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

Scott came to appreciate his Torts class and Zechman’s hypothetical teaching style after realizing that the answerless questions were meant to prompt students to think critically about ambiguities in the law. Meanwhile, he grew disappointed in his other professors, particularly Perini, who seemed to relish the torment he created, as well as Morris, whose friendliness often came across as condescension. The shine of the new environment began to wear off, and students started skipping classes. To demonstrate this attitude shift, Scott shared an anecdote from Torts class. A student and Zechman faced off about a case, and the students hissed at Zechman’s dismissive remarks. Students used hissing to fight back within the Socratic method, which they saw as too combative. Many people in Section 2 joined the Harvard Law Guild, a student organization that sought to reform legal education, and Guild members gained notoriety for their passionate speeches in class.

Turow recounts an incident in his study group when Kyle complained that the group was too large and disorganized. He proposed reducing their numbers, and Sandy Stern admitted that he was in two study groups. The group was shocked by this deception and made it clear that Sandy should leave.