Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam Forum
Forum rules
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are sharing sensitive information about bar exam prep. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned."
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are sharing sensitive information about bar exam prep. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned."
- EyeTwitchAllSummer
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2015 3:43 pm
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
I failed the CA bar exam using Themis. Any other Themis users fail the CA bar exam? If so, first of all: I am sorry. Two: what are your thoughts on Themis? Will you re-take the exam? Are you getting a tutor, using Themis, usingother materials?
I am possibly using Themis for its one retake option. I am looking into tutors. I will probably also get Adaptbar and Bar Essays. Waiting on my scores to be mailed to me though. Thanks and best wishes, everyone.
I am possibly using Themis for its one retake option. I am looking into tutors. I will probably also get Adaptbar and Bar Essays. Waiting on my scores to be mailed to me though. Thanks and best wishes, everyone.
- Raiden
- Posts: 410
- Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2012 8:11 pm
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
I failed in CA with Themis as well. I plan to use the Themis repeat, but just for MBE and Essays. I don't know if I need adaptive since Themis used real MBE's (from what I understand). I want to get bar essays since I think it will be helpful to look at 65 and 50's. I also think o should get a tutor to read some essays but I don't know who or how that works. I'll get a better ideals what to do once score reports come in.EyeTwitchAllSummer wrote:I failed the CA bar exam using Themis. Any other Themis users fail the CA bar exam? If so, first of all: I am sorry. Two: what are your thoughts on Themis? Will you re-take the exam? Are you getting a tutor, using Themis, usingother materials?
I am possibly using Themis for its one retake option. I am looking into tutors. I will probably also get Adaptbar and Bar Essays. Waiting on my scores to be mailed to me though. Thanks and best wishes, everyone.
- EyeTwitchAllSummer
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2015 3:43 pm
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
I have heard from friends who passed that they found bar essays WAY MORE HELPFUL than the bar review program graders for essays. I am starting to research tutors and will post when I get more info. Thank you for your reply and KICK THAT EXAM's ASS!Raiden wrote:I failed in CA with Themis as well. I plan to use the Themis repeat, but just for MBE and Essays. I don't know if I need adaptive since Themis used real MBE's (from what I understand). I want to get bar essays since I think it will be helpful to look at 65 and 50's. I also think o should get a tutor to read some essays but I don't know who or how that works. I'll get a better ideals what to do once score reports come in.EyeTwitchAllSummer wrote:I failed the CA bar exam using Themis. Any other Themis users fail the CA bar exam? If so, first of all: I am sorry. Two: what are your thoughts on Themis? Will you re-take the exam? Are you getting a tutor, using Themis, usingother materials?
I am possibly using Themis for its one retake option. I am looking into tutors. I will probably also get Adaptbar and Bar Essays. Waiting on my scores to be mailed to me though. Thanks and best wishes, everyone.
- Raiden
- Posts: 410
- Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2012 8:11 pm
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
Thank you and likewise! Let's make the exam's eye twitch ehEyeTwitchAllSummer wrote:I have heard from friends who passed that they found bar essays WAY MORE HELPFUL than the bar review program graders for essays. I am starting to research tutors and will post when I get more info. Thank you for your reply and KICK THAT EXAM's ASS!Raiden wrote:I failed in CA with Themis as well. I plan to use the Themis repeat, but just for MBE and Essays. I don't know if I need adaptive since Themis used real MBE's (from what I understand). I want to get bar essays since I think it will be helpful to look at 65 and 50's. I also think o should get a tutor to read some essays but I don't know who or how that works. I'll get a better ideals what to do once score reports come in.EyeTwitchAllSummer wrote:I failed the CA bar exam using Themis. Any other Themis users fail the CA bar exam? If so, first of all: I am sorry. Two: what are your thoughts on Themis? Will you re-take the exam? Are you getting a tutor, using Themis, usingother materials?
I am possibly using Themis for its one retake option. I am looking into tutors. I will probably also get Adaptbar and Bar Essays. Waiting on my scores to be mailed to me though. Thanks and best wishes, everyone.
- Worker and Parasite
- Posts: 360
- Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2011 1:53 am
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
What's the retake policy? A free retake if I'm unsuccessful? What happens if I want to try another state? I'm going to email my advisor.
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login
- Tripl3Espresso
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Sun May 31, 2015 6:58 pm
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
I believe it is a free retake if you completed a minimum of 75% of the course.Worker and Parasite wrote:What's the retake policy? A free retake if I'm unsuccessful? What happens if I want to try another state? I'm going to email my advisor.
-
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2013 11:24 pm
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
Just wanted to fill out this forum with some more info.
I used Themis, did 90% of the course, scored between 71-75% on the practice sets, and got ~150 on the simulated MBE exam. Although CA doesn't release MBE scores, I did the score services which advised me that my scaled score met or exceeded the 150 required to transfer my scores to ND. I'm pretty surprised that I was >150 as I felt the MBE was impossible and completely different than Themis. However, I think Themis allowed me to narrow down a lot of questions and make educated choices.
I used Themis, did 90% of the course, scored between 71-75% on the practice sets, and got ~150 on the simulated MBE exam. Although CA doesn't release MBE scores, I did the score services which advised me that my scaled score met or exceeded the 150 required to transfer my scores to ND. I'm pretty surprised that I was >150 as I felt the MBE was impossible and completely different than Themis. However, I think Themis allowed me to narrow down a lot of questions and make educated choices.
- just_lila
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2015 10:54 pm
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
This time, I am going to use Adaptibar and BarEssays in addition to Themis. Let's wish each other good luck.EyeTwitchAllSummer wrote:I failed the CA bar exam using Themis. Any other Themis users fail the CA bar exam? If so, first of all: I am sorry. Two: what are your thoughts on Themis? Will you re-take the exam? Are you getting a tutor, using Themis, usingother materials?
I am possibly using Themis for its one retake option. I am looking into tutors. I will probably also get Adaptbar and Bar Essays. Waiting on my scores to be mailed to me though. Thanks and best wishes, everyone.
- EyeTwitchAllSummer
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2015 3:43 pm
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
Yes! Good luck, just_lila!just_lila wrote:This time, I am going to use Adaptibar and BarEssays in addition to Themis. Let's wish each other good luck.EyeTwitchAllSummer wrote:I failed the CA bar exam using Themis. Any other Themis users fail the CA bar exam? If so, first of all: I am sorry. Two: what are your thoughts on Themis? Will you re-take the exam? Are you getting a tutor, using Themis, usingother materials?
I am possibly using Themis for its one retake option. I am looking into tutors. I will probably also get Adaptbar and Bar Essays. Waiting on my scores to be mailed to me though. Thanks and best wishes, everyone.
Also, one of my mentors was tutored by Whitney Roberts (The Bar Code author). Roberts says she is no longer tutoring, but referred me to her colleague Patrick Lin.
I signed up with Patrick Lin for his writing intensive tutoring through http://www.barexam101.com.
- just_lila
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2015 10:54 pm
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
Thank you for the link, EyeTwitchAllSummer. I'm thinking about signing up for their online PT workshop. Let me know if you have their discount code.EyeTwitchAllSummer wrote:Yes! Good luck, just_lila!just_lila wrote:This time, I am going to use Adaptibar and BarEssays in addition to Themis. Let's wish each other good luck.EyeTwitchAllSummer wrote:I failed the CA bar exam using Themis. Any other Themis users fail the CA bar exam? If so, first of all: I am sorry. Two: what are your thoughts on Themis? Will you re-take the exam? Are you getting a tutor, using Themis, usingother materials?
Also, one of my mentors was tutored by Whitney Roberts (The Bar Code author). Roberts says she is no longer tutoring, but referred me to her colleague Patrick Lin.
I signed up with Patrick Lin for his writing intensive tutoring through http://www.barexam101.com.
- EyeTwitchAllSummer
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2015 3:43 pm
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
Hi!just_lila wrote:Thank you for the link, EyeTwitchAllSummer. I'm thinking about signing up for their online PT workshop. Let me know if you have their discount code.EyeTwitchAllSummer wrote:Yes! Good luck, just_lila!just_lila wrote:This time, I am going to use Adaptibar and BarEssays in addition to Themis. Let's wish each other good luck.EyeTwitchAllSummer wrote:I failed the CA bar exam using Themis. Any other Themis users fail the CA bar exam? If so, first of all: I am sorry. Two: what are your thoughts on Themis? Will you re-take the exam? Are you getting a tutor, using Themis, usingother materials?
Also, one of my mentors was tutored by Whitney Roberts (The Bar Code author). Roberts says she is no longer tutoring, but referred me to her colleague Patrick Lin.
I signed up with Patrick Lin for his writing intensive tutoring through http://www.barexam101.com.
I do not have a discount code for barexam101.com. Nor did I have a discount code when I signed up. I paid $2,600 for the writing-intensive tutoring for essays and PTs. I just finished my first tutoring session with Patrick Lin. He dissected a Torts essay that I did. He really helped me see what I did wrong on this essay (and presumably what I do wrong on most/all essays.)
In a nutshell, this is his advice:
1) law is the foundation for your answers. You have to know the law. You don't need a verbatim knowledge, but you do need to know the buzzwords in the law and be able to make a rule using those buzzwords. Example: assault's buzzwords: intent; causation; reasonable apprehension; imminent harmful or offensive contact. Those buzzwords are your subissues that you have to apply your facts to. USE HEADERS.
2) refer to the facts. don't feel the need to copy/paste facts from fact patterns. copy/paste takes too much time. use one sentence if possible for your analysis of each subissue.
3) DON'T FORGET TO APPLY COMMON SENSE WHEN APPLYING FACTS TO THE RULE. Bar graders want to see that you do this to convince them why an element is or is not met.
4) define one rule and apply one fact, including common sense analysis. common sense facts are not in the fact pattern. bar graders want you to apply common sense facts to support your analysis.
5) Write your analysis-heavy parts of your answer FIRST. If you have time, go back and address the weaker or smaller issues.
6) approach the fact pattern like an objective 3rd party, NOT A LAWYER. Do not write your answer with the mindset that you already know whether the plaintiff does or does not have a cause of action against defendant before you begin typing. Spot all of the issues and IRAC them. Do not struggle with whether an element of a rule has or has not been met. If based on your instinct/knowledge of the law, you know that the defendant does not have intent to commit assault, say so by applying the facts and common sense. Make a decision; apply law to facts. Get in and get out FAST.
I hope this helps you as far as the type of guidance this tutor gives. I feel that he is helping me a lot with my writing and will continue to be a big help.
Last edited by EyeTwitchAllSummer on Sun Dec 06, 2015 4:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- EyeTwitchAllSummer
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Tue Jun 09, 2015 3:43 pm
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
Hey, fellow Themis peeps.
As a 2nd time bar reviewer, I am just throwing this out there for anyone who has the opportunity to get their hands on other bar materials like Barbri or BarMax. My bar tutor says he checked out the Themis outlines and says that he finds the Themis outlines of black letter law to be confusing/poorly worded.
He says that Themis' black letter law spends too much time telling you what does not meet the elements of a law as opposed to telling you what the law IS and what DOES meet the elements of the law.
My tutor uses outlines he made based on BarBri's black letter law. Having used these Barbri-based outlines for a few days now, I agree that I have a much easier time learning the law from these outlines as opposed to Themis.
Believe me: I am not trying to make anyone feel like shit and full of buyer's remorse. But if you have friends/classmates that have BarBri's outlines, try them out and compare. If you find BarBri's material is easier to understand, use it. If you find that Themis' material works for you, use Themis.
(Also posted this on the Feb 2016 Themis hangout.)
As a 2nd time bar reviewer, I am just throwing this out there for anyone who has the opportunity to get their hands on other bar materials like Barbri or BarMax. My bar tutor says he checked out the Themis outlines and says that he finds the Themis outlines of black letter law to be confusing/poorly worded.
He says that Themis' black letter law spends too much time telling you what does not meet the elements of a law as opposed to telling you what the law IS and what DOES meet the elements of the law.
My tutor uses outlines he made based on BarBri's black letter law. Having used these Barbri-based outlines for a few days now, I agree that I have a much easier time learning the law from these outlines as opposed to Themis.
Believe me: I am not trying to make anyone feel like shit and full of buyer's remorse. But if you have friends/classmates that have BarBri's outlines, try them out and compare. If you find BarBri's material is easier to understand, use it. If you find that Themis' material works for you, use Themis.
(Also posted this on the Feb 2016 Themis hangout.)
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 2:55 pm
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
Any Oakland, CA hotel recommendations? Inexpensive and preferably under $100
Register now!
Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.
It's still FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2015 5:00 pm
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
haha I do the same and have been generally right...glad to see I'm not the only one using that approach. Now if I can only pass this VA bar exam at the second try.annapach wrote:
whenever i see "immunity" paired with "grand jury" I just choose the answer that the person must testify bc of the immunity. and it's always right. that is where i have stopped on that topic.
-
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2015 5:00 pm
Re: Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2015 Exam
I failed VA in July using Themis. Kaplan seems to have a great program and those I know who used Barbri did not recommend it. I have also heard great things about Adaptibar. Are you taking the Feb exam? I am and not ready as I should since I had to work full time again while studyingEyeTwitchAllSummer wrote:I failed the CA bar exam using Themis. Any other Themis users fail the CA bar exam? If so, first of all: I am sorry. Two: what are your thoughts on Themis? Will you re-take the exam? Are you getting a tutor, using Themis, usingother materials?
I am possibly using Themis for its one retake option. I am looking into tutors. I will probably also get Adaptbar and Bar Essays. Waiting on my scores to be mailed to me though. Thanks and best wishes, everyone.
Best of luck to you if you are!
Get unlimited access to all forums and topics
Register now!
I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...
Already a member? Login