Top Law Schools

To those who did well in civ pro: did you memorize all of the rules you needed to know for your exam? I've finished my outline up to the portion of class where we've just been dealing with the Rules, and I found myself essentially transcribing the rules into my outline. Should I instead just be focusing on memorizing the rules cold? Thanks!

Depends on your prof and the test.

If open book: Then no need to memorize verbatim.

But you should know the concepts so you can (1) issue spot, (2) state the proper rule, (3) apply the facts to that rule, and (4) then state a conclusion consistent with that application of facts-to-law.

If not open book:
Then memorize the rule and and write it in verbatim in step 2.

the end.

memorize the rules.....

StoNeyPoiNt21 wrote:memorize the rules.....

Only if the test is closed-book. There's no point wasting time memorizing if you can look at the language of the rule. (Obviously you still need to know which rule addresses what, but memorization isn't necessary.)

My exam is open book, but from what I understand, quite long. I did flashcards to memorize the big concepts ensconced in each of the rules, and then the rest, I'm throwing into an outline that will be no longer than 15 pages or so.

doctoroflaw91 wrote:My exam is open book, but from what I understand, quite long. I did flashcards to memorize the big concepts ensconced in each of the rules, and then the rest, I'm throwing into an outline that will be no longer than 15 pages or so.

I wouldn't worry about memorizing them verbatim then, but absolutely memorize the concepts of each. My Civ Pro II final was open book and I used the outline as a crutch and it really screwed me. Got a B- which honestly was more than I deserved, I completely tanked the exam and my outline was useless given the time constraints and how unprepared I was w/ the rules.

Thanks for the tips!

even open book id still MEMORIZE. wtf are you going to do for the bar, now that civ pro is on that too? =(

StoNeyPoiNt21 wrote:even open book id still MEMORIZE. wtf are you going to do for the bar, now that civ pro is on that too? =(

You're not going to remember it from your 1L exam - and studying for the bar is completely different from taking law schools exams.

If it's open book no need to memorize them. However, like others have said, you should be very familiar with the concepts and use the books for the specific language and rule #. Do you have the Rich Freer lectures (law school legends)? I listened to those over and over and over and basically knew the law cold, but referred to the rulebook for specifics. Make sure you tab your book.

On the past several exams, my professor had only asked questions covering a handful of topics. He said we could write whatever we wanted in our rule book..so what did I do? Wrote out EXACTLY what I would write on the exam if that Q came up..and sure enough they did. I had pages of which I just copy and pasted on the exam, then filled in the blanks with the facts of the Q to finish the analysis.

I don't think I ever really memorized which rule was what. I generally knew what the content of the most important rules were, but I didn't necessarily remember that Rule 23 was class actions, if that's what you were asking. I'd just focus on being able to look at the rule and apply it, which will involve some practice beforehand. I definitely wouldn't waste time learning to write the rule out cold, if that's what you are considering.