Statutory Law

Answer choices

1. A

   Inverse Bait4% picked this

   What are some ways in which synthetic skills are strengthened or encouraged through the analysis of

   The beginning of the 3rd paragraph suggests that analyzing cases doesn't strengthen or encourage a student's skill at synthesis. The author is presenting case law as the thing law schools are currently fixated on, and saying, "If we started more teaching statutory law instead, then it would help students develop their skill of synthesis". Synthesis is the idea of bringing things together, and the author is saying "In contrast (to case law), the study of all the statutes of a legal system in a certain small area of the law would enable the student to see how these laws form a coherent whole."

   4%
2. B

   Inverse Bait2% picked this

   In which areas of legal practice is a proficiency in case analysis more valuable than a

   The author tells us at the end of the 3rd paragraph why learning statutory law could be more valuable than proficiency in case law. She never gives a specific area where learning case law would be more valuable than statutory law.

   2%
3. C

   Unsupported Comparison4% picked this

   What skills are common to the study of both statutory law

   The only skills we hear about studying statutory law are "accurate interpretation of the statutes' meanings and applicability" and "synthesis". We only hear about "judicial decisions" in the second sentence of the passage, where the author says law school currently focuses on those and analysis of cases, rather than on statutory law. We're never told that studying judicial decisions involves improving the skill of synthesis or of accurate interpretation of statutes' meanings.

   4%
4. D

   Too Specific: regionally oriented law schools25% picked this

   What are some objections that have been raised against including the study of statutes in

   The only objection raised against studying statutes is that "it could seem to be an inappropriate investment of time and resources (if you're not planning to practice law in that region, because) a particular region's statutory law is not generally transferable to other regions." This objection is targeted at law schools with a national orientation. Why would I go to Harvard and bother learning the regional statutory law of Massachusetts if most of that isn't going to transfer to Los Angeles, where I plan to practice? But this objection isn't relevant to regionally oriented law schools. Those law schools are prepping students who plan to practice law in that particular region. The passage presents the practice of teaching statutory law as something that is already done at regionally oriented schools, without controversy. The author is saying that statutory law should be taught at all law schools, and the objection in the final paragraph is about whether it would make sense to teach it at a nationally oriented school.

   25%
5. E

   Correct65% picked this

   What is the primary focus of the curriculum currently offered in

   Why this is right

   The primary focus is "Judicial decisions and analysis of cases", according to the second sentence of the passage. It doesn't actually say most law schools, but the first two sentences are speaking in generalizations about law schools, which implies it's speaking about most of them. This question stem isn't in a Must Be True style like most "Five Questions" problems. Those usually say "the information in the passage is sufficient to answer which question?" This stem says "most clearly and directly answered", so we're allowed to be a little fuzzy with language. The overall passage is complaining that law schools focus on analyzing cases, to the detriment of sufficiently covering statutory law.

   Skill tested: Five Questions · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

   65%