Most important: Analysis. Professors care more about how you think than what you conclude.
IRAC is the foundation of law school exam writing.
Example: "Does a contract exist between A and B?"
Tips:
Example: "A contract requires offer, acceptance, and consideration. Acceptance must be a mirror image of the offer under the common law."
Tips:
Example: "Here, A offered to sell his car for $5,000. B responded, 'I'll pay $4,500.' This is a counteroffer, not acceptance, because it does not mirror the original offer. Therefore, no contract was formed at this point."
Tips:
Example: "Therefore, no contract exists between A and B."
Tips:
Budget your time: If you have 3 hours and 3 questions, spend 50-55 minutes per question and reserve 15 minutes for proofreading.
Step 1: Read the fact pattern (15-20 minutes for a 1-hour question)
Running out of time: The most common mistake. If you have 10 minutes left and 3 issues to cover, write brief IRAC paragraphs for each rather than skipping them entirely.
Spending too long on one issue: If an issue is taking too long, wrap it up and move on. Partial credit on all issues beats full credit on half the issues.
1. Look for legal "triggers" Certain facts signal legal issues:
Example: "A was drunk when he signed the contract." → Issue: Capacity to contract
3. Look for ambiguities When facts are unclear or missing, that's often an issue to discuss.
Example: "A told B he'd pay 'a fair price' for the work." → Issue: Definiteness of contract terms
4. Think chronologically and by party Walk through the fact pattern step-by-step and from each party's perspective.
Contracts:
Many issues don't have clear answers. Professors want to see you argue both sides.
Example issue: "Did A have a duty to rescue B?"
Argument 1 (Duty exists): "Under the special relationship exception, A may have had a duty to rescue B because A and B were in a business partnership, which creates a relationship of mutual dependence. Courts have recognized duties in similar contexts."
Argument 2 (No duty): "However, the general rule is no duty to rescue absent a special relationship. A business partnership may not rise to the level of relationships courts have recognized (parent-child, employer-employee in some contexts). Therefore, A likely had no duty."
Conclusion: "On balance, a court would likely find no duty, but the outcome depends on whether the jurisdiction recognizes business partnerships as creating special relationships."
Good: "A contract requires offer, acceptance, and consideration. Here, A made an offer by stating specific terms. B accepted by saying 'I agree.' Consideration exists because both parties promised something of value."
Bad (too verbose): "In analyzing whether a contract was formed between the parties, one must first consider the foundational elements of contract law, which have been developed over centuries of common law jurisprudence and require, as a threshold matter, that there be an offer, an acceptance of that offer, and consideration flowing between the parties."
Example:
``
I. Contract Formation
A. Offer
B. Acceptance
C. Consideration
II. Defenses to Contract Enforcement A. Statute of Frauds B. Unconscionability ``
Good: "Here, A's statement was definite because it specified the price, quantity, and delivery date."
Unnecessary: "Under Lonergan v. Scolnick, an offer must be sufficiently definite. Here, A's statement..."
Bad: "A is clearly liable for negligence."
Good: "A is likely liable for negligence because he owed a duty of care to pedestrians, breached that duty by texting while driving, and his breach caused B's injuries."
Practice exams are the most important part of exam prep.
1. Take old exams under timed conditions Simulate the real exam. No pausing, no extra time.
2. Self-grade using the model answer Compare your answer to the professor's model. Did you spot all the issues? Was your analysis thorough?
3. Identify patterns After 2-3 practice exams, you'll notice recurring issues and professor preferences.
4. Revise your outline Adjust your outline based on what you missed on practice exams.
1. Read the call of the question carefully "Discuss A's potential claims" is different from "Will A prevail?" The first asks you to identify claims; the second asks for a conclusion.
2. Don't panic if you don't know something If you can't remember a specific rule, state the general principle and apply common sense.
3. Manage stress Exam anxiety is real. Practice mindfulness, get enough sleep, and remember: you know more than you think.
4. Trust your outline If you've outlined thoroughly, you have the tools to succeed. Trust your preparation.
Law school exams are tough, but they're learnable skills. With practice, strategy, and disciplined time management, you can excel.
