The Practice of Law School: Legal Skills and Mental Health and Wellness

Written in a clear, accessible style, Exam Skills for Law Students demonstrates how students can do themselves justice in examinations by using the knowledge that they have acquired to full effect. The authors suggest ways in which legal arguments can be marshalled and identify methods by which both essay and problem questions can be tackled. Examples are drawn from the core subjects of contract, criminal law, public law and the law of torts, although techniques illustrated can be applied to many other areas of law.

The book begins by describing the difference between educational cultures that praise students for “right answers,” and the law school culture that rewards nuanced analysis of ambiguous situations in which more than one approach may be correct. Enormous care is devoted to explaining precisely how and why legal analysis frequently produces such perplexing situations.

This guide provides clear instructions on writing legal essays, exam answers and dissertations. Throughout the book the author identifies key characteristics of both good and bad techniques in writing, allowing students to see practical examples of best practice.

How to Write Law Essays & Exams provides law students with a practical and proven method of analysing and answering essay and exam questions. The book focuses on those questions that give students the most trouble, namely problem questions, but its techniques are equally applicable to other types of essays.

A concise, highly accessible guide to exam success. It shows what professors look for in exam answers, how exam-taking connects to good lawyering, and explains what makes law school exams different from other types of exams.

With its wealth of visual aids, examples, and practical advice, John Dernbach's concise guide enables students to develop the strong essay-writing skills they need to succeed and feel confident taking essay exams.