Professor Claudia Diamond
University of Baltimore
School of Law
What’s the point? How do we do it?
What should one look like?
How do you use your outline effectively
once you’ve created it?
 Outline examples
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Read for class
Brief/Highlight cases and materials
Attend class and take meaningful notes
Review and annotate notes at end of day
before reading for next class
Weekly: work on OUTLINE (ideal versus
practical)
Although we all learn differently, most of us benefit
from collecting and organizing material into written
form
 The process of outlining is as important as the
actual end result, if not more so – FOR THIS
REASON, DO NOT RELY SIMPLY ON READING
COMMERCIAL, LAW REVIEW, OR OTHER THIRD
PARTY OUTLINES
 The outline becomes your roadmap through the
material, either to help you memorize for closedbook exams or for use during open-book exams
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I don’t know of any successful law student
who does not outline course material, though
some might exist. You learn the law when you
outline.
First semester is probably NOT the time to
see if you’re “special.”
There is no shortcut to the hard work in law
school. Your outline is your pride & joy.
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Organization of Outline
 Might be obvious from notes
 Could use book’s table of contents for guide
 If course is rule or statute based, these might be
source of organization
 Could look to third party outline as a guide
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To start, black letter law that you will use to
spot and analyze issues on the exam
You must know BLL cold before walking into
the classroom for the exam
Clearly note areas of gray and arguments
either way
Make sure you conform to professor’s way of
conceptualizing the law
 Outline should be precise, and written to the level
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of detail matching course
Unless Professor tells you otherwise, case names
and facts are not super important; it is the
HOLDINGS you are weaving into a series of
RULES and EXCEPTIONS
Include reminders about tricky issues that might
pop up
Specify places where law is not clear
(opportunities to argue both sides)
Collect your rules and divide into elements
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Organize your outline around concepts-not
cases. Where do you get the concepts?
General statement about the law—the GROL
Break the rule into component parts and then
include all the elements
Reasons supporting the rule
Exceptions to the Rule/Defenses
Other sources referred to by the professor:
UCC, Restatement, FRCP, etc.
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Write down “key language” from the cases
Write down the important “X-Part tests”
Include the law from the various jurisdictions
studied, given professor’s preferences
Include “key language” and “key concepts”
from class discussion
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Neatly typed
Highlights/Roman Numerals/Letters
Tabs
Charts
Roadmaps
Charts/visuals
Written-in comments and additions
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Not too long – it must be SUMMARY and
SYNTHESIS of material
Not too short – it must be COMPREHENSIVE
that could appear on the exam
Perhaps 30 to 40 pages?
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Study group: are discussion issues covered by
your outline?
Practice tests – was the outline helpful?
Practice tests – does the outline lead to
correct answers?
Practice tests – does the outline help issuespotting?
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Next step: CONDENSE your outline into a
“mini-outline” or even a “checklist” of
important issues
This becomes your reference for spotting
issues on the exam
Suggestion: FOR CLOSED BOOK exam,
memorize checklist and write it down
BEFORE READING QUESTIONS
Contracts I:
I. Offer
A. Definition generally-manifestation of intention to be bound
1. language
2. surrounding circumstances, prior relationships & practice of
parties.
3. how communicated
B. Offer needs definite and certain terms
1. real estate contracts
2. UCC-sale of goods
(a) reqt’s and output K
(b) missing terms
II. Termination of Offer.
A. Revocation by offeror
B. Revocation by offeree
Etc. Etc.
I. Required elements of every crime
A. Physical Act
1. voluntary
2. not doing something as an “act.”
B. Mental States (Mens Rea Reqt).
1. Specific intent
2. Malice
3. general intent
4. strictliability offenses
II. Inchoate offenses
A.
B.
C.
Solicitation
Conspiracy
Attempt