OFFICIAL 1L Exam Prep & Motivation Thread (CSWS) Forum

[Bronck]

Speaking of Con Law... I got a glimpse at one of my professors past essay questions. I had heard he is big on knowing the case holdings, the reasoning behind the case, the the progeny that follows, and what cases overrules other cases. Seemed easy enough until I saw this:

Discuss the major United States Supreme Court dealing with race from Dred Scott to the present, explaining clearly the issues addressed, the holdings of the cases, and indicate clearly the current state of the law.

My reaction was simply. . .

Sounds like you'd want to copy and paste chemerinsky into examsoft for that

[stillwater]

Speaking of Con Law... I got a glimpse at one of my professors past essay questions. I had heard he is big on knowing the case holdings, the reasoning behind the case, the the progeny that follows, and what cases overrules other cases. Seemed easy enough until I saw this:

Discuss the major United States Supreme Court dealing with race from Dred Scott to the present, explaining clearly the issues addressed, the holdings of the cases, and indicate clearly the current state of the law.

My reaction was simply. . .

talk about a sweeping question. you are gonna have to get realllll magisterial on that bitch.

[20130312]

Speaking of Con Law... I got a glimpse at one of my professors past essay questions. I had heard he is big on knowing the case holdings, the reasoning behind the case, the the progeny that follows, and what cases overrules other cases. Seemed easy enough until I saw this:

Discuss the major United States Supreme Court dealing with race from Dred Scott to the present, explaining clearly the issues addressed, the holdings of the cases, and indicate clearly the current state of the law.

My reaction was simply. . .

No word limit? I'd be all over that like a pig in shit. Doesn't even ask for any analysis, just vomit out all your knowledge.

[stillwater]

this is a question ive had- I am sure i can check out the exambank- but how is conlaw usually tested? it seems less conducive to the standard format than other subjects.

[JG7773]

Speaking of Con Law... I got a glimpse at one of my professors past essay questions. I had heard he is big on knowing the case holdings, the reasoning behind the case, the the progeny that follows, and what cases overrules other cases. Seemed easy enough until I saw this:

Discuss the major United States Supreme Court dealing with race from Dred Scott to the present, explaining clearly the issues addressed, the holdings of the cases, and indicate clearly the current state of the law.

My reaction was simply. . .

Sounds like you'd want to copy and paste chemerinsky into examsoft for that

Yeah, it is going to have to be word vomit style, because it is closed book.

[Lacepiece23]

this is a question ive had- I am sure i can check out the exambank- but how is conlaw usually tested? it seems less conducive to the standard format than other subjects.

My con law test was a pure issue spotter. Like whether the government's law was unconsitutional, and we had to argue both sides of that issue after a long hypo. I don't think that is the norm tho.

[Jsa725]

.

[BlueLotus]

Who else stopped case briefing? It's such a time sink, but I'm starting to think it might be worth in in Con Law, as I also have closed book! ^

Any other lady CSWS'ers? This thread seems rather bro-heavy...

[gaud]

I haven't made a single brief...

[BlueLotus]

If I get a ? like JG7773's prof, I might have to re-start!

[stillwater]

I haven't made a single brief...

+1

[SportsFan]

Who else stopped case briefing? It's such a time sink, but I'm starting to think it might be worth in in Con Law, as I also have closed book! ^

Any other lady CSWS'ers? This thread seems rather bro-heavy...

I don't formally brief, but I normally write a few lines of notes on each case into my notes, mostly to help quickly refresh my memory if I'm cold-called, but I also try to get the rule and holding.

[BlueLotus]

Who else stopped case briefing? It's such a time sink, but I'm starting to think it might be worth in in Con Law, as I also have closed book! ^

Any other lady CSWS'ers? This thread seems rather bro-heavy...

I don't formally brief, but I normally write a few lines of notes on each case into my notes, mostly to help quickly refresh my memory if I'm cold-called, but I also try to get the rule and holding.

I rainbow hi-lite (pink for issue, yellow for facts, orange for reasoning, blue for holding, etc.) and annotate margins. I have heard, anecdotally, that details of cases are usually more important for Con Law than other 1L classes.

[JG7773]

If I get a ? like JG7773's prof, I might have to re-start!

I started doing modified briefs for that class. I am just putting them in a format to give me current legal standing, holding, reasoning, and where it fits in the overall progeny (which is a basically putting together timelines of similar cases, i.e. commerce clause)

[shumpshump]

Never understood people who had page-long briefs of cases. I just have facts, holding, and the most important reasoning, which takes up a paragraph at most. I found these short statements useful on my exams so I plan to include all of them in my outlines.

[stillwater]

I mark up the margins in pencil and highlight in yellow. I don't take notes except for class. I do cold calls by SHEER FORCE of memory.

Hence my love of supplements.

EDIT: my cold calls are not good.

[BlueLotus]

I mark up the margins in pencil and highlight in yellow. I don't take notes except for class. I do cold calls by SHEER FORCE of memory.

Hence my love of supplements.

EDIT: my cold calls are not good.

Looking good in class is soooo overrated. "Impressive-sounding" folks don't always do the best, lol.

[SportsFan]

Never understood people who had page-long briefs of cases. I just have facts, holding, and the most important reasoning, which takes up a paragraph at most. I found these short statements useful on my exams so I plan to include all of them in my outlines.

Yeah, I still see a surprising amount of people who write out these full case briefs. Who knows, maybe they all got better grades than me last semester, but I just don't see the point, at all.

[Bronck]

I skip cases and read the canned briefs / westlaw headnotes.

I do, however, read the notes in the book.

[stillwater]

I skip cases and read the canned briefs / westlaw headnotes.

I do, however, read the notes in the book.

hm, interesting. hows it work out for you?

[Tiago Splitter]

I instantly regret having taken notes on cases as soon as I'm not cold called. I'm also reluctant to change things up from last semester.

[Jsa725]

.

[Bronck]

I skip cases and read the canned briefs / westlaw headnotes.

I do, however, read the notes in the book.

hm, interesting. hows it work out for you?

~Top quarter right now.

Think of it this way: I never re-open the casebook. I never remember anything from the cases if I do read them. My outlines are supplement + canned brief + notes driven. I usually don't get many useful things out of class. I will, however, jot down particular things that the prof likes, and note any discrepancies with the text.

[UnamSanctam]

STRESS MODE IS ON BROS CSWS ADED

[BlueLotus]

When are y'all planning to take full PTs? I think Easter break sounds good--first exam is on the April 30.