Hello and Good Luck on the final exams! I know some of you are nervous. Let me reassure you, that is perfectly normal. Let any excess nerves become adrenalin; they will keep you alert and focused. Stay strong and stay in control! You can do this! You have been training all year or all semester long and you are ready!!
Final examinations tend to test general principles of law --but do know case names or statute sections that your Professor may have indicated were particularly important. Remember, though, well written law essays demonstrate your ability to use the facts and in doing so to discern material from immaterial facts.
Your essay answers should show your Professor that you have learned (and understand --not just have memorized) rules, principles, doctrines and theories of law --and exceptions to those rules.
Remember, just like we discuss in this blog all the time about bar exam essays, law school essays that only state conclusions will typically receive little or no credit. Fully and completely state the reasons that support your conclusions. The word I like to say should be emblazened in your thoughts on exam day is WHY.
Read the facts carefully. Read them several times. Read the query or queries carefully. Chances are your Professor spent a long time picking and choosing facts so that they help you to create arguments (for or against certain positions.) The facts feed your analysis. Use them. Before you conclude some fact is a "red herring," read it and think carefully to see if it bears on any discussable issues. And avoid the irrelevant. A good answer does not ramble, and does not detail theories or principles that do not bear on the logical solutions to the problems posed by the fact pattern queries.
Bottom line: you must use and apply the rules, demonstrate how the facts prove or disprove the elements of the applicable rules of law. Do not simply try to show that you have memorized all the legal principles you studied in class. Your Professor will not be impressed if you don't make your reasoning explicit.
That said, Professors often like to see that you were there and listening in class, so pay attention to points they underscored and reiterated, to concepts they spent a lot of time on. And, for goodness sake, heed any tips or suggestions they may have given you about what will actually be on the exam!
Believe it or not, most law Professors want you to do well on exams. They may have wanted to intimidate you throughout the semester, put you on the hot seat, get you ready for the nastiest of judges --but come test time they want to see that you have mastered the material and they want you to succeed!
Be sure to review your own outlines and flashcards, attend any review sessions, do practice tests in the subject. Before the actual exam, especially if it's in the morning, get ready (coffee, a good breakfast) and warm up ahead of time --by looking at a summary of the key terms and concepts.
One of my favorite Professors in law school suggested *pretending* that you could bring in one page of notes for each exam. (If it's an open-book exam you don't have to pretend, but if it's closed book as most are, prepare the one page sheet of what you would take in if you could take notes in.) Prepare your one page well ahead of the exam so you can review it the days and nights before the exam and on the morning of the exam.
Do not skimp on sleep during finals. When you feel you have put in a good day's work, before the exam, get a good night’s sleep! No matter how much law you know, you have to be alert enough to read carefully and think clearly to do well on the exam.
Bottom line, read carefully. Watch the clock, and pace yourself. And do your very best! After the exam is over, congratulate yourself on having completed the course or the semester, and enjoy your holidays!
READERS: WRITE IN! Send in your COMMENTS about law school finals! Tell us your law school finals stories, tips, and highlights (or low-lights). And, again, good luck to you all!!!
