There are a few states that are sitting for their state essays today. Students from Massachusetts, New Jersey, and, of course, California are working on their bar exams today. Good luck on your final day of the exam. You can do this – you can pass the bar exam.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The February 2013 Bar Exam: Today is the MBE Exam
Today is the MBE for everyone taking the bar, no matter where you are taking the bar exam (except for Louisiana and Washington). Relax and be confident. Pace yourself. Remember, 1.7 minutes a question. Keep your time. You 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.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The February 2013 Bar Exam: Florida Essay Subjects Tested
These are the areas tested on the Florida bar exam for February 2013;
1. Intentional Torts/Defamation and Ethics
2. Family Law
3. Contracts
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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1. Intentional Torts/Defamation and Ethics
2. Family Law
3. Contracts
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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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.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Monday, February 25, 2013
1 day until the February 2013 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, lie 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.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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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.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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Sunday, February 24, 2013
2 days to the February 2013 Bar Exam: The Monday Before 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. Work on being calm and collected.
The Night Before the Exam
Eat small meals on Monday – you want to 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. Don’t drink alcohol, even if you think it will calm your nerves – you do not want to be foggy Tuesday morning.
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. 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, play on the internet or exercise. You do not want to do anything that will keep your mind active. You want to keep your mind at rest, even if your body can’t rest.
The Day of the Exam
Eat a small breakfast the morning of the bar exam so you have enough fuel to keep going. Don’t drink too much that it causes frequent restroom visits.
Leave your cellphone at the hotel or in the car. Do not bring it into the site. You will be kicked out of the bar if your phone rings.
Also important is your lunch. Avoid heavy foods that will make you sleepy. Again, limit your drink intake to avoid frequent restroom breaks.
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.
Make sure you have a positive outlook. You’ve done hundreds of practice questions by now. You can do this. You will pass the bar exam. Good luck to all.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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The Night Before the Exam
Eat small meals on Monday – you want to 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. Don’t drink alcohol, even if you think it will calm your nerves – you do not want to be foggy Tuesday morning.
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. 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, play on the internet or exercise. You do not want to do anything that will keep your mind active. You want to keep your mind at rest, even if your body can’t rest.
The Day of the Exam
Eat a small breakfast the morning of the bar exam so you have enough fuel to keep going. Don’t drink too much that it causes frequent restroom visits.
Leave your cellphone at the hotel or in the car. Do not bring it into the site. You will be kicked out of the bar if your phone rings.
Also important is your lunch. Avoid heavy foods that will make you sleepy. Again, limit your drink intake to avoid frequent restroom breaks.
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.
Make sure you have a positive outlook. You’ve done hundreds of practice questions by now. You can do this. You will pass the bar exam. Good luck to all.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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Saturday, February 23, 2013
3 days before the February 2013 Bar Exam: Powering Down This Weekend
One of the most important factors in your performance on the bar exam is going to be your stamina – to sit for 3 hours at a stretch, with no breaks, concentrating solely on the bar exam will be quite an endeavor. You need to remain focused and energized throughout the bar exam in order for you to do your best work.
First, you need to catch up on your rest and start powering down on your studying this weekend. Try to have a less stressful couple of days. Put in study time, but also sleep, rest and relax. You have done your preparation and now it’s time to get in the game, mentally and physically.
You will be nervous this weekend, but try to contain your anxiety – you have studied hard and you are ready. Review your materials, go over your outlines, write out an essay or two to keep in practice and also work on some MBE questions – making sure you read the explanations of why the answer choices are right or wrong. Don’t let doubt creep into your thinking. You must be confident – you know you will pass. Good luck.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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First, you need to catch up on your rest and start powering down on your studying this weekend. Try to have a less stressful couple of days. Put in study time, but also sleep, rest and relax. You have done your preparation and now it’s time to get in the game, mentally and physically.
You will be nervous this weekend, but try to contain your anxiety – you have studied hard and you are ready. Review your materials, go over your outlines, write out an essay or two to keep in practice and also work on some MBE questions – making sure you read the explanations of why the answer choices are right or wrong. Don’t let doubt creep into your thinking. You must be confident – you know you will pass. Good luck.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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Friday, February 22, 2013
4 days before the February 2013 Bar Exam: Essay Predictions
During this last week before the bar exam, I have many students ask me what my prediction is for exam subjects. Anyone who claims to predict what will be on the bar exam is just guessing. I remember one year, a lecturer on the bar exam circuit claimed that since trusts had been tested in the previous test cycle, it would not be tested again and to forget about trusts. Unfortunately, many students took that advice and freaked when they opened the exam questions on the day of the bar exam and saw that the bar examiners did in fact test trusts twice in a row. This cautionary tale is meant to be what it is – do not endlessly search for predictions or to take anyone’s predictions as gospel. You have prepared for any eventuality – in any subject that is tested. Don’t try to second guess yourself and your preparation or to find a shortcut in your studies. This weekend, make sure you review every subject that is tested in your state. Only then will you be thoroughly prepared, with or without, any person’s prediction of what subjects will be tested on the essays.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Thursday, February 21, 2013
5 days to the February 2013 Bar Exam: Using Facts for Your Essays
Most lawyers know that the facts of their case will win or lose their argument. The law remains static. The elements of a cause of action are always the same. A contract is always formed with the same elements of offer, acceptance, consideration and no defenses. Negligence is still a breach of a duty that caused an injury. What turns the case is the facts. One set of facts show a clear case of a validly formed contract, another set of facts show there was no meeting of the minds and no contract was formed. This is where a lawyer’s “bread and butter” lies – it’s what we get paid to do – make distinctions between a set of facts.
A good lawyer can articulate the facts as it relates to the law. That is what you are being tested on in your essay questions. The bar exam graders are looking to see how you take the facts they give you and relate it to the elements of the law. That is why you must blend the law with the facts. Do not just repeat the facts of the essay question. That is not your job. You are to take those facts and apply it to the law for complete analysis. Tell the bar examiners why these facts point to a certain legal issue. For example, if you see a formation of a contract, tell the bar examiners why you see a contract. Patiently, discuss why there is an offer, who accepted the offer, if there was a bargained for exchange and if defenses apply. Take each element separately. As a rule of thumb, for every element of the rule, state a corresponding fact. Take you time to discuss the facts, but only in context with the law.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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A good lawyer can articulate the facts as it relates to the law. That is what you are being tested on in your essay questions. The bar exam graders are looking to see how you take the facts they give you and relate it to the elements of the law. That is why you must blend the law with the facts. Do not just repeat the facts of the essay question. That is not your job. You are to take those facts and apply it to the law for complete analysis. Tell the bar examiners why these facts point to a certain legal issue. For example, if you see a formation of a contract, tell the bar examiners why you see a contract. Patiently, discuss why there is an offer, who accepted the offer, if there was a bargained for exchange and if defenses apply. Take each element separately. As a rule of thumb, for every element of the rule, state a corresponding fact. Take you time to discuss the facts, but only in context with the law.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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Wednesday, February 20, 2013
6 days to the February 2013 Bar Exam: Analyzing the Answer Choices For the MBE
Since the MBE is so important for your overall score, it is essential to recognize that analysis of the answer choices deserves as much of your time and attention as the fact pattern or story.
You first must identify the issue in each answer choice. Each answer choice has one. Once you recognize the issue then you can choose between the answer choices. Only the issue that addresses and answers the one presented in the fact pattern can be the correct answer choice.
Sometimes, despite all you best efforts to work through a question according to your process, you may find that the only way to arrive at the correct 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.
When can’t an answer choice be correct?
The first rule for eliminating incorrect answer choices is that an answer choice must be entirely correct or it is wrong. Don’t be misled simply because the statement is partially correct. Look for misstatements or misapplication of a rule of law. You need to know the law to distinguish between answer choices that misstate or misapply the law. Also, look for answer choices that mischaracterizes the facts. Look for contradictions between the facts in the story and the facts as characterized in the answer choice. Such an answer choice cannot be correct. Nor can an answer choice that requires you to make assumptions that go beyond the facts in the fact pattern.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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You first must identify the issue in each answer choice. Each answer choice has one. Once you recognize the issue then you can choose between the answer choices. Only the issue that addresses and answers the one presented in the fact pattern can be the correct answer choice.
Sometimes, despite all you best efforts to work through a question according to your process, you may find that the only way to arrive at the correct 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.
When can’t an answer choice be correct?
The first rule for eliminating incorrect answer choices is that an answer choice must be entirely correct or it is wrong. Don’t be misled simply because the statement is partially correct. Look for misstatements or misapplication of a rule of law. You need to know the law to distinguish between answer choices that misstate or misapply the law. Also, look for answer choices that mischaracterizes the facts. Look for contradictions between the facts in the story and the facts as characterized in the answer choice. Such an answer choice cannot be correct. Nor can an answer choice that requires you to make assumptions that go beyond the facts in the fact pattern.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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Tuesday, February 19, 2013
1 week to the February 2013 Bar Exam: Keep Your Focus
Your goal for this last week is to keep your focus 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 be cool, collected and confident.
Don’t let anyone or anything distract you this week. It’s not worth it. You only have a week left to go and you can relax later,
Remember to 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 travel plans or hotel stay, make sure you have packed what you need to take with you for the bar exam, including your admission ticket, your identification, your watch, etc.
Now that you know the law, make sure your timing is correct, i.e. complete 17 MBE questions in 30 minutes; 34 MBE questions in an hour and complete an essay in the time allotted for your jurisdiction.
It isn’t uncommon to start running out of energy this week. So take some breaks to energize yourself. You need to keep your mind focused on bar material. Your focus is critical to success.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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Don’t let anyone or anything distract you this week. It’s not worth it. You only have a week left to go and you can relax later,
Remember to 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 travel plans or hotel stay, make sure you have packed what you need to take with you for the bar exam, including your admission ticket, your identification, your watch, etc.
Now that you know the law, make sure your timing is correct, i.e. complete 17 MBE questions in 30 minutes; 34 MBE questions in an hour and complete an essay in the time allotted for your jurisdiction.
It isn’t uncommon to start running out of energy this week. So take some breaks to energize yourself. You need to keep your mind focused on bar material. Your focus is critical to success.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Monday, February 18, 2013
8 Days to the February 2013 Bar Exam: Keep Your Bar Exam Day Schedule
Today marks 8 days to the bar exam. Hopefully, this weekend, you caught up on any sleep you have been missing. You need to be physically well and fit. You need to be sharp on the days of the bar exam and you can’t be smart when you are exhausted. Keep that in mind this week. If you need to take a cat nap, go ahead and take it. Meanwhile, keep on your bar exam schedule. Start studying at 9 am for a 3 hour stretch. Take an hour break and study again for another 3 hour stretch. It will be up to you whether you want to study longer. If you feel you need to, go ahead and review your notes or essays at night, but don’t study night and day. You will only tire yourself out. Try to keep your nerves under control. Think about today and what you need to accomplish today only. This technique should help you not think too much about next week.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
10 Days to the February 2013 Bar Exam
Today marks 10 days to the bar exam. This is a pretty significant day for you. You should be just about finished with your studies. You should know the law, understand the mechanics of the bar exam and understand how to tackle the MBE questions, the essays and the MPTs. It’s now time to start powering down a bit.
If you have studied hard and if you are physically tired, try to rest more this weekend. You do not want to enter the bar exam exhausted and physically spent. Many of you will start to have sleepless nights or have nightmares about the bar exam and your anxiety will reach higher levels. Try to compensate for your lack of sleep at night by taking some power naps. Don’t feel guilty – you’ve earned it. You want to be at your best physically and mentally and you can’t do that if you are too tired to think. So lie down on the couch and take a short nap when you need to. Meanwhile, review your outlines and do a few essays a day and an hour or two of MBE questions per day. If your state tests the MPT, write out a MPT every other day. It’s time now to reinforce what you already know. Reviewing and practicing will build your confidence that you really do know the subject matter.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
If you have studied hard and if you are physically tired, try to rest more this weekend. You do not want to enter the bar exam exhausted and physically spent. Many of you will start to have sleepless nights or have nightmares about the bar exam and your anxiety will reach higher levels. Try to compensate for your lack of sleep at night by taking some power naps. Don’t feel guilty – you’ve earned it. You want to be at your best physically and mentally and you can’t do that if you are too tired to think. So lie down on the couch and take a short nap when you need to. Meanwhile, review your outlines and do a few essays a day and an hour or two of MBE questions per day. If your state tests the MPT, write out a MPT every other day. It’s time now to reinforce what you already know. Reviewing and practicing will build your confidence that you really do know the subject matter.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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Friday, February 15, 2013
The February 2013 Bar Exam: MBE Question Approach for the Bar Exam
As you practice your approach to the MBE, ask yourself these two questions: What is the subject area and what is happening in the fact pattern.
You then want to isolate the legally relevant facts. The next step of analysis is to ask what the legal issue is, what rule of law addresses this fact pattern and what should be the outcome.
Your next step is to identify the issue in each answer choice. Finally, ask yourself which answer choice best corresponds to the issue in the fact pattern.
Follow this simple approach for answering your MBE questons.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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You then want to isolate the legally relevant facts. The next step of analysis is to ask what the legal issue is, what rule of law addresses this fact pattern and what should be the outcome.
Your next step is to identify the issue in each answer choice. Finally, ask yourself which answer choice best corresponds to the issue in the fact pattern.
Follow this simple approach for answering your MBE questons.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The February 2013 Bar Exam: Thanking Your Loved Ones
For those students who are taking the February 2013 bar exam, take the time today to wish your loved ones a happy Valentine’s Day Those that really love you want to see you pass the bar. Know that with certainty. 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. Thank them today for supporting you through this journey.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The February 2013 Bar Exam: Working Under Bar Exam Hours
With the bar exam just around the corner, you will need to adjust your schedule to imitate the bar exam hours. We all know that the bar exam is not only mentally exhausting, but also physically challenging, especially if you are not used to getting up early in the morning and performing at your best, starting at 9 am. The best way to get used to that grueling schedule is to move to “bar exam hours.”
If you are like some of my students who study all night, stop it today. From this day forward, until after the bar exam, get up at 6 am or 7 am, shake the early morning cobwebs loose, and eat a little breakfast. Even if you hate breakfast, you know you’ll need to eat something the morning of the bar exam. You cannot wait until the lunch break to take nutrition on the day of the bar exam. In this run up to the bar exam, eat a little something every morning. If you are not a breakfast person, let your stomach adjust to early morning food. Eat simple and bland – bread, a banana.
Then, start studying at 9 am until 12 pm, with no breaks, take an hour to eat and relax, then study from 1 pm to 4 pm, with no breaks, You want to mimic the bar exam hours so you are at your peak at 9 am every day. Don’t leave anything to chance, plan out your day, even to the most minute details. That is what lawyers do.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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If you are like some of my students who study all night, stop it today. From this day forward, until after the bar exam, get up at 6 am or 7 am, shake the early morning cobwebs loose, and eat a little breakfast. Even if you hate breakfast, you know you’ll need to eat something the morning of the bar exam. You cannot wait until the lunch break to take nutrition on the day of the bar exam. In this run up to the bar exam, eat a little something every morning. If you are not a breakfast person, let your stomach adjust to early morning food. Eat simple and bland – bread, a banana.
Then, start studying at 9 am until 12 pm, with no breaks, take an hour to eat and relax, then study from 1 pm to 4 pm, with no breaks, You want to mimic the bar exam hours so you are at your peak at 9 am every day. Don’t leave anything to chance, plan out your day, even to the most minute details. That is what lawyers do.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
2 Weeks to the February 2013 Bar Exam: Keep 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 need to do in these final 2 weeks to prepare yourself for the bar exam is to practice, practice, practice. You are now familiar with your state test and the MBE questions and what to expect from the bar exam.
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. Once you finish your essay under time constraints, spend 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 who have the UBE, and California or New York who have performance tests, you also must include taking the time to do the performance test also. Try doing 1 performance test every other day. This way you can probably get 5 or 6 performance tests in to your practice sessions 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 work on questions 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 waste the time to panic, but do take the time to practice. You will be more prepared than ever if you follow this
schedule.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
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 need to do in these final 2 weeks to prepare yourself for the bar exam is to practice, practice, practice. You are now familiar with your state test and the MBE questions and what to expect from the bar exam.
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. Once you finish your essay under time constraints, spend 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 who have the UBE, and California or New York who have performance tests, you also must include taking the time to do the performance test also. Try doing 1 performance test every other day. This way you can probably get 5 or 6 performance tests in to your practice sessions 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 work on questions 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 waste the time to panic, but do take the time to practice. You will be more prepared than ever if you follow this
schedule.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Monday, February 11, 2013
The February 2013 Bar Exam: Factual Analysis
In every essay questions or MBE questions, there are different kinds of facts you need to be aware of. You have the background facts and the legally significant facts
We know that the background facts help put the questions into context and makes for a more coherent fact pattern. But you must recognize the differences between background facts and legally significant facts. Background facts are there to put the whole fact pattern together. But do not mistake legally significant facts for just background noise. You must be able to see and understand those legally significant facts that enable you to trigger issues in your mind.. For example, if the fact pattern reads, “defendant screamed and called the plaintiff stupid”, you are probably looking at a legally significant fact that should trigger your issue of defamation or even negligent infliction of emotional distress. You can then key into the issue presented, writing down all the elements of defamation or NIED, making sure that you blend the elements of defamation with the facts you just read. This is critical reading in a nutshell. These skills make you a better test taker and you will be successful in finding your issues for discussion. Don’t ever just skim the words or read the fact pattern like you would a novel. This will not help you find your legally significant facts.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
We know that the background facts help put the questions into context and makes for a more coherent fact pattern. But you must recognize the differences between background facts and legally significant facts. Background facts are there to put the whole fact pattern together. But do not mistake legally significant facts for just background noise. You must be able to see and understand those legally significant facts that enable you to trigger issues in your mind.. For example, if the fact pattern reads, “defendant screamed and called the plaintiff stupid”, you are probably looking at a legally significant fact that should trigger your issue of defamation or even negligent infliction of emotional distress. You can then key into the issue presented, writing down all the elements of defamation or NIED, making sure that you blend the elements of defamation with the facts you just read. This is critical reading in a nutshell. These skills make you a better test taker and you will be successful in finding your issues for discussion. Don’t ever just skim the words or read the fact pattern like you would a novel. This will not help you find your legally significant facts.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
The February 2013 Bar Exam: Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is the key to being a lawyer and to passing the bar exam. Reading the bar exam essays and the MBE fact pattern is not like reading a novel. Instead, you must pick through the facts, actively thinking of what each fact means. Critical thinking means that you must carefully examine the essay fact patterns and the MBE fact patterns. You must sort through the fact pattern, looking at salient facts so that you can make the next step of identifying issues. You will need to draw inferences from the facts and synthesize the facts into law. Look for nuisances and distinctions as you read. This will help you to answer the essay questions and pick the right answer choice on the MBE..
Reading critically and thinking through each fact, while using your logic and your legal reasoning, will allow you to understand what the question is asking you to do. Remember to evaluate every fact. Do not look at the whole of any question; instead, break it down into bites of facts, and you will come to the central issue of all fact patterns. Then you can start the writing process or answer the MBE question correctly.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Reading critically and thinking through each fact, while using your logic and your legal reasoning, will allow you to understand what the question is asking you to do. Remember to evaluate every fact. Do not look at the whole of any question; instead, break it down into bites of facts, and you will come to the central issue of all fact patterns. Then you can start the writing process or answer the MBE question correctly.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Friday, February 8, 2013
The February 2013 Bar Exam: The Writing Process for the MPT
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. Only answer the question that was asked of you
Make sure you outline your issues and facts first. Look at the Task memo again and make sure your outline has incorporated each issue; noted the relevant facts; and cited appropriate legal authority. Look at the Memo to verify your task and what tone you must take.
Write subject headings, if it is a memo or brief. You want to combine the law with the relevant facts to write logical thesis sentences.
Give adequate treatment to the cases in the Library. You want to avoid copying passages from cases or statutes, but you do want to tell the bar examiner what the cases say in relation to your facts. Remember to blend the law with the facts. Make relevant arguments on how the law and the facts support your theory. If there are contrary authorities, cite and distinguish those cases. Cite all cases in your brief or memo.
Your review and outline of the task should take you approximately half of the time allotted. You then can write for the remaining time.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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Make sure you outline your issues and facts first. Look at the Task memo again and make sure your outline has incorporated each issue; noted the relevant facts; and cited appropriate legal authority. Look at the Memo to verify your task and what tone you must take.
Write subject headings, if it is a memo or brief. You want to combine the law with the relevant facts to write logical thesis sentences.
Give adequate treatment to the cases in the Library. You want to avoid copying passages from cases or statutes, but you do want to tell the bar examiner what the cases say in relation to your facts. Remember to blend the law with the facts. Make relevant arguments on how the law and the facts support your theory. If there are contrary authorities, cite and distinguish those cases. Cite all cases in your brief or memo.
Your review and outline of the task should take you approximately half of the time allotted. You then can write for the remaining time.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The February 2013 Bar Exam: The First Steps in Analyzing the MPT
First you want to review the instructions. There is an instruction sheet of every MPT. Read it as you prepare – you do not want to waste time reading it during the bar exam.
Verify the jurisdiction paragraph to know what is mandatory as opposed to what is merely persuasive authority..
Your next step is to identify the area of law. From the listings in the Library, you can often determine the subject area.. Determine whether it’s a statutory or common law problem.
You then must read the Task Memo and identify the issue you’re asked to resolve. The Task Memo reveals the precise issue you’re asked to resolve. Read the directions carefully.
Identify your specific assignment by noting the precise nature of the task: memo – decide whether it is a persuasive brief, client letter, contract provision, etc. Identify the 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. Identify your audience – is it a lawyer or layperson?
Now, you’ll be able to start the reading.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
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Verify the jurisdiction paragraph to know what is mandatory as opposed to what is merely persuasive authority..
Your next step is to identify the area of law. From the listings in the Library, you can often determine the subject area.. Determine whether it’s a statutory or common law problem.
You then must read the Task Memo and identify the issue you’re asked to resolve. The Task Memo reveals the precise issue you’re asked to resolve. Read the directions carefully.
Identify your specific assignment by noting the precise nature of the task: memo – decide whether it is a persuasive brief, client letter, contract provision, etc. Identify the 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. Identify your audience – is it a lawyer or layperson?
Now, you’ll be able to start the reading.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The February 2013 Bar Exam: The Distractors
In prior blogs, I’ve talked about those toxic people in your personal life. You know the type. Those are the people who like to tell you horrible stories about people who have failed the bar exam, or want you to play hooky when you should be studying.
But I have one more. I have found that there are a few law students at every law school that try to distract their fellow law students, especially those that have been studying hard. Those “distractors” have not put in the study time nor have they worked as hard as you have. Their purpose is to try to throw you off your game and to disturb your peace of mind.
There are two types of distractors. The first distractor wanders the study places, begging you for little scraps of information, i.e. wanting to know the elements of some rule, and freaking out because they don’t know the law. The other distractor wanders the study places, telling you that they are powering down because they know everything cold and they don’t need to study anymore. There was one student at my school who tried to get people to ditch their work to go play golf with him. Then on the day of the exam, he was walking around asking about the elements of negligence, or some other such nonsense. Of course, he failed the bar exam and apparently wanted others to fail with him.
The purpose of both distractors is to divert you from your own studying and to make you feel unduly nervous and anxious. They will try to undermine your own confidence. They are going to make your question your own knowledge and freak you out too. Stay away from those people. You want to keep focused and keep your mind clear and easy as you march towards your goal.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
But I have one more. I have found that there are a few law students at every law school that try to distract their fellow law students, especially those that have been studying hard. Those “distractors” have not put in the study time nor have they worked as hard as you have. Their purpose is to try to throw you off your game and to disturb your peace of mind.
There are two types of distractors. The first distractor wanders the study places, begging you for little scraps of information, i.e. wanting to know the elements of some rule, and freaking out because they don’t know the law. The other distractor wanders the study places, telling you that they are powering down because they know everything cold and they don’t need to study anymore. There was one student at my school who tried to get people to ditch their work to go play golf with him. Then on the day of the exam, he was walking around asking about the elements of negligence, or some other such nonsense. Of course, he failed the bar exam and apparently wanted others to fail with him.
The purpose of both distractors is to divert you from your own studying and to make you feel unduly nervous and anxious. They will try to undermine your own confidence. They are going to make your question your own knowledge and freak you out too. Stay away from those people. You want to keep focused and keep your mind clear and easy as you march towards your goal.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The February 2013 Bar Exam: 3 Weeks to the Bar Exam
Three weeks to the bar exam is a good time to evaluate how you are doing. You have enough time to now pinpoint your weak areas and enough time to change your schedule if you feel you’re spinning your wheels. Consider this day your line in the sand.
By now you should have done several hundred multistate questions, at least 15 state essays and at least 4 performance tests.
If you haven’t done it, get busy. Change your schedule if you need to, work on your weak areas and keep testing.
If you have, you are ready for the bar exam. You just need to keep working, stay cool and continue to test yourself.
Make sure you are peaking on exam day. If you are like some of my students who study all night, stop it today. Get up at 6 am or 7 am and start studying at 9 am until 12 pm, with no breaks, then study from 1 pm to 4 pm, with no breaks, You want to mimic the bar exam hours so you are at your peak at 9 am every day. .
Don’t pretend you’re not nervous. Accept that it’s okay to be nervous. Channel that nervous energy properly by attacking your study schedule and transform your nerves into confidence. But, remember, you do not want to be overly tired for the bar exam. Try to sleep through the night or, at least, take some cat naps during the day to catch up on missed sleep.
One of the most important things to do during this 3 week period is not to doubt your abilities. You can pass this bar and you know it. You just need to be in the top 2/3rds of your state. Don’t stress too much about what you don’t know – you are not expected to get a 100% on this test – it’s more like 60%. The examiners expect that you will have weak areas. Go into the bar exam with the knowledge you will pass the bar exam.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
By now you should have done several hundred multistate questions, at least 15 state essays and at least 4 performance tests.
If you haven’t done it, get busy. Change your schedule if you need to, work on your weak areas and keep testing.
If you have, you are ready for the bar exam. You just need to keep working, stay cool and continue to test yourself.
Make sure you are peaking on exam day. If you are like some of my students who study all night, stop it today. Get up at 6 am or 7 am and start studying at 9 am until 12 pm, with no breaks, then study from 1 pm to 4 pm, with no breaks, You want to mimic the bar exam hours so you are at your peak at 9 am every day. .
Don’t pretend you’re not nervous. Accept that it’s okay to be nervous. Channel that nervous energy properly by attacking your study schedule and transform your nerves into confidence. But, remember, you do not want to be overly tired for the bar exam. Try to sleep through the night or, at least, take some cat naps during the day to catch up on missed sleep.
One of the most important things to do during this 3 week period is not to doubt your abilities. You can pass this bar and you know it. You just need to be in the top 2/3rds of your state. Don’t stress too much about what you don’t know – you are not expected to get a 100% on this test – it’s more like 60%. The examiners expect that you will have weak areas. Go into the bar exam with the knowledge you will pass the bar exam.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Monday, February 4, 2013
The February 2013 Bar Exam: Understanding The MPT
Many states, including the Uniform Bar Exam, have a multistate performance test.
The MPT consists of a 90-minute skills question covering legal analysis, fact analysis, problem solving, resolution of ethical dilemmas, organization and management of a lawyering task, and communication.
The MPT is not a test of substantive knowledge. It is designed to examine six fundamental skills lawyers are expected to demonstrate regardless of the area of law in which the skills arise. The MPT requires applicants to (1) sort detailed factual materials and separate relevant from irrelevant facts; (2) analyze statutory, case, and administrative materials for principles of law; (3) apply the law to the relevant facts in a manner likely to resolve a client’s problem; (4) identify and resolve ethical dilemmas, when present; (5) communicate effectively in writing; (6) complete a lawyering task within time constraints.
These skills are tested by requiring applicants to perform one of a variety of lawyering tasks. Examples of tasks applicants might be instructed to complete include writing the following: a memorandum to a supervising attorney; a letter to a client; a persuasive memorandum or brief; a statement of facts; a contract provision; a will; a counseling plan; a proposal for settlement or agreement; a discovery plan; a witness examination plan; a closing argument.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
The MPT consists of a 90-minute skills question covering legal analysis, fact analysis, problem solving, resolution of ethical dilemmas, organization and management of a lawyering task, and communication.
The MPT is not a test of substantive knowledge. It is designed to examine six fundamental skills lawyers are expected to demonstrate regardless of the area of law in which the skills arise. The MPT requires applicants to (1) sort detailed factual materials and separate relevant from irrelevant facts; (2) analyze statutory, case, and administrative materials for principles of law; (3) apply the law to the relevant facts in a manner likely to resolve a client’s problem; (4) identify and resolve ethical dilemmas, when present; (5) communicate effectively in writing; (6) complete a lawyering task within time constraints.
These skills are tested by requiring applicants to perform one of a variety of lawyering tasks. Examples of tasks applicants might be instructed to complete include writing the following: a memorandum to a supervising attorney; a letter to a client; a persuasive memorandum or brief; a statement of facts; a contract provision; a will; a counseling plan; a proposal for settlement or agreement; a discovery plan; a witness examination plan; a closing argument.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
Friday, February 1, 2013
The February 2013 Bar Exam: Strategies for the Answer Choices for the MBE
Here are some strategies for the answer choices for the MBE:
1. Look for the more precise answer: That is a better choice – one that incorporates more facts and more of the law relevant to your fact pattern.
2. Be careful of those absolutes. If you see words like must, always, never, etc., be careful, because we know that the law almost never deals in absolutes. They are few absolutes in the law.
3. Look for conjunctions. Be careful when you see words like because, if, only if, unless, etc. Those conjunctions are designed to try to trick the reader, especially the careless reader. For example, you’ll see a question that says, if the jury believes the defendant, it is because…. This example wants you to focus on the defendant’s defense, not whether the defendant is guilty.
4. Be careful of distractors. Common distractors for evidence are the best evidence rule and prejudicial v. probative. Make sure you know when you can use these two as the right answer or else they may be distractors.
5. Be careful of sympathy or dislike. The MBE likes to pull at your heart strings a bit too. Sometimes they have a really reprehensible defendant who has a legitimate “procedural” issue that makes him not guilty, i.e. an improper search and seizure. You want to find him guilty, but the police make an error and the evidence is suppressed. Similarly, you’ll see a sympathetic person who commits a cause of action or a crime and must be either liable or guilty.
Don’t let emotion rule the day.
Remember, that common mistakes in choosing the answer come from not knowing the law, not reading the fact pattern carefully, or not reading the call of the question.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
1. Look for the more precise answer: That is a better choice – one that incorporates more facts and more of the law relevant to your fact pattern.
2. Be careful of those absolutes. If you see words like must, always, never, etc., be careful, because we know that the law almost never deals in absolutes. They are few absolutes in the law.
3. Look for conjunctions. Be careful when you see words like because, if, only if, unless, etc. Those conjunctions are designed to try to trick the reader, especially the careless reader. For example, you’ll see a question that says, if the jury believes the defendant, it is because…. This example wants you to focus on the defendant’s defense, not whether the defendant is guilty.
4. Be careful of distractors. Common distractors for evidence are the best evidence rule and prejudicial v. probative. Make sure you know when you can use these two as the right answer or else they may be distractors.
5. Be careful of sympathy or dislike. The MBE likes to pull at your heart strings a bit too. Sometimes they have a really reprehensible defendant who has a legitimate “procedural” issue that makes him not guilty, i.e. an improper search and seizure. You want to find him guilty, but the police make an error and the evidence is suppressed. Similarly, you’ll see a sympathetic person who commits a cause of action or a crime and must be either liable or guilty.
Don’t let emotion rule the day.
Remember, that common mistakes in choosing the answer come from not knowing the law, not reading the fact pattern carefully, or not reading the call of the question.
Bar Professors provide private bar exam tutors for students who have difficulty with the MBE, MEE, UBE, Florida, California, and New York bar exams. You can find us at http://barprofessors.com, like us on facebook at BarProfessors, follow us on twitter @BarProfessors or email us at pass@barprofessors.com.
We can help you succeed!
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