When someone asks how much homework you get in law school, you may be tempted to respond: “we don’t have any homework, just reading.” This statement is at best half true. Without quibbling as to whether reading can be considered homework, rarely if ever should you just read. You need a mechanism to render your passive reading an active exercise. There are several different methods that law students typically use to organize the information embedded in a case. Some annotate in the margins of their case books to translate the legal analysis into plain English. Others will use colored highlighters to identify the important parts of a case. Still others will use margin labels in their case books to categorize the case by its component parts. [Read more…] about What Parts of a Case Brief Really Matter
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Podcast Episode 310: Listen and Learn — Adverse Possession
Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today we’re talking about adverse possession, which is a commonly-tested issue in Real Property questions on law school exams.
In this episode we discuss:
- The elements of adverse possession
- Issues affecting the statutory period analysis
- The case of Howard v. Kunto
- Analyzing two hypos involving adverse possession
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 310: Listen and Learn — Adverse Possession
What Is an LLM And Do I Need One?
After I passed the New York bar exam in 2019, I began researching opportunities to gain more legal education and credentials in a field of law I was particularly interested–food law. That’s when I found a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree from the University of Arkansas in food and agricultural law and policy.
The program is a hybrid of virtual and in-person classes and allows students to attend on a part-time basis. I was excited about the program, because I am passionate about food law and want to be an advocate for individuals with food allergies. I felt the program would help me better understand the nuances of food law and policy and help me better advocate for change in food policy.
But, do you really need an LL.M? After all, you finished your law degree, graduated, passed the bar exam, got yourself a great job, why would you need another degree? [Read more…] about What Is an LLM And Do I Need One?
Podcast Episode 309: Tips for Reading a Case
Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today’s topic came from a listener question asking us to clarify how to find the black letter law in a case. Join us for this episode as we we share tips for reading cases efficiently in preparation for class and exams.
In this episode we discuss:
- What to keep in mind when reading cases for class
- How casebooks are organized
- A refresher on case briefing
- Clues for finding the rules in a case
- Understanding how facts are legally significant in a case
- The typical structure of a case
- An example of a fictional case taken from the July 2008 California performance test
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 309: Tips for Reading a Case
The Dos and Don’ts of Law Student Outlines
Outlines—they create a stir around law campuses annually. But what is an outline? An outline is a synthesis of the cases, statutes, regulations, restatements, and any other sources of law you learned throughout the semester. A way to curate all the legal mumbo jumbo, if you will. Generally, an outline is compiled from information extracted from case briefs, class notes, commercial and other student outlines, and commercial supplements. Many students make multiple versions of an outline with varying amounts of detail to serve distinct roles in exam studying and taking. While outlining is not conducive to a one-size-fits-all approach, some universal principles can and should inform your craft. [Read more…] about The Dos and Don’ts of Law Student Outlines
Podcast Episode 308: Listen and Learn — More Hearsay Exceptions
Welcome back to the Law School Toolbox podcast! Today, we discuss three hearsay exceptions (statements against interest, statements made for medical diagnosis or treatment, and statements of personal or family history), which all involve someone speaking or writing about him or herself. You can find more on the topic of hearsay exceptions in episodes 271 and 296.
In this episode we discuss:
- A review of the definition of hearsay
- Statement against interest exception
- Statement made for medical diagnosis or treatment exception
- Statement of personal or family history exception
- What it means to be unavailable for the purposes of hearsay exceptions
- How to approach “racehorse essays”
- Questions involving double hearsay
- Analyzing two hypos, from the July 2010 and February 2017 California bar exams
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 308: Listen and Learn — More Hearsay Exceptions