A Strategic Approach to Durham Law Assignments

The Formative vs. Summative Mindset

Many students treat formatives (practice essays) as optional or tailored for a "quick pass." This is a mistake. Formatives are your failures on paper.

When you fail or struggle in a formative, you identify a gap in your understanding without penalty. Treat them with the exact same rigor as a summative, and the feedback you receive becomes your roadmap for the real exam.

1. Deconstructing the Brief

Before you read a single case, read the question five times.

2. Research with Purpose

Avoid the "rabbit hole" of reading everything. Start with your lecture notes and textbook to get the framework. Then, and only then, go to Westlaw or Lexis.

When reading a journal article, don't read cover-to-cover. Read the Abstract, the Introduction, and the Conclusion first. ask: "Does this argument support or challenge my thesis?" If not, move on.

3. Structure IS the Argument

A good structure forces a good argument. For problem questions, the classic IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion) is non-negotiable.

• Issue: What specific legal question are we solving here?
• Rule: What is the relevant authority (Case/Statute)?
• Application: THIS is where the marks are. Apply the rule to the specific facts of the scenario. Distinguish the facts if necessary.
• Conclusion: Give a tentative answer. Don't sit on the fence forever.

4. Drafting Hygiene

Write your first draft fast. Get the ideas down. Then, edit slowly.

Check your citations. Are you OSCOLA compliant? Have you pinpointed the exact paragraph in a judgment? Precision is a hallmark of a lawyer. Sloppy referencing suggests sloppy thinking.

Finally, always leave 24 hours between your final draft and your final review. You need fresh eyes to spot the typos and the logic gaps that your tired brain fills in automatically.