Exam Technique: How to Answer a Law Problem Question

Problem questions reward application, not recall. The examiner already knows you can describe the law; they want to see you use it on a set of facts. IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion) is the structure that keeps your answer disciplined under time pressure.

Step 1: Spot the Issues

Read the facts twice. Each party, each event and each loss usually hides a legal issue. List them before you write, and deal with the most serious first. Marks are allocated per issue, so missing one is costly.

Step 2: State the Rule

For each issue, state the relevant rule and back it with authority: a statute section or a case. Keep it short. You are setting up the test you are about to apply, not writing an essay on the topic.

Step 3: Apply to the Facts

This is where the marks live. Take the rule and run the specific facts through it, arguing both sides where the answer is genuinely arguable. Use the facts by name. "Because the warning was hidden behind a shelf" earns marks; "the duty was breached" on its own does not.

Step 4: Conclude

Reach a clear, reasoned conclusion on each issue, then a short overall conclusion. A confident "on balance, X is liable because..." beats sitting on the fence. The examiner rewards a defensible answer, not a perfect one.

A Mini Worked Example

Issue: is the shop liable in negligence (or under the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957)? Rule: an occupier owes lawful visitors the common duty of care. Application: a wet floor with no warning is an unsafe state of the premises that a reasonable occupier would have signed or cordoned. Conclusion: the shop is likely liable, subject to any contributory negligence.

Common Mistakes

Conclusion

IRAC is simple, which is its strength. Spot every issue, state each rule with authority, apply it to the named facts, and conclude with conviction. Practise the loop until it is second nature, and problem questions stop being intimidating.