1 / 18

Law Assessments and Exams

Law Assessments and Exams. Felicity Fox. Introduction to law assessments. How will I be assessed in law school? Research assignments Issue based assignments/problem based assignments Class tests Tutorials Exams. Research assignments. Often (but not always) optional

remedy
Télécharger la présentation

Law Assessments and Exams

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Law Assessments and Exams Felicity Fox

  2. Introduction to law assessments • How will I be assessed in law school? • Research assignments • Issue based assignments/problem based assignments • Class tests • Tutorials • Exams

  3. Research assignments • Often (but not always) optional • Are worth generally 30% - 40% of the mark if you decide to do it • Shorter/less weighted exam • Often based on one particular area of the course – in depth analysis of particular area

  4. But how do I research? • Research • Plan • Write • Edit • Proof

  5. Where do I get my research from? • Textbook • Statutes • Cases • Casebase • First Point • Articles • AGIS • Online databases • ALL of these resources are available in the library/online – the librarians are always happy to help 

  6. Don’t forget to reference your work • Plagiarism • AGLC • Australian Guide to Legal Citation • The MOST valuable research tool you will have during law school • Available online in PDF format – super easy to control+s to find what you’re looking for

  7. Issue spotting/problem based assignments • Kind of like a law exam, but with referencing • Because you have so much time to do it, you will need to do a MUCH MORE in depth analysis than you would in an exam • Use headings and subheadings • Reference cases and commentary • Commentary is the contribution that various academics have made to a particular area of law • If the current law is controversial, make sure you let the examiner know what other people have said about it, and then conclude on where you stand on the issue • Textbooks, cases and your notes are going to be very helpful for these types of assignments • DO NOT reference your lecture notes!

  8. SO if an assignment is optional, why should I do it? • Takes a lot of pressure off the exam (ie 60%/70% vs 100% exam) • Shorter exam or no policy • If you know you get stressed during exams/aren’t fast at writing – try the assignment • If you aren’t going to put 100% effort into the assignment – don’t do it

  9. Class tests • A GREAT way to pick up marks if you study hard • Very time constrained – just put your pen down and don’t stop writing! • Sometimes optional

  10. Tutorials • The most easy marks you will pick up in law school • Attend, prepare and SPEAK UP • Can also be used by examiners to help bump you up a grade

  11. EXAMS

  12. So what do I do in a law exam? • Two types: • ‘Open book’ • ‘Closed book’ • Two types of questions: • ‘Problem’ questions • ‘Policy’ questions

  13. How do I prepare for an exam? • Make exam notes • By the time you get to an exam, you may have 5+ versions of your notes – this is a GOOD THING! • Do practice exams • Get in study groups • Do practice exams • Re-do tutorial problems • Do practice exams • Make exam ‘scripts’ • Do practice exams

  14. What happens in an exam? • Generally 2 – 3 hours writing time • Law exams also have ‘30 minutes reading and noting time’ • DO NOT take it easy during these 30 minutes • Time to plan out your answers, highlight questions, structure essays etc. • There is generally about 5 hours worth of content in every 3 hour exam – so make sure you use your time carefully! • Headings and subheadings • Shorten names • Shorten case names • ONLY if you run out of time – dot points • No matter where you are in a problem/essay, if you only have 1 minute left – WRITE A CONCLUSION!

  15. What do I take into the exam? • Closed book: • NOTHING! • Except: • Pens • Highlighters • Soundless snacks • Water • ID card • Open book • All of the above, plus: • Notes • Books • Sticky Tabs • Spare notebook for reading and noting time

  16. How do I answer an exam question? • IRAC • Issue • Rule • Application • Conclusion

  17. A few more exam tips • Always make sure you tell the examiner how you are going to answer the question • Always argue in the alternative as well • DO NOT recall the facts of the case, instead do something like: • Here, similarly to Boots Cash Chemist, the display of goods in B’s store would likely be treated as an invitation to treat, rather than an offer. • You will show the examiner you understand the case by being able to analogize it! • Don’t. Stop. Writing.

  18. Summary • Law school assessments are hard, but if you are organised and plan well you will be fine! • Don’t forget to do the things you love while doing assessments – go running, watch tv, play netball! • There are SO many resources out there for you – use your lecturers, the library, the LSS, friends! • Don’t freak out – law school is super fun!

More Related