Ghana School of Law Library

Please be informed

𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬.

▪️It prepared me to read cases.
▪️To analyse facts.
▪️To argue both sides of an issue.

👉 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 Law School 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀:
▪️ Sitting across from someone whose future feels uncertain and realising they expect you to steady the room.
▪️No one really teaches you how to manage someone else’s anxiety while keeping your own thoughts clear.
▪️Or how to tell a client their case isn’t as strong as they believe, without making them feel dismissed.
▪️Or how to stay composed when emotions are high and the stakes are personal.

The law is logical, but people aren’t.
And being a lawyer isn’t just about knowing the right answer.
✨ It’s about delivering it properly.
✨It’s about judgment.
✨It’s about timing.
✨It’s about knowing when to speak and when to pause.

Over time, I’ve realised the technical side of law is only half the job.
The other half is human.

If you’re studying law and think the hard part is passing exams, I understand.
But the real test begins when real people walk into the room.

That’s the part no lecture fully prepares you for.

LAW EXAMS TIPS (Time is like your marks. Both are limited, and both must be managed.)

Most law students don't run out of time because they don't know the answers. This is not even about speed.

They run out of time because they answer without a plan.

Here's what actually works for me:

1. Start with allocation, not writing

Before you write anything, divide your time by the requirements of the question. If a question says "enumerate", don't spend 1 hour "discussing".

2. Read the question properly

"Discuss" is not the same as "Outline." "Enumerate" is not "Explain."
Misreading instructions leads to overwriting, and that's where time goes to die.

3. Write an answer plan in your head (or first page of answer sheet)

Arrange your answers first within the first 10-15 minutes.

Intro.
Main points.
Authorities.
Conclusion.

Even 60 seconds of planning saves 10 minutes of confusion.

4. Don't over-explain the first question in a bid to write it well.

This is where most people sabotage themselves.

The first question is no more important than the others. Once you've made your point, move on.

5. Cases are support, not the answer (applies both in essay and problem questions)

Don't narrate facts like a storyteller. State the principle. Mention the case. Apply it. Move to the next point.

The exception to this is when you're asked to discuss the case as a single question.

6. If you're stuck, move on. Don't panic.

Silence and staring waste time. Answer what you know. Leave space and come back later if time permits. If you panic early, everything scatters. Your composure is destroyed.

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You can be ready for your law exam and still lose marks because of the essay questions. This is usually why⬇️

Your understanding of the keyword.

In law exams, the content is important.
But the instruction word tells you how the examiner wants the answer, which is the direction it should go.

Ignore it, and you lose marks, even with good content.

It's almost exam season for some of us, so let's just try and get these ones right.

Read it small small. Save. Use. Share.

1. "Discuss"

This is the most common, and most abúsed as well.

How to answer:
• Explain the concept fully
• Present different views
• Support with cases and authorities
• End with a conclusion

Think: explain + argue + conclude.

DON'T TELL STORIES! YOU DON'T HAVE ALL DAY!!

2. "Examine"

This is explanation + assessment.

How to answer:
• Explain the concept
• Show how it operates in law. Based on how you've been taught.
• Point out strengths, weaknesses, or scope

Key thing:
You are writing for your Lecturer. So, If he took a stand when teaching, follow suit. If not, strike a balance.

3. "Analyse"

This is about breaking things down logically.

How to answer:
• Break the topic into parts
• Explain each part separately
• Link ideas clearly
• End with a reasoned conclusion
• Dissect, don't summarise.

4. "Critically discuss / examine / analyse"

This is the Oga of them all!

How to answer:
• Explain the question and key concepts
• Show different viewpoints
• Identify gaps, problems, or controversies
• Suggest reforms (briefly)
• Use legal reasoning, not emotional criticism

5. “Explain”

Simple, but many still fail it.

What the examiner wants:
• Clear understanding
• Logical presentation

How to answer:
• Define terms
• Explain step by step
• Use simple authorities where necessary

6. "Outline"

This is not an essay marathon.

How to answer:
• List the key points
• Explain each briefly
• Use headings or numbered points

Overwriting here wastes time.

7. "Distinguish"

This tests comparison skills.

How to answer:
• Define both concepts
• Compare them side by side. Use words like "while", "unlike", "in contrast" etc
• Use cases if necessary.

Do not mix them up.

8. "State"

• Mention the facts or rules briefly
• No explanations unless asked

9. "Enumerate"

This one is often misunderstood.

How to answer:
• List the points clearly
• Number them
• Add one-line explanations only if necessary

Do not write long paragraphs or argue.

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Writing plenty is not the same as writing correctly. Follow instructions and you'll be fine. There's a reason your lecturer used the word.

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We have all these on all three Campuses.

Every young lawyer remembers this phase: New files. Thick bundles. Endless pages. You read everything yet understand nothing.

The shift comes when you realise one simple truth: Case reading is not about volume. It is about structure.

Here's a framework that turns confusion into clarity:

1 Start with the relief. What exactly is the client asking the court to grant?

2 Identify the parties Borrower, guarantor, company, plaintiff, and defendant roles matter.

3 Create a timeline

Facts make sense only when placed in the order they occurred.

4 Check the basics Jurisdiction. Maintainability. Limitation.

5 Separate facts from allegations. Only what is supported by documents counts.

6 Examine documents closely, dates, signatures, registrations, inconsistencies, and details decide cases.

7 Frame the legal issues

What precise questions does the court need to answer?

8 Read the opponent's pleadings

Know their case better than they know yours.

9 Connect facts to law

Apply statutes and precedents to your facts, not in isolation.

10 Use the one-page rule

If you can summarise the entire case on one page, you control the file.

This shift takes you from hesitant to confident. From flipping pages to thinking like an advocate.

Every new lawyer can and should learn this early.

MAJOR LEGAL EDUCATION REFORMS COMMENCE IN AUGUST

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𝟑𝟎 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

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