Alexandria, VA – Review: The Law School Breakthrough
Publisher: Paraskevi Publishing
Author: Christopher J. Yianilos
Reviewed by: Ralph Peluso, Literary Editor
Zebra Rating: 5 Stripes
A first-year law student most likely will experience a full gamut of emotions when starting school. One is excitement as law school is a big first step towards the dream of fulfilling a law career. Anxiety is another since the student may wonder about what he or she will experience. Anxiety can mount because everything is new. After the sheen wears off, reality sets in. The non-stop coursework, the amount of information one must learn, and the rigors of the curriculum can make one feel overwhelmed.
“The Law School Breakthrough” is a tool for law students that relies on common sense, getting to the point, and humor to help guide them. However, it can be used by any student aiming to achieve scholastic and professional goals.
Author Christopher J. Yianilos explains that law school professors typically use the case and Socratic methods to teach. For students, this is unfair, challenging, and degrading. They begin to fear falling behind and then they fall behind. The workload and reading demands are so heavy that keeping up seems impossible. And on top of all this, students need to learn legalese, an entirely new language.
I asked Yianilos why he wrote the book. “I decided to write the first edition of this book over 20 years ago. When I worked in the United States Senate for then-Senator John Warner. I used to mentor some of the staff who were about to go to law school,” he said. “I’d teach them how to prepare for law school. I was telling my then-fiance, and she said, ‘You know, you should really write a book about this.’ I listened to her and got lucky that a publisher picked it up. Twenty years after the first edition was published, in 2024, I picked up the book and reread it. The concepts of the original book still hold true today. So, I took the bones from the first edition and refreshed it so it can still serve as a helpful guide for law students today.”
“The Law School Breakthrough” provides tangible secrets and insights about class preparation and achieving success on final exams. But it is more. It gives advice on conducting your life outside of the classroom. Doing both well is critical and essential for law school success.
Here are some of the more important elements.
Preparation and organization
Both are the critical keys to success, not just in law school but in nearly anything a person does. Nothing in law school is easy, so work really hard and smartly.
Study/life balance
Find the balance that works and stick with it. If it is nonstop, a student can easily miss the big picture of the law and not fully achieve.
Maintain your self-confidence
Many challenges will be encountered. Put in the work, and the chances of your chances of success increase. Great grades in law school do not necessarily dictate what type of lawyer you are going to be. But better grades will give you more post-graduation options.
Self-care
When stress is winning out, find time to meditate. Meditation will promote mental relaxation through inner peace.
I asked the author what is unique about the advice and experiences he shares. “I don’t think I’m unique,” he said. “I am just a guy who was tagged as someone who probably wouldn’t do well in law school, and I developed a plan to overcome that, and I’ve chosen to share that plan with people who are willing to read the book.”
Yianilos lives with his wife and two sons in Alexandria. He is an avid youth sports coach, particularly in basketball. For several years, he has managed and played on a co-ed city championship volleyball team. Recently, he was selected to Chamber ALX’s 40 Over 40.
Throughout their studies he urges students to remember the FIRAC Doctrine: Fact, Issues, Rules, Application, Conclusions. This is sage advice for all with aspirations of high achievement. FIVE ZEBRA STRIPES.
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