Amy Sloan
University of Baltimore School of Law
Professor Sloan joined the University of Baltimore faculty in 2001 to lead the Legal Skills Program jointly with Professor Eric B. Easton. Prior to joining the faculty, Professor Sloan taught at The George Washington University Law School, where she directed the Legal Research and Writing Program, and at the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of LawCatholic University of America's Columbus School of Law. She served as an associate of the George Washington Law Review and as a law clerk to the Honorable William M. Nickerson and the Honorable Edward S. Northrop at the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Professor Sloan's scholarly interests include legal research and writing, classical and contemporary rhetoric, and appellate practice. She is active in the Association of Legal Writing Directors and is a member of the Pennsylvania and District of Columbia bars and is the author of the best-selling book: Basic Legal Research: Tools And Strategies.
Amy Sloan On Law Preview . . .
Why do you teach for Law Preview?
I enjoy working with highly motivated students.
Why is Law Preview better than other modes of preparing for law school?
Getting an overview of the majority of the first year curriculum in one week can give students a better sense of the "big picture" in law school.
Amy Sloan On Law School . . .
What is the most important skill law students lack when they begin law school that Law Preview teaches?
The ability to read cases quickly.
What are your favorite study aids for the subject-matter you teach at Law Preview?
Study aids don't really help with legal research & writing, but for assistance with citation, I like Westlaw's CiteStation exercises. They help students learn to use citations in context.
What is your favorite fiction/non-fiction book for the subject-matter you teach at Law Preview?
No one has written either fiction or non-fiction about legal research to the best of my knowledge. Once I tried to find a joke about legal research to use in a talk I was giving, and I couldn't find any jokes either.
What is your favorite casebook for the subject-matter you teach at Law Preview?
Students don't use casebooks for legal research & writing, but my favorite text for the course is Sloan's Basic Legal Research: Tools And Strategies, of course!
What's your favorite thing about teaching the law?
I get paid to talk about things that interest me.
Amy Sloan On Life . . .
What are your 3 favorite movies?
The Godfather, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Fiddler on the Roof.
What are your 3 favorite musicians/bands?
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Neil Diamond, and Kirsty MacColl.
How do you relax?
Playing with my kids, photography, reading, shopping.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Most things work out fine whether you worry about them or not, so don't waste time worrying.
