30 Years' Experience

I was a tutor while I was a student at the University of California at Berkeley (Boalt Hall School of Law).  Upon graduation from Boalt Hall in 1978, I became the Director of Boalt Hall's Academic Support Program and the Moot Court Program.  Since then, I have been on the faculties of Santa Clara University School of Law, the University of San Francisco School, and The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.  In addition to teaching substantive courses, I was the Director of the schools' academic support programs.

At Santa Clara University and The Catholic University of America, I designed and implemented new academic support programs, in addition to supervising the programs.  Those programs are still intact.

Thousands of law students, just like you have achieved success using The Skillman Method(tm).  Because of my students' success, I have been invited by numerous law schools around the country to teach my courses, including the University of California at Berkeley (Boalt Hall), The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Columbia Law School, Fordham University Law Center, Golden Gate University School of Law, Hamline University School of Law, Northeastern University School of Law, Pace University Law School, Rutgers-Newark University School of Law.  Tulane University Law School, Southern University Law Center, Washburn University School of Law, UCLA School of Law, and eight Boston area law schools under the sponsorship of the Massachusetts Bar Association.

More than twenty thousand students have attended my courses.  I have personally spent more than two thousand hours tutoring students one-on-one.  I have critiqued at least ten thousand student papers during the course of my career.

I have designed and implemented many pre-law summer programs for incoming first year students, including for the University of San Francisco, Southern Law Center, and The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, and the Council on Legal Education Opportunity Program.  For six summers, I was the Director and faculty for CLEO's Western Region Institute.  For the last few years, I have been teaching study methods and exam-taking seminars for CLEO students.

My bar preparation courses have been sponsored by numerous law schools, bar associations, and legal employers, including Northeastern University School of Law, Southern University Law Center, Vanderbilt University Law School, the Oregon State Bar, the Kansas Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, The Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, The Metropolitan Black Bar Association, The Judicial Friends, Practicing Attorneys for Law Students (PALS), the Judicial Friends, the Legal Aid Society of New York City, and the King's County District Attorney's Office.

My goal is to level the playing field.   I believe all motivated students can excel if they understand how to prepare effectively and if they understand how to meet the standards applied to their work.  My courses demystify the process.

I wish the best for you in your studies,

Nerissa Shklov Skillman
Founder & Professor
The Skillman Method^TM LLC
University of California at Berkeley
(Boalt Hall School of Law)
Class of '78