IRAC (Continued)
    You then continue through the exam applying this same IRAC format to the other issues.  The exam may only have a single, long fact pattern packed with issues.  Conversely, the exam may have as many as six or seven short fact patterns with fewer and more pointed issues.  Regardless of the number of fact patterns, most exams will have dozens of issues.
    Usually the issues are not as clear cut as in the fact pattern above.  When this happens, you may not be sure if a rule applies.  In that case, the Prof has intentionally left the issue open and you are to make the arguments for both sides.  For instance, lets say the fact pattern above stated that Bank Patron was leaning against the teller window, and Y slammed the butt of his gun into the teller window (instead  of into Bank Patron’s nose) within a half inch of Bank Patron.
    The common law holds that "plaintiff's person" includes anything connected to the plaintiff.  In other words, if you are holding a drinking glass and someone in a harmful or offensive way knocks the glass from your hand, a battery has been committed.  But would the "connected" rule apply to the teller window that Bank Patron was leaning against?  We don't know, so you would argue both sides, as illustrated below:
       
    Issue:  Did Y commit a battery upon Bank Patron?
    Rule:  Battery is 1) harmful or offensive contact, 2) with plaintiff's person.
    Application:  Here Y's slamming the butt of his gun into the teller window upon which Bank Patron was leaning would certainly be offensive to Bank Patron.
    Conclusion:  While Y's action is offensive, he didn't slam the butt of the gun into Bank Patrons person.  However, courts have held that "plaintiff's person" includes anything "connected" to the plaintiff.  Bank patron will argue that the teller window was connected to him via his leaning upon it for support, constituting a connection, and thereby completing his prima facie case of battery.  Y will argue that a stationary object upon which patron leans is too attenuated to constitute a "connection".
   
    Many of the issues on law school exams are gray, meaning the facts don't fit into any of the rules you'll have memorized.  Your ability to make arguments for both sides in such circumstances will be important to your success in law school.