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When applying law to facts, should you say the case name every single time? And should you incorporate the case name into the sentence, or with a cite (w/o signals) at the end of the sentence?

I'm a 2L but realized, too late, that doing well on law school exams comes down to how you take the exam and not how much you study. I want to do a bit better 2L than I did 1L. That's why I'm asking. Anyway, so to include the case names or not to include the case names, and if so, how and where do I include them?

Thanks.

CicerBRo wrote:When applying law to facts, should you say the case name every single time? And should you incorporate the case name into the sentence, or with a cite (w/o signals) at the end of the sentence?

I'm a 2L but realized, too late, that doing well on law school exams comes down to how you take the exam and not how much you study. I want to do a bit better 2L than I did 1L. That's why I'm asking. Anyway, so to include the case names or not to include the case names, and if so, how and where do I include them?

Thanks.

Highly dependent on what type of law the class is. So for like CivPro (and all that erie stuff) or anything straight common law, it's almost impossible to state the law without citing to the cases. Obviously the more statutory based, you would only use cases to analogize and clarify your analysis.

I wouldn't bother doing citations, but I'd mention the names of the cases you are getting the rule from. Some profs don't care, but some profs will take major points away for not mentioning it.

if the prof wants to see case names, I found it easiest to just drop a one word name at the end of the sentence. Something like "A utility patent is strong evidence that the design is functional. Traffix."

GOATlawman wrote:if the prof wants to see case names, I found it easiest to just drop a one word name at the end of the sentence. Something like "A utility patent is strong evidence that the design is functional. Traffix."

Good stuff. And I'm assuming you rarely/never use proper signals and that using said signals isn't needed?

CicerBRo wrote:

GOATlawman wrote:if the prof wants to see case names, I found it easiest to just drop a one word name at the end of the sentence. Something like "A utility patent is strong evidence that the design is functional. Traffix."

Good stuff. And I'm assuming you rarely/never use proper signals and that using said signals isn't needed?

I would never waste time doing that