If lawyers in practice don’t answer without the aid of legal resources, why should law students be treated any differently? 

An “open book examination” is something where examinees are allowed to consult their class notes, textbooks, and other approved material while answering questions. This practice is quite common in law examinations in developed countries like US. Those who are used to routine examinations are puzzled by this idea. But it is ideal for teaching programs that primarily aim at developing the skills of critical and creative thinking.

The very profession law students are studying to become – very rarely answer questions without doing a little research. People listen when lawyers speak, and often rely on their answers, so it is important to be completely confident in answers that are given to legal questions.