Word Count on Exams Forum

[lawschoolproblems86]

So I'm pretty much feeling like crap after my midterm. I'm pretty confident I spotted all the issues and did a good job overall, but there was a strict 800 word count limit, and i exceeded it (846 words). I don't know why, but I panicked as I was running out of time, and was trying to delete random words here and there, and when there was a few seconds left before time was called, I just hit submit, even though I was still at 846 by that point.

In hindsight, I probably should have deleted those last 46 words (which were basically an entire issue) since they probably won't even be read my teacher anyway for going over. But I guess it's hard to think clear under those conditions. Now I'm just worried that my teacher is going to look unfavorably at my submission (although anonymous) as the one paper who failed to follow instructions.

I really hate the word limits, because I was being as concise as possible and it still wasn't enough. My teacher even SPECIFICALLY stated that he wants strict following of IRAC. Is he aware that eats up a lot of unnecessary words? In some instances, I ended up having to resort to combining the rule and application into one statement, or combining the issue and application into one, or issue and conclusion (if any of that makes sense), just to lower my word count. And now I'm EVEN MORE PISSED wondering if I will get points docked off. Even though I clearly showed that I had knowledge of the issue, rule , application and conclusion, that I won't get credit for having an official issue statement, detailed vomiting of the rule statement etc.

I hate law school.

[gothamm]

i feel ya. but holy crap, 800 words??? thats like a paragraph.

[20160810]

I feel like writing one extra sentence on a 1L midterm isn't going to sink your law school career. In the immortal words of that meme lemur with the bloodshot eyes: Calm down, bro.

[LegalEagle2014]

got a 900 word limit on my midterm this friday, complete bullsh*t. I get youre tenured and all but at least take the time to read the best I can put on paper in as many words as it takes.

[03121202698008]

Be careful going over, some of our professors won't read the last X words (usually like 1/4 of limit) under the limit in addition to the words over, in retribution for exceeding it. Though they usually warn of this before hand.

[johansantana21]

Which law schools have midterms?

[03121202698008]

Which law schools have midterms?

At least at Michigan, it is professor specific although not customary.