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How to Write a First-Class Law Essay

Studying law at university entails lots of essay writing. This article takes you through the key steps to writing a top law essay.

Writing a law essay can be a challenging task. As a law student, you’ll be expected to analyse complex legal issues and apply legal principles to real-world scenarios. At the same time, you’ll need to be able to communicate your ideas clearly and persuasively. In this article, we’ll cover some top tips to guide you through the process of planning, researching, structuring and writing a first-class law essay with confidence. 

1. Start In Advance

Give yourself plenty of time to plan, research and write your law essay. Always aim to start your law essay as soon as you have the question. Leaving it until the last minute does not only create unnecessary stress, but it also leaves you insufficient time to write, reference and perfect your work.

2. Understand The Question

Do not begin until you fully comprehend the question. Take the time to read the question carefully and make sure that you understand what it’s asking you to do. Highlight key terms and annotate the question with definitions of key concepts and any questions that you have have. Think about how the question links back to what you’ve learned during your lectures or through your readings.

3. Conduct Thorough Research

Conducting thorough research around your topic is one of the most fundamental parts of the essay writing process. You should aim to use a range of relevant sources, such as cases, academic articles, books and any other legal materials. Ensure that the information you collect is taken from relevant, reliable and up to date sources. Use primary over secondary material as much as possible.

Avoid using outdated laws and obscure blog posts as sources of information. Always aim to choose authoritative sources from experts within the field, such as academics, politicians, lawyers and judges. Using high-quality and authoritative sources and demonstrating profound and critical insight into your topic are what will earn you top marks.

4. Write A Detailed Plan

Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to plan your essay. When writing your plan, you’ll need to create an outline that clearly identifies the main points that you wish to make throughout your article. Try to write down what you wish to achieve in each paragraph, what concepts you want to discuss and arguments you want to make.

Your outline should be organised in a clear, coherent and logical manner to ensure that the person grading your essay can follow your line of thought and arguments easily.  You may also wish to include headings and subheadings to structure your essay effectively This makes it easier when it comes to writing the essay as starting without a plan can get messy. The essay must answer the question and nothing but the question so ensure all of your points relate to it.

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5. Write A Compelling Introduction

A great introduction should, firstly, outline the research topic.  The introduction is one of the most crucial parts of the law essay as it sets the tone for the rest of the paper. It should capture the readers attention and provide the background context on the topic. Most importantly, it should state the thesis of your essay.

When writing your introduction, avoid simply repeating the given question. Secondly, create a road map for the reader, letting them know how the essay will approach the question. Your introduction must be concise. The main body of the essay is where you will go into detail.

6. Include A Strong Thesis Statement

Your thesis should clearly set out the argument you are going to be making throughout your essay and should normally go in the introduction. Your thesis should adopt a clear stance rather than being overly general or wishy-washy. To obtain the best grades, you’ll need to show a unique perspective based upon a critical analysis of the topic rather than adopting the most obvious point of view.

Once you’ve conducted your research and had a chance to reflect on your topic, ask yourself whether you can prove your argument within the given word count or whether you would need to adopt a more modest position for your paper. Always have a clear idea of what your thesis statement is before you begin writing the content of your essay. 

7. Present the Counter-argument

To demonstrate your deeper understanding of the topic, it’s important to show your ability to consider the counter-arguments and address them in a careful and reasoned manner. When presenting your counterarguments, aim to depict them in the best possible light, aiming to be fair and reasonable before moving on to your rebuttal. To ensure that your essay is convincing, you will need to have a strong rebuttal that explains why your argument is stronger and more persuasive. This will demonstrate your capacity for critical analysis, showing the reader that you have carefully considered differing perspectives before coming to a well-supported conclusion.

8. End With A Strong Conclusion

Your conclusion is your opportunity to summarise the key points made throughout your essay and to restate the thesis statement in a clear and concise manner.  Avoid simply repeating what has already been mentioned in the body of the essay. For top grades, you should use the conclusion as an opportunity to provide critical reflection and analysis on the topic. You may also wish to share any further insights or recommendations into alternative avenues to consider or implications for further research that could add value to the topic. 

9. Review The Content Of Your Essay

Make sure you factor in time to edit the content of your essay.  Once you’ve finished your first draft, come back to it the next day. Re-read your essay with a critical perspective. Do your arguments make sense? Do your paragraphs flow in a logical manner? You may also consider asking someone to read your paper and give you critical feedback. They may be able to add another perspective you haven’t considered or suggest another research paper that could add value to your essay. 

10. Proofread For Grammatical Mistakes

Once you’re happy with the content of your essay, the last step is to thoroughly proofread your essay for any grammatical errors. Ensure that you take time to ensure that there are no grammar, spelling or punctuation errors as these can be one of the easiest ways to lose marks. You can ask anyone to proofread your paper, as they would not necessarily need to have a legal background – just strong grammar and spelling skills! 

11. Check Submission Guidelines

Before submitting, ensure that your paper conforms with the style, referencing and presentation guidelines set out by your university. This includes the correct font, font size and line spacing as well as elements such as page numbers, table of content etc. Referencing is also incredibly important as you’ll need to make sure that you are following the correct referencing system chosen by your university. Check your university’s guidelines about what the word count is and whether you need to include your student identification number in your essay as well. Be thorough and don’t lose marks for minor reasons!

12. Use Legal Terms Accurately

Always make sure that you are using legal terms accurately throughout your essay. Check an authoritative resource if you are unsure of any definitions. While being sophisticated is great, legal jargon if not used correctly or appropriately can weaken your essay. Aim to be concise and to stick to the point. Don’t use ten words when only two will do.

12. Create a Vocabulary Bank

One recurring piece of advice from seasoned law students is to take note of phrases from books and articles, key definitions or concepts and even quotes from your professors. When it comes to writing your law essay, you will have a whole range of ideas and vocabulary that will help you to develop your understanding and thoughts on a given topic. This will make writing your law essay even easier!

13. Finally, Take Care of Yourself

Last but certainly not least, looking after your health can improve your attitude towards writing your law essay your coursework in general. Sleep, eat, drink and exercise appropriately. Take regular breaks and try not to stress. Do not forget to enjoy writing the essay!

Words by Karen Fulton

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How to Effectively Answer Law Essay Questions

I remember my first semester 100 level exams. I was just fresh from secondary school/JAMBITE, but I thought law exams were the same with secondary school exams. Heck, I didn’t even know that law exams were only theory questions. I was expecting to meet some objective questions, until I saw my exam questions.

Well, during the exams, I wrote what I could, and was confident my results would be awesome. After all, I had read for the exams well enough, and I used to think I was kind of intelligent.

I was in for a rude shock.

While I was in 100 level at the University of Ilorin, they still pasted everyone’s results on the notice board. So, when I heard the first result was out, I and a lot of my “fresher” colleagues went to check our results. I was expecting an A, or worse, a B.

I located my matric number on the pasted list and checked my first result. I had a C.

I was surprised, but I felt it was my first result, the others would be better.

The other results started trickling in. With each result pasted on the notice board, I realised I wasn’t so special after all. I had a series of C’s. For my 100 level first  semester results, out a total of 10 courses, I had just one A, two B’s and the rest were C’s.

I was dejected, along with most other “freshers” that received this glorious welcome to Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin.

Instead of blaming the poor results on the indiscretions of my lecturers, I knew something had to be wrong with what I wrote. So, I asked for help. I asked a scholar(the best student in a level) in 400 level at the time, Adekunle Charles , to show me how to answer law questions. He showed me the way, and I can tell you that my results improved dramatically.

So, I am going to teach you exactly what he taught me, how to answer law exam questions. I will be focusing on law essay questions in this post.

What are Law Essay Questions?

There are two major types of law questions, essay questions and problem questions. Law essay questions require you to write an essay. Unlike problem questions that require you to advise parties in a scenario.

We have all been answering a level of essay questions right from secondary school, so it shouldn’t be new to you.

The following is an example of a law essay question:

There have been a lot of arguments for and against the principle established in the popular case of Adams vs Lindsell . Expatiate, through the cases.

To answer law essay questions properly, it must follow four rules. It must have The Introduction, The definitions, the body, and the conclusion.

Answering Law Essay Questions Rule 1: The Introduction

The introduction to your law essay question is the part where you let the lecturer know what the answer is all about.

In this part of the question, you shouldn’t directly go into answering the question. Instead, you are allowed to beat about the bush a little bit. Start with a general statement and then become more specific. At the end of the introduction, you should talk about the law essay question you intend to answer.

As an illustration, this is how the introduction to the sample law essay question above should look like:

The importance of feedback in the formation of a contract cannot be over-emphasized. It is trite that every contract needs to have an offer and acceptance, and there is the need to communicate the offer and acceptance between the parties. In a lot of instances, this isn’t really a problem since the offer and acceptance is done in real-time (face to face). However, there are instances where it isn’t in real time, like when the communication is done by post. In this type of situation, due to the process of posting a letter or parcel, the communication between the parties can experience some delays. This has posed some problems, like “when is an acceptance valid?” Upon posting, or upon reception? One principle that has been developed by the courts to solve this problem is the rule in Adams vs Lindsell . This work is going to analyse this rule and talk about the criticisms levelled against it, with special attention being paid to case law.

Answering Law Essay Questions Rule 2: The Definition

This is the part of the question where you give a definition to the major terms/keywords in the question. It is not necessary that it has to be a “term” per se. For instance, in the sample question I gave above, the major term is Adams vs Lindsell .

So, what you should do at this stage is to define the rule in Adams vs Lindsell . Since this is a case, you should talk about the facts of the case.

Your answer can go something like this:

The rule in Adams vs Lindsell is generally referred to as acceptance by post. The rule in  this case was propounded by Lord Ellensborough in 1818. In this case, the defendant offered to sell some wool to the plaintiff. The defendant sent their offer by post. Due to an error in the posting, the letter got to the plaintiff on the evening of September 5. The plaintiff posted an acceptance the next day. If the letter was posted correctly, the defendant ought to have gotten the reply by September 7. So, when the defendant didn’t get a reply on September 7, he sold the wool to a third party on September 8. The plaintiff’s acceptance finally got to the defendant on September 9. Since the defendant had already sold the wool to a third party, the plaintiff sued for breach of contract. The major contention was when the acceptance would be valid. On the plaintiff posting it, or on the defendant receiving it. The court held in favor of the plaintiff that when it comes to contracts conducted by post, acceptance comes to fruition at the time of posting, not at the time of receiving.

Answering Law Essay Questions Rule 3: The Body

This is the major part of the answer to the law essay question. It is in this part of the answer that you demonstrate  your understanding of the question and knowledge of the subject matter. In a lot of instances, what differentiates an A student from a C student is the fact that an A student cited more authorities in this section of the answer.

Using the sample question above, this part of the answer to the law essay question will look something like this:

Since the inception of this rule, there have been numerous arguments for and against it by jurists, scholars, and judges alike. In the case itself, the court, in justifying its decision stated that if acceptance wasn’t complete on posting, then there is the need for the offeree to require the offeror to inform him that he had received his acceptance, and so it  goes on  ad infinitum . Scholars like Professor Sagay have disputed this justification of the rule in Adams vs Lindsell . According to him, the process doesn’t have to go on  ad infinitum.  The offeree can assume that a contract has come into fruition when the offeror receives the letter, the same way the the offeror has to assume that there is a binding contract when, and if, the offeree posts a letter of acceptance. In the subsequent case of  Household Fire Insurance Co vs Grant ,  the court gave some other concrete reasons for the adoption of the rule in  Adams vs Lindsell .  The facts of this case are as follows. The defendant applied for shares in the plaintiff company, and the plaintiff company assented by posting a letter. However, the letter didn’t get to the defendant, and as such, he didn’t know that the company accepted his offer. When the company got into liquidation, he was called upon to pay up his share. He resisted this, and thus the case was brought before the court. The court, in applying the rule in  Adams vs Lindsell ,  held  that he was liable to pay up his own shares, since a binding contract came into existence the moment the company posted its acceptance, regardless of the whether or not he received the letter. In justifying the acceptance by post rule, the court gave the following reasons: The post office is an agent of both parties. So, technically, a letter given to the post office is deemed communicated to  the offeror. By posting the letter of acceptance, there is already a valid and binding contract. There is no need for any other act to bring the contract to fruition. The offeree has merely assented to the offeror’s proposals. The offeror is free to make it a term of the contract that there  is no valid acceptance until he receives it. Any alternative rule would lead to fraud and delay in commercial transactions because the offeree would have to wait for confirmation from the offeror that he has received his acceptance. The rule is the most convenient compared to all other alternatives. However, the court’s decision was not unanimous. There was a dissenting judgement by Bramwell, L.J. He contended that if the basis of the rule was that it would cause hardship on the offeree, who might have already made arrangements based on the acceptance of  the contract, there is also hardship on the part of the offeror who might act on the belief that his offer was not accepted. This is even more relevant where the offeror didn’t receive the acceptance like in the present case. All this goes to show that the rule in  Adams vs Lindsell   isn’t one that enjoys unanimous consensus in the legal community. Recent decisions by courts in the United States suggest a shift away from this rule of acceptance by post. In the case of  Rhode Island Tool Co vs US F. Supp. 417 (1955) ,  the plaintiff’s made an offer to sell some bolts to the defendant. The defendant accepted by post, but the plaintiff discovered that they had quoted a very low price. To remedy this, they sent a telegram to the defendant revoking the offer. The telegram got to the defendant before the posted acceptance got to the plaintiff. The court held that the offer was validly revoked since the telegram got to the offeree before the plaintiff received the letter of acceptance. A similar thing happened in the case of  Dick vs US F. Supp 326 (1949) .  The facts of this case are quite similar to the facts in the above case. In this case, the offeree was the plaintiff and after accepting the offer by post, sent a telegram withdrawing it. The telegram got to the defendant before the letter of acceptance, and the court held that it was a valid revocation.

Answer Law Essay Questions Rule 4: The Conclusion

The conclusion to the law essay question is the final part of essay (just like the name suggests). There are two major ways you can conclude the essay: either by summarizing what you have written, or by giving a recommendation/comment.

To be on the safe side, you should just conclude by summarizing what  you have written. You should also make it clear that  you are concluding by including the phrase “In conclusion” at the beginning of the conclusion.

So, this is how the conclusion to the sample question would look like:

In conclusion, this work has highlighted the evolution of the rule in  Adam vs Lindsell  with special attention given to case law. This work highlighted the establishment of the rule, the justifications given by the court for this rule, and the criticisms against this rule. It finally showed a departure from this rule in other jurisdictions like the USA, due to the impact of new technology on commercial transactions.

Here’s the full answer to the essay question

So, this is how you should answer a law essay question. If you want to get a full picture of what the answer to the essay question looks like, here you go:

The importance of feedback in the formation of a contract cannot be over-emphasized. It is trite that every contract needs to have an offer and acceptance, and there is the need to communicate the offer and acceptance between the parties. In a lot of instances, this isn’t really a problem since the offer and acceptance is done in real-time (face to face). However, there are instances where it isn’t in real time, like when the communication is done by post. In this type of situation, due to the process of posting a letter or parcel, the communication between the parties can experience some delays. This has posed some problems, like “when is an acceptance valid?” Upon posting, or upon reception? One principle that has been developed by the courts to solve this problem is the rule in Adams vs Lindsell . This work is going to analyse this rule and talk about the criticisms levelled against it, with special attention being paid to case law. The rule in Adams vs Lindsell is generally referred to as acceptance by post. The rule in  this case was propounded by Lord Ellensborough in 1818. In this case, the defendant offered to sell some wool to the plaintiff. The defendant sent their offer by post. Due to an error in the posting, the letter got to the plaintiff on the evening of September 5. The plaintiff posted an acceptance the next day. If the letter was posted correctly, the defendant ought to have gotten the reply by September 7. So, when the defendant didn’t get a reply on September 7, he sold the wool to a third party on September 8. The plaintiff’s acceptance finally got to the defendant on September 9. Since the defendant had already sold the wool to a third party, the plaintiff sued for breach of contract. The major contention was when the acceptance would be valid. On the plaintiff posting it, or on the defendant receiving it. The court held in favor of the plaintiff that when it comes to contracts conducted by post, acceptance comes to fruition at the time of posting, not at  the time of receiving. Since the inception of this rule, there have been numerous arguments for and against it by jurists, scholars, and judges alike. In the case itself, the court, in justifying its decision stated that if acceptance wasn’t complete on posting, then there is the need for the offeree to require the offeror to inform him that he had received his acceptance, and so it  goes on  ad infinitum . Scholars like Professor Sagay have disputed this justification of the rule in Adams vs Lindsell. According to him, the process doesn’t have to go on  ad infinitum.  The offeree can assume that a contract has come into fruition when the offeror receives the letter, the same way the the offeror has to assume that there is a binding contract when, and if, the offeree posts a letter of acceptance. In the subsequent case of  Household Fire Insurance Co vs Grant,  the court gave some other concrete reasons for the adoption of the rule in  Adams vs Lindsell.  The facts of this case are as follows. The defendant applied for shares in the plaintiff company, and the plaintiff company assented by posting a letter. However, the letter didn’t get to the defendant, and as such, he didn’t know that the company accepted his offer. When the company got into liquidation, he was called upon to pay up his share. He resisted this, and thus the case was brought before the court. The court, in applying the rule in  Adams vs Lindsell,  held  that he was liable to pay up his own shares, since a binding contract came into existence the moment the company posted its acceptance, regardless of the whether or not he received the letter. In justifying the acceptance by post rule, the court gave the following reasons: The post office is an agent of both parties. So, technically, a letter given to the post office is deemed communicated to  the offeror. By posting the letter of acceptance, there is already a valid and binding contract. There is no need for any other act to bring the contract to fruition. The offeree has merely assented to the offeror’s proposals. The offeror is free to make it a term of the contract that there  is no valid acceptance until he receives it. Any alternative rule would lead to fraud and delay in commercial transactions because the offeree would have to wait for confirmation from the offeror that he has received his acceptance. The rule is the most convenient compared to all other alternatives. However, the court’s decision was not unanimous. There was a dissenting judgement by Bramwell, L.J. He contended that if the basis of the rule was that it would cause hardship on the offeror who might have already made arrangements based on the acceptance of  the contract, there is also hardship on the part of the offeror who might believe that his offer was not accepted. This is even more relevant where the offeror didn’t receive the acceptance like in the present case. All this goes to show that the rule in  Adams vs Lindsell  isn’t one that enjoys unanimous consensus in the legal community. Recent decisions by courts in the United States suggest a shift away from this rule of acceptance by post. In the case of  Rhode Island Tool Co vs US F. Supp. 417 (1955),  the plaintiff’s made an offer to sell some bolts to the defendant. The defendant accepted by post, but the plaintiff discovered that they had quoted a very low price. To remedy this, they sent a telegram to the defendant revoking the offer. The telegram got to the defendant before the posted acceptance got to the plaintiff. A similar thing happened in the case of  Dick vs US F. Supp 326 (1949).  The facts of this case are quite similar to the facts in the above case. In this case, the offeree was the plaintiff and after accepting the offer by post, sent a telegram withdrawing it. The telegram got to the defendant before the letter of acceptance, and the court held that it was a valid revocation. In conclusion, this work has highlighted the evolution of the rule in  Adam vs Lindsell  with special attention given to case law. This work highlighted the establishment of the rule, the justifications given by the court for this rule, and the criticisms against this rule. It finally showed a departure from this rule in other jurisdictions like the USA, due to the impact of new technology on commercial transactions.

So, here you have it, a guide to answering law essay questions. If you follow these guidelines, you should see an improvement in your grades. If you have any questions related to this, feel free to drop a comment.

P.S: If you are interested in an online course that makes it easy for you to get A’s in your law exams, you can check it out here:  Get Access to Ace LL.B Exams

72 thoughts on “ How to Effectively Answer Law Essay Questions ”

Nice one bro. But between cramming the materials given by lecturers or understanding the material which one might likely improved one’s chance of getting good grade in essay questions from your own experience.

In law exams, there are some things you have to cram. Things like the cases and statutes. For the explanatory part of the note, it’s best you understand it.

its so excited for me to find this most simple blog for law student as a guide, tnx so much, may the sky be your limit

Where can I find the statutes and cases book? I’m a political student

Thank you. This really helped Can you post the one of problem questions

Thank you so much for taking out time to be a silver linen in the dark clouds of a law student who now, understands better how to answer law questions. The time you took to practically explain this using the Adam V Lindsell case is not a waste. I duff my hat sir.

This is really useful and m gonna attempt this semester’s exams in this way. Thanks sir.

TThank you.Please I need tips on problem question.

I’m currently working on a blog post that covers that

Thank you.I will be glad if that is done in no time.

Wow!!! This is beautiful. Please what about problem question? My exam’s two weeks from today

I’m currently working on a blog post on how to deal with that. It should be out before your exams.

Where can i find it?

Here: https://djetlawyer.com/irac-how-to-answer-law-problem-questions/

wow! this is wonderful and great. this sample has taught me a better way of answering law essay question seriously. bro you are good honestly.

Thanks. It’s cool that I’ve been able to help.

Thank you very much sir. I have understood the format now. But however, if a topic that doesn’t have cases. Is it wise or necessary to find cases to relate to such topics. For instance, Legal reasoning in judicial process.

There are always cases for all topics. You just need to know where to find them. Besides, no case is specifically designated for a subject, you can use any case, as long as it is relevant.

Thanks bro, my inquisitiveness to studying law brought me to your site. Pls how do I make my dream come true. This is my nineteen years of secondary education. I have NCE N B. ed in pols n edu. Mgmt.

Eeeermmm… Have you applied to any university offering law?

Thank you so much. This has helped me greatly

You’re very welcome

Thanks bro, looking forward to that post on problem question. This is appreciated.

im inspired, this is really excellent, though it looks like a lot of work and memorization, but it was really helpful. Thanks

Thank you so much for this great Tips. have been reading it over and over again.

You’re very welcome. I’m glad to have been of help.

This is really helpful. Thanks and job well done.

Thanks a lot Mr Olamide More strength to your elbow

I am becoming more addicted to your blog, ‘barrister’ Olamide ? . Do not stop at anytime. Let’s keep flying

Thanks a lot bro.

Hello Olamide. Thank you for this comment but i really need your help for something person as regards to law. How can i reach you pls? Thanks

Send me an email.

Am very greatful for the advice you have given it’s really great. A concern: is it always a must to cite case laws when answering law questions? And what happens when you only remember facts oof the case and you don’t rremember the parties?

Cases and statutes are what separates the work of a law student from that of a sociologist or political scientists. It is quite essential that you try to cite case(s) or statutes when writing a legal piece, as they give it more authority.

It would be ideal if you remember all. But if you can’t you can just write “in a decided case”. This might not give you full marks, but you’ll still get something.

Thank you very much for the advice am really greatful

I am a law student in Ghana KNUST. It is great work you’re doing. Though most of your posts are Nigerian Law, the ones that are general is helpful to me. Thank you.

You’re welcome. I’m glad to have been of help.

A big thank you Barr Olamide this article was really helpful a lot of Law student doesn’t know how to answer law essay question but by the grace of God we will try as much as possible to adhere your tips…my regards

please, what website can I get access to full law cases from.

You can check lawpavilionplus.com. However, you have to pay.

Thanks What of problem question

Check this out https://djetlawyer.com/irac-how-to-answer-law-problem-questions/

Thanks for the advice But what if u are not so good in beating around the bush to make your answer look more interesting I usually just go straight to the point cause of time factor and I really can’t even do it.

The “beating about the bush” part is the introduction part of the answer. It should just be like one paragraph.

Thanks What of how to answer problem question

do you have to identify each section by the heading; For example 1. Introduction 2. Definition 3.Body 4.Conclusion in order to delineate these sections for the attention of the marker.

No, you don’t need to identify that. IDBC is just a framework you should have at the back of your mind when writing exams.

Please can you make a write up to writing a very good memorial for should I say guidlines to writing a very strong legal arguements. In relation to moot and mock. Thank you

Thanks for the feedback. I’ll consider it.

Am really impressed at you strive towards making a soft landing for prospective and present law student generally. In some instances,what if the question is not possessing this semblance for example “Discuss the duty of a counsel to the court” In the abovementioned question what will be the definition part?

And also if am asked to answer a short question like “the relationship between law and morality” do I still need the IDBC format?

Lastly,Is this format of answering questions only applicable in legal methods or it can serve all law essay questions?

I will be glad if you can answer me respectively…?

Thanks so much I’ve learnt a great deal, please can you post that of problem question? God bless you.

Good evening, Please I want you to out me through a law assignment (Principles of equity). The question is: ” Critically examine the contribution of equity to jurisprudence”

Thank you very much sir i have really learnt so much from your work today and i believe that before the end of this semester my grades will improve and also my knowledge and understanding on how to answer problem questions and law essay questions will improve. God bless you sir.

Please can I get your username on social media platforms…I would love to know you…you dont know how much this write up just helped me

I’m glad to have helped. I’m not so active on Social Media though. However, you can connect with me on linkedin here https://www.linkedin.com/in/olyray/ and twitter here https://twitter.com/olanrewajuolam6 . ALso, check my author bio for other social media platforms.

Okay..please can I get some materials on human rights..precisely regional protection of human rights…I can’t seem to permutate it to my satisfaction

I don’t think I currently have materials on that.

Pls can I get past questions for introduction to legal method and introduction to Islamic law

I don’t really have that at the moment.

zainab you are here…… wawu i never believed til now

Mr.Can you please help me with this: A was driving along Lagos Ibadan expressway on the 24th July, 2020 and he got to Interchange at about 5am, he then saw a BMW 2015 model under the bridge with a tag ‘for sale’. He called the no on the tag and bought the car at the rate of #500,000.00. two days after, as he was driving the vehicle on Lagos Island, he was stopped by the Police and was arrested for a stolen vehicle. He later located the seller who was also arrested by the police, he was released on bail and the vehicle was recovered from Mr A being a stolen vehicle. Mr. Intend to sue the seller for the refund of his money or to sue the police that he bought the goods in accordance with Sales of Goods Act. 1. Please advise Mr. A 2. Will your advise be different if Mr. A had bought the car at Ladipo Car Market?

Interesting and helpful will be waiting on problem question too.

Hello. Problem questions are treated here:

https://djetlawyer.com/irac-how-to-answer-law-problem-questions/

Thank you very much sir. It’s a blessings to cross paths with you going through this work. Question. Is it possible to just cite the case without giving facts of that case? For instance as was decided in Shaw v DPP 1962 AC 220 and then you continue with your analysis?

Yes. You can.

Good morning. I’m very new here. This was really helpful, thank you so much for these tips.

I however struggle with problem questions majorly. I would like to know if you have a post on how to answer problem questions??

Wow thank you so much sir. I have really been struggling with answering law essay questions This has enlightened me. I really hope I apply it well

Good morning. I’m very new here. This was really helpful, thank you so much for these tips.

Thank you very much sir . I have finally gotten a well explained answer on how to answer law questions I’m greatful 🙏

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Answering Essay and Problem Questions

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• Tips for Students
• essay writing
• Law Student
• problem questions
• tips for students

Article written by Imaan Fatima, University of Strathclyde Scots and English LLB Student.

There are two main types of questions you will come across when studying law: essay questions and problem questions. Both styles of questions can cover any area of law but require very different approaches when being answered. Every university will have a different grade criterion, so it’s important to become familiar with yours. However, there are some general tips which can be used by all law students to help best answer these questions.

Essay Questions:

I’m sure most of us have encountered these types of questions. We’re usually asked to critically evaluate, compare, or discuss some sort of legal issue.

These questions require a structured answer with an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. But before you even attempt to produce an answer, you need to create a plan. This is crucial because it will help you understand what is being asked, set out the key issues you wish to discuss and the sources you want to use.

Your introduction should be relatively short – roughly 10% of the overall word count. It should clearly outline what the question is asking you to do and how you propose to go about answering this question to arrive at an appropriate conclusion. The main body of your essay will consist of legal arguments. Each paragraph will likely answer a different aspect of the question, but they should be coherently ordered and flow into one another, instead of reading as a sequence of unrelated points. Finally, you’ll have to draw together your arguments, without introducing any new pieces of information, to reach a reasoned conclusion.

When writing an essay, think about what the examiner is looking for and the skills that are being tested: communication skills; analytical skills; research skills; and the ability to construct an argument.

Problem Questions:

Unlike essay questions, problem questions are presented as lengthy scenarios in which one or more legal disputes arise. As a law student, you will be expected to discuss these disputes and explain how they are likely to be resolved, if possible.

The best approach to answering problem questions is the IRAC method, which stands for issue, rule, application, and conclusion. This is a four-step process that requires you to identify the legal issue; identify the relevant legal rule; apply that rule to the issue at hand; and reach a conclusion to answer the question. It’s important to remember that the IRAC method should never be applied to the question as a whole. Instead, your answer should be divided based on the number of separate legal issues which occur.

Problem questions often have no single correct answer, and the facts will likely contain a number of grey areas, which means you might not always have enough facts to provide a conclusive answer. However, you can also gain marks by stating that some information is missing and hypothesising what the outcome would be if certain facts were included.

Whereas essays are designed to test your ability to discuss and critically evaluate the law, problem questions are more concerned with the application of legal principles. This means simply having knowledge of the law isn’t enough. Neither is writing everything you know about the topic and hoping to receive marks for it. You need to be able to identify relevant information within the question and apply legal reasoning to the facts.

Imaan Fatima

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Bar exam practice questions & answers.

Reviewed by:

David Merson

Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University

Reviewed: 2/16/24

As your bar exam looms near, it's perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed by the multitude of statutes, cases, and complex legal terms you need to grasp. Sure, the multitude of legal concepts might feel like a handful, but we’re here to help! This guide will delve into some bar exam practice questions to provide a clearer perspective on the exam.

We're here to help you study! We've gathered a bunch of practice questions for the bar exam. And don't worry, we've also included all the answers and some explanations. Ready to start?

The bar exam, a critical milestone in every budding lawyer's journey , is notorious for its difficulty. But remember, with a strategic approach, consistent practice of real MBE practice questions, the perfect bar exam practice test, and the right mindset , you can significantly improve your chances of success.

Practice Questions and Answers

Bar exam prep can be expensive, so to start you off on the right foot, we’ll explore some free bar exam sample questions and answers, with a special emphasis on multiple-choice questions:

1. Torts Law: Understanding Liability and Damages

Question : Tom, in a moment of inattention, collides with Jerry's car, inflicting $2000 worth of damage. Jerry decides to sue Tom for negligence. Tom admits his mistake but refuses to pay, asserting that Jerry's car was already in a state of disrepair. Can Jerry still claim damages?

• Yes, Jerry can claim the full amount of $2000.
• No, Jerry cannot claim any damages because his car was already in disrepair.
• Yes, but Jerry can only claim half the amount ($1000) due to pre-existing damages.
• No, Jerry can only claim damages if Tom had intentionally caused the accident.

Correct Answer : A) Yes, Jerry can claim the full amount of $2,000.

Explanation

Tort cases are commonly referenced in MBE bar exam questions. In a tort case, such as this, Jerry can recover damages as long as he can prove the cost of repairs or the diminished value of his car due to the accident. Tom's belief about pre-existing damage doesn't negate his liability for the damages he caused. 

While the state of the car before the accident might be relevant in assessing the degree of damage caused by the accident, it does not absolve Tom of his responsibility to pay for the harm he directly caused.

2. Criminal Law: Grasping the Concept of Intent

Question : Can Ann be convicted of burglary if her defense is that she entered the building solely to seek refuge from a sudden storm?

• Yes, Ann can be convicted of burglary even if she entered the building to seek refuge from a sudden storm.
• No, Ann cannot be convicted of burglary if she entered the building solely to seek refuge from a sudden storm.
• Maybe, it depends on whether Ann had a history of committing crimes.
• It depends on the severity of the storm that Ann encountered.

Correct Answer : B. No, Ann cannot be convicted of burglary if she entered the building solely to seek refuge from a sudden storm.

Ann cannot be convicted of burglary if she can prove that she entered the building solely to seek refuge from a sudden storm. 

Burglary requires the intent to commit a crime upon entering a building, and seeking shelter from a storm is not a criminal act . Therefore, if Ann can validate her claim of seeking shelter, she lacks the requisite intent for a burglary conviction.

3. Constitutional Law: Freedom of Speech

Question : Which of the following statements is true regarding the state law that prohibits residents from criticizing the governor on social media?

• Yes, the law violates the First Amendment rights of the residents.
• No, the law does not violate the First Amendment rights of the residents.
• Maybe, it depends on the type of social media platform being used.
• It depends on the popularity of the governor.

Correct Answer : A. Yes, the law violates the First Amendment rights of the residents.

This is because the First Amendment of The Constitution protects the right to freely criticize the government, which would include government officials such as a state governor. A law that prohibits such criticism would likely be seen as infringing on these protected rights. 

4. Contracts Law: The Essentials of a Contract

Question : Which of the following statements is true regarding the scenario where Jane proposed to sell her car to John for $5,000, but sold the car to someone else the very next day without receiving any acceptance or consideration from John?

• Yes, John can sue Jane for breach of contract because she made an offer to him.
• No, John cannot sue Jane for breach of contract because no contract was formed between them.
• Maybe, John can sue Jane for breach of contract because he needed time to think it over.
• It depends on the type of contract Jane proposed.

Correct Answer : B. No, John cannot sue Jane for breach of contract because no contract was formed between them.

Many of the bar test questions you’ll see will involve contract law since it’s such an important part of the legal field. For a contract to be formed, it requires an offer, acceptance, and consideration. In this scenario, Jane made an offer to sell her car to John, but John did not accept the offer or provide any consideration to Jane. 

Therefore, there was no legally binding contract formed between them, and Jane was not obligated to sell the car to John. Since there was no contract, there can be no breach of contract, and John cannot sue Jane. 

Option A is incorrect because an offer alone does not constitute a contract. Option C is incorrect because John's need for more time to think it over is not relevant to the formation of a contract. Option D is incorrect because the type of contract proposed by Jane is irrelevant when no contract was formed.

5. Property Law: The Obligations of a Finder

Question : Is Jim legally allowed to keep the $1000 he found in a wallet in a public park, even though the owner later posted flyers in search of the wallet?

• Yes, Jim is legally allowed to keep the money as he found it in a public place.
• No, Jim is not legally allowed to keep the money as it belongs to the owner of the wallet.
• Maybe, it depends on whether Jim reported the found wallet to the authorities.
• It depends on whether Jim made any attempts to locate the owner of the wallet.

Correct Answer : B. No, Jim is not legally allowed to keep the money as it belongs to the owner of the wallet.

Jim is not legally allowed to keep the $1000 he found in the wallet in a public park. Property law requires finders of lost property to make a reasonable effort to return it to its rightful owner. Since the owner is known and has posted flyers in search of the wallet, Jim is legally bound to return the wallet and the money to the owner. 

Keeping the money without attempting to locate the owner is considered theft. Therefore, Jim is not allowed to keep the money, and he must make a reasonable effort to return the wallet to its rightful owner.

Hopefully going over these MBE practice questions in depth has helped you understand them better and offered insights into how to best approach them! Continue going over sample MBE questions and past bar exams to get familiar with various question types and feel prepared for test day! 

FAQs: Bar Exam Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions related to bar exam questions.

1. What Kind of Questions Are on the Bar Exam?

A standard bar exam comprises a combination of multiple-choice questions, often referred to as the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), essay questions, and performance tests. These questions encompass a broad array of legal areas, including, but not limited to, constitutional law, criminal law, civil procedure, contracts, and property law.

2. Is the Bar Exam Actually Hard?

Yes, the bar exam can feel very hard because it covers a lot of topics, there's limited time, and it's really important. But, with good studying, lots of practice , and a never-give-up attitude , many people do succeed.

3. How Can I Practice for the Bar Exam?

Preparation for the bar exam calls for a well-rounded approach. This includes gaining a firm understanding of legal principles, committing key facts and cases to memory, and rigorously working through bar exam practice questions. 

Using a mix of bar exam practice multiple choice questions and essays, as well as reviewing model answers, can substantially enhance your legal analytical abilities, as well as improving your speed and accuracy in test-taking. 

Additionally, consider joining a study group or enlisting the help of a tutor for structured guidance and support.

4. What Essay Questions Are on the Bar Exam?

Essay questions on the bar exam typically present a hypothetical scenario and require you to apply legal principles to analyze it. These questions are designed to test your ability to identify relevant legal issues, apply the law accurately, and articulate a logical and well-structured argument. 

Some jurisdictions also include Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) questions, which test knowledge across a wide range of legal topics.

Final Thoughts

Facing the bar exam may feel like a herculean task, but take heart in knowing that countless others have successfully surmounted this obstacle, and you certainly can too. 

Regular, methodical practice with bar exam questions and answers will not only deepen your understanding of the law but also refine your analytical skills and boost your self-confidence.

As you forge ahead with your preparation, keep this essential principle in mind - practice does not merely make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. View these bar exam sample questions as stepping stones that enable you to refine your techniques, rectify errors, and devise a strategy that best suits your individual learning style.

Ultimately, your success in the bar exam will stand as a testament to your unwavering dedication, determination, and mastery of legal knowledge. So, keep practicing, stay focused, and before long, you'll be on your way to joining the esteemed fraternity of licensed attorneys. 

Your journey may be tough, but the destination will certainly be worth it. Good luck!

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Law School Admissions Essay Topics

Law schools admissions essay topics involve questions or themes that you address in one or more of your admissions essays. Most law schools require you to complete an essay in which you discuss your aspirations in the field of law and the experiences that make you the right candidate. The tone of your essay should be personal, and you should aim to express the sincerity of your desire to become a law school student through evidence from your academic and non-academic background. In this blog, we are going to discuss various law schools admissions essay topics and prompts with sample answers to help guide you as you develop your own essays. Remember, you will most likely have to write more than one essay, including a law school personal statement , a diversity statement, and sometimes an addendum. Referring to common topics can help you find patterns and plan your essays ahead of time.

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Article Contents 14 min read

What are law school admissions essay topics.

Each law school you’re planning to apply to is going to ask for an essay with specific requirements, usually in the form of a law school personal statement, law school letter of intent, and law student cover letter . Some schools also allow law school optional essays, such as a law school diversity statement or a law school addendum . An addendum is a document in which you explain various weaknesses on your application. These may include poor grades or gaps in work history. Definitely check the schools you want to apply to to see if this is a requirement. Some schools will supply the applicant with a specific format for their personal essays, where they have to address a certain law school essay prompt or essay topic. On admissions pages, you will find that a lot of programs give a general outline of what they want you to write about for each essay. For example, Harvard Law School asks their applicants to provide context for how they think they can contribute to Harvard Law and legal communities.

The topics you can write about generally involve a combination of work/volunteering history, behavioral or situational questions, or references from your academic background. In your responses, you will not only want to provide information about how your experiences shaped your desire to pursue a career in law, but you will also want to choose a topic that can fully represent the scope of your goals and background. If a school requires you to answer a very specific prompt, and even if they only provide a rough sketch of what they want you to write about, if you don’t do so, you will likely get rejected. Before you even start writing, find out what various schools are looking for in all variations of written documents. As a side note, if you find you need help creating a compelling response to some of the topics, a law school advisor can help.

Law School Admissions Essay Topics with Expert Sample Answers

As you’re developing your law school admissions essay(s), pay particular attention to the formatting guidelines on each school’s website. Not all law schools in the US are going to give you a rigid structure you must follow for your essays, but for those that do, make sure you respect any word count or page limitations. If no format is specified, assume a word count between 500 and 800, and a page count between one to two pages. Some law schools like Harvard mention they want applicants to use the full two pages.

We will go over some common topics and themes you need to pay attention to as you begin brainstorming for your essays. While the wording of the prompts may be different for the schools you are applying to, there are some common tropes that you need to detect to write an essay that will get you in.

Here are some law school admissions essay topics for you to consider:

1.   Can you describe a project you worked on that contributed to personal growth?

This essay topic is really asking you what steps you took to prepare yourself for law school and why you are pursing this career path in general. Though it does not specifically asking you about law, make sure to connect the project you choose to write about to your desire to become a layer. This essay topic is a common example of a prompt you would use in an optional essay. Some students would also describe a project they worked on in their personal statements without necessarily making it the theme of the essay. What makes this topic so well-rounded is that it gives you the opportunity to show that you’re persistent, hard-working, and able to problem-solve your way through challenges or unexpected conflicts – very important qualities to have as a lawyer. You can describe a project you worked on during an internship relevant to law or community service project. Once you describe the detail of the experience, demonstrate what you learned and how the experience shaped you both personally and professionally. Make sure to show rather than tell what your role was, how you affected the outcomes of the project, and how it affected you and your desire to pursue law. Most students will find success for this topic if the project also happens to be one of their proudest achievements, since you will be answering another common prompt, “what is one of your proudest achievements?” As a starting point, reflect on who you are as an individual, and try to avoid mentioning anything that programs can see or infer from your resume or transcript.

 I became interested in the field of law after taking a criminology class in my first year of undergrad. I was amazed at some of the statistics regarding disproportionate sentencing and the challenges certain criminals faced when they were released from prison as they attempted to assimilate back into society. Compounding with this new statistical knowledge, was a situation in which I was asked to pull over to the side during a routine traffic stop. I wondered if it was possible that part of the reason I was pulled over was due to the fact that I’m a person of color. Having this direct experience reminded me of what I read in class, and was immediately looking for ways to get involved in some small way in rectifying small injustices. When I mentioned to my parents that I was the only one being asked to pull over, my father mentioned that when I was too young to remember, he served a small sentence for possession of marijuana, despite having a medical prescription to manage chronic pain. What disturbed me the most about this epiphany about injustice was that there were examples that were far worse than both mine and my father’s.

This topic is your chance to describe an event or experience from your formative years that you think influenced your decision to want to apply to law school. This topic is a variation of the “why do you want to study law” interview question, which you will get a chance to practice in your law school mock interview . Programs ask this question because they want to get an idea of who you are as a person and what makes you right for this career path. Leveraging critical events or experiences from your background also allows you to demonstrate how the skills and proclivities you gained during these years will help you contribute to their program. While there aren’t any “wrong” personal experiences that may have led to your decision to pursue a career in law, an admissions committee is looking for specific details about your past, such as accomplishments or memorable moments that tell a story about who you are. Think of it like you’re summarizing the chapter on the education and careers section of your autobiography. What would you want it to include? Always conduct research on the school that you're applying to when you’re writing a personal statement or optional essay so you can choose experiences that resonate with their mission.

Growing up as the child of a politician and a professor of criminal justice, I travelled around the country a lot as my parents had new career opportunities. Because both of my parents were heavily involved in various community service programs, I was also exposed to a lot of the incongruities in outcomes among families of diverse backgrounds. Having parents who were working in a very closely related field to law, I had the benefit of early exposure to some of the issues that the field faces, and the people they often encounter. Despite the frequent travel, one thing that I took for granted prior to campaigning around with my father was how stable my upbringing was. All my needs were constantly met, and I never had to worry about the things that were often addressed in certain social services programs like meal plans, financial services, and homelessness. This realization sparked the development of my critical thinking about social issues.

One year, my dad had been working on implementing a new social service program focusing on investments for families with disabilities or financial strife. During the campaign in which he was promoting this new development and ensuring various cities could provide the educational resources for those who wanted to access this program, we were visiting some of the families who were among the first to access it. We were sitting down with the family at their home to discuss what the program would involve. The family included two young children and their mother. She explained that her husband passed away from a work accident, and while she was able to work from home to support her children, it was still difficult to balance other needs with supporting them financially. Seeing how emotional and grateful she was for what my father had developed was inspiring to witness, and I knew immediately that I wanted to follow in my parents’ footsteps and get involved in something similar.

Law schools want to identify the students who they think can not only succeed in their program, but who can also improve the reputation of their program. In other words, these kinds of prompts are asking “why our school?” Your long-term career goals should explain what you hope to achieve in five to ten years from now, and how you think the program can help you achieve those goals. Take this opportunity to outline one or more of your major goals and the steps you can take to achieve them. To impress the admissions committee, make your answer personal but also organized, detailed, and concise. Admissions committees read hundreds of essays from applicants, so you want to show that your goals have been the subject of deliberation and that you’re serious about executing them. Anyone can have goals. A committee is looking for someone who can deliver on those goals by developing a plan of action. If you have examples of when you delivered on your goals in the past, you may also use this to support the main content of this essay. Be precise with your wording here, as any vagueness can corrupt the intent behind this topic. Review the program overview to determine what kind of goals you want to highlight in your essay. For instance, if a program emphasizes community outreach and diversity, mention a volunteering experience involving a situation where you were directly involve in such initiatives, and how this contributed to your long-term goals.

In my sophomore year of college, I joined my school’s journal team for the philosophy section of the monthly issue. Most of the philosophy content was comprised of recent developments in the field from contributions made by our faculty and students. My job was to read various submissions from the student body about topics within the field of philosophy. One of the essays I read was about how implicit bias affects admissions rates among different races, ethnicities, ages, and sex/genders, which I found so profoundly interesting that I decided I wanted to investigate this issue further. In my studies, I learned about the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that introduced the term ‘affirmative action’ in an attempt to remedy the alleged discrimination taking place within schools and workplaces. I also learned that while schools no longer employ an affirmative action framework for admissions, they still focus on trying to make their student body diverse though a more qualitative metric. Learning about the fact that discrimination still takes place on the implicit level was what inspired me to want to be an advocate for diversity. My goal was to promulgate the inaccessibility of certain educational resources that prevent people from being able to attend a post-secondary institution. I was able to find an organization in my community that was partnered with one of the local high schools to help low-income students afford college.

Looking for law school personal statement examples?

My goal since then hasn’t changed. My primary long-term career goal is to become a lobbyist so I can integrate the reality of disparate outcomes among different classes of social groups into government decisions and actions. This will give me the best chance to become a spokesperson for the issues that affect my clients so I can make the case for certain actions that will improve the outcomes for specific groups of people. My long-term goal is to have my own lobbying firm, but I know that to gain the necessary experience, I will want to join a lobbying firm that has a reputation of championing the issues and client base that I can effectively represent. Because I know that in order to realize this goal I will have to apply for a line of credit and build a reputation through networking and other advocacy initiatives, a key step to achieving this goal is to apply for the internship offered at your program for congressional aide. This internship will give me the opportunity to develop key relationships with influential members within the field, and gain the experience I need handling research and other administrative tasks that are crucial to becoming lobbyist, and eventually opening my own firm. Being someone who is already familiar with how to conduct quality research to build persuasive arguments as per my training in philosophy, I know that if I continue to refine my public speaking skills and knowledge through your program in law, my goal is attainable.

The issue I want to address is the difficulty some groups of students have in accessing higher education. I believe that everybody should be able to attend college or university if they wish to, and the fact that there are still many barriers is an issue that deserves more attention. I hope that you will consider my zealous attitude toward achieving my goals within the field of law as evidence of my ability to thrive in your program.

Want more law school personal statement examples from top law schools?

• Harvard law school personal statement examples
• Columbia law school personal statement examples
• Cornell law school personal statement examples
• Yale law school personal statement examples
• UPenn law school personal statement examples
• Cambridge law school personal statement examples

Law School Admissions Essay Topics to Practice

To recap, law school admissions essay prompts can be in one of four categories: “why X Law school?”, “why our program?”, “what can you contribute to our program and culture?”, and “are there any gaps or weaknesses in your background that we should know about?” Some law schools might request one or more essays from different categories. Choose the topics of your essays strategically to explain why you’re a strong candidate for the program. Here are some topics that you can expect some schools to ask their applicants to address:

4. Write about a time you changed your mind about an idea or issue that is of interest to you.

5. What do you believe X school has to offer to you and you to X school?

6. Describe a failure, challenge, or setback you faced.

7. Describe an experience that speaks to the problems and possibilities of diversity in an educational or work setting.

8. Describe your academic experience so far.

9. How would someone you just met describe you?

10. How can you contribute to the diversity of X school based on your achievements, background, and perspectives?

Law school essay topics are essentially prompts or questions that schools may directly ask their applicants to answer in a personal or optional essay.

Specificity can range depending on the school. Some will request very specific details and questions they want you to include, where others will only ask for the type of essay or letter they want to receive.

Common examples include “what are some of your career goals?”, “what experiences influenced your decision to pursue law?”, and “describe a project that helped you grow as an individual?” Most of all, you should always keep in mind the following questions when you write your essays: “why law?” and “why our program?” You may also encounter diversity topics and questions about any setbacks you experienced.

You don’t have to submit an addendum, but it is advisable if you want to explain any gaps or weaknesses in your resume or academic record.

You can treat your optional essay as an opportunity to write about why you want to pursue law and why you want to join their program.

You can choose based on topics that appeal to you the most. For example, if you have very defined and concise career goals, you might choose to write about this as your topic rather than something else.

A diversity statement is your chance to reflect on your own values and background as it relates to any aspect of diversity and how it shaped you as a person and as a prospective law school student.

Generally, its best to stay within 500 to 800 words. No less than one page, no more than two. Some schools will ask that for a specific word or page count, so take note of any specifications when you’re researching admissions requirements.

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Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions.

So if I understood correctly even if a topic at first look is not law-related I should find a way to link it to law and my desire to go to law school? Am I right?

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hi Deng! Thanks for your comment. Yes, your application should always link back to why you are pursing law.

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The Street Lawyer Essay Questions

By john grisham, essay questions.

These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.

Written by people who wish to remain anonymous

What is the main satire in the book ‘The Street Lawyer’ by Grisham?

The book is entirely about the break-in of an influential law office in Washington. Michael Brock is a prominent lawyer, and he is assigned the duty of finding out the intentions of the break-in and track down the people responsible for the crime. Paradoxically, the individual who broke into the law office is a destitute man. The reader finds this satirical because the author describes the law office as the most powerful and influential in Washington, and yet it is broken into by a homeless man. The reader expects the most powerful office to have the utmost security. Consequently, the facts about the break-in are entirely satirical because an ordinary man is not expected to have the power of breaking into an important law office in Washington.

Why is Brock resigning from his law profession to pursue another career?

Brock is not happy with the law profession because, most of the time, it lacks morals. According to Brock, the law professional relies on lies, and sometimes facts are hidden to win a particular case. For instance, a lawyer can decide to defend a murderer and come up with facts proving that the accused person is innocent. Therefore, Brock realizes that the law profession is driving him to engage in practices against his moral standing. Consequently, Brock decides to work in the healthcare sector to help needy families.

What is the symbolic meaning of 'The Street lawyer'?

The novel exposes the dark side of America's law profession because it explains how lawyers generate income through unethical practices. Lawyers' primary aim is to win court cases using all means to make huge profits. It saddens readers to realize that lawyers can base their facts on false evidence to win a case. In this novel, the homeless man is branded as a street lawyer, yet he knows nothing about the law. Therefore, there is a motif regarding lawyers, which explains that most layers are unethical, and they have no difference from a street layer.

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The Street Lawyer Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Street Lawyer is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Study Guide for The Street Lawyer

The Street Lawyer study guide contains a biography of John Grisham, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Street Lawyer
• The Street Lawyer Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Street Lawyer

The Street Lawyer essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Street Lawyer by John Grisham.

• Death Is Only One Breath Away: How Michael Brock Changes in 'The Street Lawyer'

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50 Most Expected Essay Topics for Judiciary Exams 2024

Author : Yogricha

Updated On : May 9, 2024

Overview:   Essay writing is one of the most important skill that you must work on if you are planning to crack Judiciary. In most State Judiciary Examinations essay writing is an important part in Mains examination.

To help you with the preparation of essay writing for Judiciary Mains examination then we have made a list of important topics that you should know and we have also curated a list of tips and tricks that will help you socre better in essay writing in Judiciary Mains Examination.

Before writing an essay you should know things like, details of the topics, how to start wirting, how to give examples, etc. therefore, in this blog we will cover:

• How to start your preparation for essay writing?
• Important Essay Topics for Judiciary Exams 2024
• Topics from Previous year question papers
• Expected essay topics in 2024 Judiciary Exams

Download FREE Notes for Judiciary Exams by Judiciary Gold

How to start your preparation for essay writing for 2024 Judiciary Exams?

If you want to crack judiciary exams in 2024 then you must master the art of essay writing. This article will discuss some important essay topics you should be prepared for, along with tips and strategies to help you write effective essays.

So, whether it's analyzing social issues, addressing legal topics, or exhibiting language proficiency, mastering the art of essay writing is crucial to excelling in judiciary exams. Prepare to sharpen your writing skills and delve into the 50 most expected essay topics for Judiciary Exams 2024.

Download FREE Notes of Transfer of Property Act by Judiciary Gold

Most Important Essay Topics for Judiciary Exams 2024

Writing an essay on legal topics for a judicial exam becomes more challenging since research and sufficient legal understanding are required. In such scenarios, practice is the only key to writing a good essay in the Upcoming Judiciary Exams .

The following are some of the most critical essay topics for a judiciary or current essay topics in 2024 for Judiciary exams that you need to focus on to score well in essay writing:

Read Now:  Note-making ti ps suggested by the judiciary exam toppers

Download FREE Notes of Indian Contract Act for Judiciary

Apart from the above-mentioned topics, here are more topics for your reference:

•   Lawyers' Role in Speedy Justice-delivery
• Capital Punishment
• Human Rights in India 
• Empowering a woman empowers the next generations.
• Marriage - an institution of great social relevance
• Farmers' stir - more than a loan waiver
• The drug, drinking and driving never go together
• Cyberbullying - more extreme than face-to-face taunts
• Global warming is warning us through sea level rising and ice caps melting
• With value education, build the pillars of character
• Lawyers' Role in Speedy Justice-delivery
• Apolitical Education
• Skilling the youth of India
• Education is a weapon that can change the world
• Right to education - challenges and prospects
• The dark disparity gap between rich and poor

Read More:  When to begin Judiciary Exam Preparation

Download Smart Study Plan for Judiciary Exams 2024

• Why is the administration insensitive to the plight of slum dwellers
• Environment vs Growth
• Is communalism a challenge to peace or propagation of religion or something else
• Right to privacy
• Young Indian's preferences from job search to job creation
• Should educational qualifications be made mandatory for politicians
• Reservations and Human Development in India
• Beto Bachao - Beti Padhao, India ko aage badhao
• India & China, from rivalry to enmity
• How the internet changed the way we live
• Cybernation - a threat or a convivial to employment
• Be the change you want to see in others
• Justice delayed Justice denied

Know more: How to prepare for Judiciary in 2024?

Download 1 Year Preparation Strategy for 2024 Judiciary Exams

Previous Year's Essays Topics in Judiciary Exams

Here is the table of the essay topics that were asked in the previous year's PCS J Exams:

Understand Now:   Judiciary Exam Pattern  

Download Functions of Judiciary Notes

50 Most Expected Essay Topics for Upcoming Judiciary Exams 2024

Essays can increase your score and improve your final rank with little effort and the proper technique. Follwong the fifty most important essay topics for PCS J exams. Prepare these topics well in advance to excel in the Essay section of the Judicial Services Exam :

• Role of courts/courts during a pandemic
• Violence against women
• Child rights during lockdown
• Digitalisation of education
• Right to digital education
• Vaccination Policy of India
• Contempt of court
• Power of court to order relief for covid affected patients
• Labourer's/daily wage workers' rights
• Women's Rights during lockdown
• Hate speech
• Organizing mass gatherings during a pandemic
• Essential services during lockdown
• Restriction of rights of citizens during pandemic/lockdown
• Freedom of religion vis a vis pandemic
• Role of social media in the Pandemic
• Growing unemployment
• Medical infrastructure of the country
• Participation of the Judiciary in Politics
• Mental health
• Freedom of speech and expression
• Freedom of movement
• Sustainable environment
• Growing intolerance
• Social and legal ramifications of CAA/UAPA
• Right to protest
• Rights of the LGBTQIA+ community
• Too much democracy
• Atmanirbhar Bharat
• Terrorism (talibanism)
• Problem of malnutrition
• New India - Why Still A Union Territory?
• Debate on nationalism
• Pollution crises
• Article 370
• Water disputes between states
• Fugitive economic offender bill
• Labour Reform
• White collar crime
• Women Empowerment
• Triple Talaq
• Cyberbullying
• Global Warming
• Right to Education
• Gender disparity in the social sector
• Justice delayed justice denied
• Protection of Child Rights in India
• Social Justice in Indian Democracy
• Alternate Dispute Redressal (ADR)
• Right to Constitutional Remedy

Know About:  Best Books for Judiciary Exams  

Download Hindu Law Notes for Judiciary by Judiciary Gold

Important Current Legal Essay Topics for Judiciary Exam 2024

Solving previous year's Questions Papers for Judiciary Exams  will help you know the difficulty level and the type of questions asked in the essay paper. Refer to the following list of essays on current legal topics in India:

• Importance of Uniform Civil Code in India
• Role of Media in protecting democratic values in India
• Causes and Consequences of Violence Against Women in India
• Protection of human rights; Indian scenario
• How gender inequality affects the progress of our country
• The education system in India
• Causes and Consequences of Corruption in India
• The Practice of Child Labour In India
• The right to privacy is a fundamental right in India
• Right to Education in India

Read More : How to Read Bare Acts for Judiciary Exams?

• Barriers to Access to Justice in India
• Social Justice in Indian Democracy: An Overview
• The law relating to contempt of courts in India
• Review of administrative law in India
• Alternative dispute resolution in India
• Child Rights in India
• Right to constitutional remedies under the Constitution of India
• Emergency provisions of the Constitution of India
• Role and Powers of Governor
• Functions of Parliament in India: An overview
• Right to a fair trial in India

Important English Essay Topics for Judiciary Exams 2024

English is a subject where you can improve your grades in the judicial services examination. 

Following a few  English preparation tips for Judiciary Exams will help enhance your grammar and vocabulary, which are essential for writing a good essay.

The following are essential English essay topics for the Civil Judge exam:

• Role of Media
• Demonetisation
• Cyber Security
• Child Labour
• Industrial Development/Pollution
• Farmers suicide
• Water disputes
• Social Media
• Globalization
• Recent Laws
• World meetings
• Social issues

Read More : Short Tricks to Memorize Bare Acts for Judiciary exams

Mastering the Art of Writing An Excellent Essay for Judiciary Exams 2024

While an essay is a large project, there are many steps a student can take to break down the task into manageable chunks.

Following are the six steps to drafting an essay:

• Read and understand the topic : Know precisely what is being asked of you. 
• Plan:  Prepare an outline or diagram of your ideas around the selected topic.  To write a successful essay, you must organize your thoughts. You must see connections and links between ideas more clearly by taking what's already in your head and putting it to paper. 
• Write the body:  The body of your essay argues, explains, or describes your topic. Each main idea that you wrote in bullets.
• Write the introduction:  The introduction should attract the reader's attention and show the focus of your essay. Your diagram or outline will become a separate section within the body of your essay.
• Write the conclusion:  The conclusion brings closure to the topic and sums up your overall ideas while providing a final perspective on your topic.
• Proofread : Read your response carefully to ensure there are no mistakes and you didn't miss anything.

How to Write a Good Essay in Judiciary Exam 2024?

Essay writing is an art that cannot be learned overnight or in a month. To write a good essay, you must read books, love reading and writing, and follow good authors. An Essay mainly depends on your command of the language and how much you know about the topic .

The following are some of the best essay writing preparation tips for the Judiciary exam :

First, you should read newspapers, magazines, etc., as it will help improve your vocabulary, knowledge, and viewpoint.

1. Selection of Topic

• Generally, you will be given 3 to 4 topics in the exam.
• You have to choose the one per your knowledge of the particular topic.

2. Planning

• After finalizing the topic, you must plan your writing with a balanced approach.
• Jot down the key points to be mentioned in your essay.
• Your views must be presented in objective nature rather than presenting them in subjective nature.
• Also, mention your opinions and arguments with examples in your essay.
• Include facts and figures to support your approach.

Read more : Judiciary Exam Syllabus

3. Prioritize Important Points

• Highlight the essential points in the initial paragraph of the essay. 
• Try to include all the critical points related to the topic in the essay.
• Make text bold or italics to highlight the critical points in the middle of the paragraph.

4. Interlink Each Point

• Try to interlink each point in the essay.
• The second paragraph must continue the first paragraph; the third paragraph must relate to the second one, and so on.
• Do not repeat the content of the introduction.
• The essay topics encompass diverse areas of law, including constitutional law, criminal law, and civil law.
• Understanding key concepts and recent developments in these areas is crucial for success.
• Candidates should enhance their analytical and critical thinking skills to address these topics effectively.
• Regular practice and mock essay writing will help candidates develop their writing style and time management.
• Familiarity with landmark judgments and relevant case laws will strengthen essay arguments.
• Continuous self-assessment and revision will ensure a well-rounded preparation for the judiciary exams.

By utilizing these key takeaways, candidates can confidently and competently approach the essay section of the judiciary exams.

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Attorney for slain airman, sheriff dig in after release of shooting body-camera footage

An  active-duty U.S. airman was shot and killed during a deputy-involved shooting on May 3.

Roger Fortson, 23, was shot and killed by an Okaloosa County Sheriff's deputy when, according to the department, the deputy was responding to "a disturbance in progress."

The Fortson family retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump who has accused the department of covering up misconduct in the aftermath of the shooting.

“The circumstances surrounding Roger’s death raise serious questions that demand immediate answers from authorities, especially considering the alarming witness statement that the police entered the wrong apartment,” Crump said in a statement on Wednesday.

Family, police dispute events preceding shooting

Sheriff Eric Aden held a press conference Thursday at which he disputed some aspects of what the Fortson family has alleged and provided police body cam footage to show that the deputy involved in the shooting had visited the right door when answering the disturbance call.

The video released Thursday indicates that the deputy was given a specific room number by a woman at the apartment complex and that he clearly knocked on a door and identified himself as being a deputy.

Though no sound from within the apartment indicates a violent argument of the type described by the woman in the video was occurring when the deputy arrived, Aden said "Mr. Fortson’s comments indicate that he did acknowledge it was law enforcement at his door, and that he arrived at the door with a firearm in his hand."

The video indicates the deputy stood to the side of the door, out of sight of the peephole, and began firing immediately after the door was opened.

Crump also held a press conference Thursday to present what he says is the real story of how Fortson died; shot inside his own apartment by a cop who had burst in while he conversed over Facetime with his girlfriend.

An attorney from Crump's office said the law firm has located "an unofficial redacted 911 call" that has led them to believe a disturbance had been reported to the leasing office at the Elan Apartment "from what we believe to be a fourth party."

She said the attorneys representing the Fortson family believe the disturbance call was the one that brought deputies to the scene of the fatal shooting but continue to seek answers.

After having a chance to review the body camera footage Thursday, Fortson's family released a statement saying:

“ In the four-and-a-half minute, heavily redacted video, it is very troubling that the deputy gave no verbal commands and shot multiple times within a split second of the door being opened, killing Roger. Despite the redactions, the video has provided some answers, but it’s also raised even more troubling questions: As the officer didn’t tell Roger to drop the weapon before shooting, was the officer trained to give verbal warnings? Did the officer try to initiate life-saving measures? Was the officer trained to deal with law-abiding citizens who are registered gun owners?"

Girlfriend witnessed shooting on Facetime

Crump said the girlfriend, who has hired an attorney and is staying out of the public eye for now, has told him "she heard everything" that happened inside Fortson's apartment on the afternoon of the shooting.

She said Fortson was startled by an aggressive pounding on the door of the apartment, but when he peered through the peephole, he could see no one on the other side, so he went and retrieved his legally registered gun.

"She just heard shots and he was on the ground, they just said 'he's shot up'" Meka Fortson, Roger's mother, said during Crump's press conference. "My baby was shot up."

Who was Roger Fortson?

Meka Fortson called Roger the backbone of her family and said he had enlisted in the military after graduating high school to work toward his dream of buying her a home.

"He was living his dream, he was going to make life better for his mother and family," she said.

He was also well respected by his military superiors and colleagues, she said. Roger was a was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron and entered active duty on Nov. 19, 2019.

"Everybody has told us what a respectable young man he was," Meka Fortson said, adding that he would have had too much respect for law enforcement officers to confront them.

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Defense lawyers for Donald J. Trump, who has sold branded water, mattresses and steak, pressed Stormy Daniels about how she has capitalized on her account of a liaison with him.

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By Matthew Haag

• May 9, 2024

A lawyer in Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial on Thursday sharply attacked Stormy Daniels over her account of having had sex with Mr. Trump, suggesting that she had continually sought to make money off their liaison.

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Ms. Daniels retorted: “Not unlike Mr. Trump.”

Matthew Haag writes about the intersection of real estate and politics in the New York region. He has been a journalist for two decades. More about Matthew Haag

Our Coverage of the Trump Hush-Money Trial

News and Analysis

Custodial witnesses, who are used to authenticate documents and events, have provided some of the more ordinary testimony in the trial, discussing FedEx labels, Sharpie usage and stapling protocol. Here’s how they’ve affirmed the basic facts  of it all.

Donald Trump, the onetime president, and Stormy Daniel s, the longtime porn star, despise one another. But when Daniels returned to the witness stand at Trump’s criminal trial, his lawyers made them sound a lot alike .

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Trump lawyer questions Stormy Daniels' account of sex with Trump

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DEFENSE SAYS DANIELS 'MADE ALL THIS UP'

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Russian PM proposes new ministers, retains ministers of finance, economy

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin proposed a raft of ministerial appointments on Saturday, including new names, but retained Maxim Reshetnikov as economy minister and Anton Siluanov as finance minister, Russian news agencies said.

Egypt has refused to coordinate with Israel on the entry of aid into Gaza from the Rafah crossing due to Israel's "unacceptable escalation", Egypt's state affiliated Alqahera News satellite TV reported on Saturday, citing a senior official.

Russia's Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil processing, petrochemical and fertiliser complex located in the Bashkortostan region has stopped its catalytic cracker after being attacked by a drone on 9 May, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.