1L Finals: Freaking Out About Criminal Law Exam Forum
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1L Finals: Freaking Out About Criminal Law Exam
I worked my ass off in criminal law this semester, but today during the final, there was a situation... just wanted to get the TLS wisdom on how bad I should be freaking out.
In the SOLE HYPO the professor didn't mention whether he wanted us to apply common law or the MPC or both. Naturally, I'd just try to apply both, but:
1. The word limit was draconian.
2. The statute selections CLEARLY indicated that it was a jurisdiction NOT persuaded by the MPC. (For example, they kept referring to murder as opposed to criminal homicide, they split out manslaughter into voluntary and involuntary, there was the "lawful act in an unlawful way" view of conspiracy, et cetera.)
3. In a practice exam he gave us (the only practice exam), there was a similar situation: he only gave us common law statutes. In the model answer, he never mentioned the MPC.
Just to make sure I wouldn't be penalized, I went and talked to the professor in the middle of the exam, but he wouldn't say either way and just kept telling me to read the question carefully. (I did... three times.) So I put an explanation on my answer saying that the statutes indicated the jurisdiction probably hadn't adopted MPC provisions.
Come to find out, every one of my friends put both the MPC and the common law in their answer. Now I'm freaking out. Am I worried for nothing?
In the SOLE HYPO the professor didn't mention whether he wanted us to apply common law or the MPC or both. Naturally, I'd just try to apply both, but:
1. The word limit was draconian.
2. The statute selections CLEARLY indicated that it was a jurisdiction NOT persuaded by the MPC. (For example, they kept referring to murder as opposed to criminal homicide, they split out manslaughter into voluntary and involuntary, there was the "lawful act in an unlawful way" view of conspiracy, et cetera.)
3. In a practice exam he gave us (the only practice exam), there was a similar situation: he only gave us common law statutes. In the model answer, he never mentioned the MPC.
Just to make sure I wouldn't be penalized, I went and talked to the professor in the middle of the exam, but he wouldn't say either way and just kept telling me to read the question carefully. (I did... three times.) So I put an explanation on my answer saying that the statutes indicated the jurisdiction probably hadn't adopted MPC provisions.
Come to find out, every one of my friends put both the MPC and the common law in their answer. Now I'm freaking out. Am I worried for nothing?
- evilxs
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Re: 1L Finals: Freaking Out About Criminal Law Exam
You probably have an honor code provision that prohibits you from talking about exam answers with each other.
There are so many good reasons for that. It is seriously over and done with. Walk away, have a beer, forget it, and study your ass off for the next exam. There is no telling what exactly the professor was looking for. Wait for grades.
No matter what do not freak out. Literally shove that shit out of your mind and push forward you have to focus on your next exam.
My study partner bombed a part of the last final and I drug her ass headfirst into studying for our next exam. You gotta keep swimming or you'll never be a shark (lawyer).
There are so many good reasons for that. It is seriously over and done with. Walk away, have a beer, forget it, and study your ass off for the next exam. There is no telling what exactly the professor was looking for. Wait for grades.
No matter what do not freak out. Literally shove that shit out of your mind and push forward you have to focus on your next exam.
My study partner bombed a part of the last final and I drug her ass headfirst into studying for our next exam. You gotta keep swimming or you'll never be a shark (lawyer).
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Re: 1L Finals: Freaking Out About Criminal Law Exam
I don't think we have that provision, but I suppose mistake of the law is no excuse if we do...
Great advice, by the way. Thanks.
Great advice, by the way. Thanks.
- evilxs
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Re: 1L Finals: Freaking Out About Criminal Law Exam
lmfao, nope mistake of law is not an excuse
What exam you have next?
What exam you have next?
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Re: 1L Finals: Freaking Out About Criminal Law Exam
"You probably have an honor code provision that prohibits you from talking about exam answers with each other. "
goodness
goodness
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Re: 1L Finals: Freaking Out About Criminal Law Exam
a. saturday exam? f. that.theantiscalia wrote:I worked my ass off in criminal law this semester, but today during the final, there was a situation... just wanted to get the TLS wisdom on how bad I should be freaking out.
In the SOLE HYPO the professor didn't mention whether he wanted us to apply common law or the MPC or both. Naturally, I'd just try to apply both, but:
1. The word limit was draconian.
2. The statute selections CLEARLY indicated that it was a jurisdiction NOT persuaded by the MPC. (For example, they kept referring to murder as opposed to criminal homicide, they split out manslaughter into voluntary and involuntary, there was the "lawful act in an unlawful way" view of conspiracy, et cetera.)
3. In a practice exam he gave us (the only practice exam), there was a similar situation: he only gave us common law statutes. In the model answer, he never mentioned the MPC.
Just to make sure I wouldn't be penalized, I went and talked to the professor in the middle of the exam, but he wouldn't say either way and just kept telling me to read the question carefully. (I did... three times.) So I put an explanation on my answer saying that the statutes indicated the jurisdiction probably hadn't adopted MPC provisions.
Come to find out, every one of my friends put both the MPC and the common law in their answer. Now I'm freaking out. Am I worried for nothing?
b. think about it this way. On every other question your professor instructed you to use both. Then all of a sudden he doesn't and the language of the statute indicates that you shouldn't. Given that much of criminal law is about statute interpretation, it sounds to me like you did exactly what he was looking for. At the very least you can tell yourself that to get past it and move forward.
- evilxs
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Re: 1L Finals: Freaking Out About Criminal Law Exam
downstream wrote:"You probably have an honor code provision that prohibits you from talking about exam answers with each other. "
goodness
Seriously, talking about an exam with other students afterwards usually is not worth it. You're either gonna feel like shit or they are. Some folks sot some issues and some folks spot others. A red herring might have you thinking you should have done something "everyone else" did but in reality is not what the professor wanted you to do. Dissecting exams is a waste of time. Walking away and leaving it behind is the best course of action until you get grades. There's no telling comparatively how he has done. And right now getting his mind in the game for the next exam is THE most important thing to do.
- ChattTNdt
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Re: 1L Finals: Freaking Out About Criminal Law Exam
This is all true. But that doesn't mean its an actual honor code provision. Professors at my school simply gave the same advice you did. A waste of time to talk about? Yes. But a violation of the honor code? Haha...noevilxs wrote:
Seriously, talking about an exam with other students afterwards usually is not worth it. You're either gonna feel like shit or they are. Some folks sot some issues and some folks spot others. A red herring might have you thinking you should have done something "everyone else" did but in reality is not what the professor wanted you to do. Dissecting exams is a waste of time. Walking away and leaving it behind is the best course of action until you get grades. There's no telling comparatively how he has done. And right now getting his mind in the game for the next exam is THE most important thing to do.
- evilxs
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Re: 1L Finals: Freaking Out About Criminal Law Exam
It actually is at my school. You'd be surprised what all can be hidden in the code lmao
- 5ky
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Re: 1L Finals: Freaking Out About Criminal Law Exam
Judging from the information you gave, I would say you probably answered the question correctly.
- Columbia Law
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Re: 1L Finals: Freaking Out About Criminal Law Exam
theantiscalia wrote:I worked my ass off in criminal law this semester, but today during the final, there was a situation... just wanted to get the TLS wisdom on how bad I should be freaking out.
In the SOLE HYPO the professor didn't mention whether he wanted us to apply common law or the MPC or both. Naturally, I'd just try to apply both, but:
1. The word limit was draconian.
2. The statute selections CLEARLY indicated that it was a jurisdiction NOT persuaded by the MPC. (For example, they kept referring to murder as opposed to criminal homicide, they split out manslaughter into voluntary and involuntary, there was the "lawful act in an unlawful way" view of conspiracy, et cetera.)
3. In a practice exam he gave us (the only practice exam), there was a similar situation: he only gave us common law statutes. In the model answer, he never mentioned the MPC.
Just to make sure I wouldn't be penalized, I went and talked to the professor in the middle of the exam, but he wouldn't say either way and just kept telling me to read the question carefully. (I did... three times.) So I put an explanation on my answer saying that the statutes indicated the jurisdiction probably hadn't adopted MPC provisions.
Come to find out, every one of my friends put both the MPC and the common law in their answer. Now I'm freaking out. Am I worried for nothing?
WOW, people on this site are really clueless. OF COURSE you had to discuss both! Just like on Ks, you need to discuss both if there's a ball hair chance that it could be for services. In crim, ALWAYS, ALWAYS discuss both.
- 20160810
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Re: 1L Finals: Freaking Out About Criminal Law Exam
Nah, every other question said which governed, and the question made it clear. OP's probably fine.Columbia Law wrote:theantiscalia wrote:I worked my ass off in criminal law this semester, but today during the final, there was a situation... just wanted to get the TLS wisdom on how bad I should be freaking out.
In the SOLE HYPO the professor didn't mention whether he wanted us to apply common law or the MPC or both. Naturally, I'd just try to apply both, but:
1. The word limit was draconian.
2. The statute selections CLEARLY indicated that it was a jurisdiction NOT persuaded by the MPC. (For example, they kept referring to murder as opposed to criminal homicide, they split out manslaughter into voluntary and involuntary, there was the "lawful act in an unlawful way" view of conspiracy, et cetera.)
3. In a practice exam he gave us (the only practice exam), there was a similar situation: he only gave us common law statutes. In the model answer, he never mentioned the MPC.
Just to make sure I wouldn't be penalized, I went and talked to the professor in the middle of the exam, but he wouldn't say either way and just kept telling me to read the question carefully. (I did... three times.) So I put an explanation on my answer saying that the statutes indicated the jurisdiction probably hadn't adopted MPC provisions.
Come to find out, every one of my friends put both the MPC and the common law in their answer. Now I'm freaking out. Am I worried for nothing?
WOW, people on this site are really clueless. OF COURSE you had to discuss both! Just like on Ks, you need to discuss both if there's a ball hair chance that it could be for services. In crim, ALWAYS, ALWAYS discuss both.
Besides, the MPC blows.
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