More and more law schools are offering the openbook exam. Keren was educated at the university of bristol degree in geography and sociology and at the school of oriental and african studies, the university of london masters degree in anthropology, ethnography and history in subsaharan africa. Provides an insider s view of what professors look for in exam answers, and how examtaking connects to good lawyering. I discuss my method for doing well on law school exams. These books and flashcards are available for 2 hour check out form our service desk, for in library use only. Corporations have a global footprint and influence on our conceptions of. Civil procedure regulates the conduct of litigation itself. The bar exam is fundamentally different from law school exams and requires particularized skillsamong them the ability to study and retain multiple subjects simultaneously. Openbook takehome final examination or, with permission of instructor, paper. I should add that this was what i did with open book exams. Leews law essay exam writing system the law school.
The casebook has been a saving grace a couple of times for me in open book exams, and i definitely bring my book with me why cripple myself unnecessarily. Now in an expanded second edition, the book explains in a clear and easygoing, conversational manner what law professors expect from their students both in classes and exams. And you only reference your notes to get an exact statute number or something. In much of the written work done by lawyers including writing exams as. L6363 professional responsibility issues in public.
Go through your outline page by page, making a separate list of all legal issues and subissues. Open book exam for law help please exams being online can you take your own book into an english literature alevel exam. Litigation is the process of carrying on a lawsuit. Darrowkleinhaus mastering the law school exam is designed to provide students with a knowledgeable, reasonable, and rational voice to navigate the intricacies of law school exams. Elder law has been part of the curriculum since 198384 when the law school was among only a handful to anticipate the emergence of this new area of law. The choice as to whether to use open mode is up to your professor. You study for an open book exam in law school exactly the same as you study for a closed book exam in law school. The most typical form of an exam question is an issuespotter. Even though the exam may be open book, the professor may choose to not allow open mode in the exam software. On law school exams, open book and closed book discourse. However, a textbook is not merely a set of references written by distinguished authors in size 12 fonts and high quality paper, it could also be used as a set of notes for students to scribe onto, whatever in his fancy. The professors will clearly state to you whether you should use open mode when taking your exam. An openbook exam, with factpatterns containing genuine issues and red herrings, that mandates one apply those concepts seems more align with the function of a lawyer.
Students seem to be partial to open book exams, perhaps because they seem less overwhelming. Go study law they said every exam is open book they said. Popular law school prep books meet your next favorite book. Here is a look at the differences between and benefits of open and closed book law school exams. An optional midsemester practice exam will be distributed after we complete unit ii. Accompanied by a web site with content that is both free e.
After you complete the exam and turn in your blue books. Law school spring 2000 general instructions this is a closed book exam. While this might have been true a few years ago, australian law students are no longer guaranteed to have open book exams. Dont include any detailsyour checklist should be made up of key words and phrases, not tests, definitions, case names, or other detailed information. In the case of law school exams, this is absolutely true. Closed book exams require more memorization, but open book exams may demand more information from the student. To pick apart why exactly law school exams are such a rare and terrifying beast, lets first look at what makes up a typical law school exam as far as the structure and content. This type of questions makes up the bulk of most exams. Every time you have to look something up during the exam, you arent writing. Tbh, though, when i outlinestudy for exam time, i do take 23 days for each class, and i literally do nothing but outlinestudy on those days, straight through. The legal community now recognizes that elder law, while not yet fully delineated, can be a selfcontained area of practice in which attorneys may have to deal with their clients holistically. In reality, the basic approach to both an open book law school exam and a closed book exams is quite similar. Go to class and take notes on the professors key phrases, terms, and analysis. If you missed her post on preparing for a closedbook exam, check it out, too the openbook test.
Exam taking skills, outlines, and advice for law students. The effort a law student puts into studying should be identical regardless of whether the exam is open book or closed book. In fact, more and more law schools are swapping to closed book exams every year, and i think most universities will start making the change within the next few years. You cannot bring in any kind of electronic device, such. The category looks at the ways religion has impacted both individuals and society according to the booklist. Fountaine, dean and professor of law, southern illinois university school of law no book is a guarantor of better results, but this one would certainly help the majority of students to add points to their exam results, and some students could literally turn their performances around by following the advice of this book. Law school exam tutor extraordinaire lee faller burgess of amicus tutoring is back with advice on preparing for an openbook law school exam. In reality, the answer to this question demonstrates why openbook exams are traps for the unwary.
You cannot bring in an englishforeign law dictionary unless the exam is a restricted open book exam and the professor has allowed for this, or unless the exam is a completely open book exam. Open book is going to rely a lot less on actually knowing things perfectly and a lot more on analysis. A complete guide to the law school experience this law school book starts with tips and advice on law school admissions, so it is a great resource to have even before youve started your first year of law school, but the real meat of the book guides you through your 1l year. Ben nelson was a law school and california bar exam tutor for law school toolbox and bar exam toolbox. Study aids and past exams emory university school of law. Course descriptions school of law university of san diego. Soontobe law students, this is your summer reading list. From an overview of the subjects you will be covering during 1l year. Part two of lees series explores how to prepare for an openbook exam and argues that your approach should be surprisingly. Course catalog alexander blewett iii school of law.
You want to study for open book exams just as hard as for your closed book exams, if not harder. Exam taking is a conglomeration of different skills, which can be taught, practiced, and learned. Do not remove any exam materials, questions, or blue books from the room during the exam. Take an outline that you have done for one of your law school classes, such as contracts. How to study for an open book testexam in law school quora. The law school bar exam writing study preparation system leews will help you prepare for and write a exams bs guaranteed andor pass the bar. Ive only had open book exams, but talking to people at lower ranked schools that had all closed book exams, it seemed like so much of what they were studying was word for. The course focuses broadly on the ethical questions and challenges that typically arise in public interest practice e.
Law recent news professor steven smiths book named to. For more than 140 years, the the university of alabama school of law has produced attorneys who become leaders locally, nationally and globally. Wentworth miller attorney, yale law graduate 77, rhodes scholar has developed polished for over 25 years comprehensive system of preparation exam taking, applicable to any essaytype in legal subject, that is remarkably. As the oldest child of two professors, he realized from an early age that he wanted to strike out on his own. Mrs keren lloyd bright the open university law school. Writing a law school exam is a skill, and just like any other skill, it can be mastered with practice.
In law school, the rules are just to enable you to write out quality legal analysis. An upperclassman explained to me how to do well on law school exams at the beginning of my 1l year and its worked for me very well ever since. Barry friedman is professor of law at nyu school of law and john goldberg is professor of law at harvard law school. In contrast, open book exams, takehome exams and research assignments. The university of alabama school of law provides a toprate education at an affordable cost in a supportive and diverse environment. Tips for success on openbook exams law school success. These books cover everything from acclimating to your first year of law school to. But they are helpful, inspiring, and empowering picks all law students might consider. How to get an edge over other law students law school study tips duration. The course will be graded based on class participation and an openbook final exam.
She was the law schools programme director for over five years 2008 20. Cramming for tests may have worked in undergrad, but law school is a whole different ballgame. Open book exam therefore tests a persons knowledge and organization rather than memorization. Do not speak with any person other than the faculty member who is administering this exam until you have turned in your exam. One rule of thumb to prevent brain dumping is that your rule statement should typically be shorter than your analysis section. A copy of my examinations from years past, along with explanations of how i graded answers, are included in the photocopied materials see tab 17. Two main questions, one of which has several subparts. Lee has been adjunct faculty at two bay area law schools teaching classes on law school and bar exam preparation. The law school exam is supposed to simulate that experience to some degree.
He eventually settled on law school and graduated from columbia in 2014 as a kent scholar and a stone scholar. How to prepare for an openbook exam you knew this was coming. Closed book exams have been associated with cramming, rote learning and superficial understanding. But if you are taking an openbook exam, including one that is partially openbook,2 then you have the law in front of you. The single most important thing you can do to make exam prep easier is to get a jump on. There are essentially three categories you get points. Thoughts on bptc exams going forward in marchapril. Civil procedure is the body of law usually rules enacted by the legislature or courts governing the methods and practices used in carrying on civil litigation as opposed to criminal litigation. Tips for taking the stress out of law school exam prep. Panel 3 podcast this program is designed to be useful to students interested in improving their examwriting techniques. In such a case, correctly copying statements of legal rules, even relevant ones, into your exam response does not, as i see it, demonstrate your mastery of the.
Law school exams are different tun your undergrad exams because knowing the law is important, but the rules are just one part of the irac and the law school exam experience. At my school at least, you have time to maybe reference your notes 3 or 4 times during an exam. How to succeed on an open book law school exam the unfortunate trap that many law students fall into is underpreparing for open book law school exams. Why i never got higher than a b in law school above.