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Halloween Advice for Law Students

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1. Dress up as an element from your favorite case; try the carbolic smoke ball from Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Company or the scales from Palsgraf v. Long Island R. Co. The scales are the only participant in the case that acted rationally.

2. Be Blackacre. This costume is freely adaptable depending upon your taste in color.

3. INS v. Chada. Since this case stands for so many propositions it can literally be anything. When in doubt, cite to Chada.

4. Be the Bluebook. No one will like you but it’s a great costume.

5. Dress as Chief Justice Melville Fuller’s mustache. First lady Ida McKinley did so at the 1899 White House Halloween party and she was a big hit.

6. When trick-or-treaters come to your door remember that they are not interested in the rules regarding the liability of owners/occupiers of land.

7. Instead of handing out candy hand out “fruit of the poisonous tree.” The kids’ parents will love this.

8. Dicta does not make a good treat.

9. Dress up as a judge and tell trick-or-treaters that in order to get candy they have to submit motions in writing.

10. Get two friends to join you and you can trick-or-treat dressed as a three prong test.

11. The Rule Against Perpetuities is still the scariest thing there is.

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