First Week Schedule for
Fall 2008 Incoming Students

On this page:

• First Week Theme: Professionalism in the Law
  Students should begin thinking about professionalism early in their careers. In preparation for the August 19 luncheon keynote address students should read the following article: Professionalism: It's no joke by Charles E. McCallum (Business Law Today, Volume 16, Number 3 (January/February 2007)).
• Important: First Week Assignment and Expert Learning Program
• Financial Aid (updated 6/6/2008)
• First Week Check-in
• First Week Overview
• Section Assignments
• Enrollment
• Official Undergraduate Transcript
• Tentative Schedule of Activities
• Washburn Law Alumni Association Picnic
• First Year Class Schedules
• Textbooks
• Suggested Reading
• Tuition
• Health Insurance
• School of Law Directory

Washburn Law's First Week Program helps our students become accustomed to the study of law in a supportive, introductory environment. During this week, students begin their law school careers by meeting daily in one of their regular first year classes (i.e., Torts or Contracts) with the professor who teaches that course. Students also meet in small study groups and attend a number of social activities to become better acclimated to life at Washburn Law.

Financial Aid: Important Information Regarding Student Loan Processing
See also the Financial Aid section of the Admitted Student Checklist, Fall 2008 Entering Class

First Week Check-in: To prepare for the first day of classes (see below), incoming students are expected to check-in on Monday morning, August 18, 2008, between 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at the law school in the Robinson Courtroom and Bianchino Technology Center on the 2nd Floor. At check-in:

• You will receive your First Week materials and section assignment.
• You will receive a Washburn Law t-shirt.
• Your photograph will be taken for the Washburn University School of Law Directory.

After check-in you will be free until the beginning of your first class Monday at 11 a.m.

First Week Overview: The first week of classes for students starting at Washburn University School of Law the Fall 2008 semester begins Monday, August 18, 2008. The schedule for the first week has been modified to accommodate extended work in Torts or Contracts class, scheduled group projects for the class, and required informational sessions. In the interest of planning, you should prepare yourself for full days, beginning at 8:00 a.m. (8:30 a.m. on Monday, August 18).

First full day of classes and regular class schedules begin Monday, August 25, 2008.

Section Assignments: You will be assigned to one of two sections immediately prior to the start of classes. You will be notified of your specific assignment during check-in.

Enrollment: Law school staff will formally enroll all first year students prior to arrival on August 18, 2008. No Fall 2008 pre-enrollment steps need to be taken by incoming students.

Official Undergraduate Transcript: The accreditation standards of the American Bar Association require that an official copy of your final undergraduate transcript, demonstrating that you have received your Bachelors Degree, be on file at your law school. The transcript must be official and sent directly from the institution in which you graduated to: Washburn University School of Law, Admissions Office, 1700 SW College Ave., Topeka, KS 66621. Please note: copies of transcripts provided to LSDAS, for admissions purposes, do not fulfill this requirement.

Alumni Association Picnic: The Washburn University School of Law Alumni Association invites you, your spouse and/or significant other and children to a casual, relaxing picnic and get-together on Friday, August 22. Board members from the Washburn University School of Law Alumni Association and law school faculty and staff will help you celebrate the end of your first week at Washburn Law.

Please RSVP, including the number in your party who will be attending, by Friday, August 15, to Pat Dodds at (785) 670-1011 or pat.dodds [at] washburn.edu.

Friday, August 22, 2008
5:30-8:30 p.m.

Textbooks: Section assignment affect textbook purchases. Final section assignments will not be made until immediately prior to the beginning of classes. Please do not purchase textbooks in advance.

Suggested Reading: We have identified several books related to adjusting to law school. You may find these interesting reads during your leisure time. Links to more information at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble are provided. Again, these are not mandatory readings.

• A. General
  • Expert Learning for Law Students by Michael Hunter Schwartz. 2nd ed. (Carolina Academic Press, 2008) (CAP website)
  • Expert Learning for Law Students Workbook by Michael Hunter Schwartz. 2nd ed. (Carolina Academic Press, 2008) (CAP website)
  • Bridging the Gap Between College and Law School: Strategies for Success by Ruta K. Stropus and Charlotte D. Taylor (2001) (Amazon.com | Barnes and Noble)
  • Reading Like a Lawyer: Time-Saving Strategies for Reading Law Like an Expert by Ruth Ann McKinney. (Carolina Academic Press, 2005) (CAP website)
• B. How to Think About Studying Law
  • Introduction to the Study and Practice of Law by Kenney F. Hegland (2003) (Amazon.com | Barnes and Noble)
  • A Student's Guide to Legal Analysis by Patrick M. McFadden (2001) (Amazon.com | Barnes and Noble)
• C. How to Adjust Academically
  • The Law School Survival Guide (2003) (Amazon.com | Barnes and Noble)
  • Acing Your First Year of Law School by Shana Connell Noyes and Henry S. Noyes (1999) (Amazon.com | Barnes and Noble)
  • Starting Off Right in Law School by Carolyn J. Nygren (1997) (Amazon.com | Barnes and Noble)
  • Law School Without Fear by Helene Shapo and Marshall Shapo. 2nd ed. (2002) (Amazon.com | Barnes and Noble)
  • 1000 Days to the Bar by Dennis J. Tonsing (2003) (Amazon.com | Barnes and Noble)
• D. How to Do Well On Exams
  • How to Study Law and Take Law Exams by Ann M. Burkhart and Robert A. Stein (1996) (Amazon.com | Barnes and Noble)
  • How To Do Your Best on Law School Exams by John Delaney (1993) (Amazon.com)
  • Getting to Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams by Richard Michael Fischl and Jeremy Paul (1999) (Amazon.com | Barnes and Noble)

Tuition: Tuition rates for the 2007-2008 academic year were:

• $480 - Resident
• $750 - Non-resident

Tuition rates for the 2008-2009 academic year will be finalized during summer 2008.

In addition, there is a $35 per semester student activity fee.

See Tuition and Other Costs to Attend Washburn Law for more information (based on 2007-2008 data).

Health Insurance: A Blanket Accident and Sickness Insurance plan is available to Washburn students. To learn more, see Student Health Services and Health Insurance Coverage.

Washburn University School of Law Directory: The Washburn Student Bar Association sponsors and publishes a directory of students, faculty, and staff at the beginning of each academic year. Photographs taken for the directory are also used to provide faculty with course rosters for their classes.

During check-in on Monday, August 18, 2008 we will take your photograph and ask you to provide your address, phone number, hometown, and verify your undergraduate institution.

The directory is available in two formats: print, and electronically through a password protected area of the Washburn Law website (your login/password will be distributed during the first week). One copy of the print Directory is distributed to each student, faculty, and staff member at Washburn Law. Access to the electronic version of the Directory is limited to students, faculty, and staff at Washburn Law.

Although the information collected above is used to produce the Directory and by Washburn Law personnel in order serve you better during the school year, we recognize that you may not want to share some of this information outside the law school staff. When you provide your Directory information you may indicate your desire to not have one or more of the following items printed in the Directory and displayed in the electronic version:

• Your photograph
• Your local address
• Your local phone number
• Your hometown
• Your undergraduate institution

The print Directory should be available for distribution the second week of September. Questions about the Directory may be directed to Martin Wisneski at martin.wisneski [at] washburn.edu.

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