LAW
ASSESSMENTS
AND EXAMS
FELICITY FOX
INTRODUCTION TO
LAW ASSESSMENTS
How will I be assessed in law school?
• Research assignments
• Issue based assignments/problem based assignments
• Class tests
• Tutorials
• Exams
RESEARCH
ASSIGNMENTS
• Often (but not always) optional
• Are worth generally 30% - 40% of the mark if you decide to
do it
• Shorter/less weighted exam
• Often based on one particular area of the course – in
depth analysis of particular area
BUT HOW DO I
RESEARCH?
1. Research
2. Plan
3. Write
4. Edit
5. Proof
WHERE DO I GET MY
RESEARCH FROM?
• Textbook
• Statutes
• Cases
• Casebase
• First Point
• Articles
• AGIS
• Online databases
ALL of these resources are available in the library/online –
the librarians are always happy to help 
DON’T FORGET TO
REFERENCE YOUR WORK
• Plagiarism
• AGLC
• Australian Guide to Legal Citation
• The MOST valuable research tool you will have during law
school
• Available online in PDF format – super easy to control+s to
find what you’re looking for
ISSUE
SPOTTING/PROBLEM
BASED ASSIGNMENTS
•
Kind of like a law exam, but with referencing
•
Because you have so much time to do it, you will need to do
a MUCH MORE in depth analysis than you would in an exam
•
Use headings and subheadings
•
Reference cases and commentary
•
•
Commentary is the contribution that various academics have
made to a particular area of law
• If the current law is controversial, make sure you let the
examiner know what other people have said about it, and
then conclude on where you stand on the issue
Textbooks, cases and your notes are going to be very helpful
for these types of assignments
•
DO NOT reference your lecture notes!
SO IF AN ASSIGNMENT IS
OPTIONAL, WHY SHOULD
I DO IT?
• Takes a lot of pressure off the exam (ie 60%/70% vs 100%
exam)
• Shorter exam or no policy
• If you know you get stressed during exams/aren’t fast at
writing – try the assignment
• If you aren’t going to put 100% effort into the assignment –
don’t do it
CLASS TESTS
• A GREAT way to pick up marks if you study hard
• Very time constrained – just put your pen down and don’t
stop writing!
• Sometimes optional
TUTORIALS
• The most easy marks you will pick up in law school
• Attend, prepare and SPEAK UP
• Can also be used by examiners to help bump you up a
grade
EXAMS
SO WHAT DO I DO IN A
LAW EXAM?
• Two types:
• ‘Open book’
• ‘Closed book’
• Two types of questions:
• ‘Problem’ questions
• ‘Policy’ questions
HOW DO I PREPARE
FOR AN EXAM?
• Make exam notes
• By the time you get to an exam, you may have 5+ versions
of your notes – this is a GOOD THING!
• Do practice exams
• Get in study groups
• Do practice exams
• Re-do tutorial problems
• Do practice exams
• Make exam ‘scripts’
• Do practice exams
WHAT HAPPENS IN AN
EXAM?
•
Generally 2 – 3 hours writing time
•
Law exams also have ‘30 minutes reading and noting time’
•
•
•
DO NOT take it easy during these 30 minutes
Time to plan out your answers, highlight questions, structure
essays etc.
There is generally about 5 hours worth of content in every 3
hour exam – so make sure you use your time carefully!
•
•
•
•
•
Headings and subheadings
Shorten names
Shorten case names
ONLY if you run out of time – dot points
No matter where you are in a problem/essay, if you only have
1 minute left – WRITE A CONCLUSION!
WHAT DO I TAKE INTO
THE EXAM?
•
Closed book:
•
•
NOTHING!
Except:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pens
Highlighters
Soundless snacks
Water
ID card
Open book
•
•
•
•
•
All of the above, plus:
Notes
Books
Sticky Tabs
Spare notebook for reading and noting time
HOW DO I ANSWER AN
EXAM QUESTION?
• IRAC
• Issue
• Rule
• Application
• Conclusion
A FEW MORE EXAM
TIPS
• Always make sure you tell the examiner how you are
going to answer the question
• Always argue in the alternative as well
• DO NOT recall the facts of the case, instead do something
like:
• Here, similarly to Boots Cash Chemist, the display of
goods in B’s store would likely be treated as an invitation
to treat, rather than an offer.
• You will show the examiner you understand the case by
being able to analogize it!
• Don’t. Stop. Writing.
SUMMARY
• Law school assessments are hard, but if you are
organised and plan well you will be fine!
• Don’t forget to do the things you love while doing
assessments – go running, watch tv, play netball!
• There are SO many resources out there for you – use your
lecturers, the library, the LSS, friends!
• Don’t freak out – law school is super fun!