Professor Mario Mainero

Dennis Tonsing's book has the first truly clear-eyed tone in his approach to the difficulties of Law School study. Having practiced law for over 20 years before becoming an Academic Support Director, I often wondered why no one said it as plainly as Dennis does: Law School is not school--it is a job, and everything required of law students has its analog in the professional practice of law. It is making this connection that is the book's greatest strength. Rather than just telling students "how to" do something (which Dennis' book does very well), it explains to students why they are asked to read, study, and prepare the way we ask them to read, study, and prepare.

We now require this book as part of Orientation, and we devote several Academic Support lectures in the first year to a more thorough discussion of specific areas covered by the book.

Mario Mainero is now a Professor at Chapman Law School.  At the time he wrote these words, he was serving as Director of the Academic Success Program at Whittier Law School.