Welcome to law school! This is a biweekly series with tips and tricks for success in law school. Although it’s billed toward new law students, I hope that every member of the law school community can find something helpful here.
Since we’re around the halfway point of the spring semester, it’s time to think about your exam strategies. This blog will focus on essay exam strategies (if you’re looking for multiple choice strategy, check out my last post!). Law school essay exams are a unique challenge, requiring students to analyze complex legal issues under tight time constraints. These exams demand precision, structure, and the ability to apply legal principles to hypothetical scenarios. The following strategies will help you maximize your performance on law school essay exams.
- Understand the IRAC Method
While there are different writing frameworks, IRAC still tends to be the gold standard for organizing your exam answer. Using a predictable structure like IRAC helps you stay organized and helps your professor grade your response. Unless your professor has said otherwise, use the following structure throughout your answer:
- Issue: Identify the legal question at hand. Use headings and subheadings to direct your professor’s attention to the different issues embedded within your larger analysis. Each issue and sub-issue you analyze should have its own issue statement.
- Rule: State the relevant law or principle. Make sure to explain any nuances, exceptions, and definitions. Follow your professor’s guidance on whether to include a discussion of relevant cases to explain your rule.
- Application: Analyze the facts using the legal rule, explaining how they interact. You should address each component of your rule statement, tying a specific fact to the rule of law to show how you reached a conclusion. Use connectors like “because” to help explain your thought process.
- Conclusion: Provide a clear and concise answer to the question based on your application.
You should think about essay writing as showing your work, much like a math problem. The IRAC format guides you through the process by providing a clear framework. If you’re nervous that your IRAC isn’t doing its job, ask a non-lawyer, non-law-student friend to review a practice essay. If they understand how you reached your conclusion, you’ve done your job. If they are confused, you likely need a more detailed rule and/or application section.
- Read the Question Carefully
It seems obvious, but misinterpreting the questions is a very common mistake students make! In the time pressure of the exam, it’s easy to overlook a key detail or misunderstand what issue you’re meant to address. Starting with the call of the question (usually the last line of the prompt) can help focus your attention on the important components in the fact pattern. Specifically, the call can help alert you to what the key issues might be and which facts to keep an eye out for. After the call, carefully review the facts to identify the parties involved, determine the legal issues presented, and note any procedural issues that might impact your analysis. A systematic, thorough reading of the prompt helps prevent missteps and ensures you address all required components.
- Manage Your Time Effectively
Time management is critical in law school exams. You need to allocate your time strategically to write a high-scoring essay. Once you’ve done your thorough examination of the prompt, spend about 5-15 minutes outlining your response. A good outline includes the main issues to be discussed, the relevant legal rules, and the legally significant facts that you’ll tie to your rules in your application section. An outline helps keep your response organized and prevents you from veering off track.
Once you have an outline, it’s time to write. The majority of your essay time should be spent writing. As you write, keep reminding yourself to be thorough and explain each step of your thought process. Clarity is key, so focus on your IRAC structure and the legal writing skills you’ve learned this year.
Finally, don’t forget to leave a few minutes to proofread. Read your answer looking for misstatements of law and fact, as well as any grammatical errors.
- Practice!
It probably goes without saying at this point that you need to practice, but I’m going to make sure to say it anyway! The best way to prepare for essay exams is through practice – specifically practice that simulates exam conditions. Simulating the exam pressure and timing helps improve time management, increases your efficiency, and builds confidence.
You should use past exams or supplemental resources to hone your skills before test day. And, after practicing, make sure to compare your responses to model answers or grading rubrics. Model answers from your professor are the best resource because they can help you identify areas you can improve upon specific to your professor’s preferences. For instance, you can compare your depth of analysis, organization, and clarity against the model answer and make adjustments as needed. If you’re struggling to make those comparisons, you should seek feedback from your professor, TAs, and/or academic success program to get their insights into refining your approach.
Excelling in law school essay exams requires more than just knowing the law. It demands critical thinking, structured writing, and strategic time management. By following the above tips, you can improve your performance and build confidence. Law school exams can be stressful, but preparation and strategy will set you up for success. Take deep breaths, trust your knowledge, and approach each question methodically.
(Dayna Smith)
