3 Top Exam Tips + an IRAC Template
My 3 Top Exam Tips + an IRAC {CREAC} Template
This is for all law students about final exams. I’ve been working really hard on something for you.
It’s a template for an IRAC essay .
It shows my mental process and how I OUTLINED my analysis of each issue–BEFORE I wrote a single word.
✏️ I used this same framework for every course and topic—not just in law school, but on successful bar exams for 3 states.
✏️ And last year, one of my students used it for all his essays and got straight A’s!
Try using it for practice problems and see what you find. I really think it will help you.
The template incorporates my 3 TOP TIPS for IRAC Essays:
1: Brainstorm & outline first.
In addition to promoting a more polished and well-reasoned final essay from you, outlining first ensures that you proceed deliberately, so you don’t miss out issues and lose free points.
–If I had allotted 1 hr. for a question, I’d typically spend at least 15 minutes thinking about, planning, and organizing my essay before starting to write. The more disciplined you can be about this pre-writing work, the more organized and thorough your final product will be.
2: Consider both sides of every issue before reaching a conclusion.
This means that for each element of a legal issue, you should present all logical arguments for each side. Don’t jump to what you think the ultimate outcome will be. You need to include all logical arguments for each side in your essay.
Sometimes, one or more elements of a legal issue will be so one-sided from the hypo that there are no logical arguments for one side.
–You’ll end up discussing those elements only briefly in your final essay, if at all, but unless you go through the thought process and ask yourself what logical arguments each side has for each element or factor, you risk overlooking something your professor expects you to discuss.
3: Add “because” to your legal conclusions.
“Because” is a powerful word. It ties the specific facts from the hypo to your legal reasoning and conclusions.
E.g., Instead of writing, “A court would likely conclude there was a valid offer,” write, “A court would likely conclude there was a valid offer because __ [insert reasoning based on relevant facts, logic, cases, policies].”
Alternatively, instead of writing, “P has shown there was a valid offer,” write, “P has shown there was a valid offer because __.”
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I’m thinking of you every day and send you serious studying mojo!
If this was useful, please share. ♻️
Fondly,
💌 Amanda
P.S. You can follow my hashtag, #Dear1L (2,500+ followers) for future tips in your feed, and all of my past letters are organized and archived at Dear1L dot com.
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