Exam Prep
Ace Your Criminal Law Final
Master homicide, mens rea, inchoate crimes, and every defense in the criminal law canon. This guide covers key topics, essential cases, proven study strategies, and AI-powered tools.
Key Topics to Know
Actus Reus
Voluntary act requirement, omissions, possession, and the concurrence principle.
Mens Rea
MPC culpability levels (purposely, knowingly, recklessly, negligently), specific vs. general intent, and strict liability.
Homicide
Murder (intentional, depraved heart, felony murder), voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, and heat of passion.
Felony Murder Rule
Inherently dangerous felonies, merger doctrine, agency vs. proximate cause theory, and co-felon liability.
Causation
Actual cause (but-for test), proximate cause, intervening causes, and concurrent sufficient causes.
Inchoate Crimes
Attempt (substantial step test), conspiracy (bilateral vs. unilateral), and solicitation.
Accomplice Liability
Aiding and abetting, the natural and probable consequences doctrine, and withdrawal.
Self-Defense
Reasonable belief, proportional force, duty to retreat, castle doctrine, and imperfect self-defense.
Insanity Defenses
M'Naghten rule, MPC substantial capacity test, irresistible impulse, and diminished capacity.
Entrapment
Subjective test (predisposition focus) vs. objective test (government conduct focus).
Essential Cases
Study Strategy
Always Start with Actus Reus and Mens Rea
For every crime, identify the voluntary act (or omission) and the required mental state. This is the foundation of criminal liability — everything else (causation, defenses) builds on it.
Know the MPC Culpability Hierarchy
Purposely > Knowingly > Recklessly > Negligently. Be able to define each level and apply them to different fact patterns. Many exam questions turn on which mental state the defendant possessed.
Master the Homicide Spectrum
Create a chart showing murder (first degree, second degree, depraved heart, felony murder) and manslaughter (voluntary, involuntary). Know the elements and the key distinguishing factors for each.
Practice Inchoate Crime Analysis
Attempt, conspiracy, and solicitation appear on every criminal law exam. Know when conduct crosses the line from mere preparation to a substantial step, and understand Pinkerton liability for co-conspirators.
Address Defenses Systematically
After establishing the prima facie case, work through defenses in order: justification (self-defense, necessity, defense of others), excuse (insanity, duress, intoxication), and other defenses (entrapment, mistake).
Tools for Criminal Law Exam Prep
Attack Sheet Generator
Build a criminal law outline organized by offense and defense.
Smart Flashcards
Generate flashcards for MPC levels, homicide elements, and defenses.
Exam Question Generator
Practice with AI-generated criminal law hypos and model answers.
Case Brief Library
19+ criminal law case briefs in standard law-school format.