Okay, so I just finished reading Academic Legal Writing by Eugene Volokh and WOW. As someone starting law school soon, this book is like having a wise older sibling who's been through it all.

The way Volokh breaks down legal writing is so practical. He doesn't just tell you 'write better' - he shows exactly how with real examples. The section on avoiding wordiness literally changed how I write emails now!

What surprised me most was how useful this is beyond just law reviews. The editing techniques work for any kind of writing. That appendix of words to avoid? Gold. I've already started cutting 'utilize' from my vocabulary (just say 'use', people).

If you're even thinking about law school, get this book now rather than later. My only regret is not finding it sooner - would've saved me from some embarrassing undergrad paper mistakes!