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[Myself]

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[truevines]

Hello all out there. I was wondering which bar courses you could recommend taking in law school rather than studying for them during bar prep. Basically, which ones are better to learn under the tutelage of a professor, and which ones are you able to just learn by yourself fairly easily? Thanks.

Evidence and crim pro.

[Myself]

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[RVP11]

Thanks! Anymore?

Just Evidence and CrimPro. They're the only non-1L classes you're guaranteed to see on your state's bar because they're both tested in the MBE.

[Mick Haller]

Hm, I recommend taking most of the ones tested in your state. Bar prep wants you to relearn an entire semester of Corporations or Community Property in one day, which is difficult even if you HAVE already taken the class.

[lsatextreme]

evidence of course and business admin

[bns_77]

I don't think CrimPro is tested enough to spend precious time and money during law school taking.

I hated Property and knew Wills, trusts and estates would be tested, so I took that pass-fail for the sole purpose of not having to approach it for the first time during bar prep.

It might just depend on which subject seems to be your bane, if any. Might as well take what you want to take during law school since you'll learn what you need to learn about other nonsense during bar prep.

[I.P. Daly]

If commercial paper is tested on your state's bar exam, I'd take it. Man, it's like the worst subject to learn during bar prep.

[FlightoftheEarls]

I don't think CrimPro is tested enough to spend precious time and money during law school taking.

You mean, except for it being part of the MBE and on virtually every state's state-specific day?

[bns_77]

I don't think CrimPro is tested enough to spend precious time and money during law school taking.

You mean, except for it being part of the MBE and on virtually every state's state-specific day?

Well, it's tested with regular criminal law... and the straight crim questions are a majority of the 33 questions or so you'll see on the MBE. So you're essentially talking about taking a class in law school at $XXXX per credit hour so you can face 10 MBE questions that'll still probably punk you with minutiae.

Chuck also told me that crim is one of the easier subjects, so unless someone's oddly crim-adverse, there are probably other subjects that might be more beneficial pre-bar.

YMMV

[BarbellDreams]

Hell, take Crim Pro cause its by far the most interesting class in law school and stuff you learn there is stuff you can actually USE (or impress your friends with, since people often ask crim pro questions).

I think Evidence and Biz Orgs are a must. Maybe Tax. Everything else you can BarBri.

[hiima3L]

Starting Wills and Trusts tomorrow, which is the only bar class I didn't take except Community Property and Remedies (both of which I found pretty easy and quick to learn). Thus far, I think only Evidence and Biz Associations have been helpful. I had a prof. for BA that was such a hard ass that the bar stuff has been ridiculously easy so far. I can't say my Evidence class was particularly helpful because I really learned evidence my 3L year during trial-oriented classes and at an evidence heavy judicial externship.

Anyway, I thought Con Law and Crim Pro were 2 of the most fascinating classes I took, so I'd recommend those regardless.

I don't have the cite to it, but a prof. once gave us a recent article the argument of which was that, based on the authors' empirical research, there was no correlation whatsoever to which bar classes one takes and passing the bar. The only meaningful indicator was class rank, which isn't all that surprising.

[hiima3L]

Currently studying for the CA bar and have finished all the substance, so here's my input.

The only bar classes I did not take were Community Property, Remedies, and Wills & Trust. Only W&T is one I now REALLY wish I had taken because it's dense and confusing.

I learned Evidence really well during LS due to some trial-oriented classes as well as an externship where 90% of my work was evidence stuff. Even then evidence on the bar is tough, so I think it's an absolute must. Other than that, I don't think anything is conceptually difficult and you don't HAVE to take anything. People say Con Law and Crim Pro are must-takes, but I completely disagree. I'm very glad I took Business Associations with the professor I did because I learned it so well fall semester 3L that I barely had to review Agency/Partnership and Corporations.

[Myself]

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[Julio_El_Chavo]

Also, you might want to consider taking a Real Estate Finance or Land Transactions class. It's easy as fuuuuuuuuuck if you just take the time to learn it (i.e. it's a good 3L class) and helps you with at least 30-35% of the Real Property material tested on the bar.

[wiseowl]

I don't think CrimPro is tested enough to spend precious time and money during law school taking.

You mean, except for it being part of the MBE and on virtually every state's state-specific day?

Well, it's tested with regular criminal law... and the straight crim questions are a majority of the 33 questions or so you'll see on the MBE. So you're essentially talking about taking a class in law school at $XXXX per credit hour so you can face 10 MBE questions that'll still probably punk you with minutiae.

Chuck also told me that crim is one of the easier subjects, so unless someone's oddly crim-adverse, there are probably other subjects that might be more beneficial pre-bar.

YMMV

Crim law and crim pro are split 50-50.

Crim pro is also fairly intuitive and very focused on cases, which other than Miranda and Terry aren't covered on the MBE from what I can tell. I felt behind without taking the class for a bit, but now I don't think it would have made much difference.

I am very glad I took evidence and business associations.

[reasonable_man]

NY Attorney here. It really depends on what state you are taking. For instance, CT tests like 10 or 12 areas. NY tests like 30. So the answer changes drastically based on where you are taking the exam. If you are taking CT, a CT procedure class is not necessary. If you are taking NY, you should absolutely try to take a NY procedure test, as the NY CPLR is heavily tested on the NY exam. It all depends. That said, there is precious little (besies evidence and trusts/wills and first year courses), that you cannot teach yourself for the exam or learn through your bar review course.

[somewhatwayward]

columbia doesn't even have a new york practice class. any one have any other tips on how to study for this aspect of the NY bar?

[reasonable_man]

columbia doesn't even have a new york practice class. any one have any other tips on how to study for this aspect of the NY bar?

Honestly, just take the Pieper bar review. You will kill the NY Practice section for sure.