Verbloom Law School Guides
1L doctrine, explained plainly.
Short, plain-English guides to the first-year concepts students search for most — Civil Procedure (jurisdiction and the Erie doctrine), Torts (negligence and intentional torts), and Contracts (consideration and promissory estoppel) — with the leading cases and tests, grouped by subject.
18 free Law School guides
Civil Procedure
Joinder, Impleader, and Intervention: Who Ends Up in One Lawsuit (1L Civ Pro)
The joinder rules decide which claims and parties belong in a single case. A plain-English guide to Rules 18, 20, 19, 14, 13, and 24, with a summary table for 1L Civil Procedure.
Venue, Transfer, and Forum Non Conveniens (1L Civ Pro)
Venue answers which courthouse hears your case — not whether the court has power. Learn 28 U.S.C. § 1391, transfer under § 1404 and § 1406, and forum non conveniens, with a quick decision map.
Supplemental Jurisdiction Explained: 28 U.S.C. § 1367 (1L Civ Pro)
After diversity and federal-question jurisdiction, § 1367 lets a federal court hear extra claims that couldn't stand on their own. Here's the same-case test, the diversity carve-out, and when a court can decline — with the leading cases.
Res Judicata and Collateral Estoppel: Claim and Issue Preclusion in Civil Procedure
Once a court decides something, that decision has consequences for future litigation. Here's a clear breakdown of claim preclusion (res judicata) and issue preclusion (collateral estoppel) — what they bar, when they apply, and how to distinguish them.
Summary Judgment vs. Motion to Dismiss: Rule 56 vs. Rule 12(b)(6) Explained
Both motions can end a lawsuit before trial — but they operate at different stages and use different standards. Here's a plain-English breakdown of Rule 12(b)(6) and Rule 56, with the key cases every 1L needs to know.
The Plausibility Pleading Standard: Twombly and Iqbal (1L Civ Pro)
Twombly and Iqbal replaced notice pleading with the plausibility standard. Here's a plain-English walkthrough of Rule 8, the two-step Iqbal analysis, and how a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss now works.
The Erie Doctrine Explained: Which Law a Federal Court Applies (1L Civ Pro)
The Erie doctrine decides whether a federal court sitting in diversity applies state or federal law. Here's a plain-English walkthrough of Erie, the substance–procedure line, and the tests from York, Byrd, and Hanna v. Plumer.
Subject-Matter Jurisdiction: Federal Question vs. Diversity (1L Civ Pro)
Can a federal court hear your case? This 1L Civ Pro guide explains subject-matter jurisdiction — federal question and the well-pleaded complaint rule, plus diversity jurisdiction, complete diversity, and the amount in controversy.
Personal Jurisdiction Explained: Minimum Contacts, Specific vs. General (1L Civ Pro)
Personal jurisdiction is one of the most confusing 1L Civ Pro topics. Here's a plain-English walkthrough of minimum contacts, specific vs. general jurisdiction, purposeful availment, and the fairness test — with the key cases.
Torts
Intentional Torts: Intent, Battery, and Transferred Intent (1L Guide)
What does "intent" mean for intentional torts — and why doesn't it require intent to harm? A plain-English 1L guide to battery, assault, the purpose-or-knowledge standard, and transferred intent, with the leading cases.
The Four Elements of Negligence: Duty, Breach, Causation, Damages (1L Torts)
Negligence is the backbone of 1L Torts. This guide breaks down all four elements — duty, breach, causation (actual and proximate), and damages — with the key tests like the reasonable person standard and the Hand formula.
Contracts
Contract Damages: Expectation, Reliance, and Restitution (1L Contracts)
When a contract is breached, the default remedy is money — but which measure? Here's a plain-English guide to expectation, reliance, and restitution damages, plus the limits (foreseeability, certainty, mitigation) every 1L is tested on.
The Parol Evidence Rule, Explained (1L Contracts)
The parol evidence rule decides when prior or contemporaneous agreements can change a written contract. Here's the integration question, the partial vs. complete distinction, the major exceptions, and the UCC twist — in plain English.
Consideration and Promissory Estoppel Explained (1L Contracts)
Consideration is what makes a promise enforceable — and promissory estoppel is the backup when it's missing. Here's a plain-English 1L guide to the bargained-for exchange, what isn't consideration, and the Restatement §90 reliance test.