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How to Answer Law Exam Questions perfectly (step by step with examples)

This is a definitive guide on how to answer law exam questions.

This guide will tell you how to answer essay-type questions and scenario/problem questions in a law exam with sample questions/examples.

I know, the process of becoming a lawyer/ an advocate might become hard when it comes to law exams.

See: How to become a lawyer: From Undergrad to the Bar

Generally, law exams are technical and demand a high degree of attention and care when attending.

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According to the National Conference of Bar exams (NCBE), the lowest percentage of overall pass rates for the February 2022 bar exam as reported by each jurisdiction following the release of their exam results in the US was 52.6% (Alabama)

The focus here is to give you basic tips that will act as a guide when doing law school exams, bar exams, or any other law examination so that you can be among those 52.6%.

Here I will take you through;

  • Types of questions in law exams
  • How to answer Essay-type questions in a law exam
  • Sample answer to Essay-type question in a law exam
  • Scenario or problem-type questions in a law exam (IRAC)
  • Sample answer to Scenario type question
  • etc.

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Types of questions in a law exam

Generally, there are two common types of questions in law exams i.e. Essay type questions and scenario/problem-type questions. Each kind has its own mode and style of answering.

Essay-type questions in a law exam

Essay-type questions are the form of questions that require the candidate to explain, discuss or comment on the specific legal issues as asked by the examiner.

Example of essay-type questions in a law exam

  1. All confessions are admissions but the reverse is not the case. Discuss.
  2. Copyright law does not protect an idea, it protects the expression of an idea.”  With relevant examples discuss the above statement
  3. Trace the origin and development of International law

How to answer essay-type questions in a law exam

In Answering essay-type questions the candidate will be required to write an essay. An essay consists of three major parts that are an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. In order to successfully answer questions in law exams; a candidate must exactly know what the question demands.

A student may determine the demand of the question when concentrating on the wording of the question.

The words like elucidate, critically discuss, etc. connote what is supposed to be done.

How to answer essay type question in law exam/bar exams

Introduction

This is a very important part of the essay.

The way you mold it may tell the examiner if you understood the question or not.

Many students think that introduction is a part that contains a definition of key terms, however, that may be true but it is not an effective way of molding your introduction.

For your introduction to appear more professional do not defines terms in the introduction, rather tell the examiner how you are going to tackle the question. Show him what, how, and where you will focus when responding to the question at hand.

For the purpose of answering the exam, A good introduction contains at least 5 sentences or two paragraphs.

A good introduction must show the examiner that you have understood the question.

Example of a good introduction

Question

Trace the origin and development of International law.

Introduction

Every society is required to have relations with other societies, and in order to regulate the relations between the states, there is required a system of law thus international law.

This work will focus on tracing the origin of international law and the development of international law by tracing it through its divided stages of the period which was seemed to develop from, that is during the primitive and ancient period, the Greek era (6th Century BC), the Romans era, the Middle age development, during the 15th and 16th centuries, the modern international law (Hugo Grotius), during the 19th century, during First and Second World War and thereafter and lastly on the present status of international law.

Definition of terms when necessary will come as the second part of the introduction.

Before jumping to the main body you must provide transitional sentences.

The sentence shows what you’re going to do on the main body depending on what you have been asked.

An example of a transitional sentence is ‘The following is the origin and development of international law

Main body

After having your introduction, now you’re moving to the main body.

The main body contains the main answer to the question.

Your main body must be well arranged, number your points, make them visible, be clear in your explanation, and be neat.

Examiners have a lot of papers to mark, make him interested in yours by clarity, brevity, and lucid explanation. KISS (Keep it Simple and Straight) your main body.

Conclusion

Do not bring new issues to the conclusion. This part should contain a summary of key issues that transpired in the main body.

Scenario or problem-type questions in a law exam

Scenario or problem questions in law exam are the types of questions that contain a set of hypothetical or real facts on a certain legal issue and requires a candidate to analyze the fact and solve the problem by applying the relevant legal principles to the fact.

Scenario questions may demand the candidate to advise and/or draft a reasoned legal opinion, prepare necessary legal documents, etc. basing on the given facts.

Example of scenario or problem type question in a law exam

Jane has been living with Ally for the past 8 years. They have not gone through any formal marriage ceremony.

The two have been blessed with 2 children, Peter (6) and Mary (3).

Jane tells you that before they started living together, Ally (a Muslim) had agreed that he would change his religion so that the two would go through a formal Christian marriage ceremony. 8 years have passed now and, although the two children of the relationship were baptized and regularly attend Christian services with their mother, Ally is unwilling to change his religion.

Jane feels that she has been cheated and that it’s an embarrassment to her parents, who are very devout Christians.

They have a house on a plot of land which Jane had purchased before they started the relationship. About 90% of the construction costs for the house incurred by Jane since Ally has no formal employment.
Jane wants to end the relationship and have the house registered in the name of the two children.

Advice Jane accordingly or Write a concise legal opinion to Jane

How to answer the scenario/problem question in a law exam

Scenario or problem questions in law are answered using a simple formula called FILAC or IRAC which stands for Facts, Issues, Law applicable/Rule, and Arguments/Application of the law to the facts and  Conclusion. To successfully answer the problem question in law you must arrange your answer in FILAC or IRAC order.

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Example of IRAC or FILAC exam answer

The following is how you can use IRAC or FILAC method to answer a scenario or problem question in a law exam.

Facts

Here you should state the material facts of the scenario given.

If the scenario is too long and for the purpose of the time you may skip this part and move on to the next step.

From the above example, the following facts may be extracted.

  • That Jane has been living with Ally for the past 8 years.
  • That they have not gone through any formal marriage ceremony.
  • That they have been blessed with 2 children, Peter (6) and Mary (3)
  • That they have a house on a plot of the land which you had purchased before they started the relationship. About 90% of the construction costs for the house are incurred by you.
  • Jane wants to end the relationship and have the house registered in the name of the two children

NB. When extracting your material facts from the question avoid unnecessary repetition and you should consider only facts that have legal implications.

After sorting your facts move on to frame your issues.

Issues

Issues refer to the things which require a legal response in your scenario. Avoid having a lot of issues. Focus on the major issues only. From the above example, the following issues may be raised.

  1. Whether Jane can end the relationship?
  2. Whether the house can be registered in the name of the two children?

Rule/Law Applicable

Here you should list all statutes or case laws that are applicable to the issue raised.

For example from our issues, we can see that the issues are based on marriage and land respectively

Therefore you have to list all marriage and land laws that are applicable to your scenario. for Example Law of Marriage Act, The land Act, etc. When necessary show the relevant provisions.

Arguments/Application of the law to the facts

Here is where you’re going to attend to the questions.

When addressing the issue your arguments must be backed up by the legal authority. You should go straight to the point. And provide a reasoned conclusion at the end. Consider the example below

Whether Jane can end the relationship?

The law that governs conjugal relationships in Tanzania mainland is the Law of Marriage Act [CAP 29 R.E 2009]. Under section 160 (1) its provides that where it is proved that a man and woman have lived together for two years or more, in such circumstances as to have acquired the reputation of being husband and wife, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that they were duly married.

According to the case of  John Kirakwe V Iddi Siko 1989 TLR 215 (HC) the only three important elements to constitute a presumption of marriage are: (a) that the parties have cohabited for over two years; (b) that the parties have acquired a reputation of being husband and wife; (c) that there was no formal marriage ceremony between the said couple.

In the given scenario, element (a) and (c) are clear in the sense that you have been living with Ally for 8 years and they have not gone through any formal marriage ceremony. Element (b) is uncertain. Its certainty is depending on how the neighbors perceived your relationship. Thus if neighbors perceived your cohabitation as husband and wife, then the marriage will be presumed. But if not, the presumption will be rebutted.

However in the case of Hoka Mbofu V Pastory Mwijage 1983 TLR 286 (HC) it was stated that “Where there is no allegation of presumption of marriage, section 160 of the Law of Marriage Act, 1971 cannot be invoked merely on account of concubinage association.” Therefore to end the relationship, Jane must allege presumption of marriage so as the court to invoke section 160.

She can do this by formal application (petition) to the court seeking for dissolution of marriage or separation stating the evidence regarding the conduct and circumstances of their relationship.

Even when court  rebut the presumption, in the case of  Hemed S Tamim V Renata Mashayo 1994 TLR 197 (CA)  it was stated that “where the parties have lived together as husband and wife in the course of which they acquire a house, despite the rebuttal of the presumption of marriage as provided for under section 160(1) of the Law of Marriage Act 1971, the courts have the power under section 160(2)of the Act to make consequential orders as in the dissolution of marriage or separation and division of matrimonial property acquired by the parties during their relationship are one such order;”

Evidently, in light of the above discussion, Jane may end the relationship.

Repeat that process for every issue you have raised.

Conclusion

This is the last part of your question. This part contains the general response to the whole scenario.

For example, if you have been asked to give legal advice then this part should contain specific legal advice.

Also, you may put any further remarks.

Hope you have found this guide useful.

See also

Isack Kimaro
Isack Kimaro

Isack Kimaro, a lawyer, Creative Writer and self-taught SEO expert has been a prominent author of law-related topics since 2017. Through hard work, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge, Isack has successfully navigated the legal industry by providing valuable and easy-to-understand legal information to 500,000+ individuals of all levels of understanding.