Starting Points

Exam-Taking Resources

by Susan Kezele and Kara Phillips

The law library provides many materials that may assist you as you prepare for exams. We have several books in the library which discuss exam taking strategies, including:

Books

• Acing your first year of law school: the ten steps to success you won't learn in class / Shana Connell Noyes & Henry S. Noyes - LAW-4th Flr. KF283.N69 1999 (pp. 113 – 122)

• Bridging the gap between college and law school: strategies for success / Ruta K. Stropus & Charlotte D. Taylor - LAW-4th Flr. KF283.S78 2001 (pp. 103-126)

• Getting to maybe: how to excel on law school exams / Richard Michael Fischl and Jeremy Paul - Law - Reserve KF283.F57 1999

• How to succeed in law school / Gary A. Munneke - Law - Reserve KF283.M86 2001 (pp. 79-123)

• Introduction to the study and practice of law in a nutshell / Kenney F. Hegland - Law - Reserve KF273.H4 2003 (pp. 145-189)

• Law school without fear: strategies for success / Helene Shapo and Marshall Shapo - Law - Reserve KF287.S53 2002 (pp. 173-188)

• A practical guide to writing law school essay exams / John C. Dernbach - Law - 4th Flr. KF283.D47 2001

• The practice of law school : getting in and making the most of your legal education / Christen Civiletto Carey and Kristen David Adams - LAW-Reserve; KF297.C58 2003 (pp. 287 – 310)

Print Exams in the Seattle University Law Library

The library retains a collection of past law school exams through summer semester 2003. Ask for assistance at the Circulation Desk. Current exams are placed on faculty TWEN sites at the discretion of the faculty member.

Other Resources

CALI Lessons at: www2.cali.org/index.php?fuseaction=lessons.home – CALI provides computer-based tutorials in many different legal subjects; fill out the registration form at the CALI Web site and get the authorization code from the law library reference desk.

Findlaw: Confronting Your Final Exam, by Carolyn Nygren at www.findlaw.com/studyskills/FINAL_EXAMS.html and Using Professors' Old Exams To Prepare, also by Carolyn Nygren at www.findlaw.com/studyskills/USING_PROFESSORS_EXAMS.html.

LexisNexis Question of the Week at: www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/study/qanda has archived questions and answers from the LexisNexis Question & Answers Series and Capsule Summaries at: www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/study/outlines.

Preparing for Exams, by Professor Barbara Glesner Fines, University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law at www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/profiles/glesnerfines/bgf-ed5.htm.

Study Aids: The law library purchases the following study aid series: West Hornbooks, West Nutshells, Examples & Explanations, Gilbert Law Summaries, and Emanuel Law Outlines (located in Reserve). Selected copies of older editions of study aids are located in the Treatise collection for check out. To find specific titles, search our catalog at: www.law.seattleu.edu/library/research/catalog. Study aids are available for 2-hour check out and selected “starred” copies can be checked out overnight. Overnight books are available at 3 p.m. and are due the following day at 11 a.m. for day students and 6 p.m. for evening students. On Thursday at 3 p.m. the overnight status converts to weekend so the study aid will not be due until Monday. Overnight books cannot be renewed.

If you need additional help or resources, please visit the reference desk.

Last Updated: February 20, 2007