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

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism and gender discrimination.

At the start of the next term, Scott resolved not to push himself as hard so he could enjoy his free time. Scott chose Constitutional Law as his second-term elective, and he landed in Archibald Cox’s class. Despite his respect for the Watergate prosecutor, Scott was put off by Cox’s subpar reputation as a teacher, and he switched into Public Policy, taught by Guy Sternlieb. Scott met students from other sections and appreciated Guy’s teaching style, which didn’t put pressure on students when they did not want to speak. Scott’s other new second-term course was Property Law, taught by Isaac Fowler. Scott shared an anecdote from the first class when Fowler called on the students and tried to stump them. Wade Strunk, despite being prepared, chose not to answer Fowler’s questioning to assert the students’ right not to speak. Attendance in the class quickly dropped.

In January, preparations began for the moot court competition—nicknamed Ames after former Harvard law professor James Barr Ames. In moot court—an educational method pioneered by Ames—first years argue an existing case against one another. Unlike the previous Legal Methods assignment, students must determine the applicable case law on their own.