Kenya Law Student Advice

The links below contain articles that will guide you as a student in Law school.
1.Nine Ways to Shine in Kenya Law Exams  
2.Five tips for new Kenya law students 
3. 5 Top Tips for Passing Your Kenya Law Exams 
4.  20 Tips for Success in Kenya Law School 
5.First Year Law Student  
6. Help! I’m Miserable and Hate Law School!** 
7. How to Survive Your First Year of Law School

We will keep adding new articles.
You can also contact us with any questions you may have as a law student.

Kenya Law Students Dissertations

The links below will provide you with guidance on how to write your university Dissertation.

Dissertation Topics
1. Company Law Dissertation Topics  
2. Criminal and Evidence Law Dissertation Topics 
3. Family Law Dissertation Topics  
4.  Intellectual property and tort law dissertation topics 
5. Employment Law Dissertation Topics 
6. 10 Outstanding Dissertation Topics In Law You Should Consider
7.  19 Outstanding Kenya Law Student Dissertation Topics For University 

Dissertation tips:
 How to Structure a Kenya Law Dissertation 

Nine Ways to Shine in Kenya Law Exams

1. Remembering is only the beginning...Many law students rightly focus on memorisation – for which there are some excellent tipshere. But this is just the first step in the revision process. exam assessment is a question of understanding and application as opposed to memory.

Step two is to ensure a full understanding of what has beenput to memory. At which point students should be able to do what is necessary to get a top grade: apply their legal knowledge analytically to exam questions. In his excellent tweeted exam tips series,Professor Gary Slapper explained how this is done:"In writing essay answers, use paragraph openers showing examiner how your material pertains to the question,’ tweeted Slapper, adding that this approach is far superior to‘notes recitation’. In a subsequent tweet he expandedon this with an analogy, explaining that: ‘Your answer should be more like filling out avery difficult form & less like painting a wall."

2. Employ the ‘grandmother’ test
How can you tell when your stage of learning has gone beyond memorisation to the understanding that will facilitatea Slapper-esque answer? Einstein put it best:"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother."

3. Don't question spot – but do use past papers where they are available. In arecent Prezi, Bristol University law lecturer Steven Vaughan recommends that students be smart in using past papers to help them identify which questions are more likely to come up in an exam. He provides this example of how to do so:"In company law, we study what is known as ‘veil piercing’,when the rights and liabilities of a company are treated as if they are the rights and liabilities of the shareholders inthe company. The tutorial for this topic is spent EXCLUSIVELY working througha problem question. Then, for their formative, my students had another different problem question on veil piercing. Giventhis, how likely/fair do you think it would be for me to give them a veil piercing question inthe exam?"Still, drawing upon his own experience as a student, Vaughan warns against over-relying on past paper question patterns in a way that could lead to under-revising of topics.‘I had studied seven topics [for my EU law paper], but had decided I would only revise four of them... I opened my EU law paper and I cried. I actually cried...three of my topics had ‘come up’...the fourth topic wasn't there,’ he remembers.And don’t forget of course that some exams do not give you a choice of questions anway!

4. Avoid commercial essay servicesIn recent years a number of essay writing companies have begun targeting law students preparing for exams. Aside fromthe questionable ethics of such services, there is the issue of quality – or lack of it – associated with paid-for essays.This has beenhighlighted in TheGuardian; where some less thanimpressive commercial ‘model answers’ were exposed. Far better to use official model answers to gain an insight into how it should be done.

5. Feed your light-hearted sideStudents are often reminded of the importance of keeping themselves in a healthy physicalcondition during exam time. But equally important is maintaininga good mental state – for which regular doses of light relief help.One law student recommends ‘holding a squirming puppy’ because ‘you get to be human again’, another impresses the importance of hanging out with friends (ideally not in the pub), while the aforementioned Vaughan urges students to choose a ‘revision anthem’ (his was by Destiny's Child) and play it frequently.

6. Learn key spellings. Certain words are frequently misspelt by law students, observes Slapper. They include homicide, appellant, appealed, grievous, judgment and argument. Getting key spellings like this wrong looks bad. Other words are often confused with each other – including principal/principle, effect/affect,dependent/dependant criterion/criteria, datum/data and advice/advise.

7. Take a deep breath.
Few people experience full-scalepanic during exams, but many are afflicted by milder symptoms of psychological meltdown. One of the most common is the compulsion to rush into answering a question before considering whether it is the most appropriate option. ‘Picking the wrong essay question has done for me in the past,’ recalls UCL law graduate Tom Webb. ‘On one occasion, I found myself 15 minutes into a question before I realised that I really should have been answering another one. It was a real waste of time that I couldn'tget back.’

8. Resist exam post-mortems
‘Know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things thatnever crossed your worried mind,’ wrote journalist Mary Schmich in a famous 1997 essay that would form the basisfor Baz Luhrmann's subsequent music video ‘Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)’.This sage advice applies nicely to those navigating the exam period, when post-exam worries about one paper can, if left unchecked, disrupt students' final preparations for their remaining exams. The reality, asSchmich conveys, is that such concerns are not only a waste of energy, but usually misguided. Move on.

9. Don't get bogged down in exam tip articlesAsLegal Cheekpointed out recently, there are a lot of law exam tip articles out there. Peruse them – as you're perusing this one – but don't obsess about rigidly adhering toevery pearl of wisdom ever published. Ultimately, exam success is about figuring out what works for you – and doing it as best as you can.

Five tips for new Kenya law students

Studying for a law degree is not just about learning jargon, Red Bull all-nighters or becoming a lawyer - here's how to make the most of it.

A-Levels in hand and en route to law school? Congratulations. You are about to embark on a course that can inspire, frustrate and empower, often in unequal measure. Though itwill feel like it on occasions, studying law is not just about Red Bull-fuelled library nights, jargon-filled lectures, book-burdened bags and headache-inducing judgments.Be it Grisham-inspired impulse, the worldlier need for career prospects, or plain curiosity, hold on to your motivation for choosing the subject.Law will challenge, provoke and push you out of your comfort zone. It's worth it.

Here are some tips:
1. Get used to feeling lostWhether scribbling notes about easements, indirect directives or promissory estoppel, you may find yourself lost in lectures. Law is not meant to be easy and you won't be the only one who feels at times that you are "not getting it". Recall how your A-Levels were once a step up. Remember lectures are where your understanding begins rather than it ending. Don't self-doubt. Gain support from peers, be pragmatic and work consistently rather than cram.
2. Embrace itWhether as a means to a career or not, embrace studying. You will find law easier if you enjoy it. You will learn the art of law, read cases to solve problems, often re-imagining the meaning of words and asking what reasonable people would do.You will also learn what the law is about - its potential and its flaws. Think broadly, reject narratives and dismiss stereotypes. Speak up, ask questions, critique and take intellectual risks. Try to be political, read the papers and get involved with pro bono work, debating and student societies. You will slowly see law in a different light.
3. Follow law's four R's: read, research, write and referenceRead widely using a range of sources beyond textbooks and cases. You may think you can avoid it, but learn how to use LexisNexis and Westlaw; they are a god-send. Mooting will propel your researchingskills so give it a go. Redescribing lecture notes in essays is unlikely to get you very far. Analyse, evaluate and avoid fence-sitting. Referencing is easy to get right but getting it wrong is a sure-fire way to frustrate over-burdened academics. Ensure your essay sticks out for the right reasons.
4. You don't have to be a lawyerMany law schools help prepare students for a career in the profession. You can find yourself in a regular whirlwind of careers talks, application forms and vacations scheme deadlines even in your first two years. If you want to become a solicitor or a barrister, then go for it and give yourself an edge. As difficult as it may be, network and get work experience early.But do remember that law degrees don't always lead to lawyers. Up to 50% of all law graduates enter non-legal careers where your skills are really valued. These are not lesser options. So work on getting a good degree, find out what you excelat and if you choose a different destination, have the self-confidence to embark on it.
5. Prioritise prep over emoticonsWhen you arrive at a tutorial, you willendear yourself to staff if they are not prompted to think, "Have I seen you before?" Carrying law textbooks into a seminar can often be a tell-tale sign that they are yet to be opened. Prep is everything. You will learn the art of a reasoned objectionbut if you want to improve things around you, practise it by joining committees and feeding back.Oh, and if academic staff don't reciprocate your exclamation marksand emoticons in emails, don't take it personally. Do say hello and let us know how you are getting on. Good luck.

5 Top Tips for PassingYour Kenya Law Exams

Law is a competitive field and to ensure good marks it is important to prepare well. Exams are an opportunity to demonstrate what you have learned over the course of your studies and,although they can seem daunting, with the right preparation and practice you will succeed.

1.What type of exam?
Firstly, you need to know what type of exam you are taking. As a law student it is likely over the course of your studies you will take avariety of different types ofexams.Essay and problem question examsThese are probably the most traditional law exams, asking you to complete a set number of questions in two or three hours. The mistake that many law students make when answering these types of questions is writing everything they know about the legal topic as opposed to answering the question asked. Planning and practice is critical to success.

Multi choice Exams
The exam includes a variety of question formats, single best answer, extended matching questions and multiple-choice questions. The revision requires learning a lot of information. Generally speaking for each question there will be several answers which are plausible but not right and a couple which look correct. Time must be taken to narrow the choices and work out which is the correct answer. These types of exams require you to work at speed, so it is important you give yourself plenty of opportunity to practise beforehand.

Blended exams
Some exams will have a combination of multiple choice, short answers, essay and problem questions. In any type of exam, you can choose which order you answer the questions, a good strategy is to start where you feel most confident as this will encourage you and settle any nerves.

1.Have a revision strategy
Exam success is determined by effective revision, the first step is to create a realistic timetable that breaks your revision into manageable chunks. Simply re-reading your notes or cramming the night before is not a good strategy, you need a methodical approach which includes condensingyour notes into revision cards, creating plans for answering essay and problem questions, going through past papers and practising answering questions under timed conditions.Learning cases and statutes is an important part of revision, but the ability to remember lots of different cases and statues in isolation is not helpful, you need to relate them to a legal topic so in the exam you can refer to the principles to support the points you are making. An examiner will give you very little credit for simply including a list of cases that touch upon a legal topic.

1.Nervous but not too nervous!Many students feel nervous before taking an exam but that is actually a good thing because you produce adrenalin which helps sharpen your mind. Being over anxious is not helpful as it may impact onyour performance so here are some suggestions to help control your nerves. The day before the check where you are going and how you plan to get there so you are not panicking on the morning of the exam. Take a bottle of water and a small snack with you, you don’t want to become dehydrated or your blood sugar to fall. Have a few notes with you which you can glance over before you go in to reassure you.

1.Hone your exam techniqueIt sounds obvious but remember to breathe! Takecontrolled deep breaths if you start to feel anxious. If it is an essay and problem question exam, plan how you will divide your time for answering each question and make sure you stick to it! Read the questions several times to make sure you have clearlyunderstood what is required and star the ones you think you will answer. As you read the questions you can jot down key points, cases or statutes that pop into your mind. Plan your answer first. It is tempting to start madly writing but you will produce a much clearer and more coherent answer, if you spend a couple of minutes organising your thoughts.If it is a multiple-choice exam, answer the easiest questions first. Don’t rush because you want to avoidmaking careless mistakes or marking the wrong box. Go back and answer the more challenging questions. If you have time, check over your answers to make sure you have answered every question and marked the correct box. If you are running out of time just guess- there is a statisticalchance that you may be right!

1.And finally, when it’s done, it’s done!Avoid having a post mortem and berating yourself for forgetting a point, instead reward yourself for all your hard work. A few days later it is good idea to capture your thoughts on your revision strategy and exam technique, to think about whether you would do anything differently in the future. If you have a series of exams make sure you have lots of breaks, get plenty of sleep and eat well.Good luck, exams can seem daunting but with good preparation you will get the results you deserve.

20 Tips for Success in Kenya Law School

1.DO THE READING.Do all of the reading assigned for your courses. Do not fall behind; you may never catchup. Do your reading at timesof the day when you are most alert. Also, do your reading in a location where you will not be distracted or tempted to do something else. Otherwise, you will findthat it takes you far longer than necessary to prepare for class.

2.BRIEF THE CASES.Take notes while reading. For each assigned case, write down the legally significant facts, the holding of the case, and the rationale for the court's decision. This is what is referred to as"briefing" cases. Your case briefs should be just that-brief.

3.REVIEW BEFORE EACH CLASS.Review your readingnotes (case briefs) right before class. That way, the cases will be fresh in your mind, and you will substantially increase your ability to follow the class discussion (not to mention avoid the embarrassment associated with being unprepared when called upon by the professor).

4.GO TO CLASS.Most professors cover some material in class that is not discussed in the reading, so failure to attend class will put you at a big disadvantage when you takethe final exam. Also, you willreceive an "FW" if you miss more than 20% of the sessions of a course. This is factored into your grade point average as an "F" and is never removed from your academic record, even if you retake the course.

5.PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS.Some misguided students use class time to shop on the Internet, play computer games or catch up on their e-mail. You are paying a substantial amount of money for tuition. Do you really want to spend your tuition money "surfing the net" or playing computer solitaire instead of paying attention to the class discussion?

6.PARTICIPATE IN CLASS.Students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process.

7.TAKE CLASS NOTES.Do not, however, get so caught up in trying to take down everything your professor says that you are not actively engaged in the class discussion. Review your class notes before starting your next reading assignment and analyze how the new cases you readaffect those cases you already have reviewed in class.

8.PREPARE AN OUTLINE FOR EACH OF YOUR CLASSES.Outlines prepared by more senior students or commercial outlines are notacceptable substitutes for making your own outlines. The analysis necessary to prepare a course outline helps you determine the rules of law applicable to the subject matter of the course, as well as determinehow the rules relate to one another. If you do not go through this process, you are less likely to master the subject matter. Also, not all professors teach a subject the same way. In fact, many professors do not even teach a course the same way from one year to the next. The only way to get an outline tailored to your course is to make it yourself. Do NOT wait until the reading period to prepare your outlines; you'll never get them done in time.Some students like to outline once per week, others once per month. Still others prefer to outline whenever a topic is completed. Pick whatever schedule works best for youand stick to it.

9.CONSIDER FORMING A STUDY GROUP.Study groups can be a valuable learning tool. Talking through material with classmates can increase your understanding and retention of course material.You also can obtain helpful study tips from your peers. If you decide to form a studygroup, seek out other students who are well-prepared for class and have similar academic goals. Do not let your study group meetings become social or gossip sessions. Also, do not use study groups as a way of sharing the workload. Lastly, if you find that you are not benefiting from your study group, resign from the group.

10.REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW.Just because you don't have an exam until the end of the semester does not mean that you should wait until the reading period to begin your review. This is not undergraduate school. You cannot cram right before finals and get good grades. Therefore, make time for frequent review over the course of the semester.

11.ATTEND REVIEW SESSIONS CONDUCTED BY YOUR PROFESSORS AND/OR THEIR ACADEMICFELLOWS.Some professors and/or Academic Fellows hold review sessions prior to exams. This is a great way to clarify the issues about which you are confused without having to stand in line outside your professor's office. Moreover, helpful tips regarding how to write your exam answers in a way that will earn you the most points are often shared during review sessions.

12.TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FEEDBACK FROM YOUR PROFESSORS.If your professor distributes a practice question and saysthat she will review your answer if you submit it by a certain time, DO IT! This is a great opportunity to get your professor's input and make any necessary adjustments before your performance is graded.

13.ATTEND THE WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED BY THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT CENTER.These workshops cover a number of topics such as outlining, time and stress management, and how to prepare for and write law school exams-skills essential to success in lawschool.

14.TAKE PRACTICE EXAMS.Lots of them. Exams previously administered by your professor are preferable. This will help you determine how your professor drafts his or her exams.

15.CREATE A STUDY PLAN.Many students complain that they do not have enough time to brief cases,prepare outlines and/or take practice exams. They're wrong! By planningyour time in advance, you will have enough time to meet all of the demands oflaw school and have time to enjoy some outside activities. If you need help managing your time, see Professor .

16.DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO PREPARE YOUR LRW PAPERS.Again, this is not undergraduate school. Youcannot throw a paper together the night before it is due and expect to receive a good grade (or for that matter, a passing grade). Good legal writing takes time and lots of editing so start working on your LRW assignments as soon as possible.

17.REVIEW YOUR EXAMS.Meet with your professors to review your exams after grades have been posted. This is the best way to determine what you did well and what you need to improve.

18.MINIMIZE YOUR STRESS.Law school can be stressful, but there are a number of steps you can take to keep stress to a minimum. Humor is a great stress reliever. Make time for exercise-carrying 100 pounds of law books every day doesn't count. Eat fruit, vegetables, and whole grain foods on a regular basis-a diet Coke and a package of Ding-Dongs are not a balanced breakfast. Don't overdo your caffeine intake; drink lots of water instead. Get at least seven hours of sleep per night. Maintain a life outside of law school. You don't needto give up all of the things you enjoyed doing before you went to law school; you just won't be able to dothem as often. Finally, if you think that your stress level is getting out of control, talk about it with your significant other, a family member, a close friend, a faculty member, one of the law school Deans, or Professor.

.19.DON'T GET CAUGHT UP INTHE COMPETITION ASPECT OF LAW SCHOOL.Face it. Only one student can finish at the top of the class. So instead of settingNumero Uno as your goal, focus on doing your very best. Also, be supportive ofand respectful to your classmates. It will make for a more positive law school experience for you and your peers

.20.GET HELP IF YOU NEED IT.It is not uncommon for students to be confused about the substantive law covered in their classes, how to prepare for class, how to study for exams, how to manage their time or how to take law school exams. Indeed, it is the rare student who does not have questions about these subjects from time to time, particularly during the first year of law school.If you have questions, there are a number of resources available to you.Every professor holds weekly office hours.