A Brief Introduction of Law Subject

Law is a subject which is based more upon concept and analysis apart from being interesting and applied and future more now a day it offers vast carrier opportunities. In Judicial services, the exams are conducted in 3 stages i.e. Pre, Main and Interview. So while preparing we have to keep all the three stages of examination in mind.

Prelims Examination: In preliminary examination the requirements as:
(1) understanding of the basics from the bare act and illustrations
(2) comprehension of celebrated case laws, (i, e.) application of legal concepts in factual situation
(3) finding of factual information apart from changes in law (temporal variation) either by amendment in statute or by reversal or by overruling of decisions
(4) legal maxims, its meaning and application.

Mains Examination: In mains examination one is required to develop capacity to understand the call of question and an analytical bent of mind which can be applied in giving difference primarily in preliminary and mains is not the syllabus but the way to present answer and to reach to the right conclusion.

The mains exam demands reproduction of ideas where as  preliminary exam requires choosing the right option. aspirant should Prepare both for mains and Preliminary exam simultaneously. In preparation one should start with weeding out irrelevant and dissecting relevant and most relevant and then incisive study apart from intensive or extensive study is required. Inclusive study emphasizes  more on how to study apart from what to study and what not to study, In this direction, first step should be defining the real syllabus, which can be understood by going through the previous year question papers along with mains and preliminary syllabus.

Its Not About Sections & Case Laws

As law is not all about sections, case laws, & facts which is general perception, so it must not be read in shallow manner but one should try to develop deep into the subject by raising questions like what makes the study interesting. The process helps in understanding which Approach of Study.

In this light approach of study should be oriented towards the following ends:

1. Aspirants should try to develop the broad conceptual base.
2. Understanding of the linkages with the topics and other Papers of law.
3. To apply law in real factual situation.
4. Temporal and spatial variations along with why this variation has happened and what is its implication.
5. To produce analytical content in the answers of mains examinations.
6. To innovate methods to remember the Base act (i.e.) the concerned provisions of the act) and important case laws on the point.

Law Subject & Syllabus

In civil services aspirants are required to pass a three stage examination (Preliminary, Main & Interview /Personality Test). In mains, law is one of the optional apart from General Studies Law is one of the most scoring subjects in civil services exam but we are required to understand the nature of questions and specific areas from where the questions are being asked by UPSC. You must also know where lies the most relevant material and how to comprehend that which are required to be reproduce in the answer.

Recent year questions of mains examination reflects that the questions have not only been asked from often repeated areas but also from the areas which have not been touched so far, The current development and happenings also condition the mind of question setters and they raise new issues from the same area, some papers like Constitution, Cr. P.C, C.P.C, Evidence, S.R. Act are more dynamic in nature and poses problem for aspirants and it requires rigorous analysis of the questions. As far as other Papers are concerned, it is more Bare Act oriented and the nature of question being very simple, so it has more potential to yield the better results. Therefore approach of study and the answer writing pattern of these papers should be different. So some Papers apart from analysis and comprehension requires support of current development whereas other papers expects orientation of Bare Act along with illustrations and case laws.

Strategy for Preparing Law

These competitive examinations require a different kind of approach and strategy which include understanding the real syllabus, demand of the question, demand of subject, the art of writing the answers and the ability to reproduce that at the right time. This is the least that is expected of a aspirant  preparing for judicial and Civil Services.

An aspirant of Civil and Judicial Services need to strive for excellence in his/her presentation and the first step towards achieving that is to have an in depth and through knowledge of the subjects which can come only through hard work over a long period or through competent and able guidance.

Benefits of Effective Study

In sum, to study effectively for written examination either objective or subjective, a aspirant must be able to do the three all importance works i.e.

1. To reduce legal theories and status down to a concise, straight forward statement of the elements which just be satisfied for them to apply, without knowledge of the precise elements, it is not possible to anticipate each of the potential issues which the legal theory could yield.

2. To perceive or anticipate which words or phrases within a legal principle are likely to be the source of issues; and how they are likely to arise within the context of a problem.

3. To conceptualize situations in which each of the elements of a rule of law would become the source of a factual issue. Unless a aspirant can illustrate himself/herself an application of each element of a rule of law, he/she does not truly understand that legal principle.

Besides above mentioned things this examinations require a different kind of approach and strategy which includes understanding the real syllabus, demand of the question, demand of subject, the art of writing answers and the ability to reproduce that at the right time. This is the least that is expected of a aspirant of a preparing for judicial services.

Answering Writing Technique & Strategy

While writing the answer one should first prepare the background of the answer and for doing this mentioned suggestions have to be kept in mind. Any answer of law will generally contain three important parts:

(1) Statement of law,  (2) illustration of Bare Act or case laws and (3) logical conclusion on the above two. Apart from it, one should a there to
(1) A, B, C of answer writing i.e. accuracy, brevity and clarity in presenting answer
(2) Innovative examples and illustrations which can explain law in best possible way and (3) Spotting of issues and raising arguments for and against.

Practice Makes A Man Perfect

These things can be achieved only by practicing which exposes one’s weakness and prepares one well in advance of examination.

In judicial services the requirements are as simple as:

(1) Understanding of the basics the bare Act a illustrations,
(2) Comprehension of celebrated case laws, (i.e. application of legal concepts in factual situation)
(3) Finding of factual information apart from changes in law (temporal variation) either by amendment in statute or by reversal or overruling of decisions,
(4) Legal maxims, its meaning and application.

In mains examinations one is required to develop capacity to understand the call of question and an analytical bent of mind which can be applied in giving complete content to an organized answer. The difference primarily in preliminary and Mains is not the syllabus but the way to present answer and to reach to the right conclusion. The mains exam demands Reproduction of ideas whereas P.T. requires choosing the right option.

At both stages, concept building and analyzing is key to the subject without which this subject can’t be studied. That is what is the demand of the subject and which makes it interesting, conceptual and provides it an edge over other optional which requires much of the memorizing of facts. The acts and other sources of law (judicial decision, customs, common laws, etc.) contains theoretical content of law which are applied to factual situation and that is how it becomes really interesting but the application necessitates comprehend decision and then it has to be analyzed in right perspective.

As law is not all about sections, case laws & facts which is general perception, so it must not be read in shallow manner but one should try to develop deep into the subject raising questions like what is this topic all about, what is its relevance, what question can be raised in the exam &  how to make it interesting so it can be remembered better, The broad conceptual base has to be developed and its interlink ages with other.