anyone done a closed book law exam?

If you have, can you tell me how on earth you managed to recall all the case names, outcomes and dates?

I am doing an LLB now in addition to my maths degree (well, when I say now, it doesnt start for 6 months, but I have got advanced copies of the reading materials and am studying them now).

I am a little worried about the amount of memory recall needed.

Thanks.

Did it at degree level. Mind Maps (book by Tony Buzan) helps. The name is important but don't worry too much about the dates. Being able to recall the precedent set and the reasoning of the judges is more important.

I can't remember!

What's your motivation for studying law?  What would you like to use the LLB for afterwards?

Yep I have two law degrees, an LLB and LLM and I am currently studying for the entrance exams to the law society, so suffice it to say I am nearly a pro at doing law exams now...

As you say yourself, a lot of it is down to memory. I find half the battle is remembering the sheer volume of cases and the principles that go with it (the other half is being able to intelligently apply those principles to the question asked - law examiners HATE people who write 'all you know about X' type answers).

I find as part of my revision I just write out a big list of all the important cases for each topic, and a word or two of the principles that those cases established beside each. Eventually I will start to just write out the list of cases, and I will find that I will have remembered the relevant principle for each without needing to write it down. I will look over these lists religiously before the exam, and as soon as I am inside the exam and given any piece of paper that I can write on, I will write down as much of the lists as I can remember. Once I have the cases down on paper, the principles from each will come to me automatically, and I will be able to formulate a good answer based on this.

One tip, very little marks if any are awarded for remembering the exact dates of cases. In fact in my experience you don't even need to put down the full name of the case, a lot of the time just the name of the plaintiff will suffice. And even if you're in the exam and you remember the principle established by a certain case, but you just can't remember the name of the case, writing down the principle anyway will still yield good marks.

As for doing an LLB at the same time as a maths degree...are you some sort of masochist?!

Righty I need this too haha !! 

I have my law module exam in May and I haven't done any work so far so its going to be a case of cram from next week onwards! 

Thanks a million for that info Kane, thats top notch advice!

Exactly what CK said!

Start with a list of cases for each topic.
Expand with a couple of key words by each case.
Remember the list and write it down as soon as allowed to in the exam.
I also try to remember the first letter of all the cases for a given topic in as logical order as possible, i.e. a word if they make one. Then, if i forget the cases but have the first letter I usually remember having gone over the subject so many times. Plus, in terms of the principle, by the time the exams come, you would have looked at the cases or at least a summary quite a few times, so chances are one party name will be enough to jog your memory.

I also revise with mind maps. I read a Tony Buzan book during year one and it helped. I'd never done anything similar (meaning simply writing in essay form or remembering words etc) having come from a art and design/sparky background so if I can figure it out I'm sure you can ;)

The mind maps I make basically have a branch for each principle/step of the topic, then just expand with the final branches being the case name, as, like CK said, the most important part is the principle (then applying it) those are nearest the centre. Each branch is best if it's only one word too so there is less to learn. I first make a detailed one, then another but from memory with less info. I keep doing this until there a very few words on the page. Wait a day or two and see if I can remake the most detailed one. each map only takes about 25mins too. obv the earlier before the exams you start this method, the more effective it is. The idea being if you go over something enough times it sticks.

I think I'm making it sound much harder than it is. Hope that isn't too confusing. If I did I'll scan in a copy of a mind map I made last year if you want to see what I'm talking about. It might not make much sense now but you can have a gander and maybe even apply the technique to maths. (There is an example in the TB book of a mathematician using one to study...)

[CK what area was your LLM in?]

What topics are you covering in the exam JWR? I may as well post the mind map covering the same area if I have one.

What's your reasoning for this righty? I thought you wanted to work in a bank? Qualification/letter collecting isn't the aim of the game. Either way, there are many useful memory techniques, well documented, but they take time to learn. Start with "The Memory Book" by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas. That book has simply transformed my life. After that you can look towards Dominic O'Connor's books, I'm currently reading these and hoping to compete in the UK memory championships next year. Memorising several decks of cards here we come! 

Brett87

[CK what area was your LLM in?]

Commercial! Which is ironic because I'm far more interested in stuff like criminal law and especially jurisprudence. I did my thesis on the implications of natural law jurisprudence when applied to banking and market regulation. It was kinda like putting ice cream on pizza, but got a 2.1 so someone must have liked it!

Really enjoyed doing the masters though!

sillynarbie

Qualification/letter collecting isn't the aim of the game.

If I had unlimited money and I never had to work, I would spend my life accumulating knowledge and getting degrees. I would love that more than anything

CitizenKane

Commercial! Which is ironic because I'm far more interested in stuff like criminal law and especially jurisprudence. I did my thesis on the implications of natural law jurisprudence when applied to banking and market regulation. It was kinda like putting ice cream on pizza, but got a 2.1 so someone must have liked it!

Really enjoyed doing the masters though!

At risk of changing the game of this thread, Commercial! eugh! At least you enjoyed it though.

sillynarbie

Qualification/letter collecting isn't the aim of the game.

CitizenKane

If I had unlimited money and I never had to work, I would spend my life accumulating knowledge and getting degrees. I would love that more than anything

x2
(Thinking of doing a masters myself after the LLB, it'll probably be something to do with history though depending on how next years modules turn out). Get to pick next years options soon, I'm going for jurisprudence, legal history, criminology, and public international. Much prefer these types of law but haven't actually studied the first two yet.

Rightyo what year of your maths degree are you in? and what's made you choose to do law as well? Is it the conversion course you're doing or something like a joint degree?

EDIT: quote formatting was funny.

Brett87

(Thinking of doing a masters myself after the LLB, it'll probably be something to do with history though depending on how next years modules turn out). Get to pick next years options soon, I'm going for jurisprudence, legal history, criminology, and public international. Much prefer these types of law but haven't actually studied the first two yet.

I highly recommend it. Actually I recognise your username from looking at AWG's journal? You're in his class right?

You'll enjoy jurisprudence, it's a lot less rule-based and a lot more philosophical (it basically is the study of the philosophy of law). Like I said I did my thesis in it so if you ever need any tips on natural law in particular, I'm your man!

Apologies for totally hijacking the thread LOL

CitizenKane

I highly recommend it. Actually I recognise your username from looking at AWG's journal? You're in his class right?

You'll enjoy jurisprudence, it's a lot less rule-based and a lot more philosophical (it basically is the study of the philosophy of law). Like I said I did my thesis in it so if you ever need any tips on natural law in particular, I'm your man!

Apologies for totally hijacking the thread LOL

Yep, in his class but still haven't actually met him! Thanks for the offer, I'll be sure to ask/debate about it in the future.

I'm sorry too for the hijacking! Next post will be one of those mind maps I mentioned.

Hey Brett,

Cheers mate I'm covering most of the basic principles its an introduction module for use in the construction industry (Im doing Building Surveying at Uni). 

So at the minute im covering:

Intro to English legal system
Common law
Law Of Contract
Law Of Tort
Law of Nuisance
Rule in Rylands vs Fletcher 
Occupiers Liability
Introduction to Land Law
Easements
Restrictive Covenants

Any information would be fantastic matey my email is JWRoxborough@hotmail.com

All the methods above are being abused!

You're doing an introductory module covering all of the above? In order to get a qualifying law degree you need to study entire modules in Tort/Contract etc.

sillynarbie


You're doing an introductory module covering all of the above? In order to get a qualifying law degree you need to study entire modules in Tort/Contract etc.

I'm guessing it's a law module as part of a non-law degree? My brother studied business and he did a law module as part of it. Covered some basics of contract and company law, and so on.

CitizenKane

sillynarbie


You're doing an introductory module covering all of the above? In order to get a qualifying law degree you need to study entire modules in Tort/Contract etc.

I'm guessing it's a law module as part of a non-law degree? My brother studied business and he did a law module as part of it. Covered some basics of contract and company law, and so on.

 


Ahh, business degrees, that explains it. 

You silly narbie! Your powers of deduction prove you correct, I am doing Building Surveying, just required as part of my degree wrt land law, conveyancing, landlord and tenant etc!

Right, I've scanned in a couple of sheets as an example. I don't think either will be much use to a construction law module if it's anything like the one my mate did alongside his course. But if I get the chance tomorrow I'll type something out for you JWR and send it to your email.


I'd start a module like this. This is contract. With a branch for each topic I will revise in the exam.

Then I'll do one for each topic like I explained earlier. This is a finished version for contractual terms:


Then I'll make a list like this with the main things in a topic:

CONTRACTUAL TERMS
TERM or REPRESENTATION
Timing Routledge v Mackay
Relevance
Importance Bannerman v White
Special Knowledge Dick Bentley Productions v Harold Smith Motors
Amateur Knowledge Oscar Chess v Williams
INCORPORATION
Signature L'estrange v Graucob
Dealings
     Trade practice British Crane Hire Corp
     Implied Smith v Wilson
     Custom
        Law (courts) Shirlaw v Southern Foundries (officious bystander)
        Law (statute) s.12 Quiet possession Rowland v Divall
Express
Parol evidence rule - exception - custom Smith v Wilson
TYPE
Condition - breach (.: over) + damages
Warranty - damages only
Innominate The Hansa Nord

I write in the multi colours btw.
Then I write a list of the minimum I need to learn about any given topic to answer a question, even if it's only enough for a 3rd class mark. Like:

CONTRACTUAL TERMS
L'estrange v Graucob Signature
British Crane Hire Corp Trade
HONG KONG SHIPPING Co LTD Innominate
Oscar Chess v Williams Knowledge amateur
Bannerman v White Importance
Dick Bentley Productions Knowledge Pro innocent misrep
Smith v Wilson Custom
Condition - Breach
Warranty - Damages



I did have a written version to show you but my scanner packed up after the first two scans for some reason. I don't mean for any of this to be patronising although to me it does sound it. I just wanted to write with clarity as I felt the first explanation was ****!



EDIT: sorry about the image sizes. If you click through to imageshack and save them, you should be able to resize them and see each clearly.

Brett....you try to hard!!!

what grade did you get last year? I assumeyou got higher then what I did (3rd)

Wow mate!! 

I'm a bit blown away, that is going to seriously help me out! 

Cheers again man!