Professor Rafael Dean Brown

Brown's Five Levels App

Learn to think, write and work as a lawyer in English. The interactive version of the Five Levels of Legal Analysis - the method behind the study guides used by law students moving into US-style legal analysis.

Open the app See the study guides

What it is

Most law students can repeat what they read. Far fewer can use it. The Five Levels of Legal Analysis is a method that takes you from repeating facts to arguing policy - the full range a lawyer needs in an exam answer, a memo, or a courtroom. This app turns the method into guided practice: short exercises, immediate scoring, and a path that adapts to where you actually are.

Level 1 - Fact repetition. Recognize when you are retelling the story instead of explaining its legal significance.
Level 2 - Dovetailing and commoratio. Connect rule language to the facts and keep the relevant idea in view.
Level 3 - Analogies. Explain why a comparison supports your answer.
Level 4 - Distinctions. Explain why a difference matters to the result.
Level 5 - Policy and pathos. Use purpose and human consequences when they help explain the problem.

Your English level, on its own track

Legal analysis and English are different skills, so the app measures them separately. Alongside your analysis level you hold an English band - E1 Accessible Legal English, E2 Developing Legal English, E3 Standard Law-School English, E4 Advanced/Professional Legal English - and the two tracks move independently.

A fair placement. The check opens with five short English-access questions. If the English itself is not yet understandable enough for a fair placement, legal scoring pauses - language difficulty is never counted as weak legal reasoning.
Reasoning stays ahead. When your legal reasoning runs ahead of your English, the app keeps your reasoning level and simplifies the language. Level 3 asks for E2, Levels 4-5 ask for E3.
Same law, your English. The Level 5 materials come in four language bands - the legal difficulty stays fixed, only the English changes. And if your English is already strong, the course focuses on legal reasoning.

How it works

A fair start

A 6-8 minute check places you on the right level. No pass or fail - it first makes sure the English itself is not holding you back, so language difficulty is never counted as weak legal reasoning.

Adaptive exercises

Short written exercises at your level, with scoring tied to the sources in front of you. Polished writing cannot cover a wrong source - and plain English is never punished.

Real mastery

You pass a level after three strong performances at 80% or higher on different exercises, at least two without substantive hints. One lucky answer does not move you up.

English support, tracked apart

Built for students working in English as a second language. Language support is measured separately and never lowers your legal-reasoning score.

Your data stays yours

Ready to move up a level?

Access is by access code. Enter your code to start your placement check, or pick up the Five Levels guides while you wait for yours.

I have a code - open the app Browse the guides