Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam Forum

[111aaa]

Does anyone have a Crim Pro (non-state specific) condensed outline they wouldn't mind sharing with me? I took the class in law school and did miserably and this FRO is not clear AT ALL. It is confusing me to no end.

Anyone? Bueller?

Hey, I would agree with you that the FRO is not clear. I started making an outline, but I need to finish it. If I get it done by tomorrow evening, I'll send it to you.

[marthac66]

Hi,

Anyone using anything from Seperac?? Also, anyone NOT looked at the New York specific stuff yet? Please console....

If it makes you feel any better I haven't looked at any of the CA specific stuff yet. Aside from "watching" the lectures, anyway.

I love people like you! If we've got the MBE down (well nearly) then we will be fine! Good luck with your exam

[sd5289]

HAH. I decided to tackle a mixed MBE set after doing two NY practice essays even though it's late, I'm exhausted, and oh, over it. Thought I was bombing the set the entire way through.

80%

Which means I have gone from 56 to 74 to 62 to 80. This is nonsensical.

[Mad Hatter]

So here, venue would be proper in SDNY, SDFL, and CDCA, but not NDIL?

Taking it a bit deeper: same case (NDIL/SDNY), but the defendants live in the same state (say SDCA and EDCA). Can I sue in WDCA? If all defendants live in the same state, you can sue anywhere in that state, yes?

No, because to refine the rule a bit that was stated above, venue is proper in the judicial district the D resides in if all D's live in the same state. So venue would be proper in SDCA or EDCA.

So, just to nail it down: in my first example, CDCA/SDFL were proper venue-wise because there is PJ in each of those districts? But why do we make it down to the PJ analysis if there is a district that fulfills one of the two "best" rules (any D's district if all live in same state/district where claim arose)?

Not trying to be dense--this subject has been giving me fits all along.

[Pickled]

Love all you all but the high score humble brags are icky.

[Mad Hatter]

Has anyone tried buying one of the NCBE official practice exams? They're 50 bucks each, and I'm debating whether to do one each day or so this last week...

[lilypad144]

Does anyone have a Crim Pro (non-state specific) condensed outline they wouldn't mind sharing with me? I took the class in law school and did miserably and this FRO is not clear AT ALL. It is confusing me to no end.

Anyone? Bueller?

Hey, I would agree with you that the FRO is not clear. I started making an outline, but I need to finish it. If I get it done by tomorrow evening, I'll send it to you.

I really appreciate that. I have made the FRO work for me and things from when I took the class are coming back to me but def please lmk if you finish it. I really appreciate this! I have an awesome RP outline that I made if you'd like it. Of course, it's 22 pages because...real property. But it's on point!

[111aaa]

So here, venue would be proper in SDNY, SDFL, and CDCA, but not NDIL?

Taking it a bit deeper: same case (NDIL/SDNY), but the defendants live in the same state (say SDCA and EDCA). Can I sue in WDCA? If all defendants live in the same state, you can sue anywhere in that state, yes?

No, because to refine the rule a bit that was stated above, venue is proper in the judicial district the D resides in if all D's live in the same state. So venue would be proper in SDCA or EDCA.

So, just to nail it down: in my first example, CDCA/SDFL were proper venue-wise because there is PJ in each of those districts? But why do we make it down to the PJ analysis if there is a district that fulfills one of the two "best" rules (any D's district if all live in same state/district where claim arose)?

Not trying to be dense--this subject has been giving me fits all along.

You only narrow it down to the PJ analysis if venue is not proper where 1) the judicial districts where all D's reside if the same state or 2) where the cause of action arose or 3) where the property that is subject of the action is located. If venue is not proper under any of those 3 categories, do a PJ analysis and venue will be deemed proper where the court can exercise PJ over the DF(s).

[zot1]

Love all you all but the high score humble brags are icky.

Define "high score."

[imdonezo]

uhh. heading into this last week.... i feel really unprepared for NY.
(1) NY specific essays (havent done any -- just starting to look at corp/agency/sec.trans/cplr/partnerships/conflicts/prof resp)
(2) MBE (scoring betwee 55-75, prob avg low 60s)

im done arent i?

... but please tell me i can pass with low 60s MBE and very cursory knowledge of NY law (above). i mean i am gonna spend every waking hour left to drill in every thing i can...

[adevine39]

uhh. heading into this last week.... i feel really unprepared for NY.
(1) NY specific essays (havent done any -- just starting to look at corp/agency/sec.trans/cplr/partnerships/conflicts/prof resp)
(2) MBE (scoring betwee 55-75, prob avg low 60s)

im done arent i?

... but please tell me i can pass with low 60s MBE and very cursory knowledge of NY law (above). i mean i am gonna spend every waking hour left to drill in every thing i can...

From what I can tell, if you score in the low 60's of the MBE, you are borderline passing. But just think, if you merely find a way to get 8 more points, that low sixties can turn into mid-high sixties, and then you're in a much better position for your "cursory" knowledge of NY specific law. Keep your chin up, dude.

[Mad Hatter]

So here, venue would be proper in SDNY, SDFL, and CDCA, but not NDIL?

Taking it a bit deeper: same case (NDIL/SDNY), but the defendants live in the same state (say SDCA and EDCA). Can I sue in WDCA? If all defendants live in the same state, you can sue anywhere in that state, yes?

No, because to refine the rule a bit that was stated above, venue is proper in the judicial district the D resides in if all D's live in the same state. So venue would be proper in SDCA or EDCA.

So, just to nail it down: in my first example, CDCA/SDFL were proper venue-wise because there is PJ in each of those districts? But why do we make it down to the PJ analysis if there is a district that fulfills one of the two "best" rules (any D's district if all live in same state/district where claim arose)?

Not trying to be dense--this subject has been giving me fits all along.

You only narrow it down to the PJ analysis if venue is not proper where 1) the judicial districts where all D's reside if the same state or 2) where the cause of action arose or 3) where the property that is subject of the action is located. If venue is not proper under any of those 3 categories, do a PJ analysis and venue will be deemed proper where the court can exercise PJ over the DF(s).

So in my first example, only SDNY is appropriate (since it falls under number 2)?

[annapach]

Love all you all but the high score humble brags are icky.

furreal

[skers]

My mbe is finally actually moving into non-retard territory. sweeeeeeeet.

[somuchbooty]

My mbe is finally actually moving into non-retard territory. sweeeeeeeet.

chicken mcnuggets are brain food

[skers]

My mbe is finally actually moving into non-retard territory. sweeeeeeeet.

chicken mcnuggets are brain food

Imma give credit to the half pint of gelato I crushed while doing the set for this one.

[Confused7]

uhh. heading into this last week.... i feel really unprepared for NY.
(1) NY specific essays (havent done any -- just starting to look at corp/agency/sec.trans/cplr/partnerships/conflicts/prof resp)
(2) MBE (scoring betwee 55-75, prob avg low 60s)

im done arent i?

... but please tell me i can pass with low 60s MBE and very cursory knowledge of NY law (above). i mean i am gonna spend every waking hour left to drill in every thing i can...

From what I can tell, if you score in the low 60's of the MBE, you are borderline passing. But just think, if you merely find a way to get 8 more points, that low sixties can turn into mid-high sixties, and then you're in a much better position for your "cursory" knowledge of NY specific law. Keep your chin up, dude.

Low 60s is borderline? Damnnnn.

[Raiden]

I read somewhere once that there are people who never "pass" during their bar prep but pass on the bar exam.

I read that on some bar blog post, so obviously it is nothing but the truth.

[laduper]

Hi all - perpetual lurker here.

Here's a crim outline (https://www.dropbox.com/s/nxe3yw7w1uj0q ... .docx?dl=0) I made for NY (it's law + pro; pro is the second half). Has both MBE & NY; NY distinctions are in red. Hope it's helpful!

Perhaps a stupid question, but I can't seem to find the answer on BOLE - can we bring car keys into the exam room? I.e., in our plastic bag?

[InternationalShoe]

Does anyone have a Crim Pro (non-state specific) condensed outline they wouldn't mind sharing with me? I took the class in law school and did miserably and this FRO is not clear AT ALL. It is confusing me to no end.

Anyone? Bueller?

Hey, I would agree with you that the FRO is not clear. I started making an outline, but I need to finish it. If I get it done by tomorrow evening, I'll send it to you.

I really appreciate that. I have made the FRO work for me and things from when I took the class are coming back to me but def please lmk if you finish it. I really appreciate this! I have an awesome RP outline that I made if you'd like it. Of course, it's 22 pages because...real property. But it's on point!

I'd love to see that RP outline! It's consistently been my worst subject (and it might be too late to improve on it at this point). Any chance you can share the outline through a dropbox link?

[habz]

In light of all the Themis hating that's naturally been spewed here, at least one person on the BarBri board said they would take Themis if they failed... so I think we're all probably feeling the hate at this stage.

And yes, I was creeping in the BarBri hangout trying to gauge how screwed/not screwed I am for this test. Seemed productive...

I can't speak to every topic, but in talking to all my friends who are taking barbri I would say that Themis has done a significantly better job prepping us for the material, particularly for state specific issues

[soj]

.

[UnamSanctam]

I'd say they're equal

[aladdinismyprince]

In light of all the Themis hating that's naturally been spewed here, at least one person on the BarBri board said they would take Themis if they failed... so I think we're all probably feeling the hate at this stage.

And yes, I was creeping in the BarBri hangout trying to gauge how screwed/not screwed I am for this test. Seemed productive...

I can't speak to every topic, but in talking to all my friends who are taking barbri I would say that Themis has done a significantly better job prepping us for the material, particularly for state specific issues

I'm still not in love with my state-specific materials from Themis (especially compared to the quality of the MBE materials), but my state director did call me today and leave a very encouraging and helpful voicemail. It made me feel better about Themis and the bar in general. We're going to survive this!

[skrubba5025]

I read somewhere once that there are people who never "pass" during their bar prep but pass on the bar exam.

I read that on some bar blog post, so obviously it is nothing but the truth.

Can't say for the Bar, but I used Themis for the MPRE. Only did it for a couple days but was scoring around 49-55% on everything. Ended up with a 118. Hopefully it works that way on the Bar as well.