Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure
Substantive criminal law
Understand the principle of legality (no crime or punishment without law), the elements of an offence (object, objective side, subject, subjective side), guilt forms (intent and negligence), stages of crime (preparation, attempt, completed offence), complicity, and circumstances excluding criminality (necessary defence, extreme necessity, detention of offender, duress). Know the system of penalties, sentencing rules, and grounds for exemption from liability.
Procedure
Master the stages: initiation of a criminal case, preliminary investigation, trial, appeal, cassation. Know the rights of suspects and accused, the role of the defence counsel, investigative actions and their procedural formalization, preventive measures (detention and its time limits), and the presumption of innocence.
Traps
Questions often test the boundary between attempt and preparation, the difference between necessary defence and exceeding its limits, and the requirement that evidence obtained in violation of procedure is inadmissible. Another trap is confusing exemption from criminal liability with exemption from punishment.
Rule of thumb
For any scenario, run the four-element analysis first; only then ask about stage, complicity, and possible defences. In procedure, always ask whether the act was properly recorded, because formality drives admissibility.