Let's face it, the law schools are filled with brown nosers. Most of us, most of the time, have resisted the temptation. I've seen brown nosing work, and I've seen it fail miserably. When it fails the results can be disastrous.

Offering answers in class is not going to improve your grade or win the approval of your classmates. Wait till it's your turn in the hot seat. [see the Surviving Socrates section of the site]. Once in a while, the professor will ask a question that's a hanging' fast ball. In those situations, where its miraculous that anybody knows the answer, it's fine to share your luck with the world. But don't become the class bombast. You don't know it all, no matter how loud or fast you can talk.

Law school professors are very intelligent and usually have a great deal of political acumen. Translation - they can see bull shit a mile away. Don't bother them in their offices with stupid questions, they'll soon make you sorry by making you a Socratic punching bag. Regardless, don't be discouraged from asking your professors about issues that truly stump you. Do your research first and don't go to their office door expecting to be lead through the course.

During the year, your professors will take special liking to certain members of your class. The teachers are talent-spotters and when they see a person that is especially gifted and prepared, they will call on them constantly. Don't begrudge those with ability for using it. A good student is not a brown-noser.

At the other end of the spectrum, I have heard of mediocre students going to professors or the dean demanding a grade improvement, rescheduling, a reduction in work load . . .etc. Surprisingly, if the student is persistent enough this method sometimes works. But I'll warn you that often, this is looked on with disdain from other students. If you must go to the dean, don't publish your intentions.

How about a little morality tale? My last semester of law school I had a really hard tax class. It was harder than organic chemistry, which I thought was very difficult. One of my fellow students thought that the professor assigned too much work during the last couple of weeks of class. The professor made a mad dash to finish the material on the syllabus -- this is not rare in law school. Knowing we wouldn't finish, he assigned it anyway. We wouldn't go over it in class but we would be responsible for it on the test. A whiney little girl went to the dean and complained. Sure enough, the professor reduced our work load; at the same time he reduced the scores on the exam one letter grade across the board. He had the discretion to reduce our grades so he did. Well, subsequent to the grade reduction, word "leaked" out as to who had complained. The whiner didn't win any popularity contests.

Ultimately, the call is yours. To brown nose or not to brown nose. Personally, I've never approached a professor or dean to ask for special treatment, even when I knew that a particular question or situation was unfair. I feel one of the best lessons in law school is learning how to play the hand you're dealt. And in law school I was dealt many a crappy hand. . .