How Law School Exams Are Graded, Kind Of

There is a measure of unease in studying in law school. Nearly fifteen weeks of class, reading, and outlining. And it all comes down to a few hours, a number of essays, and possibly a few multiple choice questions. And then the past few months are summed up by a solitary number, a single letter--garnished, perhaps by a symbol. And from there you fit into a rank of your class. Upper half, bottom third, top five percentile...a new identity--even if short-lived--is yours.

And sure, there are practice law school exams and answers, but how can you really know how a law professor will grade. We mean really know. Because in the end, who your professor is and what they are looking for, matters more than just a little in the parallel law school universe.

We've been working around the clock at FindLaw to shed some light on the subject. And we think you'll like what we found...

Deep within hundreds of pages and links to law exam help resources Googled and Binged to us instantaneously, there was this innocuous-looking post by law professor Daniel J. Solove from the George Washington University Law School. And, lucky law students, he's cracked the code for all of us.

A Guide to Grading Exams

So, after you've outlined until you ran out of ways to indent your 42 page synopsis of Property Law and you checked out every past law school exam ever given by your law professor, take solace that there is a method to the grading madness.

Or, at least, that even law professors have a sense of humor.

Enjoy. And don't forget to read the comments, just like footnotes in cases, they are invaluable here.

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