Category: Law School Outlines

Constitutional Law Study Guide I. Introduction to Constitutional Law Constitutional law is the study of the United States Constitution, its interpretation by the Supreme Court, and its application to the rights and liberties of individuals. II. Structure of the Constitution The U.S. Constitution consists of a preamble, seven articles, and twenty-seven amendments. The first three…

Title: Vermont Law School 1L Study Guide for Civil Procedure I. Personal Jurisdiction Concept: Personal Jurisdiction refers to the power that a court has over the parties involved in a case. It determines whether a court has the right to make a binding decision over a defendant. Cases: – International Shoe Co. v. Washington (1945):…

STUDY GUIDE: UTAH LAW SCHOOL 1L – TORTS I. INTRODUCTION TO TORTS Torts are civil wrongs that cause harm or injury, for which the injured party can seek legal relief. The goal of tort law is to provide compensation for injuries and deter wrongful conduct. The four elements of a tort are duty, breach, causation,…

I. Introduction to Property Law Property law refers to the legal rules regulating property rights, the rights and duties that individuals and the state have to tangible or intangible possessions. A. Property Law Concepts 1. Real Property: Refers to land and anything attached to it permanently, like buildings, or natural resources. 2. Personal Property: Everything…

UTAH LAW SCHOOL 1L STUDY GUIDE FOR LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING I. Legal Research Legal Research Methodology Legal research is the process of identifying and retrieving information necessary to support legal decision-making. Its goal is to find the best answer to a legal question and discover all relevant legal authorities to verify the validity of…

Study Guide: Criminal Law at Utah Law School 1L I. Overview of Criminal Law Criminal law involves the prosecution by the government of a person for an act that has been classified as a crime. It is different from civil law, which involves private disputes between individuals or organizations. II. Elements of Crime A crime…

I. OVERVIEW OF CONTRACT LAW Contract law is designed to enforce promises that are legally binding. Key Concepts: Agreement: A mutual understanding between parties about their rights and responsibilities. This includes an offer by one party and an acceptance by another. Consideration: Something of value exchanged between the parties, which can be a benefit to…

I. STRUCTURE OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW Supremacy Clause The Supremacy Clause establishes the U.S. Constitution, federal statutes, and U.S. treaties as “the supreme law of the land.” This means that state laws that conflict with federal laws are invalid. Case: Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) – This case established the broad scope of Congress’ power under the…

I. Introduction to Civil Procedure Civil Procedure is the body of law that sets out the rules and standards that courts follow when adjudicating civil lawsuits. These rules govern how a lawsuit or case may be commenced, what kind of service of process is required, the types of pleadings or statements of case, motions or…

TORTS STUDY GUIDE – TEXAS LAW SCHOOL 1L INTRODUCTION TO TORTS Torts are civil wrongs recognized by law as grounds for a lawsuit. They result in an injury or harm constituting the basis for a claim by the injured party. While some torts are also crimes punishable with imprisonment, the primary aim of tort law…

I. Real Property: Real property refers to land, buildings or houses and things permanently attached to the land such as trees or water, and the interests, benefits, and rights inherent in real estate ownership. Case: Johnson v. M’Intosh (1823) This case establishes that discovery doctrine gave European powers the right to take Indian lands. Issue:…

I. INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING Legal research and writing is a fundamental skill necessary for all legal professionals. In this course, students learn to navigate various legal sources, and to write legal documents such as case briefs, memos, and persuasive briefs. Legal Research Texas law schools emphasize the importance of using both primary…

Title: Texas Law School 1L Study Guide for Criminal Law I. Introduction to Criminal Law Criminal law refers to a body of laws that relate to crime. It proscribes conduct perceived as threatening, harmful, or otherwise endangering to the property, health, safety, and moral welfare of people. II. Elements of a Crime A crime involves…

I. Contract Formation A contract is formed when there is an offer, acceptance, and consideration. Offer: An expression of willingness to enter a contract on certain terms, made with the intention that it shall become binding as soon as it is accepted by the person to whom it is addressed. Acceptance: An unequivocal indication of…

Study Guide: Texas Law School 1L Constitutional Law Constitutional Law Fundamentals Constitutional law concerns the role and powers of the different branches of government and the rights of the individuals. It is primarily based on the U.S. Constitution. Separation of Powers The doctrine of Separation of Powers is fundamental to the U.S. Constitution, distributing the…

I. Introduction to Civil Procedure Civil Procedure refers to the process by which civil lawsuits are conducted. It involves the rules and laws that govern how a civil lawsuit can be brought, pursued, and resolved. Personal Jurisdiction Personal jurisdiction refers to the power that a court has to make a decision regarding the defendant’s legal…

Title: Tennessee Law School 1L Study Guide for Torts I. Introduction to Torts Torts are civil wrongs recognized by law as grounds for a lawsuit. They result in an injury or harm constituting a legal liability. In Tennessee, torts can be either intentional (intentional torts) or due to negligence (negligent torts). II. Intentional Torts Intentional…

Tennessee Law School 1L Study Guide for Property Real Property vs. Personal Property Real property refers to fixed property, primarily land and buildings. Personal property refers to movable assets. In Tennessee, the distinction between the two types of property can have an impact on aspects such as inheritance, taxes, and transfer of property. Adverse Possession…

Title: Tennessee Law School 1L Study Guide for Legal Research and Writing I. Legal Research A. Primary vs. Secondary Sources Primary sources of law are the law itself — statutes, administrative rules, and case law. Secondary sources are interpretations and analyses of the law, like law reviews, treatises, and textbooks. B. Statutory Research Statutory research…

Title: Tennessee Law School 1L Study Guide for Criminal Law I. OVERVIEW OF CRIMINAL LAW Criminal law involves prosecution by the state of a person for an act classified as a crime. In contrast to civil law, which involves private disputes, criminal law is designed to maintain order and protect society. II. BASIC ELEMENTS OF…