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Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:32 pm
by cgs230
My professor seems to be very big on testing both common law definitions, MPC definitions, and the occasional state statute. Does anyone know a good book to help me learn the differences between MPC and Common Law def's better, particularly when it comes to applying them to fact patters? E&E's aren't necessarily helpful because a lot of the questions aren't really applicable if I'm being asked to applying one "interpretation" of the law vs another.
I.E., "Defendant would argue which interpretation of 'simple battery? What about prosecutor? Explain."
nightmare.
oh, and closed book.
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:41 pm
by blerg
Dressler.
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:43 pm
by cgs230
What makes Dressler better than LaFave?
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:45 pm
by blerg
Dressler is an outline with a lot of explanation. It switches back and forth really cleanly and I find it easier to pull the BLL from.
Oh, and I meant this, not the full hornbook:
http://www.amazon.com/Criminal-Law-Blac ... 0314152334
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:46 pm
by cgs230
Just to be clear, Dressler is "Understanding Criminal Law" right? Not like a commercial outline, or are there more?
Thanks
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:47 pm
by beach_terror
Chunks of it are up on Westlaw for free. Or they were a week ago at least.
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:47 pm
by beach_terror
cgs230 wrote:Just to be clear, Dressler is "Understanding Criminal Law" right? Not like a commercial outline, or are there more?
Thanks
That's the hornbook (which is great, btw)
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:50 pm
by cgs230
is there another book he wrote?
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:51 pm
by beach_terror
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:00 pm
by cgs230
sorry not sure how i missed that haha
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 2:33 am
by zeth006
Use your casebook, bro. Look at the beginning notes and After Notes to see what the authors say about MPC/Common Law/Minority rules. I've been starting to do this too.
And yes, Dressler helps somewhat.
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 4:23 pm
by XxSpyKEx
Dressler's good at that common law v. mpc comparison crap.
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 4:56 pm
by Borhas
zeth006 wrote:Use your casebook, bro. Look at the beginning notes and After Notes to see what the authors say about MPC/Common Law/Minority rules. I've been starting to do this too.
And yes, Dressler helps somewhat.
yeah... I've found that the notes actually do a better job than the supplements, just not as conveniently organized
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 5:54 pm
by BarbellDreams
Dressler's Hornbook saved the trainwreck that I was after reading his casebook. I swear is like 2 different people wrote these things. The casebook is some of the worst stuff I have ever read, includes an insane amount of useless material that cannot possibly be used on the exam or in any other way really, has excerpts from random novels and articles that waste space and has very little a actual law or elements, instead opting for random philosophical tangents all amounting to your asking you "Is this fair?". After reading the casebook for 2 months with about 4 pages of notes TOTAL for my pathetic excuse of a criminal law class I was desperate and picked up the hornbook. That hornbook not only cuts out all the pointless drivel from the casebook but actually has, you know, LAW in it. Elements, statutes, common law versus MPC, etc. If I had to do the entire class all over again I would never have even opened Dressler's casebook and just read the hornbook.
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 9:41 pm
by cgs230
BarbellDreams wrote:Dressler's Hornbook saved the trainwreck that I was after reading his casebook. I swear is like 2 different people wrote these things. The casebook is some of the worst stuff I have ever read, includes an insane amount of useless material that cannot possibly be used on the exam or in any other way really, has excerpts from random novels and articles that waste space and has very little a actual law or elements, instead opting for random philosophical tangents all amounting to your asking you "Is this fair?". After reading the casebook for 2 months with about 4 pages of notes TOTAL for my pathetic excuse of a criminal law class I was desperate and picked up the hornbook. That hornbook not only cuts out all the pointless drivel from the casebook but actually has, you know, LAW in it. Elements, statutes, common law versus MPC, etc. If I had to do the entire class all over again I would never have even opened Dressler's casebook and just read the hornbook.
Sounds familiar. What is it with crim? Shouldn't that be the most fun?
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 11:02 pm
by random5483
Dressler's book is a pain to navigate (casebook), but luckily for me, our crim professor tends to give us variants of the rules. On the negative side she gives us like 5 rules (CL, MPC, Modern Minority, Modern Majority, State Specific) for almost every crime/defense. I won't complain though. It's one of the two classes I don't need to use an outline to actually figure out the rules.
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2010 8:17 pm
by Whitters
BarbellDreams wrote:Dressler's Hornbook saved the trainwreck that I was after reading his casebook. I swear is like 2 different people wrote these things. The casebook is some of the worst stuff I have ever read, includes an insane amount of useless material that cannot possibly be used on the exam or in any other way really, has excerpts from random novels and articles that waste space and has very little a actual law or elements, instead opting for random philosophical tangents all amounting to your asking you "Is this fair?". After reading the casebook for 2 months with about 4 pages of notes TOTAL for my pathetic excuse of a criminal law class I was desperate and picked up the hornbook. That hornbook not only cuts out all the pointless drivel from the casebook but actually has, you know, LAW in it. Elements, statutes, common law versus MPC, etc. If I had to do the entire class all over again I would never have even opened Dressler's casebook and just read the hornbook.
I feel the same way. I've been reading the Hornbook all along with the class but finally gave up the casebook completely. Hearing someone else say that makes me feel so much better in my decision. Has anyone found any good practice exams for MPC vs CL? our professor only had one and refuses to provide sample answers. Thanks!
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 12:05 am
by TCScrutinizer
Dressler is a trip. He fucking cites himself in his own book. Not that it's useless... it's a fine book. But he fucking cites his own articles in his casebook. And at least once he formally cites his casebook... in his casebook.
Re: Crim Test Coming Up - MPC vs. Common Law
Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 1:59 am
by cgs230
waiting on those notes to come. wow, no wonder everyone comes in thinking crim rules and then is like... eh..what is this?