how to answer a law school essay question

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How do I answer law school exam questions? (an in-depth guide)

Here, we give you an in-depth guide on how to answer law school exam questions. This is a step-by-step process for approaching law school exams.

Law school exams are very different than exams you may have taken in undergrad . Because they are different from the exams you are used to, you need a novel strategy if you want to answer the law school exam questions successfully and receive high scores on your law school exams. Many students do not know how to best prepare for law school final exams (in part because law schools do not teach students this!). In this post, we break down the process of answering law school exam questions into a few simple steps.

How to answer law school exam questions

Preparation for answering law school exam questions.

Make your outlines!

Before you learn how to answer law school exam questions and attempt to answer law school exam questions, it is crucial that you have outlines (that you have made) and that you have familiarized yourself with your outlines well enough so that you feel like you know them. Here we have an in-depth guide to outlining . We also have tips on how to outline using diagrams , and places you can find outlines online if you want to review examples of outlines.

Learn your outlines!

If you have outlines, but are struggling to learn or memorize them, you are not alone. Many students struggle with this aspect of studying. Check out this post for seven fantastic tips on learning your law school outlines, which is outlined previously in this guide!

Why do you need to outline and learn your outlines first? Because the essential tool that you need prior to answering exam questions is knowledge of the law! This is the key tool, or your secret weapon, that will help you work your way through exam questions. After all, exam questions will ask you to apply the law to a fact pattern . You cannot apply the law if you do not even know what the law is! No strategy, tool, or tip will be able to get you a high score on a law school final exam if you do not make an effort to truly know the law.

General format of a law school exam

Your law school exam will generally be a story (called a “fact pattern”). You will be expected to go through the story, sentence by sentence, and spot the issues. For example, you may have a fact pattern like this:

Anna is walking down the street, texting her friend. She is not looking where she is going. A driver, Bob, who is trying to get directions on his phone, does not see Anna and hits her. Anna falls to the ground and breaks her tailbone. Normally, the impact would not cause a broken tailbone but Anna has a brittle bone disease which causes her to get hurt very easily. Anna goes to the doctor later that afternoon. Anna fills out a form that clearly states she is allergic to various medicines. The doctor accidentally gives her medicine that she is allergic to—a medicine that Anna had listed on her form that she was allergic to. Anna has to stay in the hospital for five days to be treated for her allergic reaction. The visit for the broken tailbone cost Anna $20,000. The five-day stay in the hospital cost Anna $50,000. Discuss the issues.

Your job will be to use the IRAC method, discussed below, to identify the issues, state the rules of law, apply them, and then arrive at conclusions for each issue spotted. You can see that the call of the question is open-ended (“Discuss the issues”) and that you are not actually told which issues to discuss. Note that your professor may give you several short fact patterns (like the one above) or may give you longer fact patterns (sometimes one to five pages long).

Step one: learn to answer exam questions using the IRAC method

The IRAC method is a commonly used method for writing law school exam answers. The letters in IRAC stands for the following words:

A = analysis

C = conclusion.

The IRAC method is formulaic. To use IRAC one essentially fills in the blanks of the following formula for each issue that one spots: “The issue is ___________. The rule is ___________. A court would analyze it as follows: [apply the law to the facts]. In conclusion, ___________ will likely win.”

The IRAC method, in its most basic form, is not the best way to answer exam questions. It is a bit too simplistic and formulaic. However, it is a great start for learning how to answer law school exam questions. Further, as you practice it, (and as we show you below) you will find yourself improving the analysis section significantly in order to write a sophisticated exam answer.

It is important that you identify most, if not all, of the issues in your exam fact pattern. Write down the issue. Explicitly say, “The issue is whether . . . .” Note that many times, the fact pattern will not give you any hints as to what the issues are. It will just say “Discuss the issues” or “Discuss.” Thus, it will be up to you to spot all of the issues.

Issue-spotting is important because if you don’t spot the issue, you will not be able to apply the relevant law and analyze it (and this is what you get the most points for!). To become a good issue-spotter, practice answering exam questions and comparing them to model answers. This will help you get an idea of the most commonly tested issues and will help you spot these issues on your final exam.

As an example, in the example fact pattern above, some of the issues are negligence, contributory negligence, foreseeability of medical malpractice, eggshell-skull rule, and joint and several liability. All of these issues should be discussed separately.

For each issue that you identify, state the rule of law that governs the issue. Make sure that you state the relevant rules of law. Some students will write down all of the rules of law that they have learned to try to impress the professor. However, you don’t get points for these and you are wasting time writing them all down.

The analysis is the most important part of your exam answer. It is the section where you apply the law to the facts. The key to writing an average IRAC answer and an outstanding A+ answer is to develop the analysis by making lawyerly arguments on behalf of the plaintiff and on behalf of the defendant for each issue that you spot. When you get to the “A” in IRAC, ask yourself: “What would the plaintiff argue?” then ask yourself, “What would the defendant argue?” State who has the better argument. Make creative arguments, and make all of the reasonable arguments you can. This is the most important part of your essay.

When you make arguments (and when you respond) for each side, refer to specific facts in the fact pattern. Arguments can be made using the following strategies:

Sometimes you will argue that the facts should be interpreted one way or another.
Sometimes you will argue that the law should be interpreted one way or the other.
Sometimes you will cite policy reasons for why the case should turn out one way or another.
Sometimes you will argue that the traditional rule should be applied instead of the model rule (or vice versa) or that the common law rule should be applied instead of the statute (or vice versa), or that the majority rule should be applied instead of the minority rule (or vice versa).
Sometimes you will argue that the holding in one case should be followed rather than the holding in a different case.

Most of your arguments will be based on classroom discussion. That is, if your professor really emphasized contradicting rulings of two different cases, you would mention that in your argument section. If your professor focused instead on common law rulings vs. statutory law, you may make arguments based on that.

Even if the question says “you are counsel for the defense,” you still have to recognize (and state in your answer) arguments that the plaintiff would make. After all, the best defense lawyer will anticipate arguments by the plaintiff.

This takes your answer out of the simple IRAC format because you are not just applying the law to the facts, instead you are arguing and analyzing from both the plaintiff’s and the defendant’s perspective in a lawyerly manner.

Last, state which party is more likely to win and explain your reasoning. The conclusion answers the question, “Who has the better legal argument?” The conclusion that you arrive at is not as important as the analysis that you provide.

Do not leave your conclusion too inconclusive (e.g., “It depends on what the court decides. Either could win.”). A conclusion that is inconclusive is not a conclusion at all! However, do not leave your conclusion too decisive either (e.g., “The plaintiff will definitely win” or “The defendant’s argument is baseless.”). It is best not to use extremely strong words or phrases unless they truly are appropriate (and this will happen very rarely for the big issues!). The keywords to use are “probably” or “most likely.” Say something like, “For all the reasons discussed above, the defendant is most likely to win on this issue.”

Step two: practice exam questions

It is not enough to have a good strategy for answering exam questions. You have to also practice that strategy . If you were trying to get good at painting, reading books about painting all day wouldn’t be enough—you would actually have to practice painting! It is the same with answering exam questions. It is not enough to have some skills or strategies. Instead, you have to practice those skills and strategies.

The three primary sources that you should use to practice applying what you know are:

(1) Exams that your professor has given students in the past (check with your professor) ***This is by far the best resource!*** Make sure to obtain model answers or sample answers if possible.
(2) Problems in supplements— such as Examples and Explanations or Glannon Guides . This is a great resource for practicing all throughout the semester because you can practice analyzing one issue at a time and hone in on your skills.
(3) Other resources that contain exams with model answers: The best thing to do is Google, for example, “Contracts exam model answer.” You will find updated Contracts exams with model or sample answers. We also have compiled a great resource of practice exams here if you want to save yourself some time Googling it!

After you write your exam answers, always spend a long time comparing your answer to the model answer and grading your answer. This is how you will improve on your exam-writing skills. You will be actively learning the law, giving yourself feedback, identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and find yourself improving over time! If you do this regularly, by the time you get to the final exam, you will know what to expect, and it honestly won’t seem like that difficult or daunting of a task because you will have already done it so many times! I graduated as the #1 law student and got A+’s in over half of my law school classes. Practicing exams ahead of time was a huge reason I was able to achieve that accomplishment.

If you are unsure how to compare your answer to the model answer, we recommend that you start by asking yourself these questions:

Questions to ask when comparing your answer to the model answer

Did I spot the same issues that the writer of the model answer spotted?
Did I miss important issues? Which ones? How will I avoid this in the future?
Did I include issues that the model answer did not include? If so, are these issues relevant?
Did I clearly lay out all the rules and elements of law for each issue?
Did I discuss laws that weren’t relevant? How can I avoid this in the future?
Did I make arguments on behalf of each party (where applicable)?
Did I analyze the problem as in-depth as the model answer did?
Did I spend too much time analyzing an issue that should obviously turn out in one party’s favor?
Did I know enough law to fully analyze the question or do I need to review my outline more?
Was my conclusion too vague? Was it too strongly worded?
Was my conclusion correct (or at least arguably correct)?
Did I spend too much time restating facts or conclusions?
Did I answer the exam in the appropriate amount of time?
What are my strengths?
How can I capitalize on my strengths and make them even better?
What do I need to practice more?

Commonly-asked questions on how to answer law school exam questions

What is the most important resource i can consult if i have limited time.

The best resource at your disposal is your professor’s old exams. These show you what the professor likes to test and can help you get used to their format and their exam approach. Make sure that you obtain any model answer or sample answer that goes with the exam. Some professors do not make past exams available for review. Some only offer a couple of prior exams available for review, in which case it is a good idea to seek exams using the other resources mentioned above.

What if my professor includes multiple-choice or short answer questions?

It is becoming more common to include a multiple-choice question section and/or a short answer question section on law school exams. Below we tell you how to answer law school exam questions that contain multiple-choice, short answer, or other nontraditional questions.

Multiple-choice

If your professor includes multiple-choice questions on your exam, it makes sense to get as much practice answering multiple-choice questions as you can before your exam. Do a Google search for questions or, if you have time, order books online with multiple-choice questions. Note: we also have hundreds of law school multiple-choice questions in our JD Advising study aids (which you can sample for free!) Many bar exam review books will have multiple-choice questions that cover the material in first-year law school courses. It is amazing how much you can increase your score through practice!

Make sure that when you begin to practice answering multiple-choice questions that you go through the questions slowly and methodically. Dissect each question. After you read the question, ask yourself what legal issue is being tested and what legal rule you need to know to answer the question. If you do not know the legal rule, look it up in your outline. Lastly, go through the answer choices and explain why one is correct and why the other three are incorrect. If you complete all of the questions slowly and methodically when you practice, you will learn the legal rules better and you will also internalize the best way to approach questions on your exam. You will not fall for tricks!

Closer to your final exam, work on speed. Practice answering several questions each day and make sure you are able to answer them in the time allotted.

If you are looking for a lengthier article about how to improve your score on multiple-choice questions, see this post on how to answer multiple-choice questions : it is geared toward bar exam students but can be helpful to any students taking a multiple-choice exam!

Short answer

If your professor includes short answer questions on his or her exam, get your hands on as many short answer questions as possible. If your professor releases any past exams, focus on these first! Also, consult a supplement. Many supplements have plenty of short answer questions for you to answer. (Our law school study aids contain hundreds of short-answer questions written by top law professors!)

Combination

If your professor gives a combination of questions (some multiple-choice, some essay) spend your time answering both kinds of questions when you practice. Allocate your time based on how your final exam score is calculated. If, say, only 10% of the exam is based on your multiple-choice score, and 90% is based on your essay score, focus primarily on practicing essay questions. If it is the opposite, focus primarily on practicing multiple-choice questions!

Go to the next topic, Where can I find law school practice exams?

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How to Effectively Answer Law Essay Questions

I remember my first semester 100 level exams. I was just fresh from secondary school/JAMBITE, but I thought law exams were the same with secondary school exams. Heck, I didn’t even know that law exams were only theory questions. I was expecting to meet some objective questions, until I saw my exam questions.

Well, during the exams, I wrote what I could, and was confident my results would be awesome. After all, I had read for the exams well enough, and I used to think I was kind of intelligent.

I was in for a rude shock.

While I was in 100 level at the University of Ilorin, they still pasted everyone’s results on the notice board. So, when I heard the first result was out, I and a lot of my “fresher” colleagues went to check our results. I was expecting an A, or worse, a B.

I located my matric number on the pasted list and checked my first result. I had a C.

I was surprised, but I felt it was my first result, the others would be better.

The other results started trickling in. With each result pasted on the notice board, I realised I wasn’t so special after all. I had a series of C’s. For my 100 level first semester results, out a total of 10 courses, I had just one A, two B’s and the rest were C’s.

I was dejected, along with most other “freshers” that received this glorious welcome to Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin.

Instead of blaming the poor results on the indiscretions of my lecturers, I knew something had to be wrong with what I wrote. So, I asked for help. I asked a scholar(the best student in a level) in 400 level at the time, Adekunle Charles , to show me how to answer law questions. He showed me the way, and I can tell you that my results improved dramatically.

So, I am going to teach you exactly what he taught me, how to answer law exam questions. I will be focusing on law essay questions in this post.

What are Law Essay Questions?

There are two major types of law questions, essay questions and problem questions. Law essay questions require you to write an essay. Unlike problem questions that require you to advise parties in a scenario.

We have all been answering a level of essay questions right from secondary school, so it shouldn’t be new to you.

The following is an example of a law essay question:

There have been a lot of arguments for and against the principle established in the popular case of Adams vs Lindsell . Expatiate, through the cases.

To answer law essay questions properly, it must follow four rules. It must have The Introduction, The definitions, the body, and the conclusion.

Answering Law Essay Questions Rule 1: The Introduction

The introduction to your law essay question is the part where you let the lecturer know what the answer is all about.

In this part of the question, you shouldn’t directly go into answering the question. Instead, you are allowed to beat about the bush a little bit. Start with a general statement and then become more specific. At the end of the introduction, you should talk about the law essay question you intend to answer.

As an illustration, this is how the introduction to the sample law essay question above should look like:

The importance of feedback in the formation of a contract cannot be over-emphasized. It is trite that every contract needs to have an offer and acceptance, and there is the need to communicate the offer and acceptance between the parties. In a lot of instances, this isn’t really a problem since the offer and acceptance is done in real-time (face to face). However, there are instances where it isn’t in real time, like when the communication is done by post. In this type of situation, due to the process of posting a letter or parcel, the communication between the parties can experience some delays. This has posed some problems, like “when is an acceptance valid?” Upon posting, or upon reception? One principle that has been developed by the courts to solve this problem is the rule in Adams vs Lindsell . This work is going to analyse this rule and talk about the criticisms levelled against it, with special attention being paid to case law.

Answering Law Essay Questions Rule 2: The Definition

This is the part of the question where you give a definition to the major terms/keywords in the question. It is not necessary that it has to be a “term” per se. For instance, in the sample question I gave above, the major term is Adams vs Lindsell .

So, what you should do at this stage is to define the rule in Adams vs Lindsell . Since this is a case, you should talk about the facts of the case.

Your answer can go something like this:

The rule in Adams vs Lindsell is generally referred to as acceptance by post. The rule in this case was propounded by Lord Ellensborough in 1818. In this case, the defendant offered to sell some wool to the plaintiff. The defendant sent their offer by post. Due to an error in the posting, the letter got to the plaintiff on the evening of September 5. The plaintiff posted an acceptance the next day. If the letter was posted correctly, the defendant ought to have gotten the reply by September 7. So, when the defendant didn’t get a reply on September 7, he sold the wool to a third party on September 8. The plaintiff’s acceptance finally got to the defendant on September 9. Since the defendant had already sold the wool to a third party, the plaintiff sued for breach of contract. The major contention was when the acceptance would be valid. On the plaintiff posting it, or on the defendant receiving it. The court held in favor of the plaintiff that when it comes to contracts conducted by post, acceptance comes to fruition at the time of posting, not at the time of receiving.

Answering Law Essay Questions Rule 3: The Body

This is the major part of the answer to the law essay question. It is in this part of the answer that you demonstrate your understanding of the question and knowledge of the subject matter. In a lot of instances, what differentiates an A student from a C student is the fact that an A student cited more authorities in this section of the answer.

Using the sample question above, this part of the answer to the law essay question will look something like this:

Since the inception of this rule, there have been numerous arguments for and against it by jurists, scholars, and judges alike. In the case itself, the court, in justifying its decision stated that if acceptance wasn’t complete on posting, then there is the need for the offeree to require the offeror to inform him that he had received his acceptance, and so it goes on ad infinitum . Scholars like Professor Sagay have disputed this justification of the rule in Adams vs Lindsell . According to him, the process doesn’t have to go on ad infinitum. The offeree can assume that a contract has come into fruition when the offeror receives the letter, the same way the the offeror has to assume that there is a binding contract when, and if, the offeree posts a letter of acceptance. In the subsequent case of Household Fire Insurance Co vs Grant , the court gave some other concrete reasons for the adoption of the rule in Adams vs Lindsell . The facts of this case are as follows. The defendant applied for shares in the plaintiff company, and the plaintiff company assented by posting a letter. However, the letter didn’t get to the defendant, and as such, he didn’t know that the company accepted his offer. When the company got into liquidation, he was called upon to pay up his share. He resisted this, and thus the case was brought before the court. The court, in applying the rule in Adams vs Lindsell , held that he was liable to pay up his own shares, since a binding contract came into existence the moment the company posted its acceptance, regardless of the whether or not he received the letter. In justifying the acceptance by post rule, the court gave the following reasons: The post office is an agent of both parties. So, technically, a letter given to the post office is deemed communicated to the offeror. By posting the letter of acceptance, there is already a valid and binding contract. There is no need for any other act to bring the contract to fruition. The offeree has merely assented to the offeror’s proposals. The offeror is free to make it a term of the contract that there is no valid acceptance until he receives it. Any alternative rule would lead to fraud and delay in commercial transactions because the offeree would have to wait for confirmation from the offeror that he has received his acceptance. The rule is the most convenient compared to all other alternatives. However, the court’s decision was not unanimous. There was a dissenting judgement by Bramwell, L.J. He contended that if the basis of the rule was that it would cause hardship on the offeree, who might have already made arrangements based on the acceptance of the contract, there is also hardship on the part of the offeror who might act on the belief that his offer was not accepted. This is even more relevant where the offeror didn’t receive the acceptance like in the present case. All this goes to show that the rule in Adams vs Lindsell isn’t one that enjoys unanimous consensus in the legal community. Recent decisions by courts in the United States suggest a shift away from this rule of acceptance by post. In the case of Rhode Island Tool Co vs US F. Supp. 417 (1955) , the plaintiff’s made an offer to sell some bolts to the defendant. The defendant accepted by post, but the plaintiff discovered that they had quoted a very low price. To remedy this, they sent a telegram to the defendant revoking the offer. The telegram got to the defendant before the posted acceptance got to the plaintiff. The court held that the offer was validly revoked since the telegram got to the offeree before the plaintiff received the letter of acceptance. A similar thing happened in the case of Dick vs US F. Supp 326 (1949) . The facts of this case are quite similar to the facts in the above case. In this case, the offeree was the plaintiff and after accepting the offer by post, sent a telegram withdrawing it. The telegram got to the defendant before the letter of acceptance, and the court held that it was a valid revocation.

Answer Law Essay Questions Rule 4: The Conclusion

The conclusion to the law essay question is the final part of essay (just like the name suggests). There are two major ways you can conclude the essay: either by summarizing what you have written, or by giving a recommendation/comment.

To be on the safe side, you should just conclude by summarizing what you have written. You should also make it clear that you are concluding by including the phrase “In conclusion” at the beginning of the conclusion.

So, this is how the conclusion to the sample question would look like:

In conclusion, this work has highlighted the evolution of the rule in Adam vs Lindsell with special attention given to case law. This work highlighted the establishment of the rule, the justifications given by the court for this rule, and the criticisms against this rule. It finally showed a departure from this rule in other jurisdictions like the USA, due to the impact of new technology on commercial transactions.

Here’s the full answer to the essay question

So, this is how you should answer a law essay question. If you want to get a full picture of what the answer to the essay question looks like, here you go:

The importance of feedback in the formation of a contract cannot be over-emphasized. It is trite that every contract needs to have an offer and acceptance, and there is the need to communicate the offer and acceptance between the parties. In a lot of instances, this isn’t really a problem since the offer and acceptance is done in real-time (face to face). However, there are instances where it isn’t in real time, like when the communication is done by post. In this type of situation, due to the process of posting a letter or parcel, the communication between the parties can experience some delays. This has posed some problems, like “when is an acceptance valid?” Upon posting, or upon reception? One principle that has been developed by the courts to solve this problem is the rule in Adams vs Lindsell . This work is going to analyse this rule and talk about the criticisms levelled against it, with special attention being paid to case law. The rule in Adams vs Lindsell is generally referred to as acceptance by post. The rule in this case was propounded by Lord Ellensborough in 1818. In this case, the defendant offered to sell some wool to the plaintiff. The defendant sent their offer by post. Due to an error in the posting, the letter got to the plaintiff on the evening of September 5. The plaintiff posted an acceptance the next day. If the letter was posted correctly, the defendant ought to have gotten the reply by September 7. So, when the defendant didn’t get a reply on September 7, he sold the wool to a third party on September 8. The plaintiff’s acceptance finally got to the defendant on September 9. Since the defendant had already sold the wool to a third party, the plaintiff sued for breach of contract. The major contention was when the acceptance would be valid. On the plaintiff posting it, or on the defendant receiving it. The court held in favor of the plaintiff that when it comes to contracts conducted by post, acceptance comes to fruition at the time of posting, not at the time of receiving. Since the inception of this rule, there have been numerous arguments for and against it by jurists, scholars, and judges alike. In the case itself, the court, in justifying its decision stated that if acceptance wasn’t complete on posting, then there is the need for the offeree to require the offeror to inform him that he had received his acceptance, and so it goes on ad infinitum . Scholars like Professor Sagay have disputed this justification of the rule in Adams vs Lindsell. According to him, the process doesn’t have to go on ad infinitum. The offeree can assume that a contract has come into fruition when the offeror receives the letter, the same way the the offeror has to assume that there is a binding contract when, and if, the offeree posts a letter of acceptance. In the subsequent case of Household Fire Insurance Co vs Grant, the court gave some other concrete reasons for the adoption of the rule in Adams vs Lindsell. The facts of this case are as follows. The defendant applied for shares in the plaintiff company, and the plaintiff company assented by posting a letter. However, the letter didn’t get to the defendant, and as such, he didn’t know that the company accepted his offer. When the company got into liquidation, he was called upon to pay up his share. He resisted this, and thus the case was brought before the court. The court, in applying the rule in Adams vs Lindsell, held that he was liable to pay up his own shares, since a binding contract came into existence the moment the company posted its acceptance, regardless of the whether or not he received the letter. In justifying the acceptance by post rule, the court gave the following reasons: The post office is an agent of both parties. So, technically, a letter given to the post office is deemed communicated to the offeror. By posting the letter of acceptance, there is already a valid and binding contract. There is no need for any other act to bring the contract to fruition. The offeree has merely assented to the offeror’s proposals. The offeror is free to make it a term of the contract that there is no valid acceptance until he receives it. Any alternative rule would lead to fraud and delay in commercial transactions because the offeree would have to wait for confirmation from the offeror that he has received his acceptance. The rule is the most convenient compared to all other alternatives. However, the court’s decision was not unanimous. There was a dissenting judgement by Bramwell, L.J. He contended that if the basis of the rule was that it would cause hardship on the offeror who might have already made arrangements based on the acceptance of the contract, there is also hardship on the part of the offeror who might believe that his offer was not accepted. This is even more relevant where the offeror didn’t receive the acceptance like in the present case. All this goes to show that the rule in Adams vs Lindsell isn’t one that enjoys unanimous consensus in the legal community. Recent decisions by courts in the United States suggest a shift away from this rule of acceptance by post. In the case of Rhode Island Tool Co vs US F. Supp. 417 (1955), the plaintiff’s made an offer to sell some bolts to the defendant. The defendant accepted by post, but the plaintiff discovered that they had quoted a very low price. To remedy this, they sent a telegram to the defendant revoking the offer. The telegram got to the defendant before the posted acceptance got to the plaintiff. A similar thing happened in the case of Dick vs US F. Supp 326 (1949). The facts of this case are quite similar to the facts in the above case. In this case, the offeree was the plaintiff and after accepting the offer by post, sent a telegram withdrawing it. The telegram got to the defendant before the letter of acceptance, and the court held that it was a valid revocation. In conclusion, this work has highlighted the evolution of the rule in Adam vs Lindsell with special attention given to case law. This work highlighted the establishment of the rule, the justifications given by the court for this rule, and the criticisms against this rule. It finally showed a departure from this rule in other jurisdictions like the USA, due to the impact of new technology on commercial transactions.

So, here you have it, a guide to answering law essay questions. If you follow these guidelines, you should see an improvement in your grades. If you have any questions related to this, feel free to drop a comment.

P.S: If you are interested in an online course that makes it easy for you to get A’s in your law exams, you can check it out here: Get Access to Ace LL.B Exams

72 thoughts on “ How to Effectively Answer Law Essay Questions ”

Nice one bro. But between cramming the materials given by lecturers or understanding the material which one might likely improved one’s chance of getting good grade in essay questions from your own experience.

In law exams, there are some things you have to cram. Things like the cases and statutes. For the explanatory part of the note, it’s best you understand it.

its so excited for me to find this most simple blog for law student as a guide, tnx so much, may the sky be your limit

Where can I find the statutes and cases book? I’m a political student

Thank you. This really helped Can you post the one of problem questions

Thank you so much for taking out time to be a silver linen in the dark clouds of a law student who now, understands better how to answer law questions. The time you took to practically explain this using the Adam V Lindsell case is not a waste. I duff my hat sir.

This is really useful and m gonna attempt this semester’s exams in this way. Thanks sir.

TThank you.Please I need tips on problem question.

I’m currently working on a blog post that covers that

Thank you.I will be glad if that is done in no time.

Wow!!! This is beautiful. Please what about problem question? My exam’s two weeks from today

I’m currently working on a blog post on how to deal with that. It should be out before your exams.

Where can i find it?

Here: https://djetlawyer.com/irac-how-to-answer-law-problem-questions/

wow! this is wonderful and great. this sample has taught me a better way of answering law essay question seriously. bro you are good honestly.

Thanks. It’s cool that I’ve been able to help.

Thank you very much sir. I have understood the format now. But however, if a topic that doesn’t have cases. Is it wise or necessary to find cases to relate to such topics. For instance, Legal reasoning in judicial process.

There are always cases for all topics. You just need to know where to find them. Besides, no case is specifically designated for a subject, you can use any case, as long as it is relevant.

Thanks bro, my inquisitiveness to studying law brought me to your site. Pls how do I make my dream come true. This is my nineteen years of secondary education. I have NCE N B. ed in pols n edu. Mgmt.

Eeeermmm… Have you applied to any university offering law?

Thank you so much. This has helped me greatly

You’re very welcome

Thanks bro, looking forward to that post on problem question. This is appreciated.

im inspired, this is really excellent, though it looks like a lot of work and memorization, but it was really helpful. Thanks

Thank you so much for this great Tips. have been reading it over and over again.

You’re very welcome. I’m glad to have been of help.

This is really helpful. Thanks and job well done.

Thanks a lot Mr Olamide More strength to your elbow

I am becoming more addicted to your blog, ‘barrister’ Olamide ? . Do not stop at anytime. Let’s keep flying

Thanks a lot bro.

Hello Olamide. Thank you for this comment but i really need your help for something person as regards to law. How can i reach you pls? Thanks

Send me an email.

Am very greatful for the advice you have given it’s really great. A concern: is it always a must to cite case laws when answering law questions? And what happens when you only remember facts oof the case and you don’t rremember the parties?

Cases and statutes are what separates the work of a law student from that of a sociologist or political scientists. It is quite essential that you try to cite case(s) or statutes when writing a legal piece, as they give it more authority.

It would be ideal if you remember all. But if you can’t you can just write “in a decided case”. This might not give you full marks, but you’ll still get something.

Thank you very much for the advice am really greatful

I am a law student in Ghana KNUST. It is great work you’re doing. Though most of your posts are Nigerian Law, the ones that are general is helpful to me. Thank you.

You’re welcome. I’m glad to have been of help.

A big thank you Barr Olamide this article was really helpful a lot of Law student doesn’t know how to answer law essay question but by the grace of God we will try as much as possible to adhere your tips…my regards

please, what website can I get access to full law cases from.

You can check lawpavilionplus.com. However, you have to pay.

Thanks What of problem question

Check this out https://djetlawyer.com/irac-how-to-answer-law-problem-questions/

Thanks for the advice But what if u are not so good in beating around the bush to make your answer look more interesting I usually just go straight to the point cause of time factor and I really can’t even do it.

The “beating about the bush” part is the introduction part of the answer. It should just be like one paragraph.

Thanks What of how to answer problem question

do you have to identify each section by the heading; For example 1. Introduction 2. Definition 3.Body 4.Conclusion in order to delineate these sections for the attention of the marker.

No, you don’t need to identify that. IDBC is just a framework you should have at the back of your mind when writing exams.

Please can you make a write up to writing a very good memorial for should I say guidlines to writing a very strong legal arguements. In relation to moot and mock. Thank you

Thanks for the feedback. I’ll consider it.

Am really impressed at you strive towards making a soft landing for prospective and present law student generally. In some instances,what if the question is not possessing this semblance for example “Discuss the duty of a counsel to the court” In the abovementioned question what will be the definition part?

And also if am asked to answer a short question like “the relationship between law and morality” do I still need the IDBC format?

Lastly,Is this format of answering questions only applicable in legal methods or it can serve all law essay questions?

I will be glad if you can answer me respectively…?

Thanks so much I’ve learnt a great deal, please can you post that of problem question? God bless you.

Good evening, Please I want you to out me through a law assignment (Principles of equity). The question is: ” Critically examine the contribution of equity to jurisprudence”

Thank you very much sir i have really learnt so much from your work today and i believe that before the end of this semester my grades will improve and also my knowledge and understanding on how to answer problem questions and law essay questions will improve. God bless you sir.

Please can I get your username on social media platforms…I would love to know you…you dont know how much this write up just helped me

I’m glad to have helped. I’m not so active on Social Media though. However, you can connect with me on linkedin here https://www.linkedin.com/in/olyray/ and twitter here https://twitter.com/olanrewajuolam6 . ALso, check my author bio for other social media platforms.

Okay..please can I get some materials on human rights..precisely regional protection of human rights…I can’t seem to permutate it to my satisfaction

I don’t think I currently have materials on that.

Pls can I get past questions for introduction to legal method and introduction to Islamic law

I don’t really have that at the moment.

zainab you are here…… wawu i never believed til now

Mr.Can you please help me with this: A was driving along Lagos Ibadan expressway on the 24th July, 2020 and he got to Interchange at about 5am, he then saw a BMW 2015 model under the bridge with a tag ‘for sale’. He called the no on the tag and bought the car at the rate of #500,000.00. two days after, as he was driving the vehicle on Lagos Island, he was stopped by the Police and was arrested for a stolen vehicle. He later located the seller who was also arrested by the police, he was released on bail and the vehicle was recovered from Mr A being a stolen vehicle. Mr. Intend to sue the seller for the refund of his money or to sue the police that he bought the goods in accordance with Sales of Goods Act. 1. Please advise Mr. A 2. Will your advise be different if Mr. A had bought the car at Ladipo Car Market?

Interesting and helpful will be waiting on problem question too.

Hello. Problem questions are treated here:

https://djetlawyer.com/irac-how-to-answer-law-problem-questions/

Thank you very much sir. It’s a blessings to cross paths with you going through this work. Question. Is it possible to just cite the case without giving facts of that case? For instance as was decided in Shaw v DPP 1962 AC 220 and then you continue with your analysis?

Yes. You can.

Good morning. I’m very new here. This was really helpful, thank you so much for these tips.

I however struggle with problem questions majorly. I would like to know if you have a post on how to answer problem questions??

Wow thank you so much sir. I have really been struggling with answering law essay questions This has enlightened me. I really hope I apply it well

Good morning. I’m very new here. This was really helpful, thank you so much for these tips.

Thank you very much sir . I have finally gotten a well explained answer on how to answer law questions I’m greatful 🙏

How to Write Law Essay Questions

How to write a legal essay question.

A law essay question requires you to make an argument about some aspect of the law. For example, it might ask whether Bloggs vs Smith was correctly decided, how would you reform the law of murder, and so on. This guide provides tips and tricks for improving your legal essay writing skills.

What is the Question Actually Asking You?

The number one rule of answering any law essay question is RTFQ – ATFQ .

Read the flaming question, answer the flaming question .

Here is a common complaint by law examiners every year. Many students read the question once, see its on a particular topic, and regurgitate everything they know about that topic. As a result, the student fails to actually provide any kind of answer to what was asked.

If a question asks you to discuss the abolition of life sentences, don’t explain everything you know about murder. Your essay should provide an actual answer: yes, they should be abolished; no they shouldn’t be abolished; or no they shouldn’t be abolished but they should be reformed. Every piece of information and every line of argument you write should relate to your answer .

Analysing the Question for Greater Depth

Take some time to analyse the language of the question . You should be asking yourself the following questions:

Are there any underlying assumptions the question makes? Should those assumptions be taken for granted, or can you challenge them ? How might this affect your answer to the question?

Are there any terms in the question that need to be defined , and is there any controversy over the definition of the word or phrase? How might this affect your answer to the question?

Take the following exam essay question taken from an International Law paper. You don’t need to know anything about International law, we are just going to look at the question’s structure and language.

‘The concept of persistent objector is contrary to the entire idea of a general international law common to all states.’ (DUMBERRY referring to CONFORTI) How real is the threat of the persistent objector to general international law? [ Cambridge University, Tripos Part IB Exam Paper May 2012 ]

The quote here raises an immediate issue. What actually is the ‘entire idea of a general international law common to all states’? Unless you establish what the purpose of general international law is, how it is achieved and how it operates, it is impossible to say whether something is a threat to it.

A good answer to this question would explain this. It would then outline the different views on the concept of international law, and argue that one particular view is the best. Only then would the student discuss whether the law relating to persistent objectors is a threat to general international law.

Formulate a Balanced Argument

An essay question requires a balanced analysis of all sides of any academic debate. Do not give an entirely one-sided answer. However, do not do the opposite of this either. A completely neutral, non-committal essay is equally shallow: don’t conclude that both sides have good points without saying one is better. You need to have an argument .

Start the essay knowing what your argument will be. Work out how you are going to show that you have the correct way of looking at things. Always discuss criticisms that could be made of your points and how you would deal with them. If the other side have strong rebuttals, don’t ignore them: address them and explain why you don’t find them convincing.

The argument should flow and different elements of your argument should be dealt with in different sections. If it helps, use headings to make sure you stick to the point and don’t go off on irrelevant tangents. Every paragraph should start with a statement of what you will argue, and end with you having successfully argued it. If something is not relevant to the flow of your argument, do not put it in.

High-Level Answers and Abstract Thought

Law examiners love an argument where all the sections link together, playing off elements of previous sections and flowing naturally. There is a straightforward way of achieving this. Come up with some underlying, philosophical or policy-based thesis this area of law is based on . Then, think about how you can tie your argument into that.

For example, say you are asked to discuss whether sado-masochism should be an exception to the rule against consenting to ABH . A good answer will first consider: what is the point of criminalising behaviour that only really harms yourself? Is it paternalism? If so, does the law generally take a paternalist approach? Or does it instead generally protect an individual’s liberty to harm themselves as they please? How do the other exceptions to the rule fit into a paternalist or a liberty-based concept of the law?

You might conclude that the law does not follow a coherent principle. If so, you likely need to argue that it needs reform. Or, you might conclude that the law does follow a coherent principle. You might argue that this is a good principle to follow, in which case the law should stay as it is. Alternatively, you could argue that the law should not be based on this principle: it should be based on another. With this done you can answer the question. Sado-masochism should be an exception if it fits the philosophical/policy-based principles that you claim should underpin the criminal law.

This type of thinking helps essay flow. You are linking every stage of your argument to a broader argument about abstract principles. It also means you are evaluating the law deeply, which can greatly enhance your marks.

Using Secondary Commentary

Evidence of wider reading, normally academic articles or specialist books, is necessary for top grades when you are writing a law essay. However, it is important to fully understand the arguments being made, and how they relate to other ideas. You will not get any extra marks for merely saying ‘X argues that Y is true’. You need to be able to explain why X makes this argument and how it might be criticised. Examiners are able to see through this kind of shallow ‘name dropping’.

Once you’ve read an academic article, sit back for a while. Think about how they relate to your own views. Academic arguments should support your views, not be a wholesale replacement of them. Don’t do an essay on what X thinks about a subject, do an essay on what you think about it. Inform your view with the academic’s analysis, supporting arguments and potential criticisms of your position.

Don’t Hedge Your Bets (and Other Stylistic Tips)

If there’s one thing most law professors hate, its reading a phrase like ‘it seems from the evidence that there might be a possibility of supporting the argument that…’.

Confidence in essay-writing is not something that is stressed enough at school or university. People who aren’t confident are tempted to hedge their bets with language like ‘probably’ and ‘it might be the case’. Resist that urge. If your analysis is correct, the person marking the essay may have doubts as to how firmly you grasp the material if you do not sound confident in your conclusions. If your analysis is not correct, saying ‘probably’ in front of the error won’t help in any case.

Other stylistic tips for writing a professional sounding essay include:

Avoid contractions (‘don’t’, ‘can’t’), slang phrases and other informal language;
Avoid the phrase ‘it is submitted that’. This kind of wording is for moots and legal debating, not academic legal essays;
Try to deal with only one issue per paragraph. This makes the essay less visually intimidating;
If simple language and short sentences get your point across, use simple language and short sentences. There is a temptation to sound ‘professional’ by using multi-clauses sentences and complex vocabulary. This just makes the essay harder to read.

Cite, Cite and Cite Again

If you are ever making a positive claim about the law, back it up with a citation. What proves your claim? A case? A statutory provision? Cite it. You must assure the marker that you aren’t just making lucky guesses. Many institutions’ grading criteria specify that you can’t achieve anything above a 2:2 with insufficient citation.

Generally there is no need to give the year, report and page number of case-law in exams. However, you should check your university’s best practice guidelines to know for sure.

How To Answer Law School Exam Questions

by Tania N. Shah, Esq. | 1st Years , Law School Exams | 0 comments

Organizational Paradigms

Step one: issue spotting/ conclusion/ thesis-what is the legal question that i need to analyze.

First, start with a sentence that identifies the legal issue that you are trying to solve and predicts the likely outcome of the case. A good issue sentence should incorporate the facts that give rise to the issues you are trying to answer.

Examples in an exam:

“The issue is whether opening an unlocked door to a building at twilight to commit a theft is sufficient to constitute a charge of burglary.”

“The issue is whether Defendant, who repeatedly telephoned the victim and left threatening voice messages, engaged in “course of conduct” sufficient to constitute “stalking” under the relevant statute.

Step Two: Rule / Rule Proof / Explanation – What is the governing law for the issue?

Second, state the rule or legal principle that the court will use to resolve the issue. Briefly state the holdings of cases, and only include relevant facts and conclusions. You may also be expected to explain how courts have applied the rule in the past (and also how they have chosen not to apply the rule) and explanation of the policy behind the rule.

Sample Answers in an exam:

“According to the Georgia statute, a charge of burglary requires that the defendant (i) enter the dwelling of another person, (ii) without authority to enter such dwelling; and (iii) intends to commit a felony or theft within the dwelling.”

“The Pennsylvania statute requires that a person committing the crime of stalking (x) engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly commits acts towards another person, (y) under circumstances which demonstrate either (i) an intent to place such other person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or (ii) to cause substantial emotional distress to such other person.”

Step Three: Application – How does the rule apply to the facts in my case?

Third, apply the rule to your facts , using the cases you’ve discussed in the rule / rule explanation section to draw analogies and distinctions and avoiding conclusory statements. Use transition words such as “Here, …” “In this case, …” Be sure to include any arguments by the counter-parties. The application section is the most important part of the analysis since this is where your critical thinking skills will be tested.

Example in an exam:

“Although the door was ajar and unlocked, Carl’s merely opening the door was sufficient minimal force to constitute a breaking since the nearly shut door was meant to deter unwanted entry. No actual breaking of the door or lock is necessary.”

Step Four: Conclusion – What is the outcome of the issue?

Lastly, state one or two sentences concisely stating (or re-iterating) the likely outcome of your case, based on the application of the rule to the facts of your case.

“Therefore, because Victim posed no threat to Officer and was only liable for a minor infraction, Officer’s use of force was excessive under Graham.”

“Because Vince entered a house at twilight through a nearly shut door that was meant to deter unwanted entry to steal computer equipment valued at $5,000, Vince is probably subject to charge of burglary even though it was not technically nighttime and the door was unlocked.”

Sample Law School Exam Answer Using IRAC

The issue is whether the defendant was negligent. ( ISSUE ) To establish negligence, the plaintiff must prove a duty existed, a breach of that duty, causation, and damages. ( RULE ) As a matter of law, we all owe a general duty of care to reasonably foreseeable plaintiffs whenever we act. ( RULE explanation specific to DUTY ) Here, the facts show that [ discuss facts that show a duty ]. However, the defendant may argue that a duty does not exist because [ discuss facts that show no duty owed ]. Nevertheless [ discuss facts or legal doctrines that break the tie one way or the other ] which strongly suggests that the plaintiff was reasonably foreseeable to the defendant. ( APPLICATION ) Therefore, a court will likely find that the defendant owed a duty to the plaintiff. ( CONCLUSION )

The next issue is whether the defendant breached his duty to the plaintiff. ( ISSUE ) A duty is breached when an actor fails to meet the standard of care under the circumstances. ( RULE explanation specific to BREACH ) Here, the fact that the defendant used an ABC tool instead of the customary XYZ tool suggests that the defendant may have breached his duty…” [ repeat IRAC steps ].

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Law School Toolbox®

All the tools you need for law school success

A Handy Template for Answering “Hard” Law School Exam Questions

March 22, 2012 By Alison Monahan 7 Comments

If you think about it dispassionately, this doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Why would you jump right to a conclusion, when you know the analysis is difficult? Um, there’s your answer. If it’s hard to do the analysis, it’s tempting to skip it! (Who really likes doing hard things?)

Why This is a Bad Idea

Writing conclusory answers to hard questions is a bad idea for several reasons:

Professors really hate it. Put yourself in the shoes of your professor. You’ve spent a lot of time writing a fiendishly difficult exam, and you’re feeling pretty proud of it. You read the first answer, which is going okay on the warm-up issues, then it gets to the really hard stuff — the stuff you’re particularly pleased with — and says “Clearly Plaintiff has no claim here.” WTF?!? Seriously? You’re going to skip the good stuff and tell me that “clearly” the potential plaintiff has no claim. I hate you! C+. Next!
You don’t get very many points for drawing the right conclusions. The point of a law school exam isn’t to get the “right” answer. At best, that gets you maybe 10% of the points. Two students can both get As, and end up with different conclusions on close questions (trust me — happened with two TAs I know). The points are mostly in the analysis. If you want to break it down, it’s probably something like this: issue (10%), rule (10%), conclusion (10%), analysis (70%). If you skip the analysis and jump to the conclusion, you’re leaving A LOT of points on the table.
It’s more obvious than you think. There’s something odd about an unsupported conclusion — it really attracts attention. If you’re reading an answer, and someone says “Clearly plaintiff has no claim,” what’s your first reaction? Mine’s to ask “Why?” If there’s no answer to that Why?, it’s very, very obvious that you don’t know what you’re talking about. Not a great impression to leave!

So, the next time you find yourself on an exam writing that something is “obvious” or “clearly” the case, STOP and ask a question: Is this really so clear cut?

If not, deal with the ambiguity , and your grades will improve markedly.

A Template for What to Do Instead

Here’s a template for one way to approach difficult issues. It’s in IRAC format, because lots of professors like that, but you can modify at will.

Steps to go through for a “hard” question:

Identify the issue ( The key fact is… )
State the rule and how this scenario is different ( Because Plaintiff wasn’t touching the briefcase, Case X doesn’t apply directly. )
Analyze each side of the argument ( Defendant will argue… Plaintiff will argue… )
Decide who wins AND explain why ( X is likely to win because… )

Pretty simple, right?

Any time you’re feeling panicked, you can fall back on this template. The most important element is #3: “Defendant will argue…” then “Plaintiff will argue….”

If you can make both sides of the argument clearly , with reference to the appropriate legal and factual ambiguities , your conclusion hardly matters. (Yes, you still want to draw a conclusion, and give a good reason after the “because,” but if the question is legitimately difficult, it’s probably a close judgment call about which way the case will come out, so either way is okay.)

— – —

If you found this helpful, why not sign up for our mailing list , and get similar stuff sent right to your inbox! Just ’cause we like you, we’ll also send you our Top 10 exam tips, for free!

About Alison Monahan

Alison Monahan is the founder of The Girl's Guide to Law School , which helps law students and prospective law students get in to law school, get through, and stay true to themselves. Alison is a graduate of Columbia Law School, where she was a member of the Columbia Law Review and served as a Civ Pro teaching assistant. You can find her on Twitter at @GirlsGuideToLS .

Reader Interactions

Legal analysis is more than simply identifying facts that matter on an exam. The writer must demonstrate what it is about the facts or what can be inferred therefrom to show why the rule, element, or standard does or does not apply. Also, the couching of the statement as “A will argue, B will argue” can still be conclusory if the reasoning is not supplied. The fact alone that one side will argue it does not make it any more complete.

Absolutely! However, I would argue the mere act of writing out each side’s arguments will encourage students to think that they might want to do the analysis. In any case, it’s a necessary first step.

My last semester was very much below my A target. I need guidelines to answer law questions.

Some of these posts might be helpful for you: https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-101/#ExamAnswers . Best of luck!

These tips were very helpful to me,and i would like to understand more on the IRAC format, and the 10 exam tips.

Legal writing is bad writing because it is so badly written. Oh wait… sorry, I meant to write, “legal writing is bad” but then had to “law school” the prose to make it sound “fact based.”

Not a big deal… because how absolutely awful legal prose are. See that! The subject came last and I added an unnecessary amplifier for a misplaced adjective- Get it? ha!

One might ask,

‘Why would you jump right to a conclusion, when you know the analysis is difficult?’

One might also write, “The analysis is difficult.”

Of course… no good lawyer would write such a conclusionary (not a real word) statement which one would assume that difficult analysis lends itself to “not jumping to conclusions.”

Yes, this is the common argument made in defense of the horribleness of legal prose: legal prose is somehow different than undergraduate liberal arts arguments because the legal mind must “think differently.” This is really tough analysis so you must not start with a “conclusion.”

While that is “kind of” (but not really) true. You do have to be vague instead of argue a thesis statement- but not true at all because you start by identifying the “issues” and the “rules” that frame your double negatives “but for” the inability to make positive statements (unless asked).

See that, I am writing like a lawyer! I just made a thesis statement while pretending not to make a thesis statement and then digressed into minutia that is stated as a part of a rule.

Ahem! The issues and the rules are not really thesis statements because they are not conclusions.

Never say, “D is liable for hitting P.”

Say, “D is subject to liability for hitting P with a hammer, because D hit P in the head with a hammer, and hitting someone in the head with a hammer is harmful or offensive contact because getting hit in the head with a hammer hurts and/or is offensive.” You say this after stating the rule of course… because god knows, if you don’t repeat parts of the rule in your analysis, then you must not understand the concept.

You must write something like, “C is subject to liability for negligence to J because had C not kicked over the trash can, J would not have fallen down. ‘But for’ the negligence of C, J would not have been hurt by the fall because falling down hurts.” Now, ramble on about actual/ legal cause and add something about proximity/ argue for intervening and lack of intervening causes, for and against proximate causation. Then make the bold conclusion that does not make a conclusion, “C may be subject to liability…”

Congratulations- B plus or better!

See… learn the rules and then write like you are a teenager on LSD explaining something to an alien and you’ll be fine…

Just kidding because I am joking and joking is a form of humor that pokes fun at something because poking fun at something can be funny!

[…] In a nutshell, to break the "too conclusory" habit, force yourself to write down the arguments and counteraguments from each point of view. Yes, it can be tedious but it's what you have to do. Here's a handy template. […]

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How to Handle a Law School Interview Question You Don’t Know How to Answer

If a question stumps you, craft your answer based on what the interviewer is trying to evaluate.

Answering Law School Interview Questions

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Applicants should prepare for a law school interview much like a job interview.

Whether they involve live or recorded questions , law school interviews give admissions committees a chance to see who you are as a person, beyond the story presented by your transcripts , test scores, resume and essays.

This is why applicants should prepare for a law school interview as if it were a job interview. Dress professionally, articulate your points carefully and do your research.

Most importantly, be ready to answer basic questions like why you are applying to law school and why you are specifically interested in attending the law school the interviewer represents. Law schools are not interchangeable, so come up with some reasons for why the law school matches your strengths and interests.

Expect a catchall question like, “Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?” And if you are interviewing with an admissions officer, be sure to prepare a few questions to ask your interviewer , as well.

However, there is no way to anticipate every possible question that an interview may include. Sometimes you’ll face odd questions that might leave you momentarily stumped. The key to preventing a brief pause from snowballing into a collapse of confidence is to understand the purpose of the question.

The Key to Answering Unexpected Law School Interview Questions

When admissions officers throw you a hardball question, they are rarely seeking a specific “right” answer. Rather, they want to gauge how your mind works, how you respond to a challenge and how you express your interests and values.

Instead of trying to answer a tough question at face value, think carefully about what the interviewer is looking for. Is there a character trait that the question is meant to elicit, like integrity , resilience or quick thinking?

For example, imagine the interviewer asks for your favorite book, but you’re not much of a reader, or your favorite book would sound embarrassing, trite or obscure. Rather than offer a cliché answer like "To Kill a Mockingbird," think of another book you enjoyed that would communicate thoughtfulness or empathy. Perhaps a great novel from another country could show you are well-rounded and eager to engage with other perspectives.

What to Do if Stumped by an Interview Question

If an answer to an interview question does not readily come to mind, resist the urge to ramble on, thinking aloud. But don’t take a pass or avoid the question altogether.

Instead, tell the interviewer that it’s a good question and you’ll have to think about it for a second. Rather than search high and low for an answer hidden in the wrinkles of your brain, think to yourself: "What is this interviewer trying to get at?"

If the question is about a time when you worked with someone who you didn’t agree with, and you don’t have an example of this, then think about another time you have had to resolve a disagreement. Or think about a time a coworker took an approach to a problem that was not the way you would have handled it, even if it was not objectionable to you. Either way, you would be showing open-mindedness and communication skills.

If your answer does not address the prompt directly, acknowledge this. You could say something like, “I don’t think I’ve ever confronted that exact situation, thankfully. Do you mind if I tell you about a disagreement I had to handle in a different context?”

Likewise, if a question asks for a leadership experience, and you haven’t taken an active role in any jobs or extracurricular activities , think about more subtle ways to show leadership. For example, think of a time you took initiative or acted courageously , even if you were part of a team.

Fortunately, unlike job interviewers, law school interviewers are not looking for the absolute best candidate to fill one position. They are looking to build a balanced class of students. There is no need to come across as perfect; just be professional, collegial and committed to law school.

Famous Alumni From Mid-Tier Law Schools

law books and scales of justice on desk in library of law firm. jurisprudence legal education concept.

Tags: law school , Interviewing , graduate schools , education , students

About Law Admissions Lowdown

Law Admissions Lowdown provides advice to prospective students about the law school application process, LSAT prep and potential career paths. Previously authored by contributors from Stratus Admissions Counseling, the blog is currently authored by Gabriel Kuris, founder of Top Law Coach , an admissions consultancy. Kuris is a graduate of Harvard Law School and has helped hundreds of applicants navigate the law school application process since 2003. Got a question? Email [email protected] .

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“Why This Law School?” Essay Example

Plus, an expert “why this law school” interview answer.

“Why this law school?” is a common law school optional essay prompt and law school interview question you must prepare for. This question is particularly intimidating because you need to do a bit of homework before you can compose a strong response to this question. How do you do this? In our article, we go over sample answers to this question, as well as explain the rationale behind it and provide you with the most comprehensive guide on how to compose your answer. Let’s dive in!

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 10 min read

Important note on the “why this law school” prompt.

Firstly, you should know that this law school essay prompt can be worded in many, many ways. It is not guaranteed that your chosen law schools in Canada and the US will present you with the exact prompt “Why are you choosing our school?”. But you must read between the lines. Some schools will ask you questions like:

“How do your goals and values match Penn Carey Law’s core strengths?” (University of Pennsylvania)

“what do you want to experience at stanford” (stanford university).

What are these prompts really asking you? They are asking why you are pursuing UPenn and Stanford specifically – in other words, “why this law school?”.

After you read this blog, you will have a strong strategy for writing this type of essay or answering this law school interview question and therefore will be able to compose a great narrative for any school you pursue. The key is not to miss identifying this common prompt among the prompts you encounter during the application or interview. So, it’s important to be on the lookout for this question even if it is not worded exactly the same way in every school.

Since we already mentioned a prompt from Stanford Law School , let’s review a sample essay for their prompt. And before we jump in, this is what Stanford Law School has to say about its culture:

“At SLS, we are driven by a passion for new ideas and a commitment to transformative solutions. True to our roots in Silicon Valley and our Stanford heritage, we focus on the future — not the past. Experimentation, exploration, the translation of new knowledge into entrepreneurial solutions: All are in our DNA.”

So, how can this inspire your essay? Here’s an example:

Prompt: “What do you want to experience at Stanford?" (100- to 250-word max)

Stanford Law School is always at the frontlines of innovation, and I want to experience and, more importantly, contribute to the transformations that will be taking place in our country's legal and social systems with the help of Stanford Law School, its faculty, and alumni. My background and achievements clearly demonstrate my dedication to innovation and progress. As the president of my college’s Law and Business Society, I have had the privilege of organizing and hosting our annual conference “Innovations in Digital Law” for three consecutive years. These colloquiums were a great chance to collaborate with and learn from my peers all over the United States and Canada. With over 2000 people in attendance, we were able to team up with many other college law societies to publish a small student journal “Law Innovations Today” that included 10 of the brightest works presented at the conference. The success of our conference led to an invitation to the Global Legal Innovations Summit in 20xx, which I attended as a speaker. Not only was I able to showcase my research and findings on global laws regarding terrorism, but I was able to meet with Stanford Law School faculty member Dr. ABC, whose course on Biomedical Innovation Law and Policy I look forward to taking at Stanford. (213 words)

By the way, try not to repeat yourself too much in your application. So if you already shared an experience with the admissions committee via your law school personal statement , then you should avoid telling the same story in your “why this law school?” essay. However, you can try to highlight different aspects of the same story in different application components. For example, your Stanford Law School personal statement can emphasize your leadership and logistical skills demonstrated in the Law and Business Society, but your “why this law school?” essay can emphasize your public speaking skills and dedication to innovation (as per the prompt). But keep in mind that we strongly encourage you to showcase different strengths and experiences in different parts of your application – so using different stories is best.

“Why This Law School?” Interview Answer

The last hurdle before the admissions committee makes its decision is the interview, which has a great effect on law school acceptance rates . This means that every one of your answers will impact your admissions chances.

You should also be expecting the "why our law school?" question in an interview. Along with “tell me about yourself” and “ why do you want to study law ?”, this is one of the most common questions in law school admissions. A verbal answer is a little more difficult to deliver, but a strong strategy and practice in mock law school interviews will lead to strong results. And remember that if you are asked the question “why this law school” both via application and interview, you should not provide the same answer. Use this as an opportunity to express other aspects of your candidacy to showcase further what a perfect candidate you are. To find more inspiration, check out the law school’s mission statement, research projects, faculty, and other academic and social goals. For example, here's a part of Stanford’s mission statement:

“[to] Bring legal services to those groups that would otherwise lack access to adequate legal representation.”

If we stick with Stanford Law School, here's a verbal interview answer you could provide for the question “What do you want to experience at Stanford?”:

Growing up, I did not know what it means to have a right to legal representation. I did not know that every citizen has the right to a lawyer. I might have heard of this in movies or TV shows, but I thought this never applied to me or anyone like me. Attorneys and the rule of law were something from a different life, not the one I was living.

But as our country went through social changes and upheavals like the Ferguson uprising, I became obsessed with learning about our legal system and the rule of law. It was disturbing to realize that while the law was used against certain groups of citizens, these groups could not use the law to defend themselves. I was about to start high school when the Ferguson uprisings began, and when I began grade 9, I formed a small legal club in my high school. There were just 3 of us at first, the other two being my best friends and neighbors since we were 6. But our spirits were not diminished due to our small size – we organized an assembly on racial disparities in criminal justice before a basketball game. While most students were bored and couldn’t wait for the game to start, we did get 2 new members after the assembly. This is how our club grew, and eventually, we started having assemblies before every sports game to educate our peers on their legal rights and opportunities. At Stanford, I want to be a part of the change that promotes awareness and knowledge of every citizen’s legal rights. As an institution that is dedicated to diversity, I hope that it will help me become an educational and helpful voice in my community.

Note that this essay would have also been a wonderful submission for the law school diversity statement , but it works really well here too because the speaker addresses the school’s prompt, as well as its values and goals. This just goes to show that you can speak to a variety of experiences and qualities in your application – use these opportunities to demonstrate your strengths and suitability for your chosen schools!

Best Step-by-Step Strategy for “Why This Law School?” Question

Here's why the "why this law school?" question is tricky: while the question is asking you why a certain school attracted you over others, it’s also asking you why you would be a good fit for it. So, you cannot and should not leave your answer one-sided. In other words, you cannot focus only on what the school can give you – you must also showcase what the school will gain by admitting you. And this is the balance you must keep in your essay or interview answer.

Note the two responses we include above. Why were they strong? Here’s why:

They use the tactic of \u201cshow, don\u2019t tell\u201d and express their suitability with strong and vivid stories of accomplishments that showcase why Stanford should want them to be a part of their upcoming cohort. "}]">

So, your number one strategy for the "why our law school?” question should be to identify which experiences and qualities make you a suitable applicant for the school you’re applying to and to demonstrate this suitability via an example of an experience that reveals that you share values and goals with your school.

Easier said than done, right? Here’re the steps you can take to accomplish just that:

Thoroughly research the school you’re applying to/interviewing with. Find out everything you can about its culture, mission, goals, faculty, projects, course curriculum, diversity efforts, history, campus life, and so on.
Write down the aspects of the school that most interest you and the ones you resonate with the most. For example, if you are a strong advocate for diversity, you may be drawn by the diversity programs of the school; or maybe there is a course that you are particularly interested in, or maybe there is an internship opportunity only this school provides.
Brainstorm which of your experiences, events, and skills align with the most attractive part of the school for you. Essentially, you need to showcase what you can add to this already existing aspect of the school and improve it further. So, if it’s diversity, maybe you are an immigrant with experience advocating diversity in the legal profession. If it’s curriculum, you can demonstrate how you prepared for it via undergrad courses, work experiences, law school extracurriculars , and so on, and how your classmates will benefit from you being there.

Take your time to reflect on this. Your answer may change and morph over time. This is why it is so important to browse and brainstorm law school essay topics and learn how to prepare for a law school interview in advance. Once you narrow down what you want to say, follow this structure to formulate your answer:

Give a brief statement about which aspect of the school attracts you most. It can be a couple of things, but stick to 1 or 2 at most.
Use an event or experience from your life that demonstrates why you are interested in this aspect of the school and what would make you a valuable member of the law school community.
Finish with what you hope to accomplish at your law school with regard to its most attractive quality.

Follow this structure, and you will be sure to ace any “why this law school?” question variations.

If it’s an essay, make sure to keep it within the required length. Do not go over the word/character limit. However, you can keep it under the maximum length. If you can create a strong narrative under the word limit, that’s wonderful. Strong, succinct answers are always best.

If it’s an interview, try to keep your answer no longer than 2 minutes. Brief, but complete answers will be valued more than long and rambling ones.

Address the prompt

Remember what we said at the beginning: this question can be posed in many different ways. The intent of this prompt stays the same no matter how it is worded, but its wording may affect what qualities and experiences you highlight. For example, we referred to a prompt from the UPenn Law School earlier in the article and here it is again:

“How do your goals and values match Penn Carey Law’s core strengths?”

The prompt is very clear that you have to refer to a specific aspect of Penn Carey Law’s values and mission, so do not dismiss this and write about something else.

Keep it structured

There may be dozens of reasons you want to go to a specific law school, but for the best and most effective answer, you should choose no more than 1 or 2. This will help you keep your answer to the point and make sure you stick to answering the question. If it’s an interview, you do not want to ramble on; if it’s an essay, you do not want to submit an unstructured, confusing answer. Follow the structure we outline above and keep it sweet and short.

Show, don’t tell

We encourage our students to follow this rule for all essays and interview questions. It just makes for a better answer if you paint a picture by sharing an experience or a story that highlights your suitability. No number of claims that you possess a quality will replace a story that truly showcases that you possess it.

Get professional help

If you are struggling with your applications and interview prep, get some professional help. Many law school applicants find it difficult to talk about their accomplishments, their unique qualities, and their suitability. In fact, one of the most challenging aspects of the law school application is the supplemental essays. Most students struggle with the law school diversity statement thinking that they have nothing to write about, or they really want to avoid speaking about their setbacks in prompts that ask for any gaps in their academic background. But all you need is a good strategy and even the setbacks will be seen as strengths! Professionals can help you get into law school with a low GPA , low LSAT, and other common setbacks. If you are not sure about your application or interview strategy, we strongly recommend getting the help of law school admissions consulting experts.

The law schools want to see whether you are a good candidate for their schools and whether you are being selective or applying to any school. Demonstrating knowledge of the school’s mission and values will showcase that you have done your homework and selected a specific school where you will excel.

In some way or another, most law schools will ask you this question in the supplemental application or the interview.

Yes, they are different. Whether explicit or not, your law school personal statement should answer a more general question “why do you want to be a lawyer?”.

Some schools make supplemental applications a requirement that you must complete. Others make them optional. In the latter case, we advise you to submit optional essays because they are a great way for you to further demonstrate your suitability.

Start by providing a brief explanation about why this school interested you so much. Then talk about an experience that would contribute to this aspect of the law school you’re pursuing.

Make sure to follow the word/character limits provided. If they are not indicated in the instructions, try reaching out to the admissions office.

Keep your answer to 1 or 2 minutes long.

Law school supplemental essay prompts can include questions that ask you to discuss gaps and setbacks in your journey to law school, what you can contribute to the incoming class and campus, and what steps prepared you for the study of law. While these are the most common, you should be prepared for quirky and unexpected questions as well.

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How to Answer the Most Common Law School Interview Questions

A Harvard Law admit outlines his top tips for answering common law school interview questions like, "Why law?", "Why this school?", and "Why now?"

By Cian S.

Posted August 17, 2023

Featuring Machmud M.

Deciding Which Law School to Attend

Tuesday, april 2.

7:00 PM UTC · 60 minutes

You’ve aced the LSAT, written a strong personal statement, collected sparkling recommendations, and finally hit “submit” on LSAC. But, you might not yet be done with the law school application process.

Many top schools, including Harvard, Yale, and the University of Chicago interview select candidates before making an admissions decision. The interview can seem daunting, like a new source of stress heaped onto an already challenging process. However, in practice, the interview is a source of upside. It’s a forum that helps candidates bring their application on paper to life and stand out from the crowd of fellow high-performers. Armed with the right knowledge, candidates should be excited to knock the interview out of the park.

Law schools rarely ask trick questions. For the most part, you can expect open-ended inquiries about your profile so make sure to review your essays and resume in-depth. Common questions include:

Why law school?
Why [our school] specifically?
How will a law school education be additive to your existing experience?
How will you fit into [our school’s] community? What do you want to be involved in?
What is an issue that you’re especially passionate about?
What did you learn from [X] experience? (For example, Schwarzman Scholars are almost always asked “Why did you go to China? What have you learned?”)

The following five guidelines offer flexible guidance that will establish you as a highly desirable candidate. After all, communication is one of the most fundamental skills that law schools are looking to build among their students. Proving you’re already on strong footing will encourage top schools to invest in you.

Be Succinct

law schools routinely receive tens of thousands of applications. Even those that only choose to interview a handful of candidates are still holding hundreds, if not thousands, of interview sessions in a given cycle. The result is 15-30 minute blocks, back-to-back, that fill admissions directors’ days. In order to use the time most effectively, it is critical to be succinct. You want to effectively answer as many questions as possible (without trading quality for quantity) in the time provided. A great interviewee typically takes no more than two or three minutes to answer each question.

Be Structured

A great method for keeping yourself on-track (an interviewee’s worst enemy is rambling) is maintaining coherent structures in all of your responses. If you’re asked, “Why Harvard?” — list the three reasons that define your response up-front, then methodically move through them with about 45 seconds allotted to each point

Be Specific

Back up your answers with detailed examples where possible. For example, the answer to a classic “why law school?” prompt should go beyond broad statements about upholding justice, developing a problem-solving toolkit, or a desire to shape policy. These are all valid reasons, but a great answer will frame them within the context of specific events in your life that have prompted you to be 100% confident that a career in law is right for you. To lean on my own example again, I answered with a detailed story about a time my impact was limited with a consulting client because I was not sufficiently familiar with the law (nor licensed to actually practice)

Be Discerning

The United States is home to more than 200 accredited law schools, and the top institutions are often grouped into the top 14 or “T-14.” With so many choices, why do you think the institution that you’re interviewing for is the perfect match for you?

Successful candidates often mention key characteristics that make the school unique, such as its:

Geography : Spending three years in one place is a significant amount of time — consider why a law school’s location in a given city or on a given coast is the right environment.
Faculty: Law schools shell out big bucks to attract and retain top legal scholars. Many professors also lead clinics, research teams, or other initiatives that attract students. Nodding to those whose work you admire or want to contribute to resonates with admissions staff — and shows you’ve done your homework.
Placement: One of the defining elements of a law school’s identity is what its graduates go on to do in their careers. Most law school websites will include a breakdown of employment for recent graduating classes (and you can also browse LinkedIn to get a sense of what alumni are up to). This will help you understand if a school is comparatively successful in placing students in prestigious clerkships, top corporate law firms, or high-impact public interest roles. If a school is well-proven in creating opportunities in a specific type of law, you may point out that you’re drawn to that strength.
Student Body: The law school experience will be influenced as much by your peers as your professors. Similar to employment, most law schools will also publish key demographic statistics on their most recent admitted class or student bodies. This data can help you understand which communities are stronger or weaker at a given school. For example, Harvard was an attractive option to me because it is the largest of the top three schools and boasts a significant international student population. After spending time studying in Spain and China, and working in Portugal, it was important for me to continue to have plenty of outlets for engaging with international communities

Here's another article to help you figure out which program is right for you: How to Choose a Law School: An Essential Guide for Prospective Students .

Be Knowledgeable

Do your research before the interview so that you can demonstrate a good understanding of what the law school experience is like. It is NOT necessary to actually know the law — that’s what you’ll learn once you’re in — but you should have read forums, talked to admits and current students, and potentially even connected with faculty to understand the good, bad, and ugly. You may be asked what you’re most excited for, but you may also be asked what you’re most nervous or concerned about — familiarity with the rigor, trajectory of the course load, and emphasis on extracurricular activities will help to answer this and similar questions

These five guidelines are a simple way to ensure you are ready to impress on interview day. While preparing, ask yourself or your mock interviewers if you are being succinct, structured, specific, discerning, and knowledgeable. Where you are comparatively weak, return to this article to game-plan how you can improve — or reach out to me for tailored strategies. I'd love to help you put together your law school application.

One last piece of advice: remember that the interview is a formal evaluation . In addition to these five points, keep in mind standard best-practice for a professional interview: sharp dress, eye contact, and clear speech. You will likely have the opportunity to ask your interviewer questions of your own, so make sure to come prepared with at least two.

In sum, receiving an invitation to interview is a positive sign that a school is interested in hearing more about your candidacy. Take advantage of the time to be authentic and enthusiastic. You’ve already taken one of the world’s most difficult standardized tests, written and re-written essays, and called in recommendations from your most trusted mentors — be sure to approach the final step in the process with a clear view of what will ensure all of that hard work pays off. Following these five key guidelines, will position you to bring home the admissions offer that you deserve.

Applying to law school? Here are a couple of other resources:

Acceptance Rates & Class Profiles of the T14 Law Schools
How to Get Into Law School: Advice From an Expert
Everything You Need to Know About LSAC and the CAS Report for Law School
How to Write a Compelling Law School Personal Statement
LSAT vs GRE for Law School - Which to Take and How to Ace Both
JD Application Deadlines of the T14 and Other Top Law Schools

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How To Answer Law Questions (Essay & Problem Questions)

How to answer law questions: Over the years, law schools and law universities have evolved two methods of asking test or exam questions. They are the problem and essay questions patterns. Basically, these two ways of asking questions require a totally different ways of answering them that are different from the traditional ways of answering questions in the primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.

One major problem that new law university intakes encounter, is the fact that many of them usually have the mindset that where they are (university) will be the same with where they are coming from (secondary school); and because of this, they tend not to ask questions about how well to answer their law questions thus going on to use the traditional or general method and ending up not getting the expected result or even failing.

In this article, I am going to be expounding on the way of tackling law essay questions for the benefit of students. However, what I will be discussing is the general rule which is subject to what your specific tutor or lecturer may require from you.

So, it is advised that in as much as you learn how to generally answer law essay questions, you should pay attention and understand your lecturers so as to give him/her what their individual preferences are, like asking you to write a concised answer or be elaborate, or add this and remove that etc.

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Table of Contents

Differences between Law problem and Essay Questions

As you may know, Law problem questions are not the same as essay questions. Problem questions are those law questions that tell live stories about the relationship between people and then require you to identify legal issues from those interactions, address the issues with relevant authorities and then to advise the parties on their different rights using the IRAC method.

It is important to note that a single problem question could have a series of different events which are based on different legal principles.

On the other hand, an essay question is a question which requires an individual to write on legal principles without using a particular format like the IRAC method.

Notminding the fact that you are not required to advise the parties or to use a particular method to answer your question, you have to have some mental steps at the back of your mind so as to make your work enticing and arranged before your tutor or Lecturer.

HOW TO ANSWER LAW PROBLEM QUESTIONS USING IRAC METHOD

Just like I explained at the beginning of this work, a problem question is a question that test candidates by giving them stories/cases to solve. Here, law students will be expected to draw out the issues of law in the story, as it relates to what they have been taught in the classroom.

Take for instance, a problem question on customary law might tell the story of a man who beats his wife because the custom provides for it. After explaining the story, students will be required to either provide the position of the law on the issues raised in the story or to advise the parties in the story.

The most acceptable way of answering law problem questions is through IRAC method. IRAC is actually the best because it makes it very easy for students to explain any legal principle with authorities in the simplest format. Below are the things you must know about IRAC method of answering law questions.

Meaning of IRAC

The word “IRAC” is an acronym which stands for:

Issues – I
Rule of law – R
Application – A
Conclusion – C

Note that if you must answer problem questions using this format, you must have this acronym at the back of your mind. If you miss any step, then you are getting the whole question wrong.

Now, to make sure that you understand the steps listed above, i will take my time to explain what you are supposed to do in every step. Remember, this is to teach you how to answer law problem question using IRAC method.

Your first concern is to determine the issue or issues implicated in the question. This determination involves asking yourself, what is the problem sought to be addressed in the case?

Example: What is the liability of a master regarding tort committed by his servant while engaged in a conduct expressly prohibited by the master?

The importance of accurate identification of the issue(s) is that it narrows your response to the gist of the question.

Once you accomplish this goal, you will know automatically that there is no need to state, for instance, that “the tort borders on vicarious liability” or for you to describe general elements of the tort in question.

Your task is to focus only on those elements or information that substantively (not tangentially) speak to the issue(s) you have successfully identified. Relevance is the key here. Recall my admonition, “ the more you write, the more you expose your ignorance .”

Note that you are not expected to call the names of parties in the story in the issues because they are issues for determination in law. You can only mention the names of parties in the story or case given to you when you reach third stage which is APPLICATION

Also read: Are lawyers liars? The truth as to whether lawyers are liars

RULE OF LAW

The “R” or Rule (rule of law) in IRAC is also called “reasoning.” This is because the applicable rule of law is reasoned from the facts of the case. As you think through the problems presented, aided by the issue you have successfully identified, the rule will emerge. What rule of law will guide the court in reaching a correct decision, assuming the same facts?

This is the question that you need to ask your self; it is also the question that you need to address. A rule of law in vicarious liability, for instance, is that “ a master is liable for the acts of his servant, even when expressly prohibited, so long as the servant acted within the scope of his employment. ”

Under the rule of law, students are expected to cite their authorities. Authorities here can be cases, statutes, dictum of judges, articles which are related to the issue in question. It is very important that you cite authorities because that is what will back up the rule of law and legal principles in the case.

APPLICATION:

This is where you apply the rule of law to the issue(s) you have raised. By doing this, you are applying the rule of law to the actual story in the problem question given to you. In the application, you are expected to pick those authorities and rules of law that concerns the issues raised and apply them to the matter effectively.

Always pay attention to exception(s) to the general rule, if any, and clearly outline/justify any distinctions that might be helpful to your argument. By constantly reminding yourself of the issue(s), you are bound to succeed in steering yourself away from irrelevance.

A great analysis is targeted to the issue(s) identified and is judged by the degree of focus/precision as well as the presentation (language/expressions used in articulating your argument).

Finally, the conclusion (“C”) . A few sentences would suffice to wrap up your discussion. Briefly state the outcome of your analysis. Where the question requires that you advise the parties, the conclusion is the best place to do that.

Simply tell each of the parties their rights and persuade them to sue the when the need be. Here, you can also rebuke the party in default in the case and tell him why he/she is at fault.

Okay! Now that you know what all the letters in the acronym IRAC entails, I will give you an example of how a perfect law problem question is answered. The example below is a problem question that borders on the law of defamation.

If you are a student and you don’t know anything about the law of defamation, don’t worry. Just keep reading. You will still be able to understand the steps taken in every section.

Also read: List of less competitive universities in Nigeria (2020)

Sample of a law problem question answered using IRAC method

The Daily Trumpeter, a popular Newspaper in Enugu recently published a report of the proceedings of the Enugu State High Court in a land case between Chief Okoto and Barrister Akuepue under the caption ‘Judge calls a popular Enugu Lawyer: ‘A Crook and a Land Speculator”.

In the article, the newspaper reporter, Ade also stated thet Nigerian lawyers are in the habit of using their knowledge of the law to deprive innocent ‘laymen’ of their land. Barrister Akuepue and Barrister Ikpeama, another popular lawyer based in Enugu have sepaprately sued Joe, the edito of The Daily Trumpeter and Ade for publication.

Issue 1: Whether Newspaper Publishers can be liable for publishing court/tribunal proceedings

Issue 2: What must one prove in order for his defense of ‘fair comment’ to be successful

Issue 3: What is the legal position on defamation of a class or a group of person

RULE OF LAW:

Defamation refers to the publication of a statement which is calculated to injure a person and cause right-thinking members of the society to shun or avoid him, or even cause them to hate him and also convey an imputation on him which is injurious to his office, trade or profession – s.137 Enugu State Torts law, cap 150 2004(which shall hereinafter be called ESTL), Sketch v. Ajagbemokeferi.

People are thus warned against idle gossip which may likely impugn another person when communicated to a third party. Defamation may either be in the form of libel which is in a permanent form such as newspaper publication, television or radio broadcasts; or otherwise in slander which has a transient nature usually verbalized or through gesticulations conveying a defamatory connotation.

For an action in defamation to succeed, the following essential elements must be proved, as a thing of necessity:

The words complained of must be defamatory:

If right-thinking people of sane minds would think less of an individual or shun and avoid him due to a statement, then this element may be said to have been successfully proved.

Defamatory words must refer to the plaintiff:

It is not sufficient that the defamatory statement described a person merely by his name Akintla v. Anyiam . It is enough where he is identified by his initials, post, Photograph, or even his office – Dafe v. Teswinor.

The words complained of must be published:

It has been held in a vast litany of cases that it is not the publication of defamatory statement but the publication that grounds a cause of action. In fact, in Pullman v. Hill , Lord Esher, Master of the Rolls said thus ‘‘ Publication is the making known of the defamatory matter after it has been written to such person other than the person to whom it is written’’ It therefore follows that publication in itself is what grounds a cause of action- s. 141 ESTL .

Also, communication to the plaintiff himself cannot ground a cause of action for the purposes of determining liability in defamation because defamation is injury to ones reputation and protects not an individual’s opinion of himself but the estimation in which others hold him – Okotcha v. Olumese.

However, even if a person has been alleged to have defamed another, there is an array of defenses open to him. Such defenses are:

Unintentional Defamation
Innocent dissemination
Justification( or truth) – s. 163 ESTL
Volenti Non fit injuria – Chapman v.
Fair comment- s. 194(1) ESTL

Under the defenses of privilege , we have what is known as absolute privileges and also qualified privileges. Circumstances under which the defense of qualified privilege can arise are varied but for the purposes of our case, we have an occasion known as Statements made in performance of a legal, moral or social duty – s.178 ESTL .

In the connection above, for such an occasion to arise, the person giving out information which is alleged to contain defamatory statements must have a duty to give such information on grounds of public policy and also the party receiving such information, that is, the person to whom the matter is published to must have a corresponding duty of receiving such information.

Perhaps, this is the reason the law admits that radio and television broadcasters as well as Newspaper Publishers and Proprietors are covered by the said defense – NTA v. Babatope . It is also the legal position, pursuant to s.185 (1) that qualified privilege very much applies to those who publish reports of judicial proceedings. However, such broadcasters or publishers must be very careful enough to give reports of what actually took place in court, not necessarily a verbatim report of the proceedings but at least an abridged or condensed report will be privileged, provided that it gives a fair, accurate and correct impression of what transpired.

Also read: Names of Nigerian Presidents From 1960 till Date (Full list)

It clearly and necessarily follows that when such reports are substantially inaccurate, such a report will lose the protective cloak of this defense. Thus, in Omo-Osagie v, Okutobo, a report of a newspaper of certain court proceedings bore the caption, ‘‘Chief Justice Tells a Teacher: ‘ You are a Bad Woman’.

However, those words were never used by the Judge, and the courts held that such a newspaper report had lost the defense of qualified privilege. The defense of fair comment stated above, consists of criticisms of matters of public interest in the form of comments, by citizens upon true facts, such comments being honestly made without malice – s.194(1) Enugu State Torts law, cap 150 2004.

In order for this defense to avail a person, the following requirements must be proved to the satisfaction of the courts trying the issue:

The Matter commented on must be of Public Interest:

The matter must be one of general concern as to affect the generality of the population at large- London Artists Ltd. v. Littler. Thus issues of land fraud by legal practitioners may fall for issues of public interest.

The Comment must be an expression of Opinion not an assertion of fact:

It is noteworthy that the defense of fair comment consists of two things: a set of facts which must be true and the commentator’s opinion on those facts- s. 194(1) (a). The distinction between a comment and a fact, however, depends on the merits of each case.

The Comment must be Honest- s. 194(1)(c) So long as a commentator honestly expressed his view, it is immaterial that he used excessively strong language o that people read all sorts of innuendoes into it, if he made the comment honestly, he has nothing at all to fear. However, criticisms cannot be used as a cloak for an attack, or for personal imputations on the plaintiff not arising out of the subject matter not based on the facts.

The Comment must be devoid of Malice- s.195 ESTL Malice is a complete bar to a defense of fair comment. Malice means making abuse of the occasion for some indirect purpose – Bakare v. Ibrahim.

When a class or group of persons i.e. lawyers, teachers, doctors etc, are defamed, no individual member of the class is entitled to bring action upon grounds that he has been defamed save only when the class is so small or so ascertainable that what is said of the class is necessarily said of each and every member of it, or if the circumstances of the case show that the plaintiff was singled out and defamed – Knuppfer v. London Express Newspaper Ltd.

Thus, in Zik Enterprises ltd. V. Awolowo , an article which contained defamatory statements against the Action Group was regarded by the court not to refer to the plaintiff but to the Action Group as a political party since it was a large group and the plaintiff could not show circumstances which proved that he was singled out.

Also read: How to answer Law problem questions effectively

APPLICATION

It seems that Daily Trumpeter will not escape liability if the report they gave of the court proceedings was grossly inaccurate or did not give a correct impression of what actually transpired therein.

Also, Ade seems to have overstepped the boundaries of fair comment by making such a comment, he seems to have made a statement of fact because saying that someone is in the habit of doing something is as much as imputing a disreputable motive upon him which is very much actionable in law. Hence the cloak of fair comment may no longer protect.

Barrister Akuepue and Barrister Ikpeama by bringing action against Ade seem to be oblivious of the applicable guiding principles in the circumstance. In this connection, a defamatory statement against Nigerian lawyers as a whole is too large a group for the purposes of an action in defamation, unless, if they can show that they were singled out and defamed. They may be going on a wild goose chase.

Joe : You will only escape liability if what you said happened in court was accurate, otherwise, you will fall for liability. Ade: It is true you have overstepped the bounds of fair comment; however you may still escape liability under the principles of defamation of a class or group.

Barrister Akuepue and Barrister Ikpeama : You both can only bring action against Ade and Joe should what Joe reported about the proceedings be inaccurate. With respect to Ade although he has lost the defense of fair comment, he can still be liable for publishing what Joe reported, only the will you have a cause of action against him.

Must read: Most populated universities in Nigeria (2020)

Four things to note when answering law questions

Note the little differences in the way every lecturer want students to answer their questions:

Even though IRAC method of answer law problem questions is generally acceptable, some lecturers make little changes to the way they want their questions to be answered.

For instance, some lecturers posit that after outlining your issues, you must tackle them one after the other. What that means is that, you are expected to apply IRAC in the different issues ( One after the other ).

Well, it is impossible for me to cover all the different styles lecturers like. So, I enjoin you to always attend classes. By attending classes, you will know the best method to answer your law problem questions.

It will surprise you to know that some lecturers don’t even like their questions to be answered using IRAC. So you see, you must know what every lecturer wants.

Time is a very important factor:

To perform very well as a law student, you must have it in mind that time is very important. You have to be time conscious because you have only but 2:30 minutes to answer all the questions you were given. Most times, students are expected to answer at least 3 questions in law examinations.

So you must learn to manage your time. If you do not manage your time properly, you will definitely not finish answering your questions.

I personally recommend that you get a wristwatch for your exams. It will go a long way to help you plan how to use your time adequately.

Always cite your authorities with red pen:

One of the pivotal information that has never been skipped in all the tutorials I have read on how to answer law problem question is the citing of authorities.

The importance of using a red pen when citing authorities in law examinations cannot be over emphasized. The reason is because, it makes it easy for anyone who is assigned to mark your examination script.

So, in other not to jeopardize your chance of success in any law exam, you should use red pen to cite your authorities. Your authorities here may include: cases, names of judges, articles, statutes, dictums etc.

Dive detailed information about the issues raised in every case:

Most times, lecturers prefer giving more marks to students who were able to give them detailed information about the question than students who just answered the question.

For sure, if you answer the question correctly you will definitely be given the mark you deserve. But if you give more details, you will likely earn more marks.

Take for instance, you might be asked to explain the term “ Nigeria legal system “. If you go ahead to just define it and move to the next question, you won’t even get your full marks there. To get your full marks, you must also highlight the features of Nigerian legal systems and any other subtopic in the topic. Though, you are not expected to go too deep. Just make sure you give detailed information. Some lecturers love it.

Okay! for now, this is all i can disclose on this topic (How to answer law problem question). Like i have rightly mentioned, it is important to always attend classes because the way a particular lecturer will want his/her problem question to be answered might be different from the way another lecturer wants it.

That notwithstanding, i have explained the most generally accepted way of answering law question using IRAC method above. So, if you have not written law examination before, you can safely understand the IRAC method as i explained it. Hope this article was helpful? Do let me know if you have any question or confusion as to how to answer law problem question using IRAC method. I will be glad to help.

Edeh Samuel Chukwuemeka, ACMC, is a lawyer and a certified mediator/conciliator in Nigeria. He is also a developer with knowledge in various programming languages. Samuel is determined to leverage his skills in technology, SEO, and legal practice to revolutionize the legal profession worldwide by creating web and mobile applications that simplify legal research. Sam is also passionate about educating and providing valuable information to people.

How to Answer Law Exam Questions perfectly (step by step with examples)

18 January, 2023

How to Answer Law Exam Questions (with examples)

This is a definitive guide on how to answer law exam questions.

This guide will tell you how to answer essay-type questions and scenario/problem questions in a law exam with sample questions/examples.

I know, the process of becoming a lawyer/ an advocate might become hard when it comes to law exams.

See: How to become a lawyer: From Undergrad to the Bar

Generally, law exams are technical and demand a high degree of attention and care when attending.

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According to the National Conference of Bar exams (NCBE) , the lowest percentage of overall pass rates for the February 2022 bar exam as reported by each jurisdiction following the release of their exam results in the US was 52.6% ( Alabama )

The focus here is to give you basic tips that will act as a guide when doing law school exams , bar exams , or any other law examination so that you can be among those 52.6%.

Here I will take you through;

Types of questions in law exams
How to answer Essay-type questions in a law exam
Sample answer to Essay-type question in a law exam
Scenario or problem-type questions in a law exam (IRAC)
Sample answer to Scenario type question
How to study for law school exams (and get passed)
How to study law and pass (pro tips for beginners)

Jump to section

Types of questions in a law exam

Essay-type questions in a law exam, example of essay-type questions in a law exam.

Introduction

Example of scenario or problem type question in a law exam

How to answer the scenario/problem question in a law exam, rule/law applicable, arguments/application of the law to the facts.

Generally, there are two common types of questions in law exams i.e. Essay type questions and scenario/problem-type questions. Each kind has its own mode and style of answering.

Essay-type questions are the form of questions that require the candidate to explain, discuss or comment on the specific legal issues as asked by the examiner.

All confessions are admissions but the reverse is not the case. Discuss.
Copyright law does not protect an idea, it protects the expression of an idea.” With relevant examples discuss the above statement
Trace the origin and development of International law

How to answer essay-type questions in a law exam

In Answering essay-type questions the candidate will be required to write an essay. An essay consists of three major parts that are an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. In order to successfully answer questions in law exams; a candidate must exactly know what the question demands.

A student may determine the demand of the question when concentrating on the wording of the question.

The words like elucidate, critically discuss, etc. connote what is supposed to be done.

This is a very important part of the essay.

The way you mold it may tell the examiner if you understood the question or not.

Many students think that introduction is a part that contains a definition of key terms, however, that may be true but it is not an effective way of molding your introduction.

For your introduction to appear more professional do not defines terms in the introduction, rather tell the examiner how you are going to tackle the question. Show him what, how, and where you will focus when responding to the question at hand.

For the purpose of answering the exam, A good introduction contains at least 5 sentences or two paragraphs.

A good introduction must show the examiner that you have understood the question.

Example of a good introduction

Trace the origin and development of International law.

Every society is required to have relations with other societies, and in order to regulate the relations between the states, there is required a system of law thus international law. This work will focus on tracing the origin of international law and the development of international law by tracing it through its divided stages of the period which was seemed to develop from, that is during the primitive and ancient period, the Greek era (6th Century BC), the Romans era, the Middle age development, during the 15th and 16th centuries, the modern international law (Hugo Grotius), during the 19th century, during First and Second World War and thereafter and lastly on the present status of international law.

Definition of terms when necessary will come as the second part of the introduction.

Before jumping to the main body you must provide transitional sentences.

The sentence shows what you’re going to do on the main body depending on what you have been asked.

An example of a transitional sentence is ‘ The following is the origin and development of international law ’

After having your introduction, now you’re moving to the main body.

The main body contains the main answer to the question.

Your main body must be well arranged, number your points, make them visible, be clear in your explanation, and be neat.

Examiners have a lot of papers to mark, make him interested in yours by clarity, brevity, and lucid explanation. KISS (Keep it Simple and Straight) your main body.

Do not bring new issues to the conclusion. This part should contain a summary of key issues that transpired in the main body.

Scenario or problem-type questions in a law exam

Scenario or problem questions in law exam are the types of questions that contain a set of hypothetical or real facts on a certain legal issue and requires a candidate to analyze the fact and solve the problem by applying the relevant legal principles to the fact.

Scenario questions may demand the candidate to advise and/or draft a reasoned legal opinion , prepare necessary legal documents, etc. basing on the given facts.

Jane has been living with Ally for the past 8 years. They have not gone through any formal marriage ceremony. The two have been blessed with 2 children, Peter (6) and Mary (3). Jane tells you that before they started living together, Ally (a Muslim) had agreed that he would change his religion so that the two would go through a formal Christian marriage ceremony. 8 years have passed now and, although the two children of the relationship were baptized and regularly attend Christian services with their mother, Ally is unwilling to change his religion. Jane feels that she has been cheated and that it’s an embarrassment to her parents, who are very devout Christians. They have a house on a plot of land which Jane had purchased before they started the relationship. About 90% of the construction costs for the house incurred by Jane since Ally has no formal employment . Jane wants to end the relationship and have the house registered in the name of the two children. Advice Jane accordingly or Write a concise legal opinion to Jane

Scenario or problem questions in law are answered using a simple formula called FILAC or IRAC which stands for Facts, Issues, Law applicable/Rule, and Arguments/Application of the law to the facts and Conclusion. To successfully answer the problem question in law you must arrange your answer in FILAC or IRAC order.

How to answer scenario/problem questions in law exams/bar exams, how to answer law school exam questions, How to Answer Law Exam Questions, how to answer law exam questions sample, sample law school exam questions and answers

Example of IRAC or FILAC exam answer

The following is how you can use IRAC or FILAC method to answer a scenario or problem question in a law exam.

Here you should state the material facts of the scenario given.

If the scenario is too long and for the purpose of the time you may skip this part and move on to the next step.

From the above example, the following facts may be extracted.

That Jane has been living with Ally for the past 8 years.
That they have not gone through any formal marriage ceremony.
That they have been blessed with 2 children, Peter (6) and Mary (3)
That they have a house on a plot of the land which you had purchased before they started the relationship. About 90% of the construction costs for the house are incurred by you.
Jane wants to end the relationship and have the house registered in the name of the two children

NB. When extracting your material facts from the question avoid unnecessary repetition and you should consider only facts that have legal implications.

After sorting your facts move on to frame your issues.

Issues refer to the things which require a legal response in your scenario. Avoid having a lot of issues. Focus on the major issues only. From the above example, the following issues may be raised.

Whether Jane can end the relationship?

Whether the house can be registered in the name of the two children?

Here you should list all statutes or case laws that are applicable to the issue raised.

For example from our issues, we can see that the issues are based on marriage and land respectively

Therefore you have to list all marriage and land laws that are applicable to your scenario. for Example Law of Marriage Act, The land Act, etc. When necessary show the relevant provisions.

Here is where you’re going to attend to the questions.

When addressing the issue your arguments must be backed up by the legal authority. You should go straight to the point. And provide a reasoned conclusion at the end. Consider the example below

The law that governs conjugal relationships in Tanzania mainland is the Law of Marriage Act [CAP 29 R.E 2009]. Under section 160 (1) its provides that where it is proved that a man and woman have lived together for two years or more, in such circumstances as to have acquired the reputation of being husband and wife, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that they were duly married. According to the case of John Kirakwe V Iddi Siko 1989 TLR 215 (HC) the only three important elements to constitute a presumption of marriage are: (a) that the parties have cohabited for over two years; (b) that the parties have acquired a reputation of being husband and wife; (c) that there was no formal marriage ceremony between the said couple. In the given scenario, element (a) and (c) are clear in the sense that you have been living with Ally for 8 years and they have not gone through any formal marriage ceremony. Element (b) is uncertain. Its certainty is depending on how the neighbors perceived your relationship. Thus if neighbors perceived your cohabitation as husband and wife, then the marriage will be presumed. But if not, the presumption will be rebutted. However in the case of Hoka Mbofu V Pastory Mwijage 1983 TLR 286 (HC) it was stated that “Where there is no allegation of presumption of marriage, section 160 of the Law of Marriage Act, 1971 cannot be invoked merely on account of concubinage association.” Therefore to end the relationship, Jane must allege presumption of marriage so as the court to invoke section 160. She can do this by formal application (petition) to the court seeking for dissolution of marriage or separation stating the evidence regarding the conduct and circumstances of their relationship. Even when court rebut the presumption, in the case of Hemed S Tamim V Renata Mashayo 1994 TLR 197 (CA) it was stated that “where the parties have lived together as husband and wife in the course of which they acquire a house, despite the rebuttal of the presumption of marriage as provided for under section 160(1) of the Law of Marriage Act 1971, the courts have the power under section 160(2)of the Act to make consequential orders as in the dissolution of marriage or separation and division of matrimonial property acquired by the parties during their relationship are one such order;” Evidently, in light of the above discussion, Jane may end the relationship.

Repeat that process for every issue you have raised.

This is the last part of your question. This part contains the general response to the whole scenario.

For example, if you have been asked to give legal advice then this part should contain specific legal advice.

Also, you may put any further remarks.

Hope you have found this guide useful.

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Q: READ SECTION BELOW FOR MORE INFO. In short, ex parte order granted prevents son from returning to school. Options?

I'm the plaintiff in a custody case. The filing is for abandonment & endangerment to my 3 & 6 year old sons, vs their mother who is unable to maintain her part of the split schedule we verbally agreed on in years past. I'm seeking a court ordered M-F schedule so I can take my kids to and from school/activities daily. I've been their primary caregiver since birth, pay for everything and claim both on my taxes. I recently moved from Alameda Co. to Sutter Co. the 2nd week of March, giving up my job & apt of 3 years to move into my mom's house in order to care for my kids full time. Multiple occasions their mother hasn't been available to receive the kids during her scheduled weekdays affecting our son's schooling and general well being. I've since transferred my son to a Sutter school and he's been there 2 weeks. His mother filed ex parte lying about not knowing where I moved to. It was granted in part stating I couldn't take them out Alameda even though we've been in Sutter for 3 weeks.

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A: I understand this is a complex and stressful situation. Based on the information you've provided, here are a few key points and potential options to consider: 1. Jurisdiction: Since you and your children have been living in Sutter County for the past 3 weeks, you may be able to argue that Sutter County has jurisdiction over the case, rather than Alameda County. You should consult with a family law attorney to determine if you can file a motion to transfer the case to Sutter County. 2. Responding to the ex parte order: You should promptly respond to the ex parte order, providing evidence that the mother was aware of your move to Sutter County and that the move was necessary for the well-being of your children. Your response should also highlight the mother's inability to maintain the agreed-upon custody schedule and how it has negatively impacted your children's education and overall well-being. 3. Seeking temporary orders: Consider filing for temporary orders in Sutter County, requesting that the court allow your son to continue attending school there and for you to have primary physical custody during the weekdays. Provide evidence of your role as the primary caregiver, your financial support, and the stability you offer your children. 4. Gathering evidence: Document all instances where the mother has failed to adhere to the verbal custody agreement, including any communication between you two regarding these incidents. Keep records of your children's school attendance, activities, and any other relevant information that supports your case. 5. Best interests of the children: Emphasize that your actions, including the move to Sutter County and enrolling your son in a new school, were taken in the best interests of your children. Courts prioritize the well-being and stability of children in custody cases. 6. Legal representation: Given the complexity of your case, it is highly recommended that you seek the assistance of a qualified family law attorney who can provide guidance tailored to your specific situation and help you navigate the legal process. Remember, while the ex parte order is in effect, you must adhere to its terms until it is modified or terminated by the court. Work with your attorney to address the order and present your case in the best possible light to protect your children's well-being.

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COMMENTS

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How to Answer Law Essay Questions (Law Lecturer's Guide)
Pick the relevant cases & statute sections. The next thing you need to do in order to answer a law essay question is pick the relevant cases and statute sections to be included in your essay. I know - this seems very simple and straightforward, but this is where most students get stuck. The problem is you often come across an essay question and ...
PDF Tips for Writing a Law School Exam
Exam takers must read the exam questions, spot all of the issues implicated in those questions, consider how to apply the law to the facts in each question, draft a response to each question, and review those responses. First, the exam taker must read the questions carefully if she hopes to spot all the issues.
How to Write Law Essay Questions
How to Write a Legal Essay Question. A law essay question requires you to make an argument about some aspect of the law. For example, it might ask whether Bloggs vs Smith was correctly decided, how would you reform the law of murder, and so on. This guide provides tips and tricks for improving your legal essay writing skills.
PDF WRITING LAW EXAMINATIONS
values like enforcing intention, or of the scheme of organization the essay is going to utilize). The examiner has written the question and knows what the facts are. You ill never get credit for summarizing them all over again, even if your "role" in nswering the question is that of the judge.
Interpreting Law Essay Questions
Share this: Interpreting Law Essay Questions. The first step with a law essay question is to identify what exactly you are being asked to do. Most law essay questions contain directives as to what is required, and the most common ones are defined below. For those we have missed, try looking up the actual word in the dictionary (www.m-w.com).
How To Answer Law School Exam Questions
Learn about how to answer law school exam questions using organizational paradigms. Read more about the four steps to analyze on your next law exam. (877) 521-8902 [email protected]. 0 Items. ... The Four Kinds of Multistate Essay Exam (MEE) Answers You Do Not Want to Write; Step-by-Step Approach to Writing the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE)
PDF Guidance on how to answer problem questions
assessed while doing a law degree. A problem question usually takes the form of a factual scenario ... before you even begin to write your full answer. Like an essay, problem questions need an introduction and conclusion - but these are usually a bit easier to manage in a problem question than in an essay. In a sense, they (certainly the ...
How to Organize Your Exam Answers
First, read and examine every sample answer you can get your hands on. This tells you a lot about what your professor is looking for (and it's not always what you'd think from class). Next, do a practice question from class or a past exam and take it to office hours. Ask your professor for feedback, on your organization as well as the ...
How to Answer the "Why Law School?" Essay Question
essay question is designed to help admissions officers understand your motivations, goals, and fit with a particular law school. The question is intended to be open-ended, allowing you to provide a unique and personal response. Your essay should demonstrate your understanding of the legal field and showcase your qualifications and interests.
A Handy Template for Answering "Hard" Law School Exam Questions
Any time you're feeling panicked, you can fall back on this template. The most important element is #3: "Defendant will argue…" then "Plaintiff will argue….". If you can make both sides of the argument clearly, with reference to the appropriate legal and factual ambiguities, your conclusion hardly matters.
How to Write a 'Why This Law School' Essay
The School of Law at the University of California—Irvine has a mandatory essay of up to 750 words about why you are interested in their school. Other schools may ask applicants to address this ...
How to Handle a Law School Interview Question You Don't Know How to Answer
Most importantly, be ready to answer basic questions like why you are applying to law school and why you are specifically interested in attending the law school the interviewer represents. Law ...
"Why This Law School?" Essay Example
Since we already mentioned a prompt from Stanford Law School, let's review a sample essay for their prompt. And before we jump in, this is what Stanford Law School has to say about its culture: "At SLS, we are driven by a passion for new ideas and a commitment to transformative solutions. True to our roots in Silicon Valley and our Stanford ...
How to Answer the Most Common Law School Interview Questions
For example, the answer to a classic "why law school?" prompt should go beyond broad statements about upholding justice, developing a problem-solving toolkit, or a desire to shape policy. These are all valid reasons, but a great answer will frame them within the context of specific events in your life that have prompted you to be 100% ...
How To Answer Law Questions (Essay & Problem Questions)
How to answer law questions: Over the years, law schools and law universities have evolved two methods of asking test or exam questions. They are the problem and essay questions patterns. Basically, these two ways of asking questions require a totally different ways of answering them that are different from the traditional ways of answering questions in the primary, secondary, and tertiary ...
How To Answer Law Exam Questions Perfectly (step By Step With Examples
To successfully answer the problem question in law you must arrange your answer in FILAC or IRAC order. Example of IRAC or FILAC exam answer. The following is how you can use IRAC or FILAC method to answer a scenario or problem question in a law exam. Facts. Here you should state the material facts of the scenario given.
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- California Family Law Questions & Answers - Justia Ask a Lawyer Read 1 Answer from lawyers to READ SECTION BELOW FOR MORE INFO. In short, ex parte order granted prevents son from returning to school.