Dear 1L: Try Wearing 2 Hats in Every Law School Exam

Dear 1L, You’ll likely find this (and me) silly, but I brought 2 hats into every law school final. I did it for the 3 state bar exams I had to take, too.

One hat was pink for the plaintiff (P). The other, denim blue for the defendant (D).

I defined each party to an issue in the hypo as P or D.

When brainstorming my answer, I first put on P’s hat. I played P’s lawyer. I examined the hypo for every possible fact that could help P. I circled them in pink. I then matched facts with the elements of a claim (or the factors in a legal test) that supported P’s side.

Seeing all those facts together was enough to help me craft logical arguments to support P’s legal theories; I outlined them.

Then, I’d take off P’s hat, put on D’s hat, and go through the same exercise playing D’s lawyer.

* * *
Somehow, by getting me “into character” for each question, the hats helped me achieve two goals:

1: The hats helped me maximize my ability to spot all the issues and relevant facts that each party could use.

2: The hats reminded me to give equal weight to both sides.

* * *
Might the hats help you?

And yes, I mean all of the above figuratively. But wow, wouldn’t that be something if someone actually did this literally!

I’m sending you all the greatest luck in the world.

Fondly,

💌 Amanda