1L Exam Prep and Motivation Thread

[swc65]

Outlining Crim is like bashing head into brick wall

So is Law and Econ- and the library closed at 8 tonight!! WTF Ive never been there on a Saturday so was totally surprise.

[traehekat]

Outlining Crim is like bashing head into brick wall

yeah its weird. crim seems like the easiest stuff to understand during class and doing the reading, but somehow when i sat down to outline i started to get all confused, especially with our professor having a pretty even focus on both MPC and common law (hard to keep everything straight).

[Helmholtz]

Outlining Crim is like bashing head into brick wall

So is Law and Econ- and the library closed at 8 tonight!! WTF Ive never been there on a Saturday so was totally surprise.

Woah, 8? Pretty sure our reading room closes at at 2 AM every night.

[Helmholtz]

Outlining Crim is like bashing head into brick wall

yeah its weird. crim seems like the easiest stuff to understand during class and doing the reading, but somehow when i sat down to outline i started to get all confused, especially with our professor having a pretty even focus on both MPC and common law (hard to keep everything straight).

Completely agree. Same thing happening with me. This was our professor's first time teaching crim and it was disorganized as hell. Then again - curve.

[keg411]

Outlining Crim is like bashing head into brick wall

yeah its weird. crim seems like the easiest stuff to understand during class and doing the reading, but somehow when i sat down to outline i started to get all confused, especially with our professor having a pretty even focus on both MPC and common law (hard to keep everything straight).

Make Tables; one column for MPC, one for CL.
It's death to put together, but I think (hope) it will work.

Speaking of death, am outlining ConLaw (if outlining means copying/re-organizing old outlines from my prof, which for me it does ).

[gwuorbust]

Speaking of death, am outlining ConLaw (if outlining means copying/re-organizing old outlines from my prof, which for me it does ).

Con law is just so disorganized cause the topics range from impeachment to the dormant commerce clause. there is limited logical connection between everything.

[traehekat]

Outlining Crim is like bashing head into brick wall

yeah its weird. crim seems like the easiest stuff to understand during class and doing the reading, but somehow when i sat down to outline i started to get all confused, especially with our professor having a pretty even focus on both MPC and common law (hard to keep everything straight).

Make Tables; one column for MPC, one for CL.
It's death to put together, but I think (hope) it will work.

Speaking of death, am outlining ConLaw (if outlining means copying/re-organizing old outlines from my prof, which for me it does ).

haha here is a word-for-word electronic "sticky note" i made a few weeks ago:

consider making chart for crim with common law/mpc forks

haven't done it, but i'm liken that we're thinking the same thing lol.

[snowpeach06]

Yeah, I'm getting annoyed with my con law outline. So whenever something is taking me too long to figure out, I just bold it and move on. So, I'll think I'm done, but really have a few hours of going back and actually doing giant sections. Or organizing them.

[keg411]

I already organized the thing starting a few weeks ago (because if you take a step back it's not that hard), it's just the tedium of putting all the cases and doctrinal information in. In an ideal world, I finish both ConLaw and Property by tomorrow, but I dunno if that will end up happening.

[jbarl1]

My ConLaw exam is closed book/note. We have covered a ton of information and 95+ cases. I feel like I understand the concepts and would ace the exam if I was allowed to have an outline but I don't know how to even begin memorizing all that I need to memorize. Does anyone have any tips or materials to share that could help me study for a closed ConLaw exam?

[BarbellDreams]

I can send anyone my Crim MPC/COL charts (and outline if you need it). I did well in Crim so maybe it will be of some help, PM me.

[gwuorbust]

My ConLaw exam is closed book/note. We have covered a ton of information and 95+ cases. I feel like I understand the concepts and would ace the exam if I was allowed to have an outline but I don't know how to even begin memorizing all that I need to memorize. Does anyone have any tips or materials to share that could help me study for a closed ConLaw exam?

this is relevant to my interests

[Baylan]

Property exam is closed book/note. Last exam. Shorted time period between two exams this semester. There is a special place in hell for Betty (she's the registrar and schedules this shit).

[Paichka]

My Con Law I exam was also closed book. If you'd like my conlaw attack sheet (which breaks things down into helpful mnemonics), PM me and I'll email it to you.

What I did was I made a load of flash cards to quiz myself about various concepts and cases that I thought might be important -- you probably don't have enough time to do that now, though, I'd imagine.

I think one of the most helpful things to do is to make sure to group everything together in your brain by subject:

I. Congressional Power

Commerce Clause + Limitations
Taxing & Spending + Limitations
Section 5 Powers + Limitations
Preemption
Privileges & Immunities
Dormant Commerce Clause

II. Executive Power

Nondelegation Doctrine
Appointment & Removals
Foreign Affairs
War and Military Action
Executive Privileges & Immunities

III. Judicial Power

Judicial Review and its Limitations (standing, PQ doctrine, prohibition on advisory opinions, etc)

IV. State Action

General Rule
Exceptions -- Entanglement/Public Function

Once you have it all in your head that way, it's a lot easier to call up the information as needed.

[jbarl1]

My Con Law I exam was also closed book. If you'd like my conlaw attack sheet (which breaks things down into helpful mnemonics), PM me and I'll email it to you.

What I did was I made a load of flash cards to quiz myself about various concepts and cases that I thought might be important -- you probably don't have enough time to do that now, though, I'd imagine.

I think one of the most helpful things to do is to make sure to group everything together in your brain by subject:

I. Congressional Power

Commerce Clause + Limitations
Taxing & Spending + Limitations
Section 5 Powers + Limitations
Preemption
Privileges & Immunities
Dormant Commerce Clause

II. Executive Power

Nondelegation Doctrine
Appointment & Removals
Foreign Affairs
War and Military Action
Executive Privileges & Immunities

III. Judicial Power

Judicial Review and its Limitations (standing, PQ doctrine, prohibition on advisory opinions, etc)

IV. State Action

General Rule
Exceptions -- Entanglement/Public Function

Once you have it all in your head that way, it's a lot easier to call up the information as needed.

My exam is a bit more than two weeks away, which is plenty of time for flash cards for me. I was planning on making a bunch in addition to the ones I am already using for general things (like parts of the Constitution). Your breakdown looks helpful so thanks! I PM'd you for your attack outline, thanks for offering it.

[Grizz]

Splitting a bottle of wine (over a few hours of course) makes writing this appellate brief so much better.

[los blancos]

Outlining Crim is like bashing head into brick wall

yeah its weird. crim seems like the easiest stuff to understand during class and doing the reading, but somehow when i sat down to outline i started to get all confused, especially with our professor having a pretty even focus on both MPC and common law (hard to keep everything straight).

Dunno if we did anything based on the common law once... All of his hypos were centered around the MPC and occasional state/federal statutes.

[los blancos]

My ConLaw exam is closed book/note. We have covered a ton of information and 95+ cases. I feel like I understand the concepts and would ace the exam if I was allowed to have an outline but I don't know how to even begin memorizing all that I need to memorize. Does anyone have any tips or materials to share that could help me study for a closed ConLaw exam?

I dunno if this works for everyone or if its feasible (dunno how long your outline is), but try writing out your entire outline. Once I write something down on paper it becomes really easy to remember.

[keg411]

Outlining Crim is like bashing head into brick wall

yeah its weird. crim seems like the easiest stuff to understand during class and doing the reading, but somehow when i sat down to outline i started to get all confused, especially with our professor having a pretty even focus on both MPC and common law (hard to keep everything straight).

Dunno if we did anything based on the common law once... All of his hypos were centered around the MPC and occasional state/federal statutes.

You are lucky.

[los blancos]

Property exam is closed book/note.

Wow, that REALLY sucks. Good luck!

[YourCaptain]

I think that 1367 and the preclusion doctrines were meticulously designed to be frustrating.

[pleasetryagain]

I think that 1367 and the preclusion doctrines were meticulously designed to be frustrating.

core concepts are really simple. applying them, not so much. especially when you throw in the 1441(c) dilemma. at least 40% of my civ pro studying has been devoted to understanding supp. jurisdiction and removal under 1441(c). makes erie look like paint by numbers.

[traehekat]

I think that 1367 and the preclusion doctrines were meticulously designed to be frustrating.

core concepts are really simple. applying them, not so much. especially when you throw in the 1441(c) dilemma. at least 40% of my civ pro studying has been devoted to understanding supp. jurisdiction and removal under 1441(c). makes erie look like paint by numbers.

like RAP in property, i plan on barely studying/understanding supp. jurisdiction and praying it isn't heavily tested on the exam.

[pleasetryagain]

I think that 1367 and the preclusion doctrines were meticulously designed to be frustrating.

core concepts are really simple. applying them, not so much. especially when you throw in the 1441(c) dilemma. at least 40% of my civ pro studying has been devoted to understanding supp. jurisdiction and removal under 1441(c). makes erie look like paint by numbers.

like RAP in property, i plan on barely studying/understanding supp. jurisdiction and praying it isn't heavily tested on the exam.

I KNOW that it will be heavily tested on my exam. along with the CAFA class action joinder/aggregation stuff. I MUST understand it.

[BarbellDreams]

I sent the spreadsheet/outline to all those that PM'ed me, if anyone else is interested let me know.