Ask Noah About First Year of Law School, Getting inTop 10%, Law Review

[XXXNoahXXX]

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Do you have any specific test taking strategies?
Methods you used for issue extraction and answering questions? Formatting your answer?

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A lot of the courses/books follow the IRAC (issue, rule, analysis, conclusion) format which is decent.

I think its professor-specific, and don't worry there will be plenty of gunners asking "should we cite cases" "should we cite rules", etc.

Also, most all professors have sample exams and model answers on file that you can look at.

This is far and away the most important part of studying.


Take every available practice test, then discuss answers with study group, then look to model answer.


I find the most important thing is time management and mentioning the smaller things.

When it comes to tests it will be

C through B- : missed big issues

b through B+ : got all the big issues

A- : big issues and smaller issues

A : wrote something that the professor hadn't thought of, or basically nail all the major and minor points.


Some professors have an actual checklist of things that they are looking for and it is a straight add em up numbers game

So, for example,

Theres a question and their checklist will be

A) ____ (10 pts)
A1)____ (3 pts.)
A2)____ (3 pts.)

B)_____(15 pts.)

and they literally go right down the list.



when taking a test always have the professor in mind. for some profs, dropping random cases and names that touch on the subject = stop being fancy while for others, they eat it up.


Time yourself on practice tests just like you did for the LSAT, and keep in mind the personality of the professor.