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When you are trying to memorize law, do you try to memorize the outline of the rule of law or the way you would write it on the exam?

I am trying to decide between condensing outlines to memorize them, or creating IDs, basically one side saying Intentional Tort, and the other saying, In the State of X, to prove intentional bla bla, you need a) bla, 2) bla bla etc....

I figured that I probably need around 80 such rules to be on the safer side of the exams and that does not seem as overwhelming as the outline.

Thoughts, opinions, recommendations?

Pokemon wrote:When you are trying to memorize law, do you try to memorize the outline of the rule of law or the way you would write it on the exam?

I am trying to decide between condensing outlines to memorize them, or creating IDs, basically one side saying Intentional Tort, and the other saying, In the State of X, to prove intentional bla bla, you need a) bla, 2) bla bla etc....

I figured that I probably need around 80 such rules to be on the safer side of the exams and that does not seem as overwhelming as the outline.

Thoughts, opinions, recommendations?

tag

I guess I'm sort of confused by this question, but what worked in law school?

I memorized with outlines in law school, so that's how I'm doing it. I tried using the Critical Pass flashcards for the MBE subjects, but got ahold of some outlines based on the Barbri lectures from someone who took the bar last year and am now using those. There's something about outlines that makes it easier for me to contextualize each discrete doctrine/ROL in each subject.

Maybe I'm just misunderstanding the question though.

I don't know if this is a weird approach but memorization is not my strong suit, so I have to mentally catalog/file the information. Basically, I memorize a skeletal outline but study from longer outlines/flashcards. I don't really actively try to recite the contents of a flashcard, but rather, visualize what is on it and how it fits within the outline.

So, for example, I'd have like a 50-item "outline" (think: headings from the lecture handout) and then will visualize what falls under it. It only works for things that I can understand/rationalize -- because then they fit in my mental framework. If something just doesn't make sense to me, I use flashcards to memorize. (E.g., for some reason, I cannot keep easements/covenants/servitudes straight, so I'm just working on memorizing. But to your question, I don't memorize how I would write it on the exam because there are too many variations).

condense outline into a short attack outline ( 7 pages for each topic), then break that down and re read it over and over and over again.. then write it out from memory in a skeletal form, then try to piece it all together in paragraph forms as if i was writing an essay on it...

then go and outline some essays and issue sport and see if my outline matches with the provided answer

Flash cards filled with mnemonics, then recording myself reading the flash cards worked fro me in LS. That's what I'll be sticking to this time around.

Reciting the elements out loud while not looking at my outline

Can anyone give examples of their memorization routines?

I've just been going over my critical pass flash-cards, but I need a good method for the Essay rule statements.

LAWYER2 wrote:Can anyone give examples of their memorization routines?

I've just been going over my critical pass flash-cards, but I need a good method for the Essay rule statements.

I broke my outline into subtopics, then created a 1 or 2 sentence intro for each topic such as criminal defense All NY criminal defense are affirmative defense. Affirmative defenses are raise by the defendant after the prosecution has successfully established each element of the charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt. The burden of persuasion nd production is then shifted to the defendant to establish their defense by a preponderance of the evidence THis means that the defendant must produce enough evidence to convince the jury that the State has not established their claims. In NY ( talk about the defense raised in fact pattern and its elements or a sentence about what it is).

if the defense raised is Claim of Right, Alibi, agency, infancy/intoxication/insanity, necessity or self defense the initial burden is on the STATE to disprove this defense in their case in chief.

Here, blah bah blah just give me points,, im smart.


and whenever possible I make up a mnemonic, or rhyme and then walk around repeating my notes until I can repeat it by memory...

LAWYER2 wrote:Can anyone give examples of their memorization routines?

I've just been going over my critical pass flash-cards, but I need a good method for the Essay rule statements.

I like to read my outline, look away, try remembering it, repeat it in my head, and shorten statements down. Like for equity I've shortened down the injunctive relief factors to:
irreparable harm, balancing (of parties') interests, (likelihood of) success on the merits, public interest. I can elaborate those factors when I need to, but shortening them down into trigger words I can spit out fast helps. Rewriting, flashcards, writing notes in my outline, and all that helps, but the biggest thing is just putting it in my head and pulling it out of my head.

i made short outlines for every subject. 5-15 pages. i read them all every day.