Top Law Schools

Does anyone have useful mnemonics, suggestions, mental pictures, etc. to help memorize the Rules of Evidence? I have Critical Pass cards and Emanuel's Strategies & Tactics (6th Ed), but I'm still getting killed on Evidence. As Emanuel's points out, Evidence is very mechanical and based on strictly FRE with limited exceptions of common law application like when contradiction is applicable. So, on the one hand, it should be easy points, but on the other hand, with all the rules, exceptions, when they apply (civil and/or criminal), who is testifying, and the overall court balancing "when justice requires," Evidence can be tricky.

How are some of you approaching it? Thanks!

A lot of it really is just memorization.

I like acronyms alot so Themis' "Miami Kopps" for Prior Bad Acts works pretty well for me.

I've also got a sentence phrase for the hearsay exceptions where unavailability required (since if you can remember those you basically don't need to memorize the ones where availability is required) but it's very lewd which is why I remember it but probably am not allowed to post it here.

For all those subjects where there is the phrase "probative value substantially outweighs" yada yada I like to categorize as either "favors exclusion" or "favors admission". That's because the issue comes up so often in various contexts and the wording is so similar that its easy to confuse those. If you just remember whether exclusion is favored or not you can just reason from the language that is presented.

Findedeux wrote:A lot of it really is just memorization.

I like acronyms alot so Themis' "Miami Kopps" for Prior Bad Acts works pretty well for me.

I've also got a sentence phrase for the hearsay exceptions where unavailability required (since if you can remember those you basically don't need to memorize the ones where availability is required) but it's very lewd which is why I remember it but probably am not allowed to post it here.

For all those subjects where there is the phrase "probative value substantially outweighs" yada yada I like to categorize as either "favors exclusion" or "favors admission". That's because the issue comes up so often in various contexts and the wording is so similar that its easy to confuse those. If you just remember whether exclusion is favored or not you can just reason from the language that is presented.

Would you mind sharing it in an email? My email is franconj@icloud.com. Thank you!