LAW SCHOOL SURVIVAL GUIDE

Outlines: They can save or break you in law school.

Intro

How can you be sure to develop an outline that works for you?

An outline is a collection of class notes, case briefs and other materials that allows you to access information quickly and efficiently for each law school class. As soon as you’ve finished a topic in class, it’s time to outline it and apply the law to a fact pattern. It’ll give you more time to get help and feedback before the real exam.

Use these tips to help you formulate your own approach.

Do you know your legal stuff?

What is common law and is it written by the courts of law? You might want to check out our glossary of terms for this one.

Did you get it right?

4 OUTLINE TIPS

Outline tips that do the trick.

Outlines are not just class notes

In an outline, you want to incorporate Black’s Law definitions, case law, authority
– such as the Restatements, FRCP, MPC, etc. – characteristics, differentiations, checklists, flowcharts, and more. This is a combination of all your work – so build on that.

Create your own

You might be tempted to use another student’s outline template, but your outline
should be specific to your professor’s syllabus. You can use another classmate’s outline to help with structure or wording, but don’t depend on it exclusively.

Go beyond just words

Don’t limit your outline format to just notes/briefs. Instead, incorporate checklists,
flowcharts, hypos, color scheming, etc. You can make your outline work for your study habits by thinking creatively.

Start big but end small

Throughout the semester, you will be including class notes, case briefs, helpful summaries, and more into your outline, so don’t be surprised if your outline ends up being more than 100 pages. It is through studying that you’ll start to condense your full outline. The goal before finals is that you will have a one-page summary of your outline.

Outlining to Win

Learn a three-phase process to organize and condense your many case briefs into a lean, concise, and eminently useful study tool.

THE ANATOMY OF AN OUTLINE

The anatomy of an outline.

1) Introduction. Def. K R - Res § 1 A contract 1

Underline key concepts/terms.

is a promise or set of promises for the breach of which the law gives a remedy, or the performance of which the law in some way recognizes as a duty Def. Adhesion K - Std. form K where weaker party, e.g. consumer, has no choice as to terms, e.g. Burch case. Cf. Unconscionability, procedural/subtantive 2) Enforcing Promises: The law will not enforce all promises - 3 methods of enforcing promises - 1) Consideration - something exchanged for the promise, 2) Promissory Estoppel - detrimental reliance on the promise, 3) Restitution for correction of unjust enrichment.
Re 2
Pull out definitions/ rules/ restatements.

st. §2. Promise; Promisor; Promisee; Beneficiary/§ 3. Agreement Defined; Bargain Defined/§ 4 How a promise may be made § 7 Voidable Contracts/§ 8 Unenforceable Contracts/UCC § 2-204. Formation in General. § 17: Requirement of a Bargain; § 18: Manifestation of Mutual Assent
Objective Theory of Contracts - 1) One is bound by reasonable interpretation of one's words and actions rather than one's subjective notion of intent. 2) A maker of a promise is legally bound by it irrespective of intent. Cf. § 20 Effect of misunderstanding. §21 Intent to be legally bound
Cases 3

Enter key cases but don't get carried away.
You care more about the application of the law to the case, not necessarily the case.
The case is your hypo.

- 1) Ray v. Eurice Bros. A person who has the capacity to read and understand a document is bound by his signature in law. 2) Park 100 v. Kartes - Signed contracts obtained thru fraud/misrepresentation not valid. cf § 19: Conduct as Manifestation of Assent: (3) The conduct of a party may manifest assent even though he does not in fact assent. In such cases a resulting contract may be voidable because of fraud, duress, mistake, or other invalidating cause."
Doctrine of Consideration - Something of value (act, forbearance or return promise) received by a promissor from a promisee. Cf. Rstmt §71. Requirement of Exchange; Types of Exchange (Consideration-bargain for bargain) "To constitute consideration, a performance or return Promise must be bargained for.
Cases: Hamer v. Sidway -- Waiver of a legal right is forbearance and constitutes consideration - valid contract., 2. Baehr v. Penn-O-Tex - Forbearance must be bargained for to servce as consideration. Cf. Rest. §71 (above), §73 Performance of legal duty, § 75 Exchange Of Promise For Promise. 3. Dougherty v. Salt - Nothing sought by promissor; a gratuitious promise. - Exchange or promised exchange (or performance) is necessary for consideration. Cf. § 33 Certainty. Related term - Illusory consideration - so small as to be sham or nominal. 4. Batsakis v. Demotsis - Consideration can secure an agreement even if the amount seems disproportional to the promised performance or exchange unless it is sham or nominal. Cf. Rstmt § 79 Adequacy of Consideration; Mutuality of Obligation. Cf. § 77 - Illusory and Alter4
Get creative.Add design characteristics to make what you feel like is important stand out! This is your study tool.

native Promise - A promise cannot serve as consideration if it is illusory, i.e., it makes performance optional. cf. /§ 81. Consideration As Motive Or Inducing Case/§83 Promise to Pay Indebtedness Discharged in Bankruptcy 4. Plowman v. Indian Refining - a) Past performance cannot serve as consideration (not bargained for), cf. § 86. Promise for Benefit Received (Past Consideration) b) a moral obligation cannot serve as consideration, moral consideration concept is not valid, c) a condition of a promise w/o detriment is not consideration.
Doctrine of Promissory Estoppel: The Protection of Promisee Reliance - Key Rest. § 90 Promise Reasonably Inducing Action or Forbearance
Issue 1 - Promises within the family: Cases 1. Kirksey v. Kirksey - (Early Case - pre PE & reliance) - Gratuitous promise, moving family is not consideration. 2. Greiner v. Greiner (More recent case) - D's moving and making expenditures on land constituted reliance and he suffered detriment. A promise that reasonably induces definite and substantial action or forbearance is binding, especially if injustice can only be avoided by enforcement of the promise.
Issue 2: Charitable subscriptions.
Cases: 1. Allegheny College v. National Chautauqua County Bank - (Cardozo) - An "implied promise" (i.e. to name the memorial after donee) is consideration and accordingly there is a contract. Note: He mentions PE but stretches consideration instead. Dissent - a gift, no contract
Issue 3 - Promises in a commercial context - Application promissory Estoppel to enforce commercial promises in the absence of consideration. Case 1: Katz v. Danny Dare - The Elements of promissory Estoppel are present - 1) A promise of a pension if he retired. 2) reliance on the promise - D chose to retire and take a cut in income, 3) Injustice can only be avoided by enforcing the promise. Ergo - Estoppel may be employed to enforce a commercial employment/pension contract. Case 2: Shoemaker v. Commonwealth Bank