Closed book law school exam

Closed book exams have been associated with cramming, rote learning and superficial understanding. When it comes to studying for a closed book exam, the most important thing is to. Subscribers can favorite, read, and mark up their study aids through the site. So in a way, you want to study the material as if you were taking a closed book exam. I wont risk my future by cheating but i feel like at least half the class will cheat. Reintroducing closed book exams at law school by cathy sherry. Identify yourself on your blue books only by your exam number. Closed is exam4s term for closedbook law school exams. In this article, we take a look at the differences between and benefits of open and closed book law school exams. Greatest challenge in law school exams exam should tell you recommended time for each question.

One of the most frequently debated issues concerning law school exams is a professors decision to make the exam open book or closed book. How will we administer highstakes final exams if our school is not physically open. A violation of the regulations constitutes a violation of the law school s academic integrity rule as set forth in the student handbook. Wondering how to study for closedbook law school exams. Students shall not remove pages or portions thereof from the examination questions, the examination answer book, or from any supplemental materials handed out by the proctor. A closedbook exam is seen as old school and more rigorous. Apr 25, 2016 but believe us, if youre cramming your way through finals, youll need to destress as well. Best lastminute study tips for your law school final exams. The use of computers on exams is governed by policy. All the other exams i have had before were open book, so this will be my first time taking a closed book law exam. Study aids subscription, from west academic publishing, is an online subscription based service that provides access to hundreds of study aids.

Heres how to prepare for a closed book law school exam. On my honor i have neither given nor received improper assistance. Feb 19, 2020 for those of you with closed book law school exams coming up, here are a few exam prep strategies that you might find useful. Part two of lees series explores how to prepare for an openbook exam and argues that your approach should be surprisingly similar to preparing for a closedbook exam. What do the terms openbook, closedbook, secure, and nonsecure exam mean. In normal circumstances, students will typically take such exams in secure environments with proctors and other measures designed to counter cheating. Reintroducing closed book exams at law school by cathy. They may seem like a silly primary school teaching tool, but nothing works. Reintroducing closed book exams at law school by cathy sherry over the past three decades, law schools, along with others, have consistently moved away from closed book exams. A closedbook exam generally means that the only source of information you may rely on is your brain. Depending on your law school, you may have many or few closedbook exams. Open book exams post by panda595 sun jan 25, 2015 7.

Professor just announced that our final will be a closed bookclosed note take home exam. Basically, when you study for and take a law school exam, you are entering gladiatorial combat with 100 orread more. Depending on your law school, you may have many or few closed book exams. Ideally, you should carve out time each week in your schedule that is dedicated to this. I know, i am strange, but i thought it seemed more fair that everyone. This includes for writing answers or for the access of information.

Law school memorization tips closed book exams j wong. Openbook proponents point out that in law practice, the exams are all. Tips for studying for a closed book law school exam. The first step to success on a closed book law school exam is outlining. What do the terms closed, open laptop, and open network mean. Written from the perspective of a student with a 4. Resources to help prepare for law school classes, exams, and the bar exam.

Below we detail the steps to succeeding on a closed book law school exam. The course description will inform students what materials are permitted. However, unless a faculty member specifically announces an open book exam, you should assume the exam is closed book. You cannot bring in an englishforeign law dictionary unless the exam is a restricted open book exam and the professor has allowed for this, or unless the exam is a completely open book exam. Today i decided to film a study tip video on how i organized my notes for a particular course and how i. Firstly, closed book examinations allegedly reduce the likelihood of cheating, a concern plaguing law schools after a 2016 fairfax investigation. I know, i am strange, but i thought it seemed more fair that everyone had to memorize the material for the exam. Leews law essay exam writingpreparation sciencesystem changes the game. Closedbook exam generally means that the only source of information you may rely on is your brain.

In such a case, correctly copying statements of legal rules, even relevant ones, into your exam response does not, as i see it, demonstrate your mastery of the. You can debate all day about whether anything else in academia is harder, but im here to tell you that law school exams are just plain tough. And of course, students prefer openbook to closedbook exams and find them less stressful philips, 2006. Studying for law school exams study guides for law student. For example, when i was a firstyear law student, all of my exams were closed book. If you read our previous post on open book law school exams, youll see they share a lot in common. In fact, more and more law schools are swapping to closed book exams every year, and i think most universities will start making the change. You only need to be connected to the internet to upload the exam answers. Feller 1994 further suggested that the openbook exam is superior to closedbook exams as it is more realisticsimilar to problemsolving situations students are likely to face outside of academia.

People listen when lawyers speak, and often rely on their answers, so it is important to be completely confident in. I go over some tips and tricks for closed book exams. I didnt have an openbook exam until i was in an upperdivision class. The law school faculty has set the policy that the use of computers during an exam period will be within the discretion of the individual faculty member. Lee has been adjunct faculty at two bay area law schools teaching classes on law school and bar exam preparation. One of the most frequently debated issues concerning law school exams is open book or closed book. What do the terms openbook, closedbook, secure, and non. Here are our best tips to help you get through terrible exams, be they bar or law school. Secure is examsofts term for closedbook law school exams. Students seem to be partial to open book exams, perhaps because they seem less frightening and overwhelming. How to succeed on a closed book law school exam jd.

These books must not contain any handwritten notes if you bring them into a closed book exam. An external mouse and keyboard are permitted provided they do not interfere with the persons. If your exam is closed book, you will want to prepare an outline that will assist you in studying until the day of the exam. But if you are taking an open book exam, including one that is partially open book,2 then you have the law in front of you. The preferred method of writing inclass exams is on computer. As requested from previous videos i have decided to share some of my memorization techniques for law school exams. Open book and closed book refers to the materials permitted.

Student exam number final examination legal profession. Open computer and closed computer refers to whether you will have access to your hard drive during the exam. Jun 22, 2017 reintroducing closed book exams at law school by cathy sherry over the past three decades, law schools, along with others, have consistently moved away from closed book exams. Reintroducing closed book exams at law school by cathy sherry over the past three decades, law schools, along with others, have. Unfortunately, that doesnt stop professors from giving them. Studying for exams law school academic support, exam study. Without the right kind of preparation, you might do worse on an open book exam than a closed book exam. An excellent text on preparing for and taking law school exams professor john delanys how to do your best on law school exams is an excellent resource for both law students and asp professionals.

Go to class and take notes on the professors key phrases, terms, and analysis. How to succeed on a closed book law school exam jd advising. Mar 15, 2020 the questions that a law school must answer are several and complex. Here are the three steps to succeeding on a closed book law school exam. While no professor expects you to memorize the restatements of law, code numbers, or case names, you will be required to know and understand the general principles of law relevant to the subject matter. You also have to practice answering questions well ahead of time. You must reframe that thinking by exploring the many benefits of practice exams when taking any type of. Last semester, all of my exams were closed book, and this semester i only have one half of one exam that is closed book. Apr 17, 2020 practice exams are key to preparing for takehome exams with the change to open book exams, it may seem that practice exams are not as necessary as they were to prepare for closed book exams. A proven effective true science of preparing for and executing the a law essay exam, leews is applicable to bar as well as law school exams. I had all closed book exams in law school until i was a 2l and i loved them.

As the title says, does anyone have any study tips on how to best approach a closed book con law exam. If you have a closed book exam, you want to make sure you create a study plan that reflects the type of exam you will be taking. A guide to better grades offers a practical, toptobottom strategy that can be applied to almost any law school exam, regardless of the topic or level. All the other exams i have had before were open book, so this will be my first time taking a. Students taking exams online must bring their computer with the examplify software previously installed on it, a power adapter, and a pen andor pencil. Aug 05, 2019 law school academic support, exam study, and bar prep. One of the most popular arguments against closed book exams is that lawyers the very profession law students are studying to become very rarely answer questions without doing a little research. Nov 12, 20 i had all closed book exams in law school until i was a 2l and i loved them. Law students completing their first year of law study in a juris doctor degree program at a state barunaccredited registered law school, through the law.

Practice exams are key to preparing for takehome exams with the change to open book exams, it may seem that practice exams are not as necessary as they were to prepare for closed book exams. May 20, 2012 i go over some tips and tricks for closed book exams. Individual faculty may choose to give open book exams. Writing exams law school academic support, exam study, and. This is true for all types of law school exams, but especially true on open book exams because all of the students have all of the rules in front of them. Oct 26, 2018 over the years, sydney law school has justified its preference for closed book exams on two grounds, both formally in press releases and informally in the opinions of particular staff members. A longtime criminal law professor, delaney provides an insightful and detailed approach to semesterlong exam preparation, as well as practical. You may not consult any other materials or communicate with any other person. Nonsecure is examsofts term for openbook law school exams. How to prepare for a closedbook exam personally, i find closedbook law school exams rather uncivilized. Open laptop is exam4s term for openbook law school exams with no internet access. Law school exam tutor extraordinaire lee faller burgess of amicus tutoring. If youve got closed book finals, these tips can be life saving.