Actus, what?! Simplifying Criminal Law for 1Ls

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I understand your pain... (READ: Announcements!)

First of all, as a 2L I understand all the mixed emotions that you are going through right now. The first few weeks of law school are exciting, yet they can be very overwhelming! I remember reading and having to brief my very first case in Civ. Pro., Pennoyer v. Neff-- can you say, "huh??!" Now, I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent person, but this case had me questioning my intelligence and overall competence as a law student! Don't worry, it'll get easier...

Looking back on my first year, I now understand that the struggle I had to go through was good for me. It has made me resilient! So, best of luck to you and try to enjoy your life as a 1L!

Here's some good news...

CRIMINAL LAW will be your most enjoyable class! Don't get me wrong, you'll need to work hard and keep up with the reading, but this class will have the most interesting cases and the most colorful midterms/finals.

Think of it this way...

Your final grade depends solely on how well you score on your midterm and final. So, use every day until your midterm and final to understand and to memorize concepts/elements that you’ll be tested on. Memorizing and understanding on a daily basis will help you in the long run (trust me, Crim Law and procrastination do not mix!).

The BIG Picture

After your first semester in law school, you’ll come to understand what helps you learn the materials best. I learned early on that I am all about “the big picture.” For example, in the game of Chess, the “big picture” revolves around object of the game. The main goal is to attack the opponent's King in such a way that it cannot escape also known as “checkmate.” Without knowing the “big picture,” it’s pointless to learn the differences between a Rook, a Bishop, and a Knight. Without the “big picture,” it’s a waste of time to learn how each piece can move across the board. It’s the same way for each of your classes.

The Big Picture in Crim…

Here’s the “big picture”: your goal in this class is to learn and to get an "A". Your "A" comes from how you do on your midterm and final. Your exams will give you a fact pattern where someone commits a crime. You will need to use what you’ve learned throughout the class to examine and analyze the fact pattern from both the prosecution’s point of view as well as the defense’s. In the end, you’ll need to state what would be the most likely outcome of the case and why. Memorizing the elements to the crimes/defenses and analyzing the facts according to the proper jurisdiction is comparable to learning the differences between the Chess pieces and how each can move. It’s as simple as that.

How it worked for me…

I wasn’t able to get the “big picture” for Crim until a week before the midterm. Until then, I was petrified of the inevitable exam and oblivious as to why I was learning the elements of Burglary. I learned the “big picture” after reading a sample midterm from a previous semester. Then, suddenly DING!! (the light bulb turned on in my head!) From that moment on, I took notes and read cases with a purpose—I finally learned how to use each day as a way to prepare for the midterm and final.

I hope this web site helps you understand Criminal Law and that in the end, you enjoy the class as much as I did! Again, best of luck to you!

--- Anna Gabriel Teruel (08.10.02)

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