Preparing for Law School
Exams
Professional
and Study Skills Collection in Room A066
Located on the Atrium Level
of the Law Library, the Professional and Study Skills Collection in Room
A066 brings together an array of study aids, legal research and writing
texts, materials about succeeding in law school, as well as materials
to help you explore careers. Resources include:
- Guides on preparing for and writing law school exams
- Hornbooks and Nutshells (We keep current non-circulating copies on
Reserve at the Information Services Desk)
- Legal research materials
- Books on legal writing
- Casebooks
- Bar exam preparation materials, including sample exams and answers
- Career materials, including books on setting up and managing a legal
practice
All materials in Room A066 may be
checked out. The room also contains carrels and ample study tables, providing
a quiet study space surrounded by the materials you need to succeed.
Study
Aids Available at the Law LIbrary
The Law Library regularly collects
two types of student study aids: the West Group's "Hornbook" and "Nutshell"
series. The Law Library selectively collects study aids from other publishers,
such as Aspen Law & Business's "Examples and Explanations" series,
Foundation Press's "Concepts and Insights" series, and Matthew Bender's
"Legal Text" series.
Hornbooks
Hornbooks offer a detailed
and comprehensive treatment of basic rules, key issues and topics relating
to various areas of the law. The Law Library has a comprehensive
collection of Hornbooks. The most recent editions are held on
reserve behind the Information Services Desk and circulate for a two
hour loan period within the Law Library. Earlier editions shelved
in the collection may be checked out to you for four weeks with three
renewals as long as no one else has placed a request. Below is
a list of just some of the Hornbooks available at the Law Library.
Administrative Law / by
Alfred C. Aman, Jr., William T. Mayton KF
5402 .A8 2001
Civil Procedure / by Jack
H. Friedenthal, Mary Kay Kane, Arthur R. Miller KF8840
.F72 2005
Constitutional law / by
John E. Nowak, Ronald D. Rotunda KF4550
.N6 2004
Criminal Law / by Wayne
R. LaFave KF9219
.L382 2003
Criminal Procedure / by
Wayne R. LaFave, Jerold H. Israel, and Nancy J. King KF9619
.L34 2004
Employment Law / by Mark
A. Rothstein ... [et al.] KF3455
.E468 2005
Law of Antitrust: An Integrated
Handbook / by Lawrence A. Sullivan and Warren S. Grimes KF1649
.S92 2006
Law of Securities Regulation
/ by Thomas Lee Hazen KF1439.H39
2006b
McCormick on Evidence /
by Kenneth S. Broun, general editor KF8935
.M292 2006
Prosser and Keeton on the
Law of Torts KF1250
.P73 1984
The Law of Torts / by Dan
B. Dobbs KF1250
.D6 2000
Nutshells
Nutshells provide a foundation
for various areas of the law by introducing its origins, its objectives,
and an overview. The Law Library comprehensively collects nutshells.
The most recent editions are held on reserve behind the Information
Services Desk and circulate for a two hour loan period within the Law
Llibrary. Earlier editions shelved in the collection may be checked
out to you for four weeks with three renewals as long as no one else
has placed a request. Below is a list of representative Nutshells
in the Law Library collection.
Agency, Partnership, and
the LLC in a Nutshell / by J. Dennis Hynes KF1375.Z9
H95 2005
Contracts in a Nutshell
/ by Claude D. Rohwer, Anthony M. Skroki KF
801.Z9 S3 2006
Death Penalty in a Nutshell
/ by Victor L. Streib KF9227.C2
S77 2005
Civil Procedure in a Nutshell
/ by Mary Kay Kane KF8841
.K36 2007
Evidence in a Nutshell /
by Paul F. Rothstein KF8935.Z9
R6 2003
Real Property in a Nutshell
/ by Roger Bernhardt, Ann M. Burkhart KF570.Z9
B4 2005
Legal Ethics in a Nutshell
/ by Ronald D. Rotunda and Michael I. Krauss KF306
.Z9 R668 2006
Legal Research in a Nutshell
/ by Morris L. Cohen and Kent C. Olson KF240
.C54 2007
Torts in a Nutshell / by
Edward J. Kionka KF1250
. Z9 K53 2005
Legal
Text Series
Each title in the Legal Text
Series aims to provide clearly written and authoritative coverage of
every major concept in a particular subject area of the law. Some
of the Law Library's selected titles in this series include:
Understanding Administrative
Law / by William F. Fox, Jr. KF5402
.F68 2000
Understanding Bankruptcy
/ by Michael J. Herbert KF1524
.H427 2000
Understanding Civil Procedure
/ by Gene R. Shreve, Peter Raven-Hansen KF8840
.S484 2002
Understanding Criminal Law
/ by Joshua Dressler KF9219
.D74 2006
Understanding Torts / by
John L. Diamond KF1250
.D53 2000
Examples
and Explanations Series
Each title in the Examples
and Explanations Series aims to provide big-picture overviews of essential
topics, plus sufficient detail for understanding and applying principles
in various areas of the law. The Examples & Explanations format
uses real-world examples to demonstrate and illustrate essential principles
and practices. Some of the Law Library's selected titles in this
series include:
Constitutional Law--Individual
Rights: Examples and Explanations / Allan Ides KF4749
.I34 2007
Criminal Law: Examples and
Explanations / Richard G. Singer KF9219.3
.S54 2007
Environmental Law: Examples
and Explanations / Steven Ferrey KF3775.Z9
F45 2004
Securities Regulation: Examples
and Explanations / Alan R. Palmiter KF1440
.P25 2005
Wills, Trusts, and Estates:
Examples and Explanations / Gerry W. Beyer KF755
.Z9 B49 2007
Concepts
and Insights
The Concepts and Insights
series aims to provides you with a concise treatment of various areas
of the law and explains major statutes and cases. Fundamentals and basics
are explained. Some of the Law Library's selected titles in this
series include:
Agency, Partnerships &
LLCs / by Stephen M. Bainbridge KF1345
.Z9 B24 2004
Complex Litigation: Problems
in Advanced Civil Procedure / by Jay Tidmarsh
KF8900.A4
T7 2002
The Elements of Bankruptcy
/ Douglas G. Baird KF1524
.B32 2001
Family Law in Perspective
/ by Walter Wadlington, Raymond C. O'Brien KF505
.W32 2001
Federal Income Taxation:
A Law Student's Guide to the Leading Cases and Concepts / by Marvin
A. Chirelstein KF6369
.C43 2005
The First Amendment / by
Daniel A. Farber KF4770.Z9
F369 2003
Take a break from reading and
study for law school exams or the bar by listening to experts explain
key legal topics. The Law Library's collection includes over 2,500 CDs,
audio cassettes, and other audio visual materials. Click here
for a list of available titles. Most circulate for a one week loan period.
Some of the most popular titles include:
Civil Procedure / by Arthur
R. Miller [sound recording] KF8841
.M56 1999
Criminal Procedure / by
Joshua Dressler [sound recording] KF9616.3
.D74 2005
Real Property / by Paula
A. Franzese [sound recording] KF570
.F73 2005
Securities Regulations /
by James D. Cox [sound recording] KF1439
.C69 2004
Torts / by Steven Finz [sound
recording] KF1250
.A2 F46 2005
Other
Types of Study Aids
While you can find some of the
many published study aids in our collection or via OhioLINK,
you may want to purchase your own. LawBooks.com,
Halfpricebooks.com,
Amazon.com,
LawSchool.Westlaw.com
and LexisNexis
BookStore are commercial web sites where you may order
materials and have them shipped to you. Amazon.com and HalfpriceBooks.com
sometimes offer used books at lower cost than new. You may also order
any in print materials from your local bookstore.
- Law School Casebooks & Supplements
- Aspen RoadMap Course Outlines
- Black Letter Series Study Guides
- Casenotes Legal Briefs & Outlines
- Crunchtime Series
- Emanuel Law Outlines
- EZ Rules & EZ Review Series
- Gilbert Law Summaries, Legalines & Law School Legends Audio
Series
- High Court Case Summaries
- Law In A Flash Flashcards
- The Professor Series Outlines
- Siegel's Essay & Multiple Choice Q&A Series
- Sum & Substance Quick Review & Audio CDs
- First Year Survival Study Guides
- Multistate Bar Exam Guides
- MPRE Exam Aids
Exam
Preparation Books Available in the Law Library
The Eight Secrets of Top Exam
Performance in Law School : An Easy-to-Use, Step-by-Step Program for
Achieving Great Grades!
/ by Charles H. Whitebread
KF283
.W48 2003
Expert Learning for Law Students
/ by Michael Hunter Schwartz KF283
.S39 2005
Getting to Maybe: How to Excel
on Law School Exams / Richard Michael Fischl KF283
.F57 1999
How to Do Your Best on Law
School Exams / by John Delaney KF283
.D44 1988
How to Study Law and Take
Law Exams in a Nutshell / by Ann M. Burkhart KF283
.B87 1996
Law School Confidential: A
Complete Guide to the Law School Experience / by Robert Miller KF283
.M55 2004
Law School Exams: Preparing
and Writing to Win / by Charles R. Calleros KF283
.C35 2007
The Legal Essay Exam Writing
Primer / by Wentworth Miller KF303
.M55 2000
A Practical Guide to Writing
Law School Essay Exams / John C. Dernbach KF283
.D47 2001
Reading Like a Lawyer: Time-Saving
Strategies for Reading Law Like and Expert / by Ruth Ann McKinney KF283
.M398 2005
Succeeding in Law School /
by Herbert N. Ramy KF
283 .R36 2006
Writing Essay Exams to Succeed
Not Just to Survive / by John C. Dernbach KF
283 .D47 2007
Past
Ohio Bar Exams
Some professors recommend using
past Ohio
Bar Exams and Outline
of Subjects Tested on Essay Portion of Ohio Bar Examination by
the Ohio Board of Bar Examiners to study for law school exams.
Both are available at the Law Library's Information Services desk.
In an effort to provide students
with the broadest possible access to past exams, the Law Library staff
has placed them online
[login to Past Exams online]. The collection consists of
the actual exams given to students in previous years. Whether and which
exams to post is at the discretion of the individual professor. Some
professors choose not to have their exams placed online. If
you cannot find an exam for a particular professor, please check the Exam
Index at the Information Services desk. An exam may be available in hardcopy
which you can photocopy. Faculty members place these exams on reserve
as a service to you. The professors retain all intellectual property rights
in the exams they have written. Only Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
students, faculty and staff have access to the online exams. We retain
ten years of past exams given by Cleveland-Marshall faculty members for
you at the Law Library's Information Services desk. You may look up the
exams by the faculty member's last name or by course in the index we have
prepared. Exams circulate for a two hour loan period within the
Law Library and may be photocopied. Please remember to bring your
Viking card to the Desk if you would like to look at past exams.
Law
Journal Articles and Helpful Web Sites
You may find the following law
journal articles and web sites helpful when preparing for exams.
Law Journal Articles
Margaret Graham Tebo,
It's Almost Exam Time: Words of Wisdom for Success During Finals,
28
Student Lawyer 26 (1999)
Jonathan S. Greene, Magic
Words Can Turn Your Exam Answers into Real Gems,
31 Student Lawyer 14 (2003)
Jonathan S. Greene, Practice Exams are a Great Way to Prepare
for the Real Thing.(law school final examinations),
30 Student Lawyer 10 (2002)
Jack A. Hiller, How
Not to Write Answers to Law School Examinations, 29
Stetson L. Rev. 1181 (2000)
Find comfort in the fact
that you are participating in a grand tradition: Steve Shepard,
An Informal History of How Law Schools Evaluate Students, with
a Predictable Emphasis on Final Exams, 65
UMKCLR 657 (1997) and that it hurts them as much
as it hurts you: Ruthann Robson, The Zen of Grading, 36
Akron L. Rev. 303 (2003)
Patrick Wiseman, "When
You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take It," And Other Sage Advice
for First-Time Law School Exam Takers, 22
Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 653 (2006)
Web Sites
CALI
Lessons offer the opportunity to review a subject in
tutorial format and augment your own class notes and outlines.
Lexis
Nexis Study Aids provides leads to in-depth study materials
and includes several area
of law outlines.
Findlaw
provides links to outlines and exams on the web organized by topic.
The
Jurist web site provides links to law school exam study
guides as well as online
exams.
Preparing
for Exams Professor Barbara Glesner-Fines, University of Missouri-Kansas
City School of Law
Writing
Law Examinations Professor John H. Langbein, Yale Law
School
Using
Study Aids in Law School by Professor Joyce Savio Herleth,
Director of Academic Support at Saint Louis University School of Law.
A review and critique of commercial study aids and suggestions on
how to use them.
Study
Tips from the Top Students also from the Academic Support
web page at Saint Louis University School of Law.
Law
Library Extended Hours and Study Room Procedures
The Law Library is open extended
hours during reading and exam periods. Law Library hours sheets
are available for you at the Information Services desk and are posted
next to the library entrance. We also post the current Law
Library Hours on our web site.
T here are nine group study
rooms located throughout the Law Library for use by law students. To reserve
a study room, please stop by the Information Services Desk and bring your
Viking card. An Access or Research Services staff member must sign-off
on your reservation. Group study rooms are for two or more persons and
may be reserved for three continuous hours per day. You may continue to
use the room unless another group has a reservation for the room. A study
group may only reserve one room per day. Reservations may be made in person
up to 72 hours in advance and 24 hours in advance by phone (216-687-2250). Your
reservation for a group study room will be canceled if you are late 30
minutes or more for your scheduled time.
Revised by
Amy
Burchfield
Access &
Faculty Services Librarian
Cleveland-Marshall
College of Law Library
Cleveland
State University
September
2007
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