Queen's Counsel, for example.  Order the book - it will save you many hours and significant energy as you contemplate law school, or navigate your way through Canadian law school.  The book is now available on Amazon.ca for $25.53. 

So, You Want to be a Lawyer Eh? Law School in Canada Third Edition now available

You can read more about the 3rd Edition of my book, So, You Want to be a Lawyer Eh? at https://www.lawschoolcanada.ca/store.  You can see reader reviews there and learn a bit more about the authors.  The 3rd Edition was released in March of 2019 with over a hundred more pages than the 2nd edition, and various new Chapters.  You can now buy the book at Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Chapters.ca.  Links are on https://www.lawschoolcanada.ca/store.

So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? Law School in Canada, Third Edition, has been released.  It should be available on Amazon.ca, Chapters.ca and in mainstream bookstores across Canada shortly.  It takes a little while for it to be distributed upon publication.  So, watch for it.  It is now 408 pages, with a number of new chapters.  The previous edition was 278 pages.

So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? Law School in Canada about to be released

 

It's been a while!  I have received many, many emails over the years from prospective Canadian law school students asking when an updated version of So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? Law School in Canada might be released.  Well, your wait is almost over.  In March, 2019, RCT Press will be releasing the Third Edition of this Canadian Law School guidebook.  Stand by.  It will be available through all online booksellers, including Amazon.ca and Chapters.ca in both print and e-Book editions.

Every year, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people apply to Canadian law schools, vying for just over 2,000 coveted spots. The competition is even fiercer when applying for a law job. Adam Letourneau, QC, graduate of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, recipient of a post-graduate LLM degree from University College London Faculty of Laws, former Bencher of the Law Society of Alberta, former Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Alberta Law Review and Managing Partner of LETOURNEAU LLP, reveals in this 3rd Edition many insider tips on how to gain admittance to law school in Canada, how to cope and succeed in law school, and most importantly, how to land a coveted law job post-graduation. Drawing upon personal experience and the experiences of numerous Canadian law school graduates, Adam Letourneau, QC shares, in the 3rd edition, insights on the LSAT, applying for law school, study strategies, summer jobs, the articling application process, succeeding as a lawyer and much more. Letourneau, along with new co-author Mitchell Heyland, will save you hours of research, hours of study and tons of stress. Including updated admissions information, what being a lawyer is like, salary updates and more. 

About the Authors: 

Adam Letourneau, QC, JD, LLM (Lond) is Managing Partner of LETOURNEAU LLP.  He was awarded a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of Alberta, and completed post-graduate studies and was awarded a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in International Dispute Resolution from University College London and Queen Mary University of London, University of London.  His undergraduate degrees are in English and Psychology.  Adam has been an elected Bencher (Governor) of the Law Society of Alberta. He is an Instructor at the Dhillon School of Business at the University of Lethbridge, teaching Management Law, Employment and Labour Law,  Negotiation and Collective Bargaining, as well as Introduction to Management.

Adam's law practice focuses on family law, as well as mediation and arbitration.  Adam is a Chartered Arbitrator (C.Arb) and Chartered Mediator (C.Med).  Adam wrote the first edition of SO, YOU WANT TO BE A LAWYER, EH? in his third year of law school, and has published and written updated 2nd and 3rd editions over the years.  Adam is the former Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Alberta Law Review. He was appointed as Queen's Counsel in 2015. He is the proud father of five children and is a very happy and blessed husband.

Mitchell Heyland, JD, originally from Alberta, Canada, graduated with a degree in management with distinction from the University of Lethbridge and attended law school at the University of Pennsylvania Law School (a member of the Ivy League), having received a significant entrance scholarship.  Mitchell was also Associate and then Senior Editor for The University of Pennsylvania Law Review and was Research Assistant to Professor Robinson at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.  During law school, Mitchell wrote narratives to introduce interesting cases for a forthcoming edition of a textbook, compiled reading assignments for a seminar on the crimes of heroes, and prepared memoranda for a Law Review article on disconnecting justice and a book on vigilantes. He graduated law school magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, and was a James Wilson Scholar.

Mitchell is an Associate in the Finance Practice Group at  Haynes and Boone, LLP in Dallas, Texas.  Mitchell worked at LETOURNEAU LLP as a student before embarking on his legal studies. 

2nd Edition now available on Amazon.com

I noticed today that the 2nd Edition of So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? is now available on Amazon.com. The "Inside the Book" feature and further information should be up on Amazon.com shortly.

Back and Better than ever - 2nd Edition is finally ready!

I have received many inquiries about whether this blog is dead, or whether I am dead. I assure that neither rumour is true.

I have had to go "underground" for a couple of months in order to catch up with all of my law firm work, and to finish the 2nd Edition of So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh?.

The book is finally finished, and is now ready to order from the publisher (orders@writingonstone.ca) or the distributor (Sandhill Book Marketing - www.sandhillbooks.com). It will come up on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Chapters.ca shortly. If you order it directly from the publisher, you will get a 20% discount off of the retail price of $24.95.

Here's the description from the back cover:

So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh?
Law School in Canada

Every year, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people apply to Canadian law schools, vying for just over 2,000 coveted spots. The competition is even fiercer when applying for a law job. Adam Letourneau, BSc, BA, LLB, 2005 graduate of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, former Editor-in-Chief of the Alberta Law Review and owner of Letourneau Law, Barristers & Solicitors, reveals in this second edition many insider tips on how to gain admittance to law school in Canada. He explores how to cope and succeed in law school and how to land a coveted law job post-graduation. Drawing upon personal experience and the experiences of numerous Canadian law school graduates, Letourneau shares insights on the LSAT, applying for law school, study strategies, summer jobs, the articling application process and much more. This book will save you hours of research, hours of study and tons of stress. This second edition includes new law school graduate comments, updated admissions information, what being a lawyer is really like, tips to avoid pitfalls and more, with over 13,000 additional words and three new chapters.

"As a future Canadian law student, I was frustrated with the lack of guide material available to Canadian law students...it was important to find a book like this that addresses the particular elements of Canadian Law School." --F. Voisin, Ontario

"So, You Want to Be a Lawyer, Eh? outlines the process and offers tips to improve your results in the application process, at law school and in finding an articling position. I will be attending law school next year and I am confident that this book will help me succeed." --Jaime, Ontario

"This book provides an honest and fair appraisal of the law school process, from applications to graduation. I was truly interested in a law school resource that took me `behind the scenes' and into the law school atmosphere, and this book met such an objective." --N. Peterson, Vancouver

"I have read a number of guidebooks on how to succeed at law school and this is by far one of the best." --Dan, Ontario

For more information go to www.CanadianLawSchool.ca

Part of the Writing on Stone Press Canadian Career Series.

You might also be interested in a couple other books that were released last month in the Writing on Stone Press Canadian Career Series:

So, You Want to be a Doctor, Eh? A Guidebook to Canadian Medical School by Dr. Anne Berndl, MD

So, You Want to be a Pilot, Eh? A Guidebook for Canadian Pilot Training by James Ball

Delay in Publication

The 2nd Edition of So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? has been delayed somewhat by the publisher. We expect it to be available by May, 2007. It has taken some extra time to gather the new information and corroborate its accuracy. As well, there is lots of new information, so that has taken longer to sort through with editing, etc. It will be really good though, and is worth the wait. In the meantime, you will still find the First Edition very useful and well worth the $15.

For those of you who have purchased the book - thank you. I really appreciate your support. I also really appreciate the positive feedback that some of you have left at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Chapters.ca. Thank you.

Free Books: Giveaway

I am going to give away, at random, three (3) free copies (including shipping) of my book this week. All you have to do to qualify is to email me with a cogent and responsible opinion on what the best law school is in Canada. Include your reasons why you think your choice is the best, including any stats and objective viewpoints that you might have. Please include your permission or non-permission to post your answer. I look forward to receiving your responses. -- Adam

Law School: So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? -- Career Guidebook

Today I am going to start the process of posting all of the content that was on www.canadalawstudent.ca. Unfortunately, someone poached that URL off of me (my own stupidity). I am also posting the stuff (and more) on The Canadian Law School Experience

Welcome!

Resources for for Prospective and Current Canadian Law Students:

So, You Want to be a Lawyer, Eh? a career guidebook by Adam Letourneau

Thinking of becoming a lawyer? Attending law school in Canada? Finally --it's here-- the guidebook you've been waiting for. Every year, an estimated 10,000 - 15,000 students apply to 16 Canadian law schools, vying for just over 2000 coveted spots. The competition is even fiercer for law students when applying for a job as an articling student.

In his book, and through this website, Adam Letourneau, B.Sc., B.A., LL.B., a graduate of the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, and former Editor-in-Chief of the Alberta Law Review, reveals many insider tips on how to gain admittance to law school, how to cope and succeed in law school in Canada, and most importantly, how to land a coveted lawyer job post-graduation.

Drawing upon personal experience and the experiences of numerous other Canadian law students, Letourneau shares general insights on the LSAT, applying for Canadian law school, study strategies, summer jobs, the articling application process, becoming a lawyer and much more, along with plenty of context-specific information for the Canadian law student.

Because the Canadian law school experience is unique, this book is the only full source of relevant information available to prospective and current law students in Canada. Letourneau will save you hours of research, hours of study and tons of stress.

This book is recommended to all students interested in law school in Canada, all students applying to law school in Canada and to law students in all three years of law school in Canada.

Buy the book now and SAVE TIME and STRESS!

Here are just a few of the topics that are covered in the book:
• Statistics - How Many Lawyers are there in Canada?
• Is law for you?
• How many students apply to Canadian law schools and how many get accepted to law school in Canada? What are your chances?
• What does your GPA and LSAT really need to look like to gain admittance to various Canadian law schools?
• How to prepare for the LSAT
• What is law school in Canada like anyway?
• Help to decide what Canadian law school to attend.
• What is better - a JD or LL.B.?
• First Year attitude and behaviour tips to help you succeed!
• How to land a great summer job and ultimately an articling position.
• The best way to use your time in law school.
• How to land the article (job) of your dreams.
• How to land a great court clerkship.
• How to win at exam time.
• And much, much more...

This book will save you hundreds of hours of research, studying and worrying.

Radio Show for So, You Want to be a Lawyer, eh?

I am pleased to announce that I will be interviewed on a radio show next week. Friday July 14, 2006 from 8pm to 9 pm. The show will be heard on The New 940 AM in Montreal. The show is called "Sidebar with Dino Mazzone". Tune in if you are interested in applying for law school, you have been accepted into law school, are in law school, or are about to embark on your legal career. Dino will be interviewing me about my book, and taking calls throughout the hour.

From the New 940 AM website: "Sidebar is a new legal show on The New 940Montreal. Host Dino Mazzone is a media commentator, politician and a practicing lawyer. Mazzone will bring-on experts on legal issues important to Montrealers and won't hesitate from commenting on the legal stories making news. To speak to Dino on-the-air call 514-790-0006."

You can listen live by clicking the listen live link on the New 940 AM website.