Good Fountain Pen For Law School?

[Freddy]

I bought a Yafa cartridge fountain pen from Office Depot four months ago and I now cannot write without a fountain pen. The Yafa pen is disintegrating on me and I am in need of a new pen. I will be attending my first semester of law school next semester and I anticipate doing a great deal of writing. I need my pen mainly to take notes during class. I'm currently on a $30 budget however if there is a significant difference between the $30 and say $50-$60 range I am willing to spend a bit more. Any recommendations are welcome and appreciated. Thanks!

 

 

Congratulations on your acceptance into law school... .Parker "51"s work for me... .

 

Good luck with law school..

 

Fred

[phlosar]

Congratulations on law school. I got my law degree a few years ago and am now in-house senior counsel. Law school was a blast. Lots of bizarre stories (Torts and Contracts) and interesting issues (Con Law). :ltcapd:

 

For law school note taking, I would recommend the TWSBI -- $30-40 may get you a 530 model (the first model) in the classifieds. If you want a bit of understated style, I would go for a Parker Vacumatic. What I like about both pens is the ability to see the ink. The Vac is a vintage pen and will have an ambered, though transparent, barrel most likely. You can pick one up via ebay for $40-50 or on this board. The TWSBI will be bigger. Both hold a good amount of ink, but the TWSBI has more capacity.

 

I was a pen addict by law school, so I brought a brace of pens to class. I also used the staple bound Clairefontaine notebooks.

[wollollo]

My Lamy Vista (same as the Safari, just with a transparent body) has gotten me through the last two or three years of my maths degree without any hitches. Get bottled ink and a converter to stretch the budget and look cool/geeky refilling. I've used a medium nib, mainly because I didn't realise there was any choice, and that's been fine, but you're more likely to want a fine or extra fine if your handwriting is average-sized or smaller.

[whitedot]

Congratulations on law school. I got my law degree a few years ago and am now in-house senior counsel. Law school was a blast. Lots of bizarre stories (Torts and Contracts) and interesting issues (Con Law). :ltcapd:

 

For law school note taking, I would recommend the TWSBI -- $30-40 may get you a 530 model (the first model) in the classifieds. If you want a bit of understated style, I would go for a Parker Vacumatic. What I like about both pens is the ability to see the ink. The Vac is a vintage pen and will have an ambered, though transparent, barrel most likely. You can pick one up via ebay for $40-50 or on this board. The TWSBI will be bigger. Both hold a good amount of ink, but the TWSBI has more capacity.

 

I was a pen addict by law school, so I brought a brace of pens to class. I also used the staple bound Clairefontaine notebooks.

 

[sparky.88]

I agree with the Lamy Safari or Lamy AL-Star recommendations. My AL-Star is my go-to pen for taking notes during meetings.

 

Another to consider is the Platinum Plaisir. It has an aluminum body, a very fine nib (great for taking notes I think), is a very consistent writer even after sitting unused a while, and can take a beating. It's around $20.

Edited April 24, 2012 by sparky.88

[CatBookMom]

Lamy Safari or Platinum Plaisir. You said your preferred price range was $30 or less, and these both fit that bill. Then you'll need a converter at $5-8 (may or may not come with the pen, depending on where you buy it) and ink, $10-15. If something goes bad with the nib, you can replace the nib on the Safari for about $11, or get a Platinum Preppy for $3 and swap the nib/section over to the Plaisir.

 

Both of these pens are more sturdy than a TWSBI, IMO, which does have a lot going for it but the section has been known to crack. Plus it's going to eat up more of your budget before ink.

 

Get both a bottle of ink and a box of cartridges; the cartridges are for those emergencies when you forgot to refill the converter and are running out of ink in a lecture. Keep a couple of cartridges in a small plastic ziploc baggie with the rest of your school stuff; if you do have to swap to a cartridge, the converter can go in the baggie and not get bits of ink all over everything in your backpack or briefcase.

 

Check at JetPens, ISellPens or Goulet Pen (all dot com) for good prices and shipping. Use FPN in the discount box at Goulet for a small discount since you're in FPN.

 

ETA: You might want to try to get an ink syringe (Goulet has them for $5) and just use it to refill cartridges from a bottle. Don't have a good suggestion for what to use to close the hole if you want to carry around refilled carts.

 

And best wishes for law school!

Edited April 24, 2012 by CatBookMom

[jasonditz]

Amazon's got Lamy Safaris for about $23-$24 depending on color/nib.

[reval]

In my schooldays and where I live the Safari would be something to have if you went to Junior High.

I think they're okay, but I would recommend a TWSBI or NOS Sheaffer.

[Mswan]

Thanks for all of your wonderful advice! After much deliberation I have decided to kick in the extra $$ to purchase the TWSBI 540 due to its large ink capacity and beautiful aesthetics. Although I enjoyed my old Yafa's medium nib, I am going to either get a fine or extra-fine nib on the new TWSBI for improved note taking. Thanks again for all your help!

[Laura N]

Excellent choice. Enjoy it.

 

P.S. - I had fun in law school, too. Make great friends with your classmates and favorite professors. And have a blast.

[inkstainedruth]

Lamy Safari or Platinum Plaisir. You said your preferred price range was $30 or less, and these both fit that bill. Then you'll need a converter at $5-8 (may or may not come with the pen, depending on where you buy it) and ink, $10-15. If something goes bad with the nib, you can replace the nib on the Safari for about $11, or get a Platinum Preppy for $3 and swap the nib/section over to the Plaisir.

 

Both of these pens are more sturdy than a TWSBI, IMO, which does have a lot going for it but the section has been known to crack. Plus it's going to eat up more of your budget before ink.

 

Get both a bottle of ink and a box of cartridges; the cartridges are for those emergencies when you forgot to refill the converter and are running out of ink in a lecture. Keep a couple of cartridges in a small plastic ziploc baggie with the rest of your school stuff; if you do have to swap to a cartridge, the converter can go in the baggie and not get bits of ink all over everything in your backpack or briefcase.

 

Check at JetPens, ISellPens or Goulet Pen (all dot com) for good prices and shipping. Use FPN in the discount box at Goulet for a small discount since you're in FPN.

 

ETA: You might want to try to get an ink syringe (Goulet has them for $5) and just use it to refill cartridges from a bottle. Don't have a good suggestion for what to use to close the hole if you want to carry around refilled carts.

 

And best wishes for law school!

 

Some people on here have used hot glue guns to seal refilled cartridges. I use 100% silicone sealant (I was at the hardware store yesterday and double checked the price again -- under $6 for a largish tube). It has the advantage that it stays flexible after it hardens, plus, since it's 100% silicone, it's safe for using with pens. You only need a little bit to cover the hole, so that size tube will last a good long time. I think it's supposed to be for caulking around windows or bathtubs.

+1 on a Platinum Plaisir (as long as you don't mind having a fancy colored nib that matches the body and cap....) With the converter, I paid around $24 at isellpens.com (no affiliation, just a happy customer). Not sure what all colors they come in (mine is lavender, with a violet colored nib -- YMMV, but -- especially if it's for law school -- you might not want that color....) :roflmho:

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Jimmy James]

One key feature of the TWSBI is that you can see your ink level. You'll write a lot in law school if you're taking notes by hand (I'd recommend a computer and typing notes in class -- it's faster). Even if you choose the computer path, you'll still write plenty. You never want to run out of ink.

 

For just that reason, I'd suggest that until you get a proper second pen, you consider buying a Platinum Preppy or Pilot Varsity for use as a pure backup pen. The ease of ink level determination in the TWSBI will minimize the need for pen number two, but it is still something you will want to consider.

 

If I may, I'd suggest criminal law for your future career. Law school is not geared toward that specialty, but the work is so much more rewarding than anything else I could imagine. I mean that not just for the defense work I do but for the prosecutors as well.

[carlos.q]

Thanks for all of your wonderful advice! After much deliberation I have decided to kick in the extra $$ to purchase the TWSBI 540 due to its large ink capacity and beautiful aesthetics. Although I enjoyed my old Yafa's medium nib, I am going to either get a fine or extra-fine nib on the new TWSBI for improved note taking. Thanks again for all your help!

So you have chosen a pen. Very good! Now you only have the simple task of choosing the ink.... :roflmho:

[Jimmy James]

Thanks for all of your wonderful advice! After much deliberation I have decided to kick in the extra $$ to purchase the TWSBI 540 due to its large ink capacity and beautiful aesthetics. Although I enjoyed my old Yafa's medium nib, I am going to either get a fine or extra-fine nib on the new TWSBI for improved note taking. Thanks again for all your help!

So you have chosen a pen. Very good! Now you only have the simple task of choosing the ink.... :roflmho:

Legal Lapis, of course!

 

(Well, there is also Legal Blue from Art Brown)

[whitedot]

Excellent choice. Enjoy it.

 

P.S. - I had fun in law school, too. Make great friends with your classmates and favorite professors. And have a blast.

 

Ditto.

[Postscript]

I would say - if you could - spend around $100-150 and get yourself a Lamy 2000. Yes I do realize its above your budget but, it is well built, sturdy, snap cap, smooth nib, holds a ton of ink. If you plan on saving money and just buying ONE pen (good luck) then I personally would try and get a Lamy 2000.

 

If not then I would recommend a TWSBI 540 $55 , or a refurbished Parker 51 if possible ( around $60-90)

 

edit:

 

ok well I just re-read your original post and saw you're at $30, for some reason i processed $55-60 as your budget but could go up.

 

I would go for a TWSBI 540

Agree on the 2000. Amortized over the life of the pen (and your law school tenure) it will be a value I would think.

 

Post Script

[JefferyS]

TWSBI 540

[dgator]

A Lamy Safari will work with your budget. You can use cartridges with it or you can get a converter for it so that it can use bottled ink. The cartridges and the converter don't hold a lot of ink, so you will want to make sure you have extras. The Lamy however is a decent pen that will be a good inexpensive.

 

 

 

 

+1 for the Lamy Safari--versatile & reliable

 

Save a few dollars for some ink.

 

Good luck in school.

[JML]

I bought a Yafa cartridge fountain pen from Office Depot four months ago and I now cannot write without a fountain pen. The Yafa pen is disintegrating on me and I am in need of a new pen. I will be attending my first semester of law school next semester and I anticipate doing a great deal of writing. I need my pen mainly to take notes during class. I'm currently on a $30 budget however if there is a significant difference between the $30 and say $50-$60 range I am willing to spend a bit more. Any recommendations are welcome and appreciated. Thanks!

 

I hate to tell you, but most of your writing will not be with a pen. I'm a law professor, and I have taught legal writing for almost 30 years.

 

You will take notes during class, but 99% of your classmates will have laptops and will use them all the time. Although some professors ban laptops, they're few. Forget about bound notebooks; they won't be useful, and they'll be too bulky. You'll use individual sheets of paper when you take handwritten notes, using looseleaf paper or something you can always organize. And you'll end up transferring it all to your computer anyway.

 

Get some highlighters that can work with your casebooks, photocopies, and laser- and inkjet printed material without smearing. Several colors.

 

Most of your classmates will have never seen a fountain pen, and fountain pens won't work well with the cheap paper on which you'll take notes (or with those printed materials). But if you happen to attend my school, and are in my class, we will talk about pens!

Edited April 25, 2012 by JML

[Nonsensical]

As a fellow law student, I would recommend the TWSBI 530/540 over the Lamy Safari/Al-star.

Here's why:

 

1. Ink capacity - there's enough ink in one fill to last you at LEAST one day, and more than the Lamy convertor holds - I guess you could take cartridges, but I'm not a fan of the washed out Lamy blue.

2. Nib size - Lamy nibs tend to be on the wide side, and that can lead to bleed-through and feathering on cheaper paper. Both TWSBI and Lamy nibs tend to write on the dry side straight out of the box, so they're fairly even in that respect.

3. Some people say that perhaps the TWSBI will attract attention, well I can guarantee you that an Al-star will do just the same. It's all about how you use the pen, really.

4. The grip - TWSBI grips are much more forgiving, some people have issues with the tripod grip section of the Lamy pens, I don't, but it's worth considering.

5. Customer service - If any issues pop up with regards to your TWSBI, you can expect to receive the best customer service possible. In my opinion, that's saving money in the long run.

 

I usually take notes on a Rhodia #19 lined/#20 Seyes ruled notepad. I take a single notepad to University, tear out the pages as I use them, then file it away and staple/organise it once I get home. It's a lot lighter than taking a laptop, and more importantly, I feel like I've actually absorbed something from the lecture. Typing just doesn't help me remember things, unfortunately.