Legal Exam Technique: Master Key Skills
Exam Strategy Essentials
- Problem Questions: Use IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion).
- Essays: Use a clear thesis statement and signposting.
- Time Management: Plan your answers before writing.
- Revision: Focus on active recall and application.
The IRAC Method for Problem Questions
IRAC = Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion
Step 1: Issue Identification
Example: "Does Anna have a valid claim in negligence against Beta Ltd?"
Step 2: Rule Statement
Example: "Where the situation falls within an established category, duty of care follows existing authority. Where it is genuinely novel, the court reasons incrementally by analogy with decided cases (Robinson v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police [2018] UKSC 4), having regard to foreseeability, proximity, and whether it is fair, just and reasonable to impose a duty (Caparo Industries plc v Dickman [1990] 2 AC 605)."
Step 3: Application to Facts
Example: "Harm was foreseeable because Beta Ltd knew the pavement was icy..."
Step 4: Conclusion
Example: "Therefore, a duty of care likely exists..."
Time Management Under Exam Conditions
Why planning matters: 5 minutes planning saves 15 minutes rewriting a muddled answer.
The Golden Rule
Never start writing until you have a plan. For a 60-minute question, spend 10-15 minutes planning.
Revision Strategies
Active Recall > Passive Re-Reading. Closing your book and writing out the ratio from memory is far more effective than reading cases for the 5th time.
Tool: Durmah can quiz you: "Test me on the elements of negligence".
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