How to Write Law Essays

How to Write Law Essays and Exams provides law students with a practical and proven method of analysing and answering essay and exam questions. The book focuses on those questions that give students the most trouble, namely problem questions, but its techniques are equally applicable to other types of essays. In addition to providing a framework for analysing and writing law essays, the book teaches students how to identify relevant legal authorities, distinguish and harmonise conflicting legal precedents and evaluate the applicability of the law to the facts of the question at hand. The book also contains specific law-related revision techniques and general writing tips. Designed for law students of all levels, including those on A-level, university, conversion, and vocational courses, the text helps students understand their substantive courses while at the same time teaching vital writing and analytical skills. Easy to dip into, detailed yet concise, cleverly laid out with excellent tips and pointers throughout. This textbook is sure to help any budding law student worrying about forthcoming exams or looming essay deadlines. Angharad May, Law Student, Cardiff University Review from previous edition The author has a strong vision of what works in legal writing, and has broken it down for others to follow. For many students, this can be more powerful than a more eclectic approach. Professor Peter W Edge, School of Law, Oxford Brookes University Strong built this book with a very accurate structure. CLEO is a method which captures the essential elements of rendering legal analysis, it is logical and comprehensive. Going through this method step by step helps students understand the intricacies of writing a good exam. Catalina Goanta, PhD candidate and teaching assistant, Maastricht University1. An introduction to writing law essays and exams ; 2. Building the necessary foundation: reading, understanding and summarising legal materials ; 3. Step one in the CLEO method: the claim ; 4. Step two in the CLEO method: the law ; 5. Step three in the CLEO method: the evaluation ; 6. Step four in the CLEO method: the outcome ; 7. Adapting CLEO to 'discuss' questions ; 8. General tips on legal writing ; 9. Adapting CLEO for professional practice ; 10. Worked questions