CA CLS Criminal Law study plan

Map the California Penal Code's general-part structure by building an outline of actus reus, mens rea, and the concurrence requirement from your own case-reading notes

Define the four mental states used in California law (specific intent, general intent, criminal negligence, strict liability) and write one original example of each

Distinguish attempt, solicitation, and conspiracy under California law by drafting a three-column comparison of elements and defenses

Explain the difference between California and common-law accomplice liability in a short written summary

Analyze the elements of homicide offenses, including murder degrees, manslaughter, and the felony-murder rule, and write element checklists for each

Compare malice aforethought with the California doctrines of provocation and imperfect self-defense

Apply the merger doctrine to at least three hypothetical felonies and justify each conclusion

Draft a one-paragraph rule statement for each homicide offense from memory, then verify against your outline

Catalog the elements of theft offenses, including larceny, robbery, burglary, embezzlement, and receiving stolen property, and note the distinctions

Explain the California rules on claim of right and intent to permanently deprive using original examples

Compare forgery, identity theft, and check fraud elements and identify overlapping charges

Write out the burglary elements and apply them to three fact patterns with different timing and intent issues

Summarize the elements of assault, battery, mayhem, kidnapping, and false imprisonment and distinguish each from the others

Explain California's rules on criminal threats and stalking, including the required mental state

Analyze self-defense, defense of others, and defense of habitation, including the duty-to-retreat rules in California

Draft a written answer to two timed hypotheticals on crimes against the person

Outline the elements of the major drug offenses and the rules on possession, transportation, and sale

Explain California's treatment of possession for sale versus simple possession using quantity and packaging factors

Summarize the elements of driving-under-the-influence offenses and the role of blood-alcohol evidence

Apply search-and-seizure principles to two drug-offense fact patterns and write the suppression analysis

Catalog the major defenses, including insanity, diminished capacity limits, entrapment, duress, and necessity, and state the elements of each

Explain the burden of proof and burden-shifting rules for affirmative defenses in California

Analyze the statute of limitations and jurisdiction rules for criminal cases

Draft a defense-strategy memo for a hypothetical client using at least three defenses

Integrate all offense categories by writing full issue-spotting answers to three multi-issue hypotheticals

Identify the most commonly tested distinctions and rank them by frequency in your own practice sets

Practice stating elements from memory in under two minutes per offense

Review your error log and rewrite answers to your three weakest questions

Complete a full-length simulated exam under timed conditions and self-score it

Recite elements for every major offense category from memory without notes

Consolidate your outlines into a single one-page attack sheet

Identify remaining weak areas and write a targeted final-review checklist