Writing a gripping and enlightening law essay requires a prudent approach. You cannot state facts and call it a legal essay. It is not as simple as you would think, not even for lawyers. Just like any other essay type, be it descriptive, or argumentative, one has to chalk out a plan to put forward all the necessary thoughts in a law essay. You might end up needing a tutor, but unfortunately, not many new law students realise this need, unless the professors reject their drafts.
1. Read the question/statement again
Many of you might think it stupid to read a statment again. Well, it is not the case, when you need to put forward an argument. Many students misunderstand the question, and conclusively, end up giving an entirely unexpected argument. It can lead to failure and embarrassment.
Thus, the very first step would be reading the question really carefully, and for as many times as possible. However, one must not waste unnecessary time while staring at the question paper. Another tip in this regard would be writing the statement or question on a separate paper, and then pondering on it. Sometimes the look of the question paper also confuses the students, it is may be because they also come with some difficult or confusing questions that might distract the student.
One effective way to comprehend the question would be breaking it down. If a statement comes with a fact, or a proverb, you must highlight it, and mark it as a different section. Then if there is a part asking about your opinion, mark it out. This way you will be able to discern which part of the statement you must answer and which must be discussed.
2. The pre-writing efforts
A law essay is a mixture of facts, creativity, argument, persuasion, and style. Unlike a literary essay, here you will need to indulge in a few things, not just research.
• Gathering data
Who would read a law essay devoid of facts? No one. So once you are sure about the question being asked, it would be time to gather relevant facts. Mentioning a single website might not help, as there are several perspectives about various laws, and sticking to only a few ideas might not help. So it would be great if you plan some time, and check out various websites.
It is better to write down the crux of the law under discussion. Then search for general ideas about that topic. This way you will get to construct the need, and the application of that law.
You need to make up your mind about the time required for research. For a new law student it is advisable to start the research a week before the submission. If for example, you have been given 10 days for the law essay, then you must spend 7 days for research. Do not forget to bookmark every website, and take screenshots.
If you are struggling with finding the right information for the essay, we suggest you find help and someone who has enough experience in writing. Visit https://www.theunitutor.com/law-essay-writing-services/ for more details.
• The style of the essay
Your essay should not feel like a mystery passage. The reader must stay clear throughout. To achieve this charity one must plan the style. Do not rush, and never think of the style, only after reading the statement.
Generally students unconsciously think of an essay style while they are pondering over the statement. If the same thing happens to you, ignore it to avoid confusion. One can only think of a suitable one once you know what type of data and facts are available. Sometimes, people think about the essay type, just by reading the statement. It might be true, but chances are that the facts might not support your idea. As a new law student it would be better that you must focus on the available facts only, and should wait for a year or two to try new ideas.
• Outline or thought process
A writer must not expect that an unclear essay would convey a clear message. So before you start writing your law essay it is necessary to make an outline. It can be some rough work, but I think it would be great if you would let your professor have a look at the thought process. This way the teachers would understand the reason for any peculiar statement or conclusion.
To create an outline one should make sure that the sequence of the outline is the same as in the essay; otherwise, it will be confusing for the reader.
3. Attempt it before anything while in examination
You might disagree with it, but when you are sitting for an exam, it would be better to attempt all those questions first that require brainstorming. There are two reasons for that, the first one is; your mind would be fresh in the first half of the exam, secondly, this initial brainstorming will make it easier for you to think about the remaining questions in an intellectual manner.
So it would be great for a new law student, who has come with a little bit of practice to first attempt the essay.
4. The way you make it look matters
Anything that is visually appealing would have a greater impact. If you are a new law student, then bear in mind that your teacher will probably only overview your essay as they often consider new students incapable of writing something substantial. Thus, the best way to attract them will be through presentation. Do not forget to have a smooth gel pen while writing, and try to keep the same ink and pen.
Make paragraphs, for every new idea or topic there should be a separate paragraph. You can also try making some bullet points, and headings to make things clear.
