ad astra per alia porci

Here are some law exam tips I have collated from various sources… of course, the names of the people who said them are deliberately withheld. I hope this helps some struggling law students as much as it has helped me.

Exam techniques – 291007

TEC:

•             critique question
• ·         respond to question and know what the question wants out of you
• ·         let teachers know your stand
• ·         unique questions: “advice a judge in changing X law”

MF:

• ·         Torts: 2.5 hours, 3 questions, answer 2
• ·         Divide time, plan, focus

DF:

• ·         Use the approach that works for you
• ·         3 key approaches
• ·         1 – identify the issue – hardest thing
• ·         Understand the material, don’t memorise
• ·         Practise problem questions
• ·         Practice identifying issues
• ·         Always get some law in there
• ·         Do it in a punchy summarized form
• ·         Summarise the laws
• ·         Have a summary of the law in your head
• ·         Facts are where the real marks are
• ·         Analuse the facts
• ·         Each question has key facts – highlight them
• ·         When making arguments, think of counter arguments
• ·         Apply and distinguish analogous cases

K:

• ·         Distinguish yourself – make creative arguments, make good arguments
• ·         Look at relevant legal principles
• ·         Look at relevant facts
• ·         Ask how to apply law to this set of facts – make arguments/ counter arguments
• ·         Time management is important
• o   For the first ½ hour, don’t do writing
• o   Think about which questions one can do best, and pick them
• o   Do a skeletal answer – map out issues, don’t just start writing
• o   Be in control – don’t miss out issues
• ·         Do a lot of preparation – hard work is inevitable
• ·         Bring succinct summaries into exam

A:

• ·         4 questions, at least one essay, hypotheticals as well
• ·         Content no absolutely important: think like a lawyer
• ·         Encouraged to have some sort of intro in an essay
• o   Stance to be expressed in opening paragraph and ending too
• ·         Put yourself in the shoes of the examiner
• ·         Distinguish yourself – individuality can be an asset
• ·         Set existing law clearly
• ·         Take your position on it – innovation/creativity comes in
• ·         DON’T HAVE THE SAME ANSWER AS EVERYONE ELSE!