Substantive Law
Substantive law questions reward element-based thinking. In torts, negligence requires duty, breach, causation (actual and proximate), and damages; intentional torts require intent plus the act; strict liability applies to abnormally dangerous activities and defective products. Contracts require offer, acceptance, consideration, capacity, and legality; the Statute of Frauds requires writing for categories such as land sales and contracts not performable within one year. Civil procedure distinguishes jurisdiction (power), venue (place), pleadings, discovery, and dispositive motions; summary judgment is proper only when no genuine dispute of material fact exists. Criminal law requires actus reus and mens rea, with proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Property concepts include estates, deeds, recording statutes, and landlord-tenant duties. Traps: confusing statutes of limitations with statutes of repose; assuming consideration must be economically adequate; treating an advertisement as an offer; saying "beyond a reasonable doubt" applies in civil cases; and treating all contracts as requiring writing. Worked example: a store advertises a laptop for $500; a customer demands one. The advertisement is generally an invitation to make an offer, not an offer itself, so no contract forms until the store accepts. Rule of thumb: for any fact pattern, list the elements, then match facts to each element before choosing an answer.