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Anwering Law School Exams

It is basic in law school that you must have impeccable English or at least, must be above average. Based on experience, it is not enough that you know your subject and verb agreement, but also as a law student, you must be equipped with the right tool to supply the correct phrase. 

In answering law school exam questions, you must keep in mind that it is not a walk in the park that immediately you'll write your answers or elaborate your answer in serious long paragraphs. A mere answer of YES or No without the factual and legal basis or jurisprudence is not enough to grant the student with full credit. 

One of the ways or formats that a student may use in taking on law exams is the four-paragraph rule. It may be long, but it is the precise and complete way to get full credit in your exams. 

The first paragraph should state your categorical answer whether it is YES or NO, or if the answer is objective type. To have a complete first paragraph answer, your categorical answer should also be combined with a brief explanation. Example: No, A is not liable for murder because there are no qualifying circumstances present in the facts of the case. 

The second paragraph should provide your legal basis, whether it is a law, jurisprudence, or revenue regulations. Example: Under ART. 248 of the Revised Penal Code, murder is defined as any person who kills another, shall be guilty of murder and shall be punished by reclusion perpetua, to death if committed with any of the following attendant circumstances:

1. With treachery, taking advantage of superior strength, with the aid of armed men, or employing means to weaken the defense, or of means or persons to insure or afford impunity;

2. In consideration of a price, reward, or promise;

3. By means of inundation, fire, poison, explosion, shipwreck, stranding of a vessel, derailment or assault upon a railroad, fall of an airship, by means of motor vehicles, or with the use of any other means involving great waste and ruin;

4. On occasion of any calamities enumerated in the preceding paragraph, or of an earthquake, eruption of a volcano, destructive cyclone, epidemic, or any other public calamity;

5. With evident premeditation;

6. With cruelty, by deliberately and inhumanly augmenting the suffering of the victim, or outraging or scoffing at his person or corpse. 

The third paragraph should be the application of the law to the given case or the case provided. Example: Here, A killed B without any of the abovementioned circumstances laid down by law. 

The fourth paragraph should be your conclusion reiterating your answer in the first paragraph. Example: Hence/ Therefore, A did not commit murder.

I hope that this simple article would help you in your law school journey and answer your law school exams properly. My tip for those starting or planning to take up law school is to go over your English. If you are in doubt, you may enroll in some courses that will help you improve your English or you can start by watching Atty. Ralph Sarmiento's video on YouTube. 


That's all for now. Thank you and MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU.

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