INTRODUCTION: BAR AND BEYOND MINDSET  Looking for the facts

 "Somebody's life will be in your hands one day. What is stare decisis?
Study like it!"
2. Identify your legal basis
PREPARING FOR LAWSCHOOL EXAMINATIONS o After spotting the issue, identify the
BEFORE THE EXAMS: legal basis
 Study for your recitation or everyday class as if o Is my legal basis the jurisprudence?
you are studying for exams. Law?
 Plan your schedule and materials
- List which one you will use to study 3. Answer format:
(w/c comes first) Use the ALAC method
 Personal notes - Answer
 Codals - Legal Basis
 Books - Analysis/Application
- During daily grinds, don't use memory - Conclusion
aid (USE IT AS AN AID IN EXAMS) (Only if it calls for such answer)
 It is much better to read codals,
annotated books during your ANSWER
daily class  If the question is categorical:
 Is the class more focused on the - Yes/No
codals or cases? - Reiterate the question/issue
 Prepare your notes  Important since
 Study in an environment that is conducive to sometimes
learning and at the time most effective for you.  If the question requires you to
 Study smart rule/decide
- Consider whether the subject prefers - If I were the judge, I will…
cases? Requisites?  Respond to the call of the question
- By knowing the usual things being
asked in the subject, you will know how LEGAL BASIS
to attack the exam  Substantive law/Procedural Law
 Aim for completion, then mastery  Jurisprudence
- For purposes of the exam, it is good to  Legal Maxim
know the coverage
- During daily class, aim for mastery (Do we need to write the exact article?)
 Prepare honestly and diligently  If you are sure about it exactly then
- There's the temptation to cheat out of by all means, cite it
law school but whatever the motivation  If you are not sure, you can use under
is, it should be an honest preparation the "Civil Code"… under the "Rules on
- Do not cheat on digesting cases Criminal Procedure"
 Get enough sleep  (if not sure, just put it on general
terms)

DURING THE EXAMS: ANALYSIS/APPLICATION

HOW TO ANSWER LAW SCHOOL EXAM QUESTIONS  How will the legal basis you cited be
1. Spot the issue applied (be connected) to this
- How many questions are present in the case?
exam? How much time do you need for - "Here…"
each question? - "In this case…"
- Look for the issue (What are the facts) - "Under the"
- Is it a substantive or a procedural  Mention the keywords you used in
subject? your legal basis
- Underline the important things  Explain…
If you are the judge, how will you decide the case?
CONCLUSION
 Restate your response with a clear
conclusion that effectively summarizes
your answer.
 "therefore" "thus" "hence"

COMPARE & CONTRAST QUESTIONS

- Similarities
- Differences
 Concept 1
 Concept 2
- Conclusion

DEFINITION OF TERMS QUESTION

Is it required to answer verbatim?
 If you can, then do so
 If not, answer through simple terms
 (do not forget keywords)

4. Ensure that your grammar and syntax are

sound
5. Review your answer
(not to the point that you overthink)

AFTER THE EXAM

- Reward yourself
- Assess your answers
 based on the suggested answer of your
prof
 or through your notes

TIPS ON DIGESTING CASES

THE FIR METHOD

FACTS
- Pertinent information related to the case
- Narrates what happened, the cause of
action, arguments of the parties, and
relief/s sought
- Generally answers the 5Ws and 1H
questions
- May include the decisions of the
administrative agency/tribunal, trial court,
and Court of Appeals
- Need not include all information found in
the case

ISSUES
 - "What is it that the Court must resolve?" - Highlight and/or annotate the text
- Is related to the doctrine or ruling sought to - Use your own words in narrating the facts,
be answered issues, and ruling, except in portions of the
- Need not be written as provided by the rulings that require quoting verbatim from the
Supreme Court decision
- Select only those which are relevant to the - Look for spoilers
topic or subject - Take time to also read the reading of the lower
 e.g., You may want to focus only on courts or tribunals
the substantive issues, not the
procedural ones. DONT'S
- Rely on digested cases on the internet!
- Usually frames in questions that are - Spend too much time on other issues not
answerable by "Yes" or "No." relevant to the topic or subject at hand.
 Is the contract between A and B - Copy and paste the exact contents of the
valid? decision.
 Whether or not the foreign divorce - Hate cases
proceeding must be initiated by the
alien spouse to be binding under
Philippine laws TIPS
- Sometimes, it is advantageous to phrase the - Find a technique that works for you
issue as a factual issue.  Do you prefer reading the PDF
version or the printed copy?
RULING - Assign specific highlighting colors and other
- Answers the issues cited. annotating marks
- Starts with "Yes" or "No," followed by the  YELLOW - facts/arguments of the
reason. The next paragraphs must elaborate petitioner
on such reasoning.  RED - arguments of the respondent
 "No, for the purpose of Article 26 of the  GREEN - issues
Family Code is to avoid the absurd  PURPLE - ruling
situation where the Filipino spouse  BLUE - codal provisions
remains married to the alien spouse - Consider being in a digest group, but make
who, after a foreign divorce decree that sure you also get to read the other cases.
is effective in the country where it was - If cases are assigned at the start of the
rendered, is no longer married to the semester, and digests must be submitted
Filipino spouse." during or after finals, start working on it as
- Some wordings of the ponente must be soon as possible.
quoted verbatim.
- Emphasize the doctrine laid out by the
court.
 May discuss how the Court affirmed or
reversed the ruling of the lower courts,
and/or how the Court affirmed or
denied the parties' arguments

DO'S
- Read the case in its full text
- Know the why
- Why was the case given? What topic is it
related to?
- What is the doctrine?
- Focus on the facts and issues that are relevant
to the subject/topic