"Sure, lots of lawyers are special and bright. But so are a lot of plumbers and painters," says Allan Hutchinson. Hutchinson, an Osgoode Hall Law School professor, along with partner Pam Marshall (LLB'93), are co-authors of The Law School Book: Succeeding at Law School, which aims to dispel some myths about of the terrors of law school.

    The book gives students how-to tips on studying, doing well and getting a life while hitting the books. And it promises you can get through three years of law school without becoming a nervous wreck. So far, Succeeding has won its case. It's on the recommended reading lists of leading law schools across Canada (including Osgoode Hall Law School).

    "There's a need for this type of book. There's not a lot on the market. It would do well even if it was average, but we'd like to think that it's better than that," says Hutchinson.

    Although the authors peel away much of law school's more forbidding aspects, they admit getting a law degree is still an acquired taste. "The experience is different for everyone. In some ways, it's a rarefied extension of high school," says Marshall. "Some people love it, some don't."