Stirring concrete simile
Turow describes studying law as being "like stirring concrete with my eyelashes." Here, he emphasizes how difficult and seemingly impossible his course was. Not only did he have to memorize vast amounts of case information and legal vocabulary, but he also had to sharpen his analytical skills in preparation for the exams.
Professor Zechman
When describing professor Zechman and his teaching abilities, Turow describes him as using his questions "like a goldsmith's hammer, working the concepts down to an incredible fineness and shine." Here, Turow reveals his admiration and respect for the professor, who makes the content easier for students to understand.
Sea simile
Turow uses a simile to describe how the law is involved in many areas of our lives, saying that "like an encroaching sea, the law has taken over areas that were once reserved from it as matters of conscience." As examples, he states racial and gender equality and surrogate motherhood.
Felt like hell
Stephen describes how he felt "like hell" in the first semester. This simile emphasizes how much pressure is put on the students, to the point where it makes their life miserable.
Hanging over a cliff
Stephen describes how he feels about his course, saying that he is "hanging over a cliff." This metaphor is used to describe how insecure the students feel.
