Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is a cultural symbol of prestige and academic success. For this reason, Turow experienced a great deal of pressure while attending.
Student experience motif
The student experience is at the heart of this text, as Turow recounts his time at Harvard Law School, detailing his time in the classroom and beyond. He also tells us about the experiences of his fellow students, including his self-deprecating friend Terry.
Terry Nazzario
Terry is a fellow student at Harvard Law School and questions his place there due to self-doubt. He ultimately represents the tendency of students to question themselves while attending Harvard.
Harvard Professors
Another key motif in this text is Harvard professors. In this text, we meet many, from the favored Professor Morris to the strict and unyielding Professor Perini.
The Socratic Method
In this book, Turow details the significance of the Socratic method. This method symbolizes what is considered to be the correct and most effective form of teaching at Harvard.
Professor Perini
Professor Perini is a strict professor at Harvard and can be seen to symbolize the "typical" Harvard professor as stereotyped in the media. He often puts his students on the spot, humiliating them in front of everyone.
