Rajneesh Singh
Legal Reasoning can be a sticky puddle if you don’t know the proper ways to steer out clean and score well in this section. Well for starters, one must understand that Legal Reasoning does not necessarily mean that one must have intricate knowledge in the field of Law, rather having an understanding of the reasoning and the sense of logic is important. The basic knowledge of some common laws and legal current affairs helps in solving Legal Reasoning questions with a better speed.
The Reasoning Mind |
| All That you Need |
CLAT core committee made it very clear in CLAT 2016 while hearing to the objections on correction of the answers that they take you as a CLAT aspirant who does not have any prior knowledge of law. CLAT has been setting the answers assuming that and not that you are a law school student. You have to act as a judge, who has to pass a judgement based on the wisdom (reasoning mind) without violating the constitution (principle/rule). For example if the principle uses a term “foreseeable”, it is your your reasoning mind will decide whether it was foreseeable or not and certainly not the rule/principle. Do not put the load on the principle to decide the answer. Principle is just a restriction which can not be violated. It is the reasoning mind which will decide the answer.
Solve Past Year Papers
Solving past year papers helps in getting a better grip of the subject matter and also helps in gaining experience on the same. You also develop an eye for identifying high frequency questions, and solving them helps you to find the common mistakes that are usually made with these kinds of questions. You can also increase your accuracy with these questions. Solving past year papers of the old pattern will also be of a great help. NLSIU conducted it’s own exam for 20 years before CLAT was conducted for the first time in 2008. Solving these papers will also be of immense help.
STICK to the Principle/Rule But do not become STICKY
The golden rule is, you must stick to the principle, but, you need to just check that your answer must not violate the principle/rule. Often principle has no role and it is all about reasoning, common sense and rational assumptions. Question setter often tries to trap you by making a redundant principle which is catchy enough to deviate you.
A principle is like a circular boundary which restricts you to be within the boundary. One has to remain inside that to get the answer. Often people are so STICKY to the principle that they keep trying to find the answer by sticking on the line (principle). Whereas answer can be anywhere within the circle. Answers are often result of applying correct reasoning, common sense and rational assumption (being within the principle/rule)
Enhancing Speed
Attainment of optimal speed is an art which needs to be learnt well. Never try to go beyond the optimal speed which is based on your present speed. There should not be any compromise on the accuracy. Also because now the questions are just 120 in total. Off course calculated risk may be taken from time to time.
Speed enhancement can be mainly done with help of familiarity with the topic of the given passage. This can become the single reason for the speed to become even upto double the present speed of reading. A good hold on the common principles (like vicarious liability) and the legal current affairs (like Rahul Gandhi defamation case) can dramatically enhance your speed.
Quality Discussion
This is the only way to improve your reasoning mind gradually. This will make your mind more rational and unbiased. Refrain from some stupid discussions mainly of a social forum. Interestingly people go on for a long fight over a stupid question which does not have a distinct answer.
There are many materials which have wrong answers, pathetic explanations (as if you are already a law school student) and poor quality questions. This can make you diffident and adulterate your correct reasoning mind.
Focus on Rules/Principles
While reading the given principles, make sure the entire focus must be on the rules and not the related facts.
Plethora of less important information may clutter your mind and may deviate you from the main agenda. When you start solving questions and start reading the incident, the accurate recall of the principle will help to save the time and maintain a good accuracy. This way, you will not need to go back to the passage again and again.
Focus Area
Legal Reasoning – Rules
Logical Reasoning – The Main Argument.
Reading Comprehension – The main Message/Opinion
Tie Breaker Myth
It is true that CLAT uses Legal Reasoning marks for breaking tie of students with same total score, but it would be a big blunder if you focus only on maximizing your score on Legal Reasoning as this section may be tougher sometimes and the questions may be lengthy as well. Please increase your score by attempting the easier questions from other sections in such case. Remember, a higher score is more important to secure a higher rank, rather than breaking tie with a lower rank.
Select Study Materials Carefully
Please ensure you buy the right set of books for practicing Legal Reasoning questions. A lot of bad materials are available in the market so be sure to buy good books for this section.
