You have about 9 weeks to go until the February bar exam. Take a few days off during the holidays to relax your mind and have quality time with those that love you. Take the time off with no guilt attached.
Those that really love you want to see you pass the bar. Know that with certainty. Those who are pulling and picking at you, saying you don’t have to study that long or want you to go to the clubs and parties are not your true friends and do not want you to be successful. Hopefully, you have ejected them from your life for these final 2 months that you are studying.
Sometimes those loved ones see you study and see your struggle and wish they could help you, but don’t know how. Bar applicants who have children find it hard to be both a parent and have a full time study plan. Don’t ignore them. Try to integrate them into your “experience”.
During these weeks of celebration for Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years, look at those that are supporting you in ways you may not even realize. Maybe your mom makes you breakfast every morning before you leave to go study. Maybe your spouse is doing the heavy lifting as you study. Let them know you appreciate their support, even if they are just getting out of your way during this period before the bar exam.
No person is an island. You need your family and friends during this stressful period of bar exam studying. Have your family help you. They will be glad to help and they will be proud of the little part they played in your success. Give your family members or your children one of your study books and have them test you. This is particularly good for the elements of a cause of action. Have your family help you recite those causes of action. See if you can make a game out of it, with your children or family members each calling out an element of a cause of action.
You may be surprised on game day when you are calling up the exceptions to the hearsay rule and you remember the face of your loved ones yelling it out to you.
Have a terrific Christmas, Hanukah and New Years. Rest, relax and then get back to work. The February Bar Exam is right around the corner.
Please note that BarProfessors provides private tutorial for the Florida, California, Texas and New York February 2011 bar exams. Please go to barprofessors.com or send an e-mail to pass@barprofessors.com
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Repeating the Bar Exam
The time has come when you check the bar examiners website, look up your number and see that you have failed the bar. Shock, disappointment, sadness, angry, embarassment – you run the gaunlet of emotions. What do you do now?
Spend a little time with your emotions. Get them all out – have yourself a cry, throw your books across the room, but then there comes a time when you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again. That will determine what you are made of and that, believe it or not, will determine what kind of lawyer you become. In the future, when you do pass the bar, you”ll bee in the middle of a particularly trying case and everything goes wrong, but your client is depending on you for help. You refocus your energy, dust yourself and your client off, and begin anew.
If you must take the bar exam again, do not take too long to get over your emotions. Have your cry and move on. It’s time to refocus again on the bar. I’ve had students tell me that they have studied the hardest they had ever studied for anything in their lives for their first bar exam. That’s probably true, but that’s why it’s time to examine how your study. Taking the exam again will call for a change in approach, strategy, and preparation for you to pass that final hurdle in fulfilling your dream of becoming a lawyer. The bar exam is not an academic exercise. The bar examiners want to know whether you are prepared to practice law.
Look at your scores in depth. What areas of the law did you not do well in? Were you weak on evidence or real property? What areas of the exam did you not do well in. Was it the essays, performance test or MBE? That’s where you should start in reformulating how you are going to pass the bar. Did you do well in the essay portion or the performance test but not the MBE? The answers to these questions will determine how to prepare a strategy for yourself as your prepare for the next exam. If you are weak in writing essays, practice strategic writing and essay evaluation; if you are weak in MBE. do more practice questions and, more importantly, critique your subject matter comprehension.
Don’t do the same thing you did for the first bar you took. I personally don’t think that re-attending the same bar review course you took previously is going to help you. You need the extra time to really bone up on those weak areas, without, of course, neglecting the stronger areas of your performance. If you need extra help, see about getting a private tutor who can work one on one with you to keep you sharp and motivated and you” be on the way to passing the bar. Keep working, don’t despair and good luck.
Please note that BarProfessors provides private tutorial for the Florida, California, Texas and New York February 2011 bar exams. Please go to barprofessors.com or send an e-mail to pass@barprofessors.com
Spend a little time with your emotions. Get them all out – have yourself a cry, throw your books across the room, but then there comes a time when you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again. That will determine what you are made of and that, believe it or not, will determine what kind of lawyer you become. In the future, when you do pass the bar, you”ll bee in the middle of a particularly trying case and everything goes wrong, but your client is depending on you for help. You refocus your energy, dust yourself and your client off, and begin anew.
If you must take the bar exam again, do not take too long to get over your emotions. Have your cry and move on. It’s time to refocus again on the bar. I’ve had students tell me that they have studied the hardest they had ever studied for anything in their lives for their first bar exam. That’s probably true, but that’s why it’s time to examine how your study. Taking the exam again will call for a change in approach, strategy, and preparation for you to pass that final hurdle in fulfilling your dream of becoming a lawyer. The bar exam is not an academic exercise. The bar examiners want to know whether you are prepared to practice law.
Look at your scores in depth. What areas of the law did you not do well in? Were you weak on evidence or real property? What areas of the exam did you not do well in. Was it the essays, performance test or MBE? That’s where you should start in reformulating how you are going to pass the bar. Did you do well in the essay portion or the performance test but not the MBE? The answers to these questions will determine how to prepare a strategy for yourself as your prepare for the next exam. If you are weak in writing essays, practice strategic writing and essay evaluation; if you are weak in MBE. do more practice questions and, more importantly, critique your subject matter comprehension.
Don’t do the same thing you did for the first bar you took. I personally don’t think that re-attending the same bar review course you took previously is going to help you. You need the extra time to really bone up on those weak areas, without, of course, neglecting the stronger areas of your performance. If you need extra help, see about getting a private tutor who can work one on one with you to keep you sharp and motivated and you” be on the way to passing the bar. Keep working, don’t despair and good luck.
Please note that BarProfessors provides private tutorial for the Florida, California, Texas and New York February 2011 bar exams. Please go to barprofessors.com or send an e-mail to pass@barprofessors.com
Monday, December 6, 2010
Why Do Law Students Fail the Bar Exam? How Can I Pass?
Most law students fail the Bar Exam for three major reasons:
1. They revert back to bad writing habits developed in law school.
Under the pressures of the bar exam, many students revert back to bad habits. These bad habits allowed them to graduate from law school, but will be the kiss of death on the bar. Some of the bad habits include, not organizing your answer, no line by line analysis and not answering the call of the question.
2. Poor Preparation and Time Management.
Many law students start their bar preparation entirely too late, leaving most in a rush mode. For the upcoming February 2011 bar, your preparation should start no later than December 15, 2010. You should allow yourself 5 to 6 hours per day for studying. But more importantly, studying correctly is the key. You need to write and answer many essays and MBE questions. Your answers must be evaluated by a private tutor.
3. They don’t really believe that they will pass
You must have a belief that you will pass. Get rid of all negative thoughts, people and things. You must truly believe that you will pass. You must say this every single day prior to the bar and you must have the confidence to succeed.
Please note that BarProfessors provides private tutorial for the Florida, California, Texas and New York February 2011 bar exams. Please go to barprofessors.com or send an e-mail to pass@barprofessors.com
1. They revert back to bad writing habits developed in law school.
Under the pressures of the bar exam, many students revert back to bad habits. These bad habits allowed them to graduate from law school, but will be the kiss of death on the bar. Some of the bad habits include, not organizing your answer, no line by line analysis and not answering the call of the question.
2. Poor Preparation and Time Management.
Many law students start their bar preparation entirely too late, leaving most in a rush mode. For the upcoming February 2011 bar, your preparation should start no later than December 15, 2010. You should allow yourself 5 to 6 hours per day for studying. But more importantly, studying correctly is the key. You need to write and answer many essays and MBE questions. Your answers must be evaluated by a private tutor.
3. They don’t really believe that they will pass
You must have a belief that you will pass. Get rid of all negative thoughts, people and things. You must truly believe that you will pass. You must say this every single day prior to the bar and you must have the confidence to succeed.
Please note that BarProfessors provides private tutorial for the Florida, California, Texas and New York February 2011 bar exams. Please go to barprofessors.com or send an e-mail to pass@barprofessors.com
Sunday, December 5, 2010
The Importance of Having a Study Plan for the Bar Exam
A study plan is imperative to pass a bar exam, whether you are taking it for the first time or you are a repeat bar taker.
Why a study plan? In order to pass the bar, you need two things: time-management and discipline. Sticking to a study plan will conquer both requirements. Thorough preparation is the key to passing the exam and having a plan in place will allow you to manage your time and using your discipline to stick to the study schedule. For a plan to work, you have to address your learning style as well as the substantive areas you will be tested on.
What do I mean by learning style? Ask yourself, how do you learn? What worked for you in law school? Some people like reading outlines, some like to do practice questions and then read the answer explanations, some like to do their own outlines, or make up flashcards. You should know the answer to this question by now. How do you best learn or memorize the substantive law? Also, ask yourself, when do you best learn? . What works for you? Do you like the evening hours to study, do you take frequent breaks. Know all of that before you write your study plan. Also, just prior to the bar, switch over to the bar schedule. Get up early, as if you are taking the bar, and work for those 3 hours as if you are sitting for the bar, break for lunch and do another 3 hour stretch to mimic the bar.
For your study plan, you should first start with relearning and reviewing the outlines with some practice questions thrown in and as you pick up the pace, you’ll reverse it and do more practice questions and essays and only use your outlines for clarification on questions you get wrong or confused about.
Be realistic with your goals and your study habits. For example, you can’t go throughout the entire day with no lunch or no exercise or no breaks because you were unrealistic in the time aspect of your plan. You have to write a study plan that suits you and your personality without slacking off.
Don’t ignore your weak areas or your strong areas. You may not need to schedule as much time in your stronger subjects, but review them as consistently as you do all the other subjects. You may not need to read or reread the outlines of your strong subjects, but during those time periods, practice your questions. You may need those extra points on the bar. For your weaker subjects, do not ignore those subjects. All bar examinees have weak subjects. Spend time on those subjects as you would other subjects and just keep practicing. You’ll be surprised at how much you really do know in those weak subjects.
Where should you study? Again, that depends on your learning style. Can you get work done at home or does the distraction of the television or the computer or the phone make you turn it on? Does studying at your school make you study more or do your fellow students distract you and make you chatter rather than study? Make sure wherever you go that it is quiet. Turn off the phone, the text messaging, and the internet. This is too important for you and your career to be easily distracted. Let’s face it – none of us what to spend the next 6 weeks in constant study – it’s torture. Just remember this is your career you are talking about. You sacrificed to go to law school, you can sacrifice for the two months and you’ll be a lawyer for the rest of your career.
Good luck in your studying.
Please note Bar Professors offers private tutorial for the February Florida, New York, Texas and California 2011 bars. Send inquires to pass@barprofessors.com.
Why a study plan? In order to pass the bar, you need two things: time-management and discipline. Sticking to a study plan will conquer both requirements. Thorough preparation is the key to passing the exam and having a plan in place will allow you to manage your time and using your discipline to stick to the study schedule. For a plan to work, you have to address your learning style as well as the substantive areas you will be tested on.
What do I mean by learning style? Ask yourself, how do you learn? What worked for you in law school? Some people like reading outlines, some like to do practice questions and then read the answer explanations, some like to do their own outlines, or make up flashcards. You should know the answer to this question by now. How do you best learn or memorize the substantive law? Also, ask yourself, when do you best learn? . What works for you? Do you like the evening hours to study, do you take frequent breaks. Know all of that before you write your study plan. Also, just prior to the bar, switch over to the bar schedule. Get up early, as if you are taking the bar, and work for those 3 hours as if you are sitting for the bar, break for lunch and do another 3 hour stretch to mimic the bar.
For your study plan, you should first start with relearning and reviewing the outlines with some practice questions thrown in and as you pick up the pace, you’ll reverse it and do more practice questions and essays and only use your outlines for clarification on questions you get wrong or confused about.
Be realistic with your goals and your study habits. For example, you can’t go throughout the entire day with no lunch or no exercise or no breaks because you were unrealistic in the time aspect of your plan. You have to write a study plan that suits you and your personality without slacking off.
Don’t ignore your weak areas or your strong areas. You may not need to schedule as much time in your stronger subjects, but review them as consistently as you do all the other subjects. You may not need to read or reread the outlines of your strong subjects, but during those time periods, practice your questions. You may need those extra points on the bar. For your weaker subjects, do not ignore those subjects. All bar examinees have weak subjects. Spend time on those subjects as you would other subjects and just keep practicing. You’ll be surprised at how much you really do know in those weak subjects.
Where should you study? Again, that depends on your learning style. Can you get work done at home or does the distraction of the television or the computer or the phone make you turn it on? Does studying at your school make you study more or do your fellow students distract you and make you chatter rather than study? Make sure wherever you go that it is quiet. Turn off the phone, the text messaging, and the internet. This is too important for you and your career to be easily distracted. Let’s face it – none of us what to spend the next 6 weeks in constant study – it’s torture. Just remember this is your career you are talking about. You sacrificed to go to law school, you can sacrifice for the two months and you’ll be a lawyer for the rest of your career.
Good luck in your studying.
Please note Bar Professors offers private tutorial for the February Florida, New York, Texas and California 2011 bars. Send inquires to pass@barprofessors.com.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Repeat Bar Takers: Don’t Let the Odds Discourage Your Goal to Pass the Bar Exam
As a repeat bar taker, you are clearly at a distinct disadvantage for passing your next bar exam.
The pass rate for all repeat takers for the California July 2010 bar was a shocking 22%. In California, 2,478 applicants were repeat takers for July 2010 and only 545 applicants passed. In Texas, only 46% of the second time bar takers passed the July 2010 bar and only 45% of repeat takers in Massachusetts passed in July 20010.
It’s time for all repeat bar takers to start studying now for the February 2011 bar exam. The “key” to passing is obtaining a private tutor. Do not do what you did before – taking a commercial bar course a second time will not help you. Make sure you have a plan in place to ensure your success.
Please note Bar Professors offers private tutorial for the Florida, Texas, New York and California 2011 bar exams. Send inquires to pass@barprofessors.com.
The pass rate for all repeat takers for the California July 2010 bar was a shocking 22%. In California, 2,478 applicants were repeat takers for July 2010 and only 545 applicants passed. In Texas, only 46% of the second time bar takers passed the July 2010 bar and only 45% of repeat takers in Massachusetts passed in July 20010.
It’s time for all repeat bar takers to start studying now for the February 2011 bar exam. The “key” to passing is obtaining a private tutor. Do not do what you did before – taking a commercial bar course a second time will not help you. Make sure you have a plan in place to ensure your success.
Please note Bar Professors offers private tutorial for the Florida, Texas, New York and California 2011 bar exams. Send inquires to pass@barprofessors.com.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
For Repeat Bar Takers and Foreign Lawyers Taking the California and New York Bar Exams
Bar Professors has expanded its bar review course for repeat takers to California and New York. A special course will be offered to foreign lawyers and/or LLM and ESL students taking the New York and California Bar Exam.
Private tutorials for the 2011 February Bar Exam are extremely limited and you must sign up by December 1, 2010. Classes will be offered in both California and New York starting May 1, 2011 for the July 2011 Bar Exam.
Please email Bar Professors at pass@barprofessors.com for more information.
Private tutorials for the 2011 February Bar Exam are extremely limited and you must sign up by December 1, 2010. Classes will be offered in both California and New York starting May 1, 2011 for the July 2011 Bar Exam.
Please email Bar Professors at pass@barprofessors.com for more information.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
California Bar Exam Results Pass List by Name for July 2010 Is Now Posted
The California Bar Exam Results by Name for July 2010 is now posted. The pass list can be found on the California bar examiners website.
Again, congratulations to those who passed.
Bar Professors will now provide tutorial services for California repeat bar takers. Email us at pass@barprofessors.com
Again, congratulations to those who passed.
Bar Professors will now provide tutorial services for California repeat bar takers. Email us at pass@barprofessors.com
Friday, November 19, 2010
California Bar Exam Results for July 2010 By Statistics Are Now Posted
The State Bar of California's Committee of Bar Examiners reported today that 54.8 percent of the applicants passed the July 2010 General Bar Examination (GBX). If the 4,690 people who passed the July 2010 exam satisfy other requirements for admission, they will become members of the State Bar.
Preliminary statistical analyses show that of the 8,562 applicants who took the GBX, 71.1 percent were first-time takers. The passing rate for 6,084 first-time applicants was 68.0 percent overall. The passing rate for the 2,478 applicants repeating the examination was 22.0 percent overall.
Preliminary statistical analyses show the first-time and repeater percent passing the GBX (rounded to whole numbers) by law school type as follows:
School Type: First-Timers and Repeaters
California ABA: 75% and 31%
Out-of-State ABA: 68% and 25%
California Accredited (but not ABA): 40% and 11%
Unaccredited: Fixed-Facility: 18% and 4%
Unaccredited: Correspondence: 33% and 11%
Unaccredited Distance Learning: 18% and 16%
All Others: 44% and 21%
All Applicants: 68% and 22%
Bar Professors will now provide tutorial services for California repeat bar takers. Email us at pass@barprofessors.com
Preliminary statistical analyses show that of the 8,562 applicants who took the GBX, 71.1 percent were first-time takers. The passing rate for 6,084 first-time applicants was 68.0 percent overall. The passing rate for the 2,478 applicants repeating the examination was 22.0 percent overall.
Preliminary statistical analyses show the first-time and repeater percent passing the GBX (rounded to whole numbers) by law school type as follows:
School Type: First-Timers and Repeaters
California ABA: 75% and 31%
Out-of-State ABA: 68% and 25%
California Accredited (but not ABA): 40% and 11%
Unaccredited: Fixed-Facility: 18% and 4%
Unaccredited: Correspondence: 33% and 11%
Unaccredited Distance Learning: 18% and 16%
All Others: 44% and 21%
All Applicants: 68% and 22%
Bar Professors will now provide tutorial services for California repeat bar takers. Email us at pass@barprofessors.com
California Bar Exam Results for July 2010 Are Now Posted
The California Bar Exam Results for July 2010 are now posted.
Good Luck, everyone!!
Good Luck, everyone!!
The California Bar Exam Results for July 2010 Will Be Posted Today
Results from the July 2010 California Bar Examination will be mailed to applicants today on Friday, November 19, 2010. Applicants will be able to access the pass list, beginning at 6:00 PM (PST) using their applicant number and file number.
Good Luck!!!
Please note, Bar Professors will now provide California tutorial for repeat bar takers for the Califonria bar exam. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Good Luck!!!
Please note, Bar Professors will now provide California tutorial for repeat bar takers for the Califonria bar exam. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The California Bar Exam Results for July 2010 Will Be Posted
The California bar exam results for July 2010 are only a day away. The bar exam results will be posted on this site on Friday. Bar Professors will post the statistics as soon as they are posted. Bar Professors will also post the statistics by law school.
Return to this site for results tomorrow.
Bar Professors will now provide tutorial services for California repeat bar takers. Email us at pass@barprofessors.com
Return to this site for results tomorrow.
Bar Professors will now provide tutorial services for California repeat bar takers. Email us at pass@barprofessors.com
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
How Do I Pass the California Bar Exam As A Repeat Taker? Five Important Keys
In order to pass the California bar exam as a repeat taker, there are five important keys to implement.
1. Establish a strategy and, more importantly, establish a plan and an approach to the bar exam.
2. Start your studies early. Do not start not two months before the bar.
3. Educate yourself as to the standards of the bar exam and the areas most frequently tested.
4. Practice, practice and practice all questions and answers.
5. Obtain an experienced tutor.
Please note, Bar Professors will provide private tutorial for the February 2011 bar exam for California, Spaces are limited. Email us at pass@barprofessors.com
1. Establish a strategy and, more importantly, establish a plan and an approach to the bar exam.
2. Start your studies early. Do not start not two months before the bar.
3. Educate yourself as to the standards of the bar exam and the areas most frequently tested.
4. Practice, practice and practice all questions and answers.
5. Obtain an experienced tutor.
Please note, Bar Professors will provide private tutorial for the February 2011 bar exam for California, Spaces are limited. Email us at pass@barprofessors.com
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The California Bar Results for July 2010 will be posted Friday at 6:00 pm PST
The grand-daddy of them all, the California Bar Exam results for July 2010 will be posted on this site on Friday. Bar Professors will also post by the pass percentage by law school.
Results from the July 2010 California Bar Examination will be mailed to applicants on Friday, November 19, 2010. Applicants will be able to access the pass list, beginning at 6:00 PM (PST) using their applicant number and file number.
Good Luck!!!
Please note, Bar Professors will now provide California tutorial for repeat bar takers for the Califonria bar exam. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Results from the July 2010 California Bar Examination will be mailed to applicants on Friday, November 19, 2010. Applicants will be able to access the pass list, beginning at 6:00 PM (PST) using their applicant number and file number.
Good Luck!!!
Please note, Bar Professors will now provide California tutorial for repeat bar takers for the Califonria bar exam. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Friday, November 12, 2010
New Jersey Bar Exam Results by Candidate Are Now Posted
The New Jersey bar exam results for July 2010 are now posted by candidates. See the website for the names of those successful candidates.
Congratulations to those who passed.
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Congratulations to those who passed.
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Thursday, November 11, 2010
New York and New Jersey Bar Exam Results for July 2010 Are Out
New Jersey released their bar exam results for July 2010. Of the 3321 applicants, 2697 (81.21%) passed. A list of passing candidates by name will be posted on Friday, November 12, 2010, at 10:00 am.
New York also released their bar exam results for July 2010. Of the 11,557 candidates who sat for the NY July 2010 Bar Exam, 70 percent passed,
The graduates of American Bar Association approved law schools taking the bar examination for the first time achieved a passing rate of 86%. The passing rate for all candidates, including U. S. domestic-educated candidates and foreign-educated candidates, first time and repeat takers, was 70%. The number of foreign-educated candidates sitting for the New York bar examination was 2,951 which accounts for 25.5% of all candidates that took the July 2010 examination. The passing rate for all foreign educated candidates who took the examination was 37%.
Congratulations to those who passed.
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
New York also released their bar exam results for July 2010. Of the 11,557 candidates who sat for the NY July 2010 Bar Exam, 70 percent passed,
The graduates of American Bar Association approved law schools taking the bar examination for the first time achieved a passing rate of 86%. The passing rate for all candidates, including U. S. domestic-educated candidates and foreign-educated candidates, first time and repeat takers, was 70%. The number of foreign-educated candidates sitting for the New York bar examination was 2,951 which accounts for 25.5% of all candidates that took the July 2010 examination. The passing rate for all foreign educated candidates who took the examination was 37%.
Congratulations to those who passed.
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Massachusetts and Maryland Bar Exam Results for July 2010 Are Out
The Maryland bar exam results for July 2010 are now out. The results are listed by exam number on the site.
The Massachusetts bar exam results for July 2010 have also come out.
A total of 2157 applicants sat for the July 2010 bar examination, of whom 1858 (86.1%) passed the exam. There were 1955 first time takers, of whom 1779 (91.0%) passed the exam. 44.8% passed on their second attempt.
Here are the pass rates for first time takers by Law School:
Boston College: 94.2%
Boston University: 96.1%
Harvard: 97.8%
Massachusetts School of Law: 71.6%
New England Law: 93.6%
Northeastern: 88.8%
Suffolk: 82.7%
University of Massachusetts: 88.2%
Western New England: 78.4%
Congratulations to those who passed.
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
The Massachusetts bar exam results for July 2010 have also come out.
A total of 2157 applicants sat for the July 2010 bar examination, of whom 1858 (86.1%) passed the exam. There were 1955 first time takers, of whom 1779 (91.0%) passed the exam. 44.8% passed on their second attempt.
Here are the pass rates for first time takers by Law School:
Boston College: 94.2%
Boston University: 96.1%
Harvard: 97.8%
Massachusetts School of Law: 71.6%
New England Law: 93.6%
Northeastern: 88.8%
Suffolk: 82.7%
University of Massachusetts: 88.2%
Western New England: 78.4%
Congratulations to those who passed.
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Texas Bar Bar Exam Results Are Out
The Texas bar exam results for July 2010 are now out.
Here are the results by law school for First Time Takers and Repeat Takers
BAYLOR 94.64% and 83.33%
ST. MARY'S 79.49% and 47.06%
SOUTH TEXAS 89.02% and 46.67%
S.M.U. 83.00% and 35.00%
T.S.U. 75.76% and 26.19%
U OF HOUSTON 90.39% and 85.71%
U OF TEXAS 92.80% and 66.67%
TEXAS TECH 86.21% and 100.00%
T.W.U. 79.89% and 39.29%
Sub-Total 86.37% and 45.93%
Congratulations to those who passed.
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Here are the results by law school for First Time Takers and Repeat Takers
BAYLOR 94.64% and 83.33%
ST. MARY'S 79.49% and 47.06%
SOUTH TEXAS 89.02% and 46.67%
S.M.U. 83.00% and 35.00%
T.S.U. 75.76% and 26.19%
U OF HOUSTON 90.39% and 85.71%
U OF TEXAS 92.80% and 66.67%
TEXAS TECH 86.21% and 100.00%
T.W.U. 79.89% and 39.29%
Sub-Total 86.37% and 45.93%
Congratulations to those who passed.
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Ohio, Washington, Michigan, Connecticut, Vermont and Georgia Bar Exams Results Are Out
Ohio, Washington, Michigan, Connecticut, Vermont and Georgia bar exam results for July 2010 are now out.
Congratulations to those who passed.
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Congratulations to those who passed.
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
More States Bar Exam Results for July 2010 Are Out
Colorado, Minnesota, Alabama, Nevada, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Tennessee and Kentucky bar exam results for July 2010 are now out.
Congratulations to those who passed.
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Congratulations to those who passed.
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Friday, October 1, 2010
Indiana and Illinois Bar Exam Results for July 2010 are Now Out
Indiana and Illinois Bar Exam Results for the July 2010 Bar Exam are out. Please see their respective websites for names and numbers.
Congratulations to those who passed!!
Congratulations to those who passed!!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Should You Appeal Your Bar Exam Score if You Failed the Florida Bar Exam?
By now you have received your fail letter detailing your bar exam scores. You can look at Part A, the Florida essay and multiple choice and find out your scores, the mean scores and how close you were to passing. You can also look at Part B, the MBE, where the score is broken out by subjects. Again, you need to examine your weak sections.
In Florida, those 2 sections are equally weighed. You can technically fail one and overall pass the Florida bar exam.
You need to know the mean score of both sections. Each essay will have the student score and the mean score as well as the multiple choice student score and mean score. The scores are also adjusted upwards and downwards depending on how hard the essays/multiple choice were. This is where you can see whether you have the probability of success on appeal. Are you close enough to maybe squeeze out a point or two?
Once the appeal process has been started then you can also request a copy of the graded essay for a fee and determine what issues you missed. The fail letter will tell the student how to make the appeal.
The appeals process normally is not successful, but if you are close, it is worth a try to see if you can get a point or two more to be successful.
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
In Florida, those 2 sections are equally weighed. You can technically fail one and overall pass the Florida bar exam.
You need to know the mean score of both sections. Each essay will have the student score and the mean score as well as the multiple choice student score and mean score. The scores are also adjusted upwards and downwards depending on how hard the essays/multiple choice were. This is where you can see whether you have the probability of success on appeal. Are you close enough to maybe squeeze out a point or two?
Once the appeal process has been started then you can also request a copy of the graded essay for a fee and determine what issues you missed. The fail letter will tell the student how to make the appeal.
The appeals process normally is not successful, but if you are close, it is worth a try to see if you can get a point or two more to be successful.
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Friday, September 24, 2010
West Virginia and Iowa Bar Exam Results for July 2010 are Out
West Virginia and Iowa Bar Exam Results for the July 2010 Bar Exam are Out. Please see their respective websites for names and numbers.
Congratulations to those who passed.
Congratulations to those who passed.
Monday, September 20, 2010
July 2010 Florida Bar Exam Results by Law School
Here are the July 2010 Florida Bar Exam Results by Schools:
U. of Florida 86.8%
U. of Miami 86.0%
Florida State U. 86.2%
Nova Southeastern 80.8%
Florida International 84.2%
Florida Coastal 78.8%
Stetson 78.8%
St. Thomas 78.7%
Barry U. 74.7%
Florida A&M U. 62.5%
Ava Maria 64.0%
Total first timers 79.2%
U. of Florida 86.8%
U. of Miami 86.0%
Florida State U. 86.2%
Nova Southeastern 80.8%
Florida International 84.2%
Florida Coastal 78.8%
Stetson 78.8%
St. Thomas 78.7%
Barry U. 74.7%
Florida A&M U. 62.5%
Ava Maria 64.0%
Total first timers 79.2%
The July 2010 Florida Bar Results are Now In
The July 2010 Florida bar exam results are now up on the website.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Scoring the Florida July 2010 Bar Examination: How Do I Pass?
Grading the Florida Bar Exam
The MBE & Florida sections are weighted equally on the Florida Bar Exam. This is called the “overall method”. (Rule 4-25(a)). A combined weighted score of 136 is required to pass the Florida Bar Exam. It doesn't matter if your score in one section or the other is below the 136 - it's the average score that matters. So basically you can fail the FL or the MBE section and still pass the FL bar exam if your overall score is at least 136.
If you fail one section of the bar and choose to re-take only that one section in the next examination, you must score the 136 points or higher on that section. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners calls this the “individual method”. (Rule 4-25(b)). Your chances of passing are slightly lower than re-taking the entire bar again.
If an applicant attains a passing scaled score on only 1 part and elects to take the overall method of the General Bar Examination as described above, the previous passing status will not be replaced by a failing status if the applicant fails to achieve a passing score on a subsequent submission effort. (Rule 4-25.1).
Each examination paper produced by an applicant on the General Bar Examination will be separately graded. The scores of each section of Part A will be converted to a common scale by a recognized statistical procedure so that each section is equally weighted. The sum of the converted section scores is the total score for Part A. All total scores attained by the applicants on Part A are converted to the same distribution as their Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) scaled scores. MBE scores (Part B) are the scaled scores on the MBE provided by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Scaled scores are used in order to ensure that the standard of measurement of competence from examination to examination is not affected by the difficulty of the particular test or the ability of that particular group as distinguished from the general population of applicants. Rule 4-26.1
On the Florida portion of the bar, each essay is worth 100 points for a 300 point total. The multiple choice questions are worth 100 points total, so each question is approximately 1 point each. There are usually 10 experimental questions. The average essay score is around 40 points, requiring you to get your remaining points on the multiple choice questions.
Depending on the difficulty of the essay question and the average grade, the Board of Bar Examiners may adjust your score either downward or upward. There is a school of thought that a bar taker should hope for a difficult question so that the average grade is lower – thereby requiring the Bar Examiners to adjust upward. If the essay is an easy one, usually the average score is higher, thus requiring a downward adjustment. The Board does not adjust the multiple choice questions – there are what they are and the point totals do not change.
The MBE & Florida sections are weighted equally on the Florida Bar Exam. This is called the “overall method”. (Rule 4-25(a)). A combined weighted score of 136 is required to pass the Florida Bar Exam. It doesn't matter if your score in one section or the other is below the 136 - it's the average score that matters. So basically you can fail the FL or the MBE section and still pass the FL bar exam if your overall score is at least 136.
If you fail one section of the bar and choose to re-take only that one section in the next examination, you must score the 136 points or higher on that section. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners calls this the “individual method”. (Rule 4-25(b)). Your chances of passing are slightly lower than re-taking the entire bar again.
If an applicant attains a passing scaled score on only 1 part and elects to take the overall method of the General Bar Examination as described above, the previous passing status will not be replaced by a failing status if the applicant fails to achieve a passing score on a subsequent submission effort. (Rule 4-25.1).
Each examination paper produced by an applicant on the General Bar Examination will be separately graded. The scores of each section of Part A will be converted to a common scale by a recognized statistical procedure so that each section is equally weighted. The sum of the converted section scores is the total score for Part A. All total scores attained by the applicants on Part A are converted to the same distribution as their Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) scaled scores. MBE scores (Part B) are the scaled scores on the MBE provided by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Scaled scores are used in order to ensure that the standard of measurement of competence from examination to examination is not affected by the difficulty of the particular test or the ability of that particular group as distinguished from the general population of applicants. Rule 4-26.1
On the Florida portion of the bar, each essay is worth 100 points for a 300 point total. The multiple choice questions are worth 100 points total, so each question is approximately 1 point each. There are usually 10 experimental questions. The average essay score is around 40 points, requiring you to get your remaining points on the multiple choice questions.
Depending on the difficulty of the essay question and the average grade, the Board of Bar Examiners may adjust your score either downward or upward. There is a school of thought that a bar taker should hope for a difficult question so that the average grade is lower – thereby requiring the Bar Examiners to adjust upward. If the essay is an easy one, usually the average score is higher, thus requiring a downward adjustment. The Board does not adjust the multiple choice questions – there are what they are and the point totals do not change.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
The Idaho Bar Exam Results Are Out
The Bar Exam Results for Idaho are out. The successful applicants are listed on its web site. The pass rate was 81.5%.
Congratulations to all applicants who passed!
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com.
Congratulations to all applicants who passed!
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The July 2010 Bar Exam Results for New Mexico, Missouri and Oklahoma Are Out
The Bar Exam Results for the states below are:
Oklahoma....85% pass rate
Missouri.....87.35% pass rate
New Mexico....88% pass rate
Congratulations to all applicants who passed!
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Oklahoma....85% pass rate
Missouri.....87.35% pass rate
New Mexico....88% pass rate
Congratulations to all applicants who passed!
Please note, Bar Professors provide private tutorial for repeat bar takers. Contact us at pass@barprofessors.com
Monday, September 13, 2010
Florida Bar Exam Results for July 2010
The Florida Bar Exam Results for July 2010 will be posted on this site on September 20, 2010.
Please make a note that Bar Professors will start its early bar prep for the February 2011 bar exam in November 2010. Bar Professors specialize in tutorial preparation and repeat bar takers.
Please make a note that Bar Professors will start its early bar prep for the February 2011 bar exam in November 2010. Bar Professors specialize in tutorial preparation and repeat bar takers.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The North Carolina Bar Exam Results are Out
North Carolina is the first state to release the bar exam results for July 2010. You can see the names of the successful applicants on the Law Examiners website. Congratulations to all those who passed!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
North Carolina Bar Results Will be Posted on September 1, 2010
The North Carolina Board of Law Examiners has announced that the exam results will be released on the web after 12:00 pm on Wednesday, September 1, 2010.
There were 1046 applicants. Good luck and we at Bar Professors hope the news is good
There were 1046 applicants. Good luck and we at Bar Professors hope the news is good
Friday, August 13, 2010
Should the Florida Multiple Choice Be Replaced by 3 More Essays?
The Florida Multiple Choice subjects were: Criminal and Civil Procedure; Evidence and Business Entities – Partnerships and Corporations.
The problem with the Florida Multiple Choice is that they are not really written well, the bar examiners don't release many questions, the questions are obscure and you either pick the right answer or you don't.
We discussed the MBE, but we heard that the Florida Multiple Choice was really insane. Do you agree?
Should the multiple choice be replaced by 3 more essays? What do you think?
The problem with the Florida Multiple Choice is that they are not really written well, the bar examiners don't release many questions, the questions are obscure and you either pick the right answer or you don't.
We discussed the MBE, but we heard that the Florida Multiple Choice was really insane. Do you agree?
Should the multiple choice be replaced by 3 more essays? What do you think?
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Was the Multistate More Difficult this July?
I have had many of my students tell me this weekend that the MBE was “insanely” difficult. Do you agree? Please give us your comments. We’ll post our views in the next couple of days.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Continued Good Luck to Those Who Are Still Taking the Bar Exam
Keep your spirits up. You are almost to the finish line. Good luck on your final day of the bar exam. You can do this. Good luck on this last day of the bar exam.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Today is the MBE Exam
Today is the MBE for everyone taking the bar, no matter where you are taking the bar exam. Everyone has to take it so relax and be confident. Pace yourself. Remember, 1.6 minutes a question. Keep your time. Your must answer every question. You have studied hard for this day and you will perform to the best of your ability. Good luck to everyone. Keep believing in yourself.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The Florida Multiple Choice Subjects Tested for July 2010
The tested subjects for multiple choice questions for the July 2010 Florida bar exam were:
Criminal and Civil Procedure
Evidence
Business Entities - Partnerships and Corporations
See the prior post for the essay subjects tested:
Constitutional Law, Trusts/Professional Responsibility and Contracts/Real Property
Criminal and Civil Procedure
Evidence
Business Entities - Partnerships and Corporations
See the prior post for the essay subjects tested:
Constitutional Law, Trusts/Professional Responsibility and Contracts/Real Property
Florida Essay Subjects Tested on the July 2010 Bar Exam
Here are the Florida essay subjects:
Trusts with a Professional Responsibility
Constitutional Law and Real Property - Ad Volorem Taxes, Homestead, Creditors, Tenants by the Entirety
Contracts, Conveyance of Real Property, Easement, Warranties and Damages.
Trusts with a Professional Responsibility
Constitutional Law and Real Property - Ad Volorem Taxes, Homestead, Creditors, Tenants by the Entirety
Contracts, Conveyance of Real Property, Easement, Warranties and Damages.
Today Is the Bar Exam and You Will Begin the Rest of Your Life
Today is the bar exam. Relax, be confident and do your thing. You have studied hard for this day and you will perform to the best of your ability. Tonight, go back to your home or to your hotel and rest. Don’t do anymore studying for the MBE. Eat, watch a little television and then go to sleep. You will be so tired, you will be asleep before your head hits your pillow. But it will be a well earned rest. Good luck to everyone. Keep believing in yourself. This is the first day of your life as an attorney.
Monday, July 26, 2010
1 Day Until the Bar Exam: Relax and Be Confident
You are almost to the finish line. Get ready today by relaxing and being confident in your abilities. You have been preparing for your chance to be a lawyer for 3 years or more. You can do this. Go to your hotel room and try to have a quiet, restful day. No upsets and no panic is allowed. Review your essay notes today, get to bed early and relax. Even if you can’t sleep, lay down with the lights off and get some rest.
Wake up early on Tuesday, get to the exam site in plenty of time to get registered and kick the stuffings out this bar. Do well, my friends. You can do this.
Wake up early on Tuesday, get to the exam site in plenty of time to get registered and kick the stuffings out this bar. Do well, my friends. You can do this.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
2 Days Until the Bar Exam: Good Luck to All
For those taking the bar exam, good luck to all of you and remember the lessons I gave you in this blog. Come in with a plan, remember your goals and you will be calling yourself an attorney in a few months.
Be confident in your abilities. You have studied hard these past couple of months, you have practiced endlessly, and you know what you need to do. Don’t psych yourself out. You can do this and will do it. Keep your focus and you will do well.
A special shout out to my students. Good luck people – now you know why I was so hard on you and you know that the “Parson Group” believes in you. Good luck to my Pass Florida Program students. – God Bless.
Good Luck to all.
Be confident in your abilities. You have studied hard these past couple of months, you have practiced endlessly, and you know what you need to do. Don’t psych yourself out. You can do this and will do it. Keep your focus and you will do well.
A special shout out to my students. Good luck people – now you know why I was so hard on you and you know that the “Parson Group” believes in you. Good luck to my Pass Florida Program students. – God Bless.
Good Luck to all.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
3 Days Before the Bar Exam: Find the Exam Zone
Being in the Moment
No matter how hard you’ve studied and how many practice exams you’ve taken, once you get to the bar exam, you will do well.
Everything you’ve been doing during your bar review has prepared you for this moment. And, if you’ve prepared properly, you will know what to do once you get started.
Allocating Your Time
Using the exact time you were told to begin the exam, set your timetable and write down the starting and ending times for each question.
You have to complete between 16 and 17 questions in a 30 minute period, averaging 33-34 questions every hour to complete the 100 questions in a three hour period; set your clock on the half hour with appropriate milestones.
If You Get Stuck on an MBE Question
Make your best choice, but circle the question and if you have time at the end of the exam, you can go back to it.
With only 1.8 minutes per question, there’s only so much time to allow for doubt. There will be questions you just don’t know. Don’t squander precious time that could be spent on questions you can answer.
If You Get Stuck on an Essay Question
Write the issue, whether or not you know the rule at this point. Formulating the issue will get your points from the grader even if you blank out on the rule. Rely on your knowledge of general legal principles and standards to guide you, even if you don’t know each and every element of the rule.
Be confident in your abilities to have prepared as best you could for the exam.
No matter how hard you’ve studied and how many practice exams you’ve taken, once you get to the bar exam, you will do well.
Everything you’ve been doing during your bar review has prepared you for this moment. And, if you’ve prepared properly, you will know what to do once you get started.
Allocating Your Time
Using the exact time you were told to begin the exam, set your timetable and write down the starting and ending times for each question.
You have to complete between 16 and 17 questions in a 30 minute period, averaging 33-34 questions every hour to complete the 100 questions in a three hour period; set your clock on the half hour with appropriate milestones.
If You Get Stuck on an MBE Question
Make your best choice, but circle the question and if you have time at the end of the exam, you can go back to it.
With only 1.8 minutes per question, there’s only so much time to allow for doubt. There will be questions you just don’t know. Don’t squander precious time that could be spent on questions you can answer.
If You Get Stuck on an Essay Question
Write the issue, whether or not you know the rule at this point. Formulating the issue will get your points from the grader even if you blank out on the rule. Rely on your knowledge of general legal principles and standards to guide you, even if you don’t know each and every element of the rule.
Be confident in your abilities to have prepared as best you could for the exam.
Friday, July 23, 2010
4 days until the bar exam: Powering Down This Weekend
Like most law students, you’re probably conditioned to study hard even the day before the exam. In fact, you may think it’s wise to study right up to the last minute. With the bar exam, that’s a serious mistake. This isn’t a two or three hour exam. The test’s duration is nearly eight hours, including your lunch break.
One of the most important factors in your performance is going to be your endurance. You need to remain focused and energized throughout the bar exam and this is difficult. Most students find themselves hitting a brick wall somewhere during the exam day. There are some ways to try and minimize this detrimental impact.
First, you need to catch up on your rest and start powering down on your studying. This weekend try to have a normal couple of days. Put in study time, but also sleep, rest, watch tv, and relax. Do your sleeping this weekend. Why? Because you probably will not be able to sleep soundly on Monday night. Tuesday night you will sleep like a rock because you will be exhausted from a good day of focusing. Sleeping longer on the weekend prior to the exam will enable you to get rest and not be too groggy on Tuesday.
Second, eat well this weekend since you probably have had a lot of fast food these past 6 weeks. You may not be able to eat much on Monday if your nerves start showing. Try not to eat rich food or foods you know have adverse effects on your stomach. Monday, eat solid but light foods to keep you alert. Just think boring foods because you stomach may be upset due to nerves. Try to relax a bit because you have done your preparation and now its time to get in the game.
One of the most important factors in your performance is going to be your endurance. You need to remain focused and energized throughout the bar exam and this is difficult. Most students find themselves hitting a brick wall somewhere during the exam day. There are some ways to try and minimize this detrimental impact.
First, you need to catch up on your rest and start powering down on your studying. This weekend try to have a normal couple of days. Put in study time, but also sleep, rest, watch tv, and relax. Do your sleeping this weekend. Why? Because you probably will not be able to sleep soundly on Monday night. Tuesday night you will sleep like a rock because you will be exhausted from a good day of focusing. Sleeping longer on the weekend prior to the exam will enable you to get rest and not be too groggy on Tuesday.
Second, eat well this weekend since you probably have had a lot of fast food these past 6 weeks. You may not be able to eat much on Monday if your nerves start showing. Try not to eat rich food or foods you know have adverse effects on your stomach. Monday, eat solid but light foods to keep you alert. Just think boring foods because you stomach may be upset due to nerves. Try to relax a bit because you have done your preparation and now its time to get in the game.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
5 Days Until the Bar Exam: Blueprint for the Taking the California Performance Test
I’ve had a number of questions about the California performance tests. Here is an Outline for taking the California PT and the MPT.
Review the Instructions
1. Skim the paragraphs to check the requirements. There is an instruction sheet on the back of every MPT. Read it during your preparation so as not to waste precious time on the exam.
2. Verify the jurisdiction paragraph to know what is mandatory as opposed to what is merely persuasive authority. You must know the court structure before you read the cases so you can determine what is mandatory and what is merely persuasive authority.
Scan the Table of Contents
1. Identify the general area of law. From the listings in the Library, you can often determine the general subject area and use it to inform the rest of your reading. Don’t freak out if the subject area is unfamiliar to you. You’ll be given all the relevant law you need to solve the problem.
2. Determine whether it’s a statutory or common law problem
Read the Task Memo Carefully and Completely
1. Identify the issue you’re asked to resolve. Are there sub-issues? The Task Memo reveals the precise issue you’re asked to resolve. Read these paragraphs two or three times to be certain you have identified the issue. It’s usually in the last 2 paragraphs of the memo. Write the issue on your scratch paper so that you remain focused as you proceed. Be careful not to change or vary the language of the question.
2. Read the directions carefully. You may be asked to identify additional facts. Also, note any exclusions.
3. Identify your specific assignment by noting the precise nature of the task: memo, persuasive brief, client letter, contract provision, etc. Identify your point of view – whether it’s objective or persuasive. This will inform the nature of your reading because you’ll read the materials with a critical eye.
4. Identify your audience – is it a lawyer or layperson?
5. Note any exclusions. Sometimes you are told not to consider a specific issue. Your job is not to discuss it.
Review the Instruction Memo
1. The bar examiners include this memo if they think you need guidance in completing the assigned task.
2. Note for a particular format or structure required for your answer. The memo provides guidelines for opinion letters, persuasive briefs, memos, etc. telling you exactly what to include and sometimes what not to include.
3. If a brief is required, make sure you need to include a statement of facts, a jurisdictional statement or persuasive subject headings. The Instruction Memo will advise whether your persuasive brief requires a statement of facts or not. A persuasive brief might require a factual statement while a trial brief might not.
4. Are there specific examples/models to follow.
Read the Library
1. Although the first part of the exam booklet is the File, you’re going to begin with the Library. Reading the law first informs your subsequent reading of the File. If you read the File first, with its various excerpts from depositions, client communications and attorney notes, it would be very difficult to sift the relevant from the irrelevant information. It would not be possible to know which fact were “relevant” until you knew the law and how the cases in your jurisdictions have interpreted that law. While reading the Library first does not guarantee you won’t have to review it again, it will make your subsequent reading of the File meaningful and immediately productive.
2. Read the cases first. Often, they will explain the statutes that are also in your file, thus saving some time.
3. For each case read the earliest case first and proceed chronologically; verify the jurisdiction to determine whether it is mandatory or persuasive authority for your problem; skim the facts to get a sense of story; identify the statement of the rule including determining if it is element-based or if you need to synthesize the rule from the cases or if it is a multi-part test formulated by the court; note any footnotes.
4. Adapt the rule in the cases to form your outline. Use the elements, the prongs of a rule or the components of a statute to form the roman numerals of your outline. A general outline is then in place as you read the rest of the Library. Add to and refine your understanding of the rule as well as add any exceptions or limitations to the rule as you read the other materials in the Library.
5. Be sure to leave adequate space under each section of your outline so you can add the appropriate facts when you read the File.
Read the File
1. After reading the Library and outlining the rule, you’re ready to read the File and add the relevant facts to the appropriate places in your outline. Use your outline of the issues and rules to keep focused.
2. Write your issue above your rule outline. By reading the File with the issue clearly in place, you can more easily identify the legally relevant facts from the sea of material in front of you. As you proceed, add the critical facts to the appropriate part of your outline.
3. Characterize the legal relationship of the parties
4. Identify the relevant facts based on your knowledge of the law from the library.
5. Add these facts to the appropriate sections of your rule outline.
Begin to Write Your Answer
1. Review the Task memo and make sure your outline incorporated or accounted for each required issue; note the relevant facts; cite applicable legal authority; account for how the law and facts support your theory; and if appropriate, cite contrary authority and distinguish it.
2. Review the Instruction Memo quickly to verify your task format and its required components
Write the Required Response
1. After completing your reading of the Library and File, you’re ready to begin the task of writing. Your job is to discuss the issues and the controlling rule of law. Here is where you get your points. Don’t waste time by reciting the facts or providing needless background information.
2. Answer the question that was asked of you
3. Adopt the tone and format required for the task
4. Write persuasive subject headings including stating the legal conclusion you want the court to reach and the factual basis on which it can do so; write each point heading as a conclusory statement combining the law with the relevant facts; and write in a coherent, logical and persuasive thesis sentence.
5. Gove adequate treatment to the cases in the Library.
6. Avoid copying passages from cases or statutes.
7. Make the relevant arguments on how the law and the facts support your theory
8. Make sure the contrary authority has been cited and distinguished.
9. Cite to the appropriate authorities for statements of the rule.
Review the Instructions
1. Skim the paragraphs to check the requirements. There is an instruction sheet on the back of every MPT. Read it during your preparation so as not to waste precious time on the exam.
2. Verify the jurisdiction paragraph to know what is mandatory as opposed to what is merely persuasive authority. You must know the court structure before you read the cases so you can determine what is mandatory and what is merely persuasive authority.
Scan the Table of Contents
1. Identify the general area of law. From the listings in the Library, you can often determine the general subject area and use it to inform the rest of your reading. Don’t freak out if the subject area is unfamiliar to you. You’ll be given all the relevant law you need to solve the problem.
2. Determine whether it’s a statutory or common law problem
Read the Task Memo Carefully and Completely
1. Identify the issue you’re asked to resolve. Are there sub-issues? The Task Memo reveals the precise issue you’re asked to resolve. Read these paragraphs two or three times to be certain you have identified the issue. It’s usually in the last 2 paragraphs of the memo. Write the issue on your scratch paper so that you remain focused as you proceed. Be careful not to change or vary the language of the question.
2. Read the directions carefully. You may be asked to identify additional facts. Also, note any exclusions.
3. Identify your specific assignment by noting the precise nature of the task: memo, persuasive brief, client letter, contract provision, etc. Identify your point of view – whether it’s objective or persuasive. This will inform the nature of your reading because you’ll read the materials with a critical eye.
4. Identify your audience – is it a lawyer or layperson?
5. Note any exclusions. Sometimes you are told not to consider a specific issue. Your job is not to discuss it.
Review the Instruction Memo
1. The bar examiners include this memo if they think you need guidance in completing the assigned task.
2. Note for a particular format or structure required for your answer. The memo provides guidelines for opinion letters, persuasive briefs, memos, etc. telling you exactly what to include and sometimes what not to include.
3. If a brief is required, make sure you need to include a statement of facts, a jurisdictional statement or persuasive subject headings. The Instruction Memo will advise whether your persuasive brief requires a statement of facts or not. A persuasive brief might require a factual statement while a trial brief might not.
4. Are there specific examples/models to follow.
Read the Library
1. Although the first part of the exam booklet is the File, you’re going to begin with the Library. Reading the law first informs your subsequent reading of the File. If you read the File first, with its various excerpts from depositions, client communications and attorney notes, it would be very difficult to sift the relevant from the irrelevant information. It would not be possible to know which fact were “relevant” until you knew the law and how the cases in your jurisdictions have interpreted that law. While reading the Library first does not guarantee you won’t have to review it again, it will make your subsequent reading of the File meaningful and immediately productive.
2. Read the cases first. Often, they will explain the statutes that are also in your file, thus saving some time.
3. For each case read the earliest case first and proceed chronologically; verify the jurisdiction to determine whether it is mandatory or persuasive authority for your problem; skim the facts to get a sense of story; identify the statement of the rule including determining if it is element-based or if you need to synthesize the rule from the cases or if it is a multi-part test formulated by the court; note any footnotes.
4. Adapt the rule in the cases to form your outline. Use the elements, the prongs of a rule or the components of a statute to form the roman numerals of your outline. A general outline is then in place as you read the rest of the Library. Add to and refine your understanding of the rule as well as add any exceptions or limitations to the rule as you read the other materials in the Library.
5. Be sure to leave adequate space under each section of your outline so you can add the appropriate facts when you read the File.
Read the File
1. After reading the Library and outlining the rule, you’re ready to read the File and add the relevant facts to the appropriate places in your outline. Use your outline of the issues and rules to keep focused.
2. Write your issue above your rule outline. By reading the File with the issue clearly in place, you can more easily identify the legally relevant facts from the sea of material in front of you. As you proceed, add the critical facts to the appropriate part of your outline.
3. Characterize the legal relationship of the parties
4. Identify the relevant facts based on your knowledge of the law from the library.
5. Add these facts to the appropriate sections of your rule outline.
Begin to Write Your Answer
1. Review the Task memo and make sure your outline incorporated or accounted for each required issue; note the relevant facts; cite applicable legal authority; account for how the law and facts support your theory; and if appropriate, cite contrary authority and distinguish it.
2. Review the Instruction Memo quickly to verify your task format and its required components
Write the Required Response
1. After completing your reading of the Library and File, you’re ready to begin the task of writing. Your job is to discuss the issues and the controlling rule of law. Here is where you get your points. Don’t waste time by reciting the facts or providing needless background information.
2. Answer the question that was asked of you
3. Adopt the tone and format required for the task
4. Write persuasive subject headings including stating the legal conclusion you want the court to reach and the factual basis on which it can do so; write each point heading as a conclusory statement combining the law with the relevant facts; and write in a coherent, logical and persuasive thesis sentence.
5. Gove adequate treatment to the cases in the Library.
6. Avoid copying passages from cases or statutes.
7. Make the relevant arguments on how the law and the facts support your theory
8. Make sure the contrary authority has been cited and distinguished.
9. Cite to the appropriate authorities for statements of the rule.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
6 Days Until the Bar Exam: Analyzing the Answer Choices of the Multistate Questions for the Bar Exam
It is important to recognize that analysis of the answer choices deserves as much of your time and attention as the fact pattern or story.
Identify the Issue in Each Answer Choice
Not only is there an “issue” in the fact pattern, but there is an “issue” in each answer choice. Only the issue that addresses and answers the one presented in the fact pattern can be the correct answer choice.
Use “the Process of Elimination”
Sometimes, despite all you best efforts to work through a question according the your process, you may find that the only way to arrive at an answer choice is through the process of elimination. You’ll have to examine each of the answer choices and eliminate those that can’t possibly be correct. You’ve already learned how to eliminate an incorrect answer choice based on whether its legal theory addresses the issue in the fact pattern.
When can’t an answer choice be correct?
When it’s Not Completely Correct
When It Misstates or Misapplies a Rule of Law
When the Answer Choice Mischaracterizes the Facts
Identify the Issue in Each Answer Choice
Not only is there an “issue” in the fact pattern, but there is an “issue” in each answer choice. Only the issue that addresses and answers the one presented in the fact pattern can be the correct answer choice.
Use “the Process of Elimination”
Sometimes, despite all you best efforts to work through a question according the your process, you may find that the only way to arrive at an answer choice is through the process of elimination. You’ll have to examine each of the answer choices and eliminate those that can’t possibly be correct. You’ve already learned how to eliminate an incorrect answer choice based on whether its legal theory addresses the issue in the fact pattern.
When can’t an answer choice be correct?
When it’s Not Completely Correct
When It Misstates or Misapplies a Rule of Law
When the Answer Choice Mischaracterizes the Facts
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
1 Week Until the Bar Exam: Stay the Course
Your goal for this last week is to stay the course while you solidify your knowledge of the black letter law and improve your timing.
Take care of your body and mind. This means eating well, getting some sleep and working on self-confidence.
As to practical things, make sure you have confirmed your hotel reservation, that you have packed what you need to take with you, including your admission ticket, your identification, your watch, etc.
Whatever it is you’ve been doing the past couple of weeks, keep it up. Stick with what you know, confirm you knowledge and reinstall your confidence in the material. As to the bar exam itself, make sure you have taken at least one or two simulated exams.
• Make sure your timing was within range for the MBE, MPT and the essay questions.
• Make sure your scores are within range to pass
Your focus is critical.
Take care of your body and mind. This means eating well, getting some sleep and working on self-confidence.
As to practical things, make sure you have confirmed your hotel reservation, that you have packed what you need to take with you, including your admission ticket, your identification, your watch, etc.
Whatever it is you’ve been doing the past couple of weeks, keep it up. Stick with what you know, confirm you knowledge and reinstall your confidence in the material. As to the bar exam itself, make sure you have taken at least one or two simulated exams.
• Make sure your timing was within range for the MBE, MPT and the essay questions.
• Make sure your scores are within range to pass
Your focus is critical.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Analyzing the Answer Choices of the Multistate Questions for the Bar Exam
For the MBE, here is a checklist to help you choose the right answer.
Watch out for “Because,” “If,” and “unless”
Working with because
On the MBE, because is the predominant modifier and the simplest to master. Because statements are relatively straightforward. Simply ensure that the reasoning supports the conclusion both on a factual and legal basis. If either is incorrect, then the entire answer choice is incorrect and can be eliminated.
Working with if
Unlike because, when if is the answer choice modifier, you need determine only whether the reasoning could support the conclusion. It need not always be true, but only possible under the facts in the hypothetical.
Working with unless
Unless is as restrictive as because. For an unless answer choice to be correct, it must present the only circumstance under which the conclusion cannot happen. If you can conceive of even one other way the result could occur, then the answer choice cannot be correct.
If You Must Guess, Do So With a Strategy
While it sounds like an oxymoron to guess with a strategy, it’s true nonetheless. You’ve absolutely nothing to lose by guessing since there are no penalties for incorrect answers on the MBE. Even if you can narrow the odds only slightly, you’ve got a decent shot at making a correct selection.
Eliminate all the obviously incorrect answer choices
Usually you can safely eliminate one or even two responses as incorrect. Now that you’ve narrowed the field a bit, even if it’s a little bit, you’re ready to make the most of some informed guesses.
Dismiss answer choices that address other principles or unrelated rules of law
Be wary of words which speak in absolutes
Assuming that the issue is disguised, then you still need to distinguish between answer choices. In this case, carefully consider statements that include such words as always, never and must. No doubt you’ve learned as a first year law student that there are few if any certainties in the law. For practically every rule, there is an exception, if not two or three.
Finally, move on
With only 1.8 minutes per question, there’s only so much time to allow for doubt. No matter how well you’ve prepared, there are bound to be questions that present difficulty. Just don’t dwell on them or you’ll squander precious time that could be spent on questions you can answer.
Watch out for “Because,” “If,” and “unless”
Working with because
On the MBE, because is the predominant modifier and the simplest to master. Because statements are relatively straightforward. Simply ensure that the reasoning supports the conclusion both on a factual and legal basis. If either is incorrect, then the entire answer choice is incorrect and can be eliminated.
Working with if
Unlike because, when if is the answer choice modifier, you need determine only whether the reasoning could support the conclusion. It need not always be true, but only possible under the facts in the hypothetical.
Working with unless
Unless is as restrictive as because. For an unless answer choice to be correct, it must present the only circumstance under which the conclusion cannot happen. If you can conceive of even one other way the result could occur, then the answer choice cannot be correct.
If You Must Guess, Do So With a Strategy
While it sounds like an oxymoron to guess with a strategy, it’s true nonetheless. You’ve absolutely nothing to lose by guessing since there are no penalties for incorrect answers on the MBE. Even if you can narrow the odds only slightly, you’ve got a decent shot at making a correct selection.
Eliminate all the obviously incorrect answer choices
Usually you can safely eliminate one or even two responses as incorrect. Now that you’ve narrowed the field a bit, even if it’s a little bit, you’re ready to make the most of some informed guesses.
Dismiss answer choices that address other principles or unrelated rules of law
Be wary of words which speak in absolutes
Assuming that the issue is disguised, then you still need to distinguish between answer choices. In this case, carefully consider statements that include such words as always, never and must. No doubt you’ve learned as a first year law student that there are few if any certainties in the law. For practically every rule, there is an exception, if not two or three.
Finally, move on
With only 1.8 minutes per question, there’s only so much time to allow for doubt. No matter how well you’ve prepared, there are bound to be questions that present difficulty. Just don’t dwell on them or you’ll squander precious time that could be spent on questions you can answer.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
MBE Question Worksheet for the Bar Exam
As you practice your approach to the MBE, you might want to use this MBE Question Worksheet to track your reasoning process until it becomes second nature.
1) What is the Subject Area?
2) What is Happening?
3) Isolate the Legally Relevant Facts
4) Steps of Analysis:
A. What is the Legal Issue?
B. What Rule of Law Addresses this Issue?
C. What Should be the Outcome?
5) Identify the Issue in Each Answer Choice:
A. What is the Issue in Answer Choice A?
B. What is the Issue in Answer Choice B?
C. What is the Issue in Answer Choice C?
D. What is the Issue in Answer Choice D?
6) What Answer Choice Best Corresponds to My Answer
1) What is the Subject Area?
2) What is Happening?
3) Isolate the Legally Relevant Facts
4) Steps of Analysis:
A. What is the Legal Issue?
B. What Rule of Law Addresses this Issue?
C. What Should be the Outcome?
5) Identify the Issue in Each Answer Choice:
A. What is the Issue in Answer Choice A?
B. What is the Issue in Answer Choice B?
C. What is the Issue in Answer Choice C?
D. What is the Issue in Answer Choice D?
6) What Answer Choice Best Corresponds to My Answer
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
2 Weeks to the Bar Exam: Practice Makes a Passing Score
You have 2 weeks until the bar examination. Instead of spending the day getting nervous about the time, concentrate on what you have left to do.
By this time, you should have pretty much memorized as much black letter law as you can cram into your brain. It is now time to put away the books and stop studying the law.
What you now need to do in these final 2 weeks to prepare yourself for the bar exam is to practice, practice, practice and do more practice tests. You want to become some familiar with your state test and the MBE that you can almost do it in your sleep.
Try to do an essay or two every day, testing yourself on a variety of subjects that you know your state tests. Do the essays under test conditions. If your state is Florida, do a series of 1 hour essays, including subjects like property, torts, constitutional law, family law, trusts and the other subjects Florida likes to test. If you are from a state that does 30 minute tests, do 3 or 4 a day. Once you finish your essay under time constraints, an equal amount of time reading your essay and comparing it to the model answer. Read for comprehension, also. There might be a point of law that you did not know that you can learn from reading the model answer.
For those states like California who have performance tests, you also must include taking the time to do the performance test also. In California, your performance tests take 3 hours, so your practice sessions will be much time intensive. Try doing 1 performance test every other day. This way you can probably get 7 or 8 performance tests in practice prior to the bar exam. On the days you do not do a performance test, practice your essays.
In between the essays and performance tests, you also need to prepare for the Multistate. Try to get in at least 50-100 MBE questions per day, if you can. This way you can really be sharp when exam time comes.
Don’t take the time to panic, but do take the time to practice. You will be more prepared than you think possible if you follow this schedule.
By this time, you should have pretty much memorized as much black letter law as you can cram into your brain. It is now time to put away the books and stop studying the law.
What you now need to do in these final 2 weeks to prepare yourself for the bar exam is to practice, practice, practice and do more practice tests. You want to become some familiar with your state test and the MBE that you can almost do it in your sleep.
Try to do an essay or two every day, testing yourself on a variety of subjects that you know your state tests. Do the essays under test conditions. If your state is Florida, do a series of 1 hour essays, including subjects like property, torts, constitutional law, family law, trusts and the other subjects Florida likes to test. If you are from a state that does 30 minute tests, do 3 or 4 a day. Once you finish your essay under time constraints, an equal amount of time reading your essay and comparing it to the model answer. Read for comprehension, also. There might be a point of law that you did not know that you can learn from reading the model answer.
For those states like California who have performance tests, you also must include taking the time to do the performance test also. In California, your performance tests take 3 hours, so your practice sessions will be much time intensive. Try doing 1 performance test every other day. This way you can probably get 7 or 8 performance tests in practice prior to the bar exam. On the days you do not do a performance test, practice your essays.
In between the essays and performance tests, you also need to prepare for the Multistate. Try to get in at least 50-100 MBE questions per day, if you can. This way you can really be sharp when exam time comes.
Don’t take the time to panic, but do take the time to practice. You will be more prepared than you think possible if you follow this schedule.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The MBE – How You Get a Passing Score
The Multistate Examination is hard. You have to have a game plan when you go into the exam. Here are some suggestions:
Reading a Question
Because of time constraints, you will have time for only one reading of the fact pattern. Do not read the fact pattern as a novel. As you know, one of the major changes of the multistate is that there will be one fact pattern for one question.
You must read carefully and actively to spot signal words and legally significant facts. Pay attention to the bar examiners’ particular use of language and look for the following as you read:
1) Relationships between parties that signal the area of law and legal duties: landlord/tenant, employer/employee, principal/agent, buyer/seller;
2) Amounts of money, dates quantities and ages;
3) Words such as “oral” and “written,” “reasonable” and “unreasonable,” among others;
4) Words that indicate the actor’s state of mind. These are crucial for Criminal Law and Tort questions. Look for such language as:
• Intended
• Decided
• Mistakenly thought
• Deliberately
• Reasonably believed
Never Assume Facts
The bar examiners carefully construct MBE questions to contain all the facts you need to answer the question. You must rely solely on these facts and no others, to answer the question. Of course you may draw reasonable inferences from the facts but you cannot fabricate your own or create “what if” scenarios.
Stick to the Law
You must apply the rule of law to the facts without hesitation or equivocation. You cannot get emotionally involved with the parties or substitute your instincts for what you know is legally correct. Don’t think someone is guilty when the call of the question say he is not. That is not what the question is asking you.
Reading a Question
Because of time constraints, you will have time for only one reading of the fact pattern. Do not read the fact pattern as a novel. As you know, one of the major changes of the multistate is that there will be one fact pattern for one question.
You must read carefully and actively to spot signal words and legally significant facts. Pay attention to the bar examiners’ particular use of language and look for the following as you read:
1) Relationships between parties that signal the area of law and legal duties: landlord/tenant, employer/employee, principal/agent, buyer/seller;
2) Amounts of money, dates quantities and ages;
3) Words such as “oral” and “written,” “reasonable” and “unreasonable,” among others;
4) Words that indicate the actor’s state of mind. These are crucial for Criminal Law and Tort questions. Look for such language as:
• Intended
• Decided
• Mistakenly thought
• Deliberately
• Reasonably believed
Never Assume Facts
The bar examiners carefully construct MBE questions to contain all the facts you need to answer the question. You must rely solely on these facts and no others, to answer the question. Of course you may draw reasonable inferences from the facts but you cannot fabricate your own or create “what if” scenarios.
Stick to the Law
You must apply the rule of law to the facts without hesitation or equivocation. You cannot get emotionally involved with the parties or substitute your instincts for what you know is legally correct. Don’t think someone is guilty when the call of the question say he is not. That is not what the question is asking you.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The 4th of July : Incorporating Your Family and Friends in Studying for the Bar Exam
Those that really love you want to see you pass the bar. Know that with certainty. Those who are pulling and picking at you, saying you don’t have to study that long or want you to go to the clubs and party are not your true friends and do not want you to be successful. Hopefully, you have ejected them from your life for these 2 months that you are studying.
Sometimes those loved ones see you study and see your struggle and wish they could help you, but don’t know how. Bar applicants who have children find it hard to be both a parent and have a full time study plan. Don’t ignore them. Try to incorporate them into your “experience”.
I’ve known students who bring their mom to the test site. What mom does is to make sure their kid has food during the breaks, go over study material or just give their kid a shoulder to rely on during this trying event.
During this 4th of July weekend, look at those that are supporting you in ways you may not even realize. Maybe your mom makes you breakfast every morning before you leave for your bar course. Maybe your spouse is doing the heavy lifting as you study. Almost 3 weeks before the bar, let them know you appreciate their support, even if they are just getting out of your way during this stressful period.
If you have family that would like to attend a cookout this weekend, go and take a few hours off to relax your mind and have quality time with those that love you. At this point in your studies, you deserve an afternoon off. Go see the fireworks. Take the time off with no guilt attached.
For those who still want to study and for other times beyond this weekend, have your family help you. They will be glad to help and they will be proud of the little part they played in your success. Give your family members or your children one of your study books and have them test you. This is particularly good for the elements of a cause of action. By now you should be close to having them mostly memorized, but especially with those subjects that are difficult for you, have your family help you recite those causes of action. See if you can make a game out of it, with your children or family members each calling out an element of a cause of action.
You may be surprised on game day when you are calling up the exceptions to the hearsay rule and you remember the face of your loved ones yelling it out to you.
Have a wonderful 4th of July. If you worked hard, you deserve it.
Sometimes those loved ones see you study and see your struggle and wish they could help you, but don’t know how. Bar applicants who have children find it hard to be both a parent and have a full time study plan. Don’t ignore them. Try to incorporate them into your “experience”.
I’ve known students who bring their mom to the test site. What mom does is to make sure their kid has food during the breaks, go over study material or just give their kid a shoulder to rely on during this trying event.
During this 4th of July weekend, look at those that are supporting you in ways you may not even realize. Maybe your mom makes you breakfast every morning before you leave for your bar course. Maybe your spouse is doing the heavy lifting as you study. Almost 3 weeks before the bar, let them know you appreciate their support, even if they are just getting out of your way during this stressful period.
If you have family that would like to attend a cookout this weekend, go and take a few hours off to relax your mind and have quality time with those that love you. At this point in your studies, you deserve an afternoon off. Go see the fireworks. Take the time off with no guilt attached.
For those who still want to study and for other times beyond this weekend, have your family help you. They will be glad to help and they will be proud of the little part they played in your success. Give your family members or your children one of your study books and have them test you. This is particularly good for the elements of a cause of action. By now you should be close to having them mostly memorized, but especially with those subjects that are difficult for you, have your family help you recite those causes of action. See if you can make a game out of it, with your children or family members each calling out an element of a cause of action.
You may be surprised on game day when you are calling up the exceptions to the hearsay rule and you remember the face of your loved ones yelling it out to you.
Have a wonderful 4th of July. If you worked hard, you deserve it.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Essay Writing for the Bar Exam: Organization and Analysis
In order to write a successful essay answer you must learn to organize your answer as your analyze the fact pattern.
Once you read the fact pattern, you will organize your essay, then you must analyze.
This is where you make the outline looking for issues. Look back to the fact pattern for facts which should be used for applying the law and then you can apply the facts to the law.
Once you read the fact pattern, you will organize your essay, then you must analyze.
This is where you make the outline looking for issues. Look back to the fact pattern for facts which should be used for applying the law and then you can apply the facts to the law.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Strategies for the California Performance Test and the Multistate Performance Tests
The California Performance Test and the Multistate Performance Test (the MPT) is designed to test your proficiency in the basic skills you’ve developed in the course of your legal education and not just your ability to memorize. The goal of the MPT is to test an applicant’s ability to use fundamental lawyering skills in a realistic situation. It seeks to evaluate your ability to complete a task which a beginning lawyer should be able to accomplish.
In most jurisdictions, you’ll have 90 minutes to read through 15 to 25 pages, analyze the problem, outline an answer, and write a response. In California, you’ll see one long MPT for 3 hours. Thus, the MPT is a test of your ability to work within time constraints and remain focused and organized.
The MPT tests the following:
1) Reading Comprehension
You must read proactively, with a critical eye toward solving a specific problem rather than answering a professor’s questions in class. You must read carefully and quickly, while you search for useful information and answers to the particular issue you’ve been asked to resolve.
2) Organizational Skills
You must organize your time and the materials effectively to complete the required task in the time allowed. The MPT is extremely time-sensitive. You must analyze an assortment of unfamiliar materials and compose either a memorandum of law, a letter to a client, a persuasive brief, a contract provision, a will, a settlement proposal, a discovery plan, or a closing argument, to list but a few of the possibilities.
3) Communication Skills
You must write concisely, coherently, and in a tone and manner consistent with the nature of the assignment. You must demonstrate your mastery of the language of the law and convince the bar examination that you “sound” like an attorney ready to begin the practice of law.
4) Ability to Follow Directions
The MPT is task-specific. You must perform the task identified to receive credit. If you are instructed to write a letter to the client, do that. Do not do a brief or a memo; write the letter. Show the bar examiners that you can read and follow directions.
In most jurisdictions, you’ll have 90 minutes to read through 15 to 25 pages, analyze the problem, outline an answer, and write a response. In California, you’ll see one long MPT for 3 hours. Thus, the MPT is a test of your ability to work within time constraints and remain focused and organized.
The MPT tests the following:
1) Reading Comprehension
You must read proactively, with a critical eye toward solving a specific problem rather than answering a professor’s questions in class. You must read carefully and quickly, while you search for useful information and answers to the particular issue you’ve been asked to resolve.
2) Organizational Skills
You must organize your time and the materials effectively to complete the required task in the time allowed. The MPT is extremely time-sensitive. You must analyze an assortment of unfamiliar materials and compose either a memorandum of law, a letter to a client, a persuasive brief, a contract provision, a will, a settlement proposal, a discovery plan, or a closing argument, to list but a few of the possibilities.
3) Communication Skills
You must write concisely, coherently, and in a tone and manner consistent with the nature of the assignment. You must demonstrate your mastery of the language of the law and convince the bar examination that you “sound” like an attorney ready to begin the practice of law.
4) Ability to Follow Directions
The MPT is task-specific. You must perform the task identified to receive credit. If you are instructed to write a letter to the client, do that. Do not do a brief or a memo; write the letter. Show the bar examiners that you can read and follow directions.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
The Performance Test: California and Multistate PTs
The California Performance Test and the Multistate Performance Test simulates the experiences of a new attorney.
You’ll be given a client “File” and asked to complete what would be considered a typical assignment for a first year associate. Most likely, you’ll be asked to write a legal memorandum or persuasive brief, although it is possible to be asked to draft interrogatories, a will provision or a closing argument. Although you may not have performed all of these types of tasks during law school, the bar examiners expect you to be able to follow their instruction memo and rely on your basic legal training to complete the assignment.
Each task is designed to test your legal skills such as fact analysis, fact gathering, legal analysis and reasoning, problem solving and ethical issue problems.
The Components of the CPT and the MPT
The File
Here you’ll find the factual information about your case in the form of:
• Excerpts from deposition testimony
• Client correspondence
• Police reports and medical records
• Invoices and purchase orders
• Witness interviews
• Contract provisions, a lease, or a will.
While the File contains all the facts you need to know about your problem, it also contains irrelevant information just as in real life where your client will volunteer much more information than you actually need. The File will include irrelevant or ambiguous information, unreliable and conflicting witness testimony and inconsistent statements.
The “Task” Memo
This is the first memorandum in the File and the single most important piece of paper in the File. It introduces your problem and identifies your task. Your job is to answer the questions presented in the memo and perform the assigned task as precisely as possible.
The Instruction Memo
If the bar examiners think you need guidance in completing your task, they’ll include a second memo in the File. This memo will tell you exactly what to include in your answer. Sometimes the examiners tell you what not to include in your answer.
The Library
The Library contains all the legal authorities you’ll need to complete the assigned task. They are the only legal authorities you may use to solve the problem.
The Library may consist of:
• Statues, codes and commentaries
• Constitutional provisions and regulations
• Rules of professional conduct
• Cases
• Secondary sources such as Reinstatement provisions
The cases may be actual cases, modified cases, or cases written specifically for the exam. The rules also may be actual rules or rules written specifically for the exam. Even if you think you are familiar with a rule or a case from law school, you must still read all the material in the Library. You cannot assume that the material has not been modified.
You’ll be given a client “File” and asked to complete what would be considered a typical assignment for a first year associate. Most likely, you’ll be asked to write a legal memorandum or persuasive brief, although it is possible to be asked to draft interrogatories, a will provision or a closing argument. Although you may not have performed all of these types of tasks during law school, the bar examiners expect you to be able to follow their instruction memo and rely on your basic legal training to complete the assignment.
Each task is designed to test your legal skills such as fact analysis, fact gathering, legal analysis and reasoning, problem solving and ethical issue problems.
The Components of the CPT and the MPT
The File
Here you’ll find the factual information about your case in the form of:
• Excerpts from deposition testimony
• Client correspondence
• Police reports and medical records
• Invoices and purchase orders
• Witness interviews
• Contract provisions, a lease, or a will.
While the File contains all the facts you need to know about your problem, it also contains irrelevant information just as in real life where your client will volunteer much more information than you actually need. The File will include irrelevant or ambiguous information, unreliable and conflicting witness testimony and inconsistent statements.
The “Task” Memo
This is the first memorandum in the File and the single most important piece of paper in the File. It introduces your problem and identifies your task. Your job is to answer the questions presented in the memo and perform the assigned task as precisely as possible.
The Instruction Memo
If the bar examiners think you need guidance in completing your task, they’ll include a second memo in the File. This memo will tell you exactly what to include in your answer. Sometimes the examiners tell you what not to include in your answer.
The Library
The Library contains all the legal authorities you’ll need to complete the assigned task. They are the only legal authorities you may use to solve the problem.
The Library may consist of:
• Statues, codes and commentaries
• Constitutional provisions and regulations
• Rules of professional conduct
• Cases
• Secondary sources such as Reinstatement provisions
The cases may be actual cases, modified cases, or cases written specifically for the exam. The rules also may be actual rules or rules written specifically for the exam. Even if you think you are familiar with a rule or a case from law school, you must still read all the material in the Library. You cannot assume that the material has not been modified.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Your Study Plan for the Bar
In addition to putting in the study time, you need to learn how to maximize your study time. How do you go about getting the biggest bang out of your study time?
First, build a good, solid foundation of the black letter law. In order to have a good foundation, you must review each bar exam subject. Go through each subject, one by one and absorb each subject as best you can. As you go through the subject, make sure you understand the basic law before you move on.
To build a foundation of the law, you need to break the subject areas into more manageable components. Break your subject into topics. And go through the elements of the topics of each subject.
What I mean by that is to take a subject, like Torts. Then break the Tort subject down to topics, i.e. Negligence. Do you know all the elements of negligence? Do you know the elements of battery? You can outline it and/or make sure you know it by heart before you move on. You can do that memorization by reciting it or writing it down without looking at your notes or outlines.
Once you feel you know that topic, do a few essay questions and some MBE on that topic just so you know you have it.
Don’t scatter-shoot your studying. Learn the topic thoroughly before you move on to your next topic in the subject area. Don’t go through the topics of the subject areas all at once, i.e. don’t go through battery, assault, false imprisonment and not know each one by heart. Stop at battery, recite it, do some MBE and then move to assault, and false imprisonment and the other topics of Torts. Do this for every topic in every subject. You do not want to read your subject outlines like a novel.
Read, learn, recite, memorize, test yourself and move on.
First, build a good, solid foundation of the black letter law. In order to have a good foundation, you must review each bar exam subject. Go through each subject, one by one and absorb each subject as best you can. As you go through the subject, make sure you understand the basic law before you move on.
To build a foundation of the law, you need to break the subject areas into more manageable components. Break your subject into topics. And go through the elements of the topics of each subject.
What I mean by that is to take a subject, like Torts. Then break the Tort subject down to topics, i.e. Negligence. Do you know all the elements of negligence? Do you know the elements of battery? You can outline it and/or make sure you know it by heart before you move on. You can do that memorization by reciting it or writing it down without looking at your notes or outlines.
Once you feel you know that topic, do a few essay questions and some MBE on that topic just so you know you have it.
Don’t scatter-shoot your studying. Learn the topic thoroughly before you move on to your next topic in the subject area. Don’t go through the topics of the subject areas all at once, i.e. don’t go through battery, assault, false imprisonment and not know each one by heart. Stop at battery, recite it, do some MBE and then move to assault, and false imprisonment and the other topics of Torts. Do this for every topic in every subject. You do not want to read your subject outlines like a novel.
Read, learn, recite, memorize, test yourself and move on.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The Memorial Day Weekend – A Turning Point for the July 2010 Bar Exam
This Memorial Day weekend you will have a little less than 2 months to go until the July bar exam. This Memorial Day marks a turning point in your July 2010 bar exam studies. For those taking commercial bar exam courses, you are now settling into your routine. For those who are retaking the exam, you should be in a routine of your own. Hopefully, you have now determined that it will take great time and effort to be successful on the bar. Get into a rhythm with your studies. The next 2 months will determine how the rest of your life will be. Pass the bar in July and your life will fall into line.
Have a terrific weekend, take a few hours off and then get back to work. The July Bar Exam is right around the corner.
For those persons needing help in passing the bar for the July bar, Bar Professors offers bar exam tutorials. Please contact bar professors at pass@barprofessors.com or visit our website at barprofessors.com.
Have a terrific weekend, take a few hours off and then get back to work. The July Bar Exam is right around the corner.
For those persons needing help in passing the bar for the July bar, Bar Professors offers bar exam tutorials. Please contact bar professors at pass@barprofessors.com or visit our website at barprofessors.com.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Free Florida Bar Exam Seminar in Orlando and Miami for Repeat Florida Bar Takers
Bar Professors will conduct and sponsor a free Florida Bar Exam Lecture on “How to Pass The Florida Bar Exam.” Repeat takers are encouraged to attend this seminar in early June. A question and answer session will be offered.
Spaces are extremely limited and advanced registration is required. Please go to BarProfessors.com and fill out the contact sheet designating Orlando or Miami. You can also e-mail us at pass@barprofessors.com.
Spaces are extremely limited and advanced registration is required. Please go to BarProfessors.com and fill out the contact sheet designating Orlando or Miami. You can also e-mail us at pass@barprofessors.com.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Maine’s Bar Exam Results Are Out
Maine’s Bar Exam Results for February 2010 are now out. The names of the successful applicants are on its website. Maine has not posted its pass rate, yet.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
New York's Bar Exam Results Statistics for February
New York has posted its results by statistics. BOLE has also published the successful applicants by name for public lookup.
Here is a portion of its press release:
Graduates of American Bar Association approved law schools taking the examination for the first time passed at the rate of 80.5%, which represents an increase of 7.2% over the results for this group on the February 2009 examination. The Board examined 4,031 candidates during the two days of testing conducted on February 23 and 24, 2010, which is believed to be the largest number ever recorded for a February administration of the examination. The passing rate for all candidates, including U.S. domestic educated and foreign-educated candidates, both first-time and repeat takers, was 50%. This represents a 8.3% increase in the overall passing rate from the February 2009 examination.
Here is a portion of its press release:
Graduates of American Bar Association approved law schools taking the examination for the first time passed at the rate of 80.5%, which represents an increase of 7.2% over the results for this group on the February 2009 examination. The Board examined 4,031 candidates during the two days of testing conducted on February 23 and 24, 2010, which is believed to be the largest number ever recorded for a February administration of the examination. The passing rate for all candidates, including U.S. domestic educated and foreign-educated candidates, both first-time and repeat takers, was 50%. This represents a 8.3% increase in the overall passing rate from the February 2009 examination.
West Virginia's Bar Exam Results Are Out
West Virginia released its bar exam results for the February 2010 bar. The names of the applicants and their status is on the website. Approximately 86 people took the exam and 42 passsed. That is a 46.6% bar pass rate.
Congratulations for those who passed.
For those persons needing bar tutorial for Florida for the July bar, please contact bar professors at pass@barprofessors.com
Congratulations for those who passed.
For those persons needing bar tutorial for Florida for the July bar, please contact bar professors at pass@barprofessors.com
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts Bar Exam Results Have Been Released
New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts bar exam results have been released.
The New York bar exam results have been released for private lookup. The statistics have not been posted. On Wednesday, the list will be made public.
New Hampshire has yet to release its statistics, but approximately 40 applicants were successful. A list of the successful applicants are listed on the website.
In Massachusetts, a total of 617 applicants sat for the February 2010 bar examination, of whom 387 (62.7%) passed. There were 383 first time takers, of whom 282 (73.6%) passed the exam. The second time takers passed at a 55% rate, third time takers passed at 46.3%, 4th time takers passed at 42.9% and fifth or more takers passed at a 14% rate.
Bar Professors is presently starting its new and improved tutorial delivery program allowing bar takers one on one access. Spaces are currently 50% full for the July 2010 Florida bar exam preparation. Go to barprofessors.com to register or email us at pass@barprofessors.com
The New York bar exam results have been released for private lookup. The statistics have not been posted. On Wednesday, the list will be made public.
New Hampshire has yet to release its statistics, but approximately 40 applicants were successful. A list of the successful applicants are listed on the website.
In Massachusetts, a total of 617 applicants sat for the February 2010 bar examination, of whom 387 (62.7%) passed. There were 383 first time takers, of whom 282 (73.6%) passed the exam. The second time takers passed at a 55% rate, third time takers passed at 46.3%, 4th time takers passed at 42.9% and fifth or more takers passed at a 14% rate.
Bar Professors is presently starting its new and improved tutorial delivery program allowing bar takers one on one access. Spaces are currently 50% full for the July 2010 Florida bar exam preparation. Go to barprofessors.com to register or email us at pass@barprofessors.com
The Virginia Bar Exam Results for February 2010 Were Released
The Virginia bar exam results for February 2010 were released. The website has listed the successful applicants by name. The overall pass rate was 57.2%. The first time taker pass rate was 66.7%.
Here is the pass rate by law school:
Virginia Law Schools:
Appalachian School of Law: Overall pass rate: 40.0% - first time pass rate: 75.0%
College of William and Mary: Overall pass rate: 60.0% - first time pass rate: 83.3%
George Mason University: Overall pass rate: 61.3% - first time pass rate: 68.8%
Liberty University: Overall pass rate: 55.6% - first time pass rate: 50.0%
Regent University: Overall pass rate: 80.0% - first time pass rate: 85.7%
University of Richmond: Overall pass rate: 51.4% - first time pass rate: 73.7%
University of Virginia: Overall pass rate: 75.0% - first time pass rate: 66.7%
Washington and Lee University: Overall pass rate: 81.3% first time pass rate: - 87.5%
Congratulations to all new Virginia lawyers.
Bar Professors is presently starting its new and improved tutorial delivery program allowing bar takers one on one access. Spaces are currently 50% full for the July 2010 Florida bar exam preparation. Go to barprofessors.com to register or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
Here is the pass rate by law school:
Virginia Law Schools:
Appalachian School of Law: Overall pass rate: 40.0% - first time pass rate: 75.0%
College of William and Mary: Overall pass rate: 60.0% - first time pass rate: 83.3%
George Mason University: Overall pass rate: 61.3% - first time pass rate: 68.8%
Liberty University: Overall pass rate: 55.6% - first time pass rate: 50.0%
Regent University: Overall pass rate: 80.0% - first time pass rate: 85.7%
University of Richmond: Overall pass rate: 51.4% - first time pass rate: 73.7%
University of Virginia: Overall pass rate: 75.0% - first time pass rate: 66.7%
Washington and Lee University: Overall pass rate: 81.3% first time pass rate: - 87.5%
Congratulations to all new Virginia lawyers.
Bar Professors is presently starting its new and improved tutorial delivery program allowing bar takers one on one access. Spaces are currently 50% full for the July 2010 Florida bar exam preparation. Go to barprofessors.com to register or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Missouri, Tennessee, and Louisiana Bar Exam Results for February 2010 Have Been Released
Missouri has released its bar exam results for February 2010. The pass rate was 81.67%. The law school rates have not been announced, but the names of the successful applicants are on the website.
Tennessee’s bar exam results have also come out. Tennessee has not announced the pass rate yet and the names of the successful applicants are on the website.
Louisiana’s bar exam results have also come out. Its bar pass rate was 48.8%. The results by law school are as follows:
LSU: 57.7%
LOYOLA: 45.6%
SOUTHERN: 43.5%
TULANE: 62%
OTHER: 46.4%
TOTAL: 48.8%
Bar Professors is presently starting its new and improved tutorial delivery program allowing bar takers one on one access. Spaces are currently 50% full for the July 2010 Florida bar exam preparation. Go to barprofessors.com to register or email us at pass@barprofessors.com
Tennessee’s bar exam results have also come out. Tennessee has not announced the pass rate yet and the names of the successful applicants are on the website.
Louisiana’s bar exam results have also come out. Its bar pass rate was 48.8%. The results by law school are as follows:
LSU: 57.7%
LOYOLA: 45.6%
SOUTHERN: 43.5%
TULANE: 62%
OTHER: 46.4%
TOTAL: 48.8%
Bar Professors is presently starting its new and improved tutorial delivery program allowing bar takers one on one access. Spaces are currently 50% full for the July 2010 Florida bar exam preparation. Go to barprofessors.com to register or email us at pass@barprofessors.com
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
New Mexico and Oklahoma Has Released their February 2010 Bar Exam Results
Oklahoma has recently released its February 2010 bar exam results. A total of 95 people took the exam, with 67 passing for a 71 percent pass rate. You can find a list of the names on Oklahoma’s website listing the names of the people who passed
New Mexico has also released its February 2010 bar exam results. The overall pass rate is 81% and the first time taker rate is 90%. The list of the names are on the webstie.
Congratulations to all!!
New Mexico has also released its February 2010 bar exam results. The overall pass rate is 81% and the first time taker rate is 90%. The list of the names are on the webstie.
Congratulations to all!!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Florida Bar Exam Repeat Takers: The Analysis Must Begin, Let Bar Professors Help
Now that scores have been mailed out, unsuccessful bar takers will need to look at their scores and see the weaknesses and strengths of their bar examination performance. It is a painful process to self-analyze how you could have done better. But it is a necessary step you must take in order to start your study plan for the July 2010 bar exam and get ready for the next go-round.
Let BarProfessors help you go through this process. Bar Professors is currently offering "free" analysis for Florida takers who were not successful on the February 2010 bar.
Please forward your scores on or before April 24, 2010. Only the first 200 scores will be analyzed.
Please forward your scores to pass@barprofessors.com or see our website at barprofessors.com.
Let BarProfessors help you go through this process. Bar Professors is currently offering "free" analysis for Florida takers who were not successful on the February 2010 bar.
Please forward your scores on or before April 24, 2010. Only the first 200 scores will be analyzed.
Please forward your scores to pass@barprofessors.com or see our website at barprofessors.com.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Florida Bar Exam Repeat Takers: Start Studying Now for the July 2010 Bar
For the Florida bar exam repeat takers for July 2010 start your preparation now. It's time now to forget about what happened on your last bar attempt and start anew. For 2nd, 3rd, and 4th time takers, you must obtain a bar tutor. The traditional commercial bar course did not and will not work for you.
Bar Professors is presently starting its new and improved tutorial delivery program allowing bar takers one on one access. Spaces are currently 50% full for the July 2010 Florida bar exam preparation. Go to barprofessors.com to register or email us at pass@barprofessors.com
Bar Professors is presently starting its new and improved tutorial delivery program allowing bar takers one on one access. Spaces are currently 50% full for the July 2010 Florida bar exam preparation. Go to barprofessors.com to register or email us at pass@barprofessors.com
February 2010 Florida Bar Exam Results by Law School
Here is the complete list of first time takers who passed the February 2010 Florida bar exam by law school:
Ave Maria: 100%
Florida State: 84.8%
Nova: 82.1%
Univ. of Florida: 81%
Miami: 72.1%
FIU: 71.4%
Stetson: 67.6%
Barry: 64.3%
St. Thomas: 63.6%
Florida Coastal: 60.9%
FAMU: 55%
Ave Maria: 100%
Florida State: 84.8%
Nova: 82.1%
Univ. of Florida: 81%
Miami: 72.1%
FIU: 71.4%
Stetson: 67.6%
Barry: 64.3%
St. Thomas: 63.6%
Florida Coastal: 60.9%
FAMU: 55%
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Florida Bar Exam Results by Law School
We have gotten a partial list of Florida law school's bar pass rate.
Ave Maria: 100%
Florida State: 84.8%
Nova: 82.1%
Univ. of Florida: 81%
Ave Maria: 100%
Florida State: 84.8%
Nova: 82.1%
Univ. of Florida: 81%
Florida Bar Exam Results for February 2010
Congratulations to those who passed. For those who did not pass, do not lose hope. You can do this.
For Florida repeat takers, it is important for you to start studying for the bar exam now. Bar Professors is providing special tutorial for those who need it. Please email us at pass@barprofessors or go to our website barprofessors.com.
For Florida repeat takers, it is important for you to start studying for the bar exam now. Bar Professors is providing special tutorial for those who need it. Please email us at pass@barprofessors or go to our website barprofessors.com.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Florida Raw MBE Score...What Do You Need to Pass?
We know that the mean score for the MBE nationwide is 136.
What do you think the raw score will be? What do you think you need to pass Florida?
If you figure that the Florida Bar Examiners will add 15-20 points, you will probably have to get from at least a minimum 116 to a 120 raw score to pass the MBE.
We will see tommorrow.
What do you think the raw score will be? What do you think you need to pass Florida?
If you figure that the Florida Bar Examiners will add 15-20 points, you will probably have to get from at least a minimum 116 to a 120 raw score to pass the MBE.
We will see tommorrow.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Florida Bar Exam Results for February Will Be Out on Monday
The Florida bar exam results for February 2010 will be out on Monday. Stayed tuned to this blog. We will post the results by pass rate and by schools as soon as they are posted. It should be interesting. Good luck to those who are waiting.
BarProfessors will start its classes and tutorial with preregistration starting April 12th. Spaces are very limited. When you must pass, BarProfessors will take you over the finish line.
BarProfessors will start its classes and tutorial with preregistration starting April 12th. Spaces are very limited. When you must pass, BarProfessors will take you over the finish line.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Pennsylvania Bar Exam Results for February Are Now Available
Pennsylvania's Board of Law Examiners have announced that the February 2010 bar exam results are available.
The overall pass rate was 56%. First time takers passed at 74%; 2nd time takers passed at 46%; 3rd time takers passed at 35% ; and 4+ time takers passed at 14%.
The Pennsylvania schools pass rates were:
Drexel University: 61.54%
Duquesne University School of Law: 48.39%
Pennsylvania State University - Dickinson School of Law: 46.15%
Rutgers University School of Law - Camden: 58.97%
Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law: 53.33%
University of Pennsylvania Law School: 60.00%
University of Pittsburgh School of Law: 58.33%
Villanova University School of Law: 48.15%
Widener University School of Law - Delaware: 51.95%
Widener University School of Law - Harrisburg: 44.44%
The Mean MBE Scaled Score for Applicants Testing in Pennsylvania: 136.800
Mean MBE Scaled Score for Total Population (National): 136.550
The overall pass rate was 56%. First time takers passed at 74%; 2nd time takers passed at 46%; 3rd time takers passed at 35% ; and 4+ time takers passed at 14%.
The Pennsylvania schools pass rates were:
Drexel University: 61.54%
Duquesne University School of Law: 48.39%
Pennsylvania State University - Dickinson School of Law: 46.15%
Rutgers University School of Law - Camden: 58.97%
Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law: 53.33%
University of Pennsylvania Law School: 60.00%
University of Pittsburgh School of Law: 58.33%
Villanova University School of Law: 48.15%
Widener University School of Law - Delaware: 51.95%
Widener University School of Law - Harrisburg: 44.44%
The Mean MBE Scaled Score for Applicants Testing in Pennsylvania: 136.800
Mean MBE Scaled Score for Total Population (National): 136.550
New Mexico Bar Exam Results for February Came Out
The New Mexico bar exam results for February 2010 were released. The overall pass rate was 81% and the first time takers pass rate was 90%. The Board of Bar Examiners has posted the names of the successful applicants.
Congratulations to the new attorneys!!
Congratulations to the new attorneys!!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Arkansas Bar Exam Results for February 2010 Are Out
On Friday, the Arkansas Board of Bar Examiners announced the results for the February 2010 exam. The results by school have not been announced.
Congratulations to all who passed.
Congratulations to all who passed.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Illinois Bar Exam Results for February 2010 Are Out
We have been told that the Illinois bar exam results for February 2010 have been mailed to the applicants. We will post the results as soon as it is posted on the Illinois bar exam website.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The North Carolina Bar Has Posted the February Results By Name
Today, the North Carolina bar has posted the February 2010 results, by name on its website. By a quick count, only 158 people passed the bar and are eligible for admission.
Congratulations to those who passed.
Congratulations to those who passed.
Monday, March 29, 2010
2 Weeks Until the Florida Bar Exam Results Comes Out
There is only 2 more weeks until the Florida Bar Exam results come out. Your long wait is almost over, although these two weeks will seem like an eternity. Good luck and good waiting!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
North Carolina's Bar Exam Results Sent Out Today
So it begins. North Carolina's bar exam will be sent out this morning. Good luck to everyone in North Carolina.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Florida Bar Exam Results Will Come Out on April 12th
BarProfessors has learned that the Florida Bar Exam Results will come out on April 12th.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Congratulations to All Bar Exam Takers
You are finished!! Congratulations to a job well done. Relax, sleep, play and be totally frivolous this weekend. You deserve it.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Not Yet Done for Some Bar Exams
Congratulations to everyone who has taken and survived your bar exam. For some, it is still going on this Thursday. Good Luck for those still sitting for their State day.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The Multistate Bar Exam is Today
The MBE is today. You have 100 questions in the morning and 100 questions in the afternoon. Work steadily and knock them off one at a time, you have 1.8 minutes a question.
Good luck, everyone.
Make Bar Professors proud.
Good luck, everyone.
Make Bar Professors proud.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Florida Bar Exam Essay Subjects for February 23, 2010
Domestic Relations/Family Law with Professional Responsibility
Real Property/Constitutional Law
Torts (Products Liability)
Real Property/Constitutional Law
Torts (Products Liability)
The Bar Exam is Today
Good Luck to all bar exam takers today - our thoughts are with you.
Bar Professors
Bar Professors
Monday, February 22, 2010
1 Day Before the Bar Exam: Be Confident in Your Abilities
You are almost to the finish line. Go to the hotel, read over your mini-outlines today, but relax. Eat sparingly . Make your meals small and light. Take the evening off, watch tv, and go to bed early. You will probably not sleep as well as you would like, but stay in bed and try to just doze if you can. Don’t get up, move around or study your outlines – it will just make you tired during the bar. You will need all of your energy for Tuesday. When you get up on Tuesday, again, eat lightly, but eat something. You’ll need the energy for the morning session.
More importantly, be confident in your abilities. You have been preparing for your chance to be a lawyer for 3 years or more. You can do this. Go ahead on Tuesday and kick butt!
Good Luck from Bar Professors!!
More importantly, be confident in your abilities. You have been preparing for your chance to be a lawyer for 3 years or more. You can do this. Go ahead on Tuesday and kick butt!
Good Luck from Bar Professors!!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
2 Days Until the Bar Exam: You Can Do It!!!
For those taking the bar exam, good luck to all of you and remember your lessons. Come in with a plan, remember your goals and you will be calling yourself an attorney in a few months.
Be confident in your abilities. You have studied hard these past couple of months, you have practiced endlessly, and you know what you need to do. Don’t psych yourself out. You can do this and will do it. Keep your focus and you will do well.
A special shout out to my students. Good luck to you – now you know why I was so hard on you and you know that we believe in you.
You can do it. Good Luck to all.
Be confident in your abilities. You have studied hard these past couple of months, you have practiced endlessly, and you know what you need to do. Don’t psych yourself out. You can do this and will do it. Keep your focus and you will do well.
A special shout out to my students. Good luck to you – now you know why I was so hard on you and you know that we believe in you.
You can do it. Good Luck to all.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
3 Days Before the Bar Exam The Weekend Before the Bar
Being in the Moment
No matter how hard you’ve studied and how many practice exams you’ve taken, once you get to the bar exam, you will do well.
Everything you’ve been doing during your bar review has prepared you for this moment. And, if you’ve prepared properly, you will know what to do once you get started.
Allocating Your Time
Using the exact time you were told to begin the exam, set your timetable and write down the starting and ending times for each question.
You have to complete between 16 and 17 questions in a 30 minute period, averaging 33-34 questions every hour to complete the 100 questions in a three hour period; set your clock on the half hour with appropriate milestones.
If You Get Stuck on an MBE Question
Make your best choice, but circle the question and if you have time at the end of the exam, you can go back to it.
With only 1.8 minutes per question, there’s only so much time to allow for doubt. There will be questions you just don’t know. Don’t squander precious time that could be spent on questions you can answer.
If You Get Stuck on an Essay Question
Write the issue, whether or not you know the rule at this point. Formulating the issue will get your points from the grader even if you blank out on the rule. Rely on your knowledge of general legal principles and standards to guide you, even if you don’t know each and every element of the rule.
Be confident in your abilities to have prepared as best you could for the exam.
No matter how hard you’ve studied and how many practice exams you’ve taken, once you get to the bar exam, you will do well.
Everything you’ve been doing during your bar review has prepared you for this moment. And, if you’ve prepared properly, you will know what to do once you get started.
Allocating Your Time
Using the exact time you were told to begin the exam, set your timetable and write down the starting and ending times for each question.
You have to complete between 16 and 17 questions in a 30 minute period, averaging 33-34 questions every hour to complete the 100 questions in a three hour period; set your clock on the half hour with appropriate milestones.
If You Get Stuck on an MBE Question
Make your best choice, but circle the question and if you have time at the end of the exam, you can go back to it.
With only 1.8 minutes per question, there’s only so much time to allow for doubt. There will be questions you just don’t know. Don’t squander precious time that could be spent on questions you can answer.
If You Get Stuck on an Essay Question
Write the issue, whether or not you know the rule at this point. Formulating the issue will get your points from the grader even if you blank out on the rule. Rely on your knowledge of general legal principles and standards to guide you, even if you don’t know each and every element of the rule.
Be confident in your abilities to have prepared as best you could for the exam.
Friday, February 19, 2010
4 Days to the Bar Exam: The Practicalities of the Bar Exam
Take Monday off so you can rest and be alert during the exam. Keep the final day low key and try not to think about the exam. If you are staying at a hotel, get to your hotel early, check in and relax. Keep your anxiety under control and you’ll be fine.
The Night Before the Exam
The night before the exam is the one time you may want to read a little material or study because you probably will have trouble sleeping on Monday night. Try reading a bar outline or your one pagers. If you can’t fall asleep, just lie there. Don’t try to do extra studying, just rest. If you can’t fall asleep, don’t get out of bed, pace, watch television or do anything to keep your mind active. You want to keep your mind at rest, even if your body can’t rest.
The Exam is Now
Make sure you have a positive outlook. You’ve done hundreds of practice questions by now. You can do this
Food and Drinks
The night before the exam, eat something that gives you some strength but nothing that you know can make you feel sick. You know your own body, so play it smart. Avoid anything that makes you feel queasy. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and for those in California, Thursday, eat a solid breakfast that will get your mind working, but don’t eat so much it makes you sleepy. Don’t drink too much that it causes frequent restroom visits. Also important is your lunch. Once again, avoid heavy foods that will make you sleepy. Avoid food that makes you sleepy. Again, limit your drinks to avoid frequent restroom breaks.
Leave your cellphone at the hotel or in the car. Do not bring it in to the site. You can be kicked out of the bar if your phone rings. If your cellphone rings, you will be back in the same place, taking the bar again in 6 months if you get kicked out of the bar.
During Your Breaks
Do not talk to anyone about the exam during your breaks. Inevitably someone will want to talk about the bar and inevitably that person put down something different from what you did. Do not second guess yourself by rehashing the exam.
The Night Before the Exam
The night before the exam is the one time you may want to read a little material or study because you probably will have trouble sleeping on Monday night. Try reading a bar outline or your one pagers. If you can’t fall asleep, just lie there. Don’t try to do extra studying, just rest. If you can’t fall asleep, don’t get out of bed, pace, watch television or do anything to keep your mind active. You want to keep your mind at rest, even if your body can’t rest.
The Exam is Now
Make sure you have a positive outlook. You’ve done hundreds of practice questions by now. You can do this
Food and Drinks
The night before the exam, eat something that gives you some strength but nothing that you know can make you feel sick. You know your own body, so play it smart. Avoid anything that makes you feel queasy. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and for those in California, Thursday, eat a solid breakfast that will get your mind working, but don’t eat so much it makes you sleepy. Don’t drink too much that it causes frequent restroom visits. Also important is your lunch. Once again, avoid heavy foods that will make you sleepy. Avoid food that makes you sleepy. Again, limit your drinks to avoid frequent restroom breaks.
Leave your cellphone at the hotel or in the car. Do not bring it in to the site. You can be kicked out of the bar if your phone rings. If your cellphone rings, you will be back in the same place, taking the bar again in 6 months if you get kicked out of the bar.
During Your Breaks
Do not talk to anyone about the exam during your breaks. Inevitably someone will want to talk about the bar and inevitably that person put down something different from what you did. Do not second guess yourself by rehashing the exam.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
5 days until the bar exam: Review This Weekend
Like most law students, you’re probably conditioned to study hard even the day before the exam. In fact, you may think it’s wise to study right up to the last minute. With the bar exam, that’s a serious mistake. This isn’t a two or three hour exam. The test’s duration is nearly eight hours, including your lunch break.
First, you need to catch up on your rest and start powering down on your studying. This weekend try to have a “normal” couple of days. Put in study time, but also sleep, rest, watch tv, go out to dinner and relax.
Second, eat well this weekend since you probably have had a lot of fast food these past 6 weeks. You may not be able to eat much on Monday if your nerves start showing. Do not drink any alcohol. Try not to eat rich food or foods you know have adverse effects on your stomach. Monday, eat solid but light foods to keep you alert. Just think boring foods because you stomach may be upset due to nerves. Try to relax a bit because you have done your preparation and now it’s time to get in the game.
First, you need to catch up on your rest and start powering down on your studying. This weekend try to have a “normal” couple of days. Put in study time, but also sleep, rest, watch tv, go out to dinner and relax.
Second, eat well this weekend since you probably have had a lot of fast food these past 6 weeks. You may not be able to eat much on Monday if your nerves start showing. Do not drink any alcohol. Try not to eat rich food or foods you know have adverse effects on your stomach. Monday, eat solid but light foods to keep you alert. Just think boring foods because you stomach may be upset due to nerves. Try to relax a bit because you have done your preparation and now it’s time to get in the game.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
1 Week Until the Bar Exam: Keep Your Focus
Your goal for this last week is to stay the course while you solidify your knowledge of the black letter law and improve your timing. The week before the exam is a time when you should stay the course personally and professionally.
This is not the time to start a diet, relationship or hobby or end one. It is also not the time to dramatically change study habits. Those who cram are going to want to start a “24/7” scorched earth policy of learning everything at all hours, but remember, this exam is just like a big athletic contest and you want to stick to your carefully construction training regime.
This is the time you put out your “do not disturb” sign, even for relatives and close friends. If they don’t get it, then they are not acting in your best interest. Other bar takers may turn into toxic, needy people the week before the exam as well, so beware. It is not uncommon for your loved ones to express their own frustrations over your studying, so if need be, take a hotel room for a week or tell them they can vent in one more week. Whatever problems you’re encountering short of a medical crisis, stay focused on the bar exam. Don’t let anyone or anything distract you. It’s not worth it.
Take care of your body and mind. This means eating well, getting some sleep and working on self-confidence. If this means listening to your favorite music or watching some funny videos, go for it. A little laughter and inspirational music can go a long way.
As to practical things, make sure you have confirmed your hotel reservation, that you have packed what you need to take with you, including your admission ticket, your identification, your watch, etc.
Whatever it is you’ve been doing the past couple of weeks, keep it up. Stick with what you know, confirm you knowledge and reinstall your confidence in the material. As to the bar exam itself, make sure you have taken at least one or two simulated exams.
• Make sure your timing was within range for the MBE, MPT and the essay questions.
• Make sure your scores are within range to pass
If you simulate a portion of the exam, make sure you are able to
• Complete 17 MBE questions in 30 minutes; 34 MBE questions in an hour
• Complete an essay in the time allotted for your jurisdiction
• Complete an MPT in 90 minutes
Practice MBE questions in random order instead of one subject at a time.
Review subjects covered earlier in the bar review period to keep them fresh in your mind.
Now that your bar review course has ended, increase your study time and direct most of your additional time to practice questions.
It isn’t uncommon to start running out of fuel about a week before the exam. So take some breaks to energize yourself, but whatever you do, don’t start working on alternative projects around the house or pick up a novel to relax. You need to keep your mind focused on bar material. Don’t get wrapped up in anything but the bar exam. Your focus is critical.
This is not the time to start a diet, relationship or hobby or end one. It is also not the time to dramatically change study habits. Those who cram are going to want to start a “24/7” scorched earth policy of learning everything at all hours, but remember, this exam is just like a big athletic contest and you want to stick to your carefully construction training regime.
This is the time you put out your “do not disturb” sign, even for relatives and close friends. If they don’t get it, then they are not acting in your best interest. Other bar takers may turn into toxic, needy people the week before the exam as well, so beware. It is not uncommon for your loved ones to express their own frustrations over your studying, so if need be, take a hotel room for a week or tell them they can vent in one more week. Whatever problems you’re encountering short of a medical crisis, stay focused on the bar exam. Don’t let anyone or anything distract you. It’s not worth it.
Take care of your body and mind. This means eating well, getting some sleep and working on self-confidence. If this means listening to your favorite music or watching some funny videos, go for it. A little laughter and inspirational music can go a long way.
As to practical things, make sure you have confirmed your hotel reservation, that you have packed what you need to take with you, including your admission ticket, your identification, your watch, etc.
Whatever it is you’ve been doing the past couple of weeks, keep it up. Stick with what you know, confirm you knowledge and reinstall your confidence in the material. As to the bar exam itself, make sure you have taken at least one or two simulated exams.
• Make sure your timing was within range for the MBE, MPT and the essay questions.
• Make sure your scores are within range to pass
If you simulate a portion of the exam, make sure you are able to
• Complete 17 MBE questions in 30 minutes; 34 MBE questions in an hour
• Complete an essay in the time allotted for your jurisdiction
• Complete an MPT in 90 minutes
Practice MBE questions in random order instead of one subject at a time.
Review subjects covered earlier in the bar review period to keep them fresh in your mind.
Now that your bar review course has ended, increase your study time and direct most of your additional time to practice questions.
It isn’t uncommon to start running out of fuel about a week before the exam. So take some breaks to energize yourself, but whatever you do, don’t start working on alternative projects around the house or pick up a novel to relax. You need to keep your mind focused on bar material. Don’t get wrapped up in anything but the bar exam. Your focus is critical.
Monday, February 15, 2010
MBE Worksheet for the Bar Exam
As you practice your approach to the MBE, you might want to use this MBE Question Worksheet to track your reasoning process until it becomes second nature.
1) What is the Subject Area?
2) What is Happening?
3) Isolate the Legally Relevant Facts
4) Steps of Analysis:
-What is the Legal Issue?
-What Rule of Law Addresses this Issue?
-What Should be the Outcome?
5) Identify the Issue in Each Answer Choice:
-What is the Issue in Answer Choice A?
-What is the Issue in Answer Choice B?
-What is the Issue in Answer Choice C?
-What is the Issue in Answer Choice D?
6) What Answer Choice Best Corresponds to My Answer?
1) What is the Subject Area?
2) What is Happening?
3) Isolate the Legally Relevant Facts
4) Steps of Analysis:
-What is the Legal Issue?
-What Rule of Law Addresses this Issue?
-What Should be the Outcome?
5) Identify the Issue in Each Answer Choice:
-What is the Issue in Answer Choice A?
-What is the Issue in Answer Choice B?
-What is the Issue in Answer Choice C?
-What is the Issue in Answer Choice D?
6) What Answer Choice Best Corresponds to My Answer?
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Analyzing the Multistate Questions for the Bar Exam
You must learn how to analyze the answer choices for the MBE. Here are some techniques to use as you go through your questions.
Watch out for “Because,” “If,” and “unless”
Working with because
On the MBE, because is the predominant modifier and the simplest to master. Because statements are relatively straightforward. Simply ensure that the reasoning supports the conclusion both on a factual and legal basis. If either is incorrect, then the entire answer choice is incorrect and can be eliminated.
Working with if
Unlike because, when if is the answer choice modifier, you need determine only whether the reasoning could support the conclusion. It need not always be true, but only possible under the facts in the hypothetical. Be alert to possible if synonyms: as long as, and so long as.
Working with unless
In its own way, unless is as restrictive as because. For an unless answer choice to be correct, it must present the only circumstance under which the conclusion cannot happen. If you can conceive of even one other way the result could occur, then the answer choice cannot be correct.
If You Must Guess, Do So With a Strategy
Eliminate all the obviously incorrect answer choices
Usually you can safely eliminate one or even two responses as incorrect. Now that you’ve narrowed the field a bit, even if it’s a little bit, you’re ready to make the most of some informed guesses.
Dismiss answer choices that address other principles or unrelated rules of law
Of course the bar examiners won’t be so obvious as to include evidence principles in answer choices for contracts questions, but they will include common law rules in Article 2 sales problems and cite standards for negligence when strict liability is at issue.
Be wary of words which speak in absolutes
Assuming that the issue is disguised, then you still need to distinguish between answer choices. In this case, carefully consider statements that include such words as always, never and must. No doubt you’ve learned as a first year law student that there are few if any certainties in the law. For practically every rule, there is an exception, if not two or three.
Finally, move on
With only 1.8 minutes per question, there’s only so much time to allow for doubt. No matter how well you’ve prepared, there are bound to be questions that present difficulty.
Watch out for “Because,” “If,” and “unless”
Working with because
On the MBE, because is the predominant modifier and the simplest to master. Because statements are relatively straightforward. Simply ensure that the reasoning supports the conclusion both on a factual and legal basis. If either is incorrect, then the entire answer choice is incorrect and can be eliminated.
Working with if
Unlike because, when if is the answer choice modifier, you need determine only whether the reasoning could support the conclusion. It need not always be true, but only possible under the facts in the hypothetical. Be alert to possible if synonyms: as long as, and so long as.
Working with unless
In its own way, unless is as restrictive as because. For an unless answer choice to be correct, it must present the only circumstance under which the conclusion cannot happen. If you can conceive of even one other way the result could occur, then the answer choice cannot be correct.
If You Must Guess, Do So With a Strategy
Eliminate all the obviously incorrect answer choices
Usually you can safely eliminate one or even two responses as incorrect. Now that you’ve narrowed the field a bit, even if it’s a little bit, you’re ready to make the most of some informed guesses.
Dismiss answer choices that address other principles or unrelated rules of law
Of course the bar examiners won’t be so obvious as to include evidence principles in answer choices for contracts questions, but they will include common law rules in Article 2 sales problems and cite standards for negligence when strict liability is at issue.
Be wary of words which speak in absolutes
Assuming that the issue is disguised, then you still need to distinguish between answer choices. In this case, carefully consider statements that include such words as always, never and must. No doubt you’ve learned as a first year law student that there are few if any certainties in the law. For practically every rule, there is an exception, if not two or three.
Finally, move on
With only 1.8 minutes per question, there’s only so much time to allow for doubt. No matter how well you’ve prepared, there are bound to be questions that present difficulty.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
2 Weeks to the Bar Exam: Keep Studying and Practicing
You have 2 weeks until the bar examination. Instead of spending the day getting nervous about the time, concentrate on what you have left to do.
By this time, you should have pretty much memorized as much black letter law as you can cram into your brain. It is now time to put away the books and stop studying the law.
What you now need to do in these final 2 weeks to prepare yourself for the bar exam is to practice, practice, practice and do more practice tests. You want to become some familiar with your state test and the MBE that you can almost do it in your sleep.
Try to do an essay or two every day, testing yourself on a variety of subjects that you know your state tests. Do the essays under test conditions. If your state is Florida, do a series of 1 hour essays, including subjects like property, torts, constitutional law, family law, trusts and the other subjects Florida likes to test. If you are from a state that does 30 minute tests, do 3 or 4 a day. Once you finish your essay under time constraints, an equal amount of time reading your essay and comparing it to the model answer. Read for comprehension, also. There might be a point of law that you did not know that you can learn from reading the model answer.
For those states like California who have performance tests, you also must include taking the time to do the performance test also. In California, your performance tests take 3 hours, so your practice sessions will be much time intensive. Try doing 1 performance test every other day. This way you can probably get 7 or 8 performance tests in practice prior to the bar exam. On the days you do not do a performance test, practice your essays.
In between the essays and performance tests, you also need to prepare for the Multistate. Try to get in at least 50-100 MBE questions per day, if you can. This way you can really be sharp when exam time comes.
Don’t take the time to panic, but do take the time to practice. You will be more prepared than you think possible if you follow this schedule.
By this time, you should have pretty much memorized as much black letter law as you can cram into your brain. It is now time to put away the books and stop studying the law.
What you now need to do in these final 2 weeks to prepare yourself for the bar exam is to practice, practice, practice and do more practice tests. You want to become some familiar with your state test and the MBE that you can almost do it in your sleep.
Try to do an essay or two every day, testing yourself on a variety of subjects that you know your state tests. Do the essays under test conditions. If your state is Florida, do a series of 1 hour essays, including subjects like property, torts, constitutional law, family law, trusts and the other subjects Florida likes to test. If you are from a state that does 30 minute tests, do 3 or 4 a day. Once you finish your essay under time constraints, an equal amount of time reading your essay and comparing it to the model answer. Read for comprehension, also. There might be a point of law that you did not know that you can learn from reading the model answer.
For those states like California who have performance tests, you also must include taking the time to do the performance test also. In California, your performance tests take 3 hours, so your practice sessions will be much time intensive. Try doing 1 performance test every other day. This way you can probably get 7 or 8 performance tests in practice prior to the bar exam. On the days you do not do a performance test, practice your essays.
In between the essays and performance tests, you also need to prepare for the Multistate. Try to get in at least 50-100 MBE questions per day, if you can. This way you can really be sharp when exam time comes.
Don’t take the time to panic, but do take the time to practice. You will be more prepared than you think possible if you follow this schedule.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
California Bar Exam Statistics for July 2009 by Law School
We love the fact that California is one of the few states that have complete transparency in its bar exam. California has the complete statistics by law school, by race, by gender, etc. Here are some interesting facts by law school:
All first time takers who attended a California law schools that is ABA approved pass by a 79.3%, repeat takers pass at a 31.2% rate.
Out of state ABA approved law students pass at a 69.4% rate and repeat takers by 26.8%.
Students who attend California accredited law schools that is not ABA approved pass by 32.2% with repeat takers passing at a 12.6% rate.
Students who attend California unaccredited law schools pass at a 26.5% rate with repeat takers passing at an 11.5% rate.
US Attorneys who take the general California bar exam pass at a 58.3% rate with repeat takers passing at a 32.5% rate.
All first time takers who attended a California law schools that is ABA approved pass by a 79.3%, repeat takers pass at a 31.2% rate.
Out of state ABA approved law students pass at a 69.4% rate and repeat takers by 26.8%.
Students who attend California accredited law schools that is not ABA approved pass by 32.2% with repeat takers passing at a 12.6% rate.
Students who attend California unaccredited law schools pass at a 26.5% rate with repeat takers passing at an 11.5% rate.
US Attorneys who take the general California bar exam pass at a 58.3% rate with repeat takers passing at a 32.5% rate.
Friday, February 5, 2010
The MBE on the Bar Exam
Here is the way to examine and analyze your MBE questions on the bar exam:
Reading a Question
Because of time constraints, you will have time for only one reading of the fact pattern. Do not read the fact pattern as a novel. As you know, one of the major changes of the multistate is that there will be one fact pattern for one question.
You must read carefully and actively to spot signal words and legally significant facts. Pay attention to the bar examiners’ particular use of language and look for the following as you read:
1) Relationships between parties that signal the area of law and legal duties: landlord/tenant, employer/employee, principal/agent, buyer/seller;
2) Amounts of money, dates quantities and ages;
3) Words such as “oral” and “written,” “reasonable” and “unreasonable,” among others;
4) Words that indicate the actor’s state of mind. These are crucial for Criminal Law and Tort questions. Look for such language as:
• Intended
• Decided
• Mistakenly thought
• Deliberately
• Reasonably believed
Never Assume Facts
The bar examiners carefully construct MBE questions to contain all the facts you need to answer the question. You must rely solely on these facts and no others, to answer the question. Of course you may draw reasonable inferences from the facts but you cannot fabricate your own or create “what if” scenarios.
Stick to the Law
You must apply the rule of law to the facts without hesitation or equivocation. You cannot get emotionally involved with the parties or substitute your instincts for what you know is legally correct. Don’t think someone is guilty when the call of the question say he is not. That is not what the question is asking you.
Reading a Question
Because of time constraints, you will have time for only one reading of the fact pattern. Do not read the fact pattern as a novel. As you know, one of the major changes of the multistate is that there will be one fact pattern for one question.
You must read carefully and actively to spot signal words and legally significant facts. Pay attention to the bar examiners’ particular use of language and look for the following as you read:
1) Relationships between parties that signal the area of law and legal duties: landlord/tenant, employer/employee, principal/agent, buyer/seller;
2) Amounts of money, dates quantities and ages;
3) Words such as “oral” and “written,” “reasonable” and “unreasonable,” among others;
4) Words that indicate the actor’s state of mind. These are crucial for Criminal Law and Tort questions. Look for such language as:
• Intended
• Decided
• Mistakenly thought
• Deliberately
• Reasonably believed
Never Assume Facts
The bar examiners carefully construct MBE questions to contain all the facts you need to answer the question. You must rely solely on these facts and no others, to answer the question. Of course you may draw reasonable inferences from the facts but you cannot fabricate your own or create “what if” scenarios.
Stick to the Law
You must apply the rule of law to the facts without hesitation or equivocation. You cannot get emotionally involved with the parties or substitute your instincts for what you know is legally correct. Don’t think someone is guilty when the call of the question say he is not. That is not what the question is asking you.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The Bar Exam Writing Process
Here is a suggested list that you might want to try as you continue to practice your bar exam essays.
Once you read the fact pattern, you will organize your essay, then you must analyze.
This is where you make the outline looking for issues. Look back to the fact pattern for facts which should be used for applying the law and then you can apply the facts to the law.
Once you read the fact pattern, you will organize your essay, then you must analyze.
This is where you make the outline looking for issues. Look back to the fact pattern for facts which should be used for applying the law and then you can apply the facts to the law.
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Keys to Passing the Essay Portion of the Bar Exam: The System
First, to be successful on the essay portion of the bar exam, you must implement the correct “system” in attacking, writing, and analyzing your essays.
Once you read the fact pattern, you will organize your essay, then you must analyze.
This is where you make the outline looking for issues. Look back to the fact pattern for facts which should be used for applying the law and then you can apply the facts to the law.
Once you read the fact pattern, you will organize your essay, then you must analyze.
This is where you make the outline looking for issues. Look back to the fact pattern for facts which should be used for applying the law and then you can apply the facts to the law.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Bar Examiners Have No New Tricks on the Multistate Portion of the Bar Exam
The Bar Examiners frequently test the same areas over and over again. Part of your preparation for the bar exam is knowing the areas in which the Bar Examiners like to test. Here are some of the more heavily tested areas on the Multistate:
Constitutional Law
Individual rights matter a lot. These range from Equal Protection, to Due Process, to the Privileges and Immunities Clause to, of course, the First Amendment
Property
Property law covers a wide variety of subjects and often feels like a fast road trip through ten states in five days. While basic Property concepts, such as easements, covenants, adverse possession, estates in land and future interests, are covered, the examiners have taken a liking to mortgages in recent years. For many students, mortgages were not even included in their basic property class.
Contracts
The most tested area in contracts is basic formation issues. Conditions and remedies also matter. Also, memorize third party beneficiaries.
Torts
Torts on the bar exam emphasizes negligence, just like in law school. Of course, negligence comes in many shapes and hues, including negligence per se, res ipsa loquitur and differing standards of care.
Evidence
When you think of evidence the only thing that should be ringing in your ears is the word hearsay. The vast expense of hearsay requires knowledge of what out-of-court assertions are not hearsay, as well as what statements fall within the exceptions. The Best Evidence Rule is on the exam, but not a highlight for examiners.
Criminal Law and Procedure
It is important to know search and seizure issues from the Fourth Amendment as well as Miranda issues from the Fifth Amendment and right to counsel issues from the Sixth Amendment. Also focus on common law crimes, such as criminal homicide.
Constitutional Law
Individual rights matter a lot. These range from Equal Protection, to Due Process, to the Privileges and Immunities Clause to, of course, the First Amendment
Property
Property law covers a wide variety of subjects and often feels like a fast road trip through ten states in five days. While basic Property concepts, such as easements, covenants, adverse possession, estates in land and future interests, are covered, the examiners have taken a liking to mortgages in recent years. For many students, mortgages were not even included in their basic property class.
Contracts
The most tested area in contracts is basic formation issues. Conditions and remedies also matter. Also, memorize third party beneficiaries.
Torts
Torts on the bar exam emphasizes negligence, just like in law school. Of course, negligence comes in many shapes and hues, including negligence per se, res ipsa loquitur and differing standards of care.
Evidence
When you think of evidence the only thing that should be ringing in your ears is the word hearsay. The vast expense of hearsay requires knowledge of what out-of-court assertions are not hearsay, as well as what statements fall within the exceptions. The Best Evidence Rule is on the exam, but not a highlight for examiners.
Criminal Law and Procedure
It is important to know search and seizure issues from the Fourth Amendment as well as Miranda issues from the Fifth Amendment and right to counsel issues from the Sixth Amendment. Also focus on common law crimes, such as criminal homicide.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
29 Days Until the Bar Exam: Strategies for the Performance Test - California and Multistate
The California Performance Test and the Multistate Performance Test (the MPT) is designed to test your proficiency in the basic skills you’ve developed in the course of your legal education and not just your ability to memorize. The goal of the MPT is to test an applicant’s ability to use fundamental lawyering skills in a realistic situation. It seeks to evaluate your ability to complete a task which a beginning lawyer should be able to accomplish.
In most jurisdictions, you’ll have 90 minutes to read through 15 to 25 pages, analyze the problem, outline an answer, and write a response. In California, you’ll see one long MPT for 3 hours. Thus, the MPT is a test of your ability to work within time constraints and remain focused and organized.
The MPT tests the following:
1) Reading Comprehension
You must read proactively, with a critical eye toward solving a specific problem rather than answering a professor’s questions in class. You must read carefully and quickly, while you search for useful information and answers to the particular issue you’ve been asked to resolve.
2) Organizational Skills
You must organize your time and the materials effectively to complete the required task in the time allowed. The MPT is extremely time-sensitive. You must analyze an assortment of unfamiliar materials and compose either a memorandum of law, a letter to a client, a persuasive brief, a contract provision, a will, a settlement proposal, a discovery plan, or a closing argument, to list but a few of the possibilities.
3) Communication Skills
You must write concisely, coherently, and in a tone and manner consistent with the nature of the assignment. You must demonstrate your mastery of the language of the law and convince the bar examination that you “sound” like an attorney ready to begin the practice of law.
4) Ability to Follow Directions
The MPT is task-specific. You must perform the task identified to receive credit. If you are instructed to write a letter to the client, do that. Do not do a brief or a memo; write the letter. Show the bar examiners that you can read and follow directions.
In most jurisdictions, you’ll have 90 minutes to read through 15 to 25 pages, analyze the problem, outline an answer, and write a response. In California, you’ll see one long MPT for 3 hours. Thus, the MPT is a test of your ability to work within time constraints and remain focused and organized.
The MPT tests the following:
1) Reading Comprehension
You must read proactively, with a critical eye toward solving a specific problem rather than answering a professor’s questions in class. You must read carefully and quickly, while you search for useful information and answers to the particular issue you’ve been asked to resolve.
2) Organizational Skills
You must organize your time and the materials effectively to complete the required task in the time allowed. The MPT is extremely time-sensitive. You must analyze an assortment of unfamiliar materials and compose either a memorandum of law, a letter to a client, a persuasive brief, a contract provision, a will, a settlement proposal, a discovery plan, or a closing argument, to list but a few of the possibilities.
3) Communication Skills
You must write concisely, coherently, and in a tone and manner consistent with the nature of the assignment. You must demonstrate your mastery of the language of the law and convince the bar examination that you “sound” like an attorney ready to begin the practice of law.
4) Ability to Follow Directions
The MPT is task-specific. You must perform the task identified to receive credit. If you are instructed to write a letter to the client, do that. Do not do a brief or a memo; write the letter. Show the bar examiners that you can read and follow directions.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Essay Writing for the Bar Exam – Organization and Analysis
In order to write a successful essay answer you must learn to organize your answer as your analyze the fact pattern.
Once you read the fact pattern, you will organize your essay, then you must analyze.
This is where you make the outline looking for issues. Look back to the fact pattern for facts which should be used for applying the law and then you can apply the facts to the law.
Once you read the fact pattern, you will organize your essay, then you must analyze.
This is where you make the outline looking for issues. Look back to the fact pattern for facts which should be used for applying the law and then you can apply the facts to the law.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Bar Exam Examiners and Essay Writing
The bar examiners are looking for a well organized essay.
Once you read the fact pattern, you will organize your essay, then you must analyze.
This is where you look through the fact pattern for facts which should be used for applying the law and then you can apply the facts to the law.
Once you read the fact pattern, you will organize your essay, then you must analyze.
This is where you look through the fact pattern for facts which should be used for applying the law and then you can apply the facts to the law.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Know the Black Letter Law and Test Your Way to Success on the Bar Exam
In addition to putting in the study time, you need to learn how to maximize your study time. How do you go about getting the biggest bang out of your study time?
First, build a good, solid foundation of the black letter law. In order to have a good foundation, you must review each bar exam subject. Go through each subject, one by one and absorb each subject as best you can. As you go through the subject, make sure you understand the basic law before you move on.
To build a foundation of the law, you need to break the subject areas into more manageable components. Break your subject into topics. And go through the elements of the topics of each subject.
What I mean by that is to take a subject, like Torts. Then break the Tort subject down to topics, i.e. Negligence. Do you know all the elements of negligence? Do you know the elements of battery? You can outline it and/or make sure you know it by heart before you move on. You can do that memorization by reciting it or writing it down without looking at your notes or outlines.
Once you feel you know that topic, do a few essay questions and some MBE on that topic just so you know you have it.
Don’t scatter-shoot your studying. Learn the topic thoroughly before you move on to your next topic in the subject area. Don’t go through the topics of the subject areas all at once, i.e. don’t go through battery, assault, false imprisonment and not know each one by heart. Stop at battery, recite it, do some MBE and then move to assault, and false imprisonment and the other topics of Torts. Do this for every topic in every subject. You do not want to read your subject outlines like a novel.
Read, learn, recite, memorize, test yourself and move on.
First, build a good, solid foundation of the black letter law. In order to have a good foundation, you must review each bar exam subject. Go through each subject, one by one and absorb each subject as best you can. As you go through the subject, make sure you understand the basic law before you move on.
To build a foundation of the law, you need to break the subject areas into more manageable components. Break your subject into topics. And go through the elements of the topics of each subject.
What I mean by that is to take a subject, like Torts. Then break the Tort subject down to topics, i.e. Negligence. Do you know all the elements of negligence? Do you know the elements of battery? You can outline it and/or make sure you know it by heart before you move on. You can do that memorization by reciting it or writing it down without looking at your notes or outlines.
Once you feel you know that topic, do a few essay questions and some MBE on that topic just so you know you have it.
Don’t scatter-shoot your studying. Learn the topic thoroughly before you move on to your next topic in the subject area. Don’t go through the topics of the subject areas all at once, i.e. don’t go through battery, assault, false imprisonment and not know each one by heart. Stop at battery, recite it, do some MBE and then move to assault, and false imprisonment and the other topics of Torts. Do this for every topic in every subject. You do not want to read your subject outlines like a novel.
Read, learn, recite, memorize, test yourself and move on.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Study Your Way to the Bar Exam
Today marks 41 days to the February bar exam. Study, sleep, eat, and exercise. That is all you should do. The temptation to stray or take a few hours or few days off will be with you for the next 41 days. You will be tempted at every turn to allow distractions from studying. Well-meaning people who love you will say, “Oh but it’s just one party, one night. You’re studying all day; you can take off this one night. It means so much to me….” Resist those voices. That same person who wants you to take time off will not be around or will not understand your devastation when you fail the bar exam. Accept that you have 41 days of study ahead of you.
In the scheme of your lifetime, the next 41 days are not a lot of time to get yourself ready or to sacrifice to get yourself ready. It’s worth your time to have a lifetime career as a lawyer.
It’s all about getting yourself ready for the best performance of your life in February. Keep your focus.
Happy Studying!!!
In the scheme of your lifetime, the next 41 days are not a lot of time to get yourself ready or to sacrifice to get yourself ready. It’s worth your time to have a lifetime career as a lawyer.
It’s all about getting yourself ready for the best performance of your life in February. Keep your focus.
Happy Studying!!!
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