How to Read a Case on a Law School Exam

Welcome to the Law School Toolbox podcast for our special series on starting off on the right foot in law school! Today, in the second episode of the series, we're discussing reading law school cases and preparing for class.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why it's important to spend time reading cases
• Things to pay attention to when you're reading a case
• The components of a typical opinion
• Holding and dicta in the context of court decisions
• The case of United States v. Carroll Towing Co.
• Pros and cons of "briefing" cases before class

Looking for more personalized help as you get ready for law school? Check out our flagship Start Law School Right course at startlawschoolright.com. It provides a full overview of the skills you need in law school, along with opportunities to practice and get feedback from a Law School Toolbox tutor.

Resources:

• "Start Law School Right" podcast series (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/law-school-toolbox-podcast-archive/pre-law-episodes/#start-off-right)
• "Start Law School Right" course (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/start-law-school-right/)
• Law School Toolbox (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/) 
• Tutoring for Law School Success (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/tutoring-for-law-school-success/)
• Strategies for Pre-Law Students (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/strategies-new-law-students/tips-for-pre-law-students/)
• United States v. Carroll Towing Co. (https://www.lexisnexis.com/community/casebrief/p/casebrief-united-states-v-carroll-towing-co-1383630741)
• Podcast Episode 11: Legal Writing 101 (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-11-legal-writing-101/)
• Podcast Episode 102: How to Read Cases and Prepare for Class in Law School (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/16176-2/)
• Podcast Episode 309: Tips for Reading a Case (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-309-tips-for-reading-a-case/)
• Podcast Episode 304: Introduction to the Bluebook (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/podcast-episode-304-introduction-to-the-bluebook/)

Download the Transcript  (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/episode-396-start-law-school-right-class-prep-101/)

If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love a nice review and/or rating on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/law-school-toolbox-podcast/id1027603976) or your favorite listening app. And feel free to reach out to us directly. You can always reach us via the contact form on the Law School Toolbox website (http://lawschooltoolbox.com/contact). If you're concerned about the bar exam, check out our sister site, the Bar Exam Toolbox (http://barexamtoolbox.com/). You can also sign up for our weekly podcast newsletter (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/get-law-school-podcast-updates/) to make sure you never miss an episode!

Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee