This lesson explores one of the fundamental lawyering skills, which is to be able to spot issues. This lesson looks at what an issue is, and best practices in spotting them in cases, with clients, and on exams. Students will go through basic issue spotting exercises to better prepare for exams.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the lesson, the student will be able to:
1. Explain what "issue spotting" means.
2. Demonstrate the ability to spot issues using "attack outlines."
3. Demonstrate the ability to spot issues using facts.
Author(s)
Melissa A. Hale
Melissa is the Director of Academic Success and Bar Programs at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She received her B.S from Central Michigan University, and her J.D from New England School of Law. She focuses her research on teaching methods, including such presentations as: Tracking for the MBE: How to Help Students Identify Problem Areas and Improve (May 2016), The Middle Child Problem: How to Engage 2nd Year Students with Active Learning (May 2019), and Putting First Gen First: Supporting First Generation Law Students through Academic Success (October 2019). She has also published bar essay writing books for California, New York and Massachusetts.
Prior to coming to Loyola University Chicago she worked in both Boston and Washington, DC. Prior to teaching, she practiced corporate and contract law.
Director of Academic Success and Bar ProgramsLoyola University Chicago School of Law