FLORIDA BAR - JULY 2014 Forum

[SenorTaxLawl]

The only thing that worries me is a random property essay (still don't know what a liens penden is) or a random FL con law essay (still don't know what bonds are).

Based on one of the earlier posts in this thread as well as advice given to me by others, I've been trying to predict what will be on the Essays.

I think we are due for essays in Contracts, Definitely Torts, and either Real Property or Trusts - those being the main subjects, with tiny little nuggets of Secured Transactions or Ethics thrown in.

Any of you have any ideas?

[MoneyMay]

The only thing that worries me is a random property essay (still don't know what a liens penden is) or a random FL con law essay (still don't know what bonds are).

Based on one of the earlier posts in this thread as well as advice given to me by others, I've been trying to predict what will be on the Essays.

I think we are due for essays in Contracts, Definitely Torts, and either Real Property or Trusts - those being the main subjects, with tiny little nuggets of Secured Transactions or Ethics thrown in.

Any of you have any ideas?

I have also heard Contracts, Property and Torts with PR mixed in there somewhere and possibly homestead in either Ks or property. Torts and Ks are a breeze, Property is all over the place though-- I think Sandon said he's expecting a property question with landlord-tenant with an option to purchase (or something like that). Honestly, I have to focus somewhat, and these 3 are what I'm going to be focusing on.

Family law is so easy I feel I can just wing it more or less, and I am praying we don't get FL Con Law besides homestead. Trusts has only been given once in the last 3 exams so we may be due for that. Family law has been given 2 out of the last 3 so I think we are safe there. And Sandon didn't say anything about the new topics so I'm not even worrying about them.

[Shawshank33]

I'm predicting: Contracts/UCC cross-over, Family Law/homestead subtopic (maybe dependency subtopic), Ethics (cross-over), and Torts. I have seen some predictions for a property/homestead essay.

[SenorTaxLawl]

I'm predicting: Contracts/UCC cross-over, Family Law/homestead subtopic (maybe dependency subtopic), Ethics (cross-over), and Torts. I have seen some predictions for a property/homestead essay.

This is my logic for MY COMPLETE OPINIONS (Disclaimer Time!)

I think Contracts is almost guaranteed - they like to go either one or two tests between K's fact patterns only once in the last 12 years did they give it a three-time space - so either this test or the next one will get K, I'm just feeling they'd like it more on a Summer session test than on a Winter one. Lol.

Torts is also a guarantee in my opinion. They have never gone more than two sessions without it, if they deviate from that plan, this would be the first time in 12 years they do so (and I don't think they would TBH).

Now it's that third essay I can't peg - RP was just tested, but they have done both 8 consecutive RP questions, or give it a session or two break, so I can't predict that at all. Same thing with trusts - they go between alternating sessions to years of nothing.

I agree with MoneyMay in that we are probably safe with Family Law, it's been tested twice in the last three, the most recent being in Feb, so I doubt we will get another family law this test. Same thing with Con Law, as they like to do two on and one off, and it's been tested the last two sessions (they once did 5 in a row but it's been two on/one off since 2012 now).

[MoneyMay]

I'm predicting: Contracts/UCC cross-over, Family Law/homestead subtopic (maybe dependency subtopic), Ethics (cross-over), and Torts. I have seen some predictions for a property/homestead essay.

This is my logic for MY COMPLETE OPINIONS (Disclaimer Time!)

I think Contracts is almost guaranteed - they like to go either one or two tests between K's fact patterns only once in the last 12 years did they give it a three-time space - so either this test or the next one will get K, I'm just feeling they'd like it more on a Summer session test than on a Winter one. Lol.

Torts is also a guarantee in my opinion. They have never gone more than two sessions without it, if they deviate from that plan, this would be the first time in 12 years they do so (and I don't think they would TBH).

Now it's that third essay I can't peg - RP was just tested, but they have done both 8 consecutive RP questions, or give it a session or two break, so I can't predict that at all. Same thing with trusts - they go between alternating sessions to years of nothing.

I agree with MoneyMay in that we are probably safe with Family Law, it's been tested twice in the last three, the most recent being in Feb, so I doubt we will get another family law this test. Same thing with Con Law, as they like to do two on and one off, and it's been tested the last two sessions (they once did 5 in a row but it's been two on/one off since 2012 now).

This is what I was thinking exactly. For torts, do you think it will be negligence or more defamation? Also, do you think for the third essay there's any chance we would get a a new topic as the main topic for an essay? I was hoping Sandon would say something about that but he didn't seem too concerned about them. And I agree Property and Trusts is a coin flip. I am hoping it's trusts, but I think Trusts/ Torts/ Ks is a pretty easy essay lineup and so they wouldn't do it.

[SilverE2]

Guys...maybe there's no pattern?

[Hannibal]

I feel very underprepared for torts. The lecture was so bad without the handout.

[rad lulz]

.

[rad lulz]

.

[SenorTaxLawl]

Also sandon is the man

Among those I know taking the Florida Bar through Barbri, most people like him. I feel like such an oddball for really disliking him, but I just can't get over how much he rambles. In school I always connected more with those professors who straddled the fine line between rambling and teaching effectively - I personally think that Schechter was the perfect balance, whereas Sandon is squarely in the ramble camp.

That being said his skill and expertise in the area of Bar prep is scary good, so when he speaks I am definitely listening.

Begrudgingly.

[Hannibal]

Professor Sokolow = Captain Dadjoke

[GatorLaw124]

I am predicting:
MC: FL Procedures, BE and Evidence (No Wills)
Essays: Contracts, Torts, Trusts
-minor points on FL Con law and FL Prof Conduct
-Generally they test either Wills or Trusts but not both.

[SenorTaxLawl]

I am predicting:
MC: FL Procedures, BE and Evidence (No Wills)
Essays: Contracts, Torts, Trusts
-minor points on FL Con law and FL Prof Conduct
-Generally they test either Wills or Trusts but not both.

I would be willing to make a bet that the Essays are spot on in that prediction - and I never made a connection between Wills and Trusts being tested, but almost never together.

Good eye! I like that set-up, personally. Trusts is a cake walk in my opinion but in school I took almost all tax law classes and like 4 other substantive courses, one of those being Trusts. Outside of Tax, Trusts is the only thing I remember from class.

What would you guys feel about a FL Portion like that?

[Hannibal]

I would feel happy about Ks+Torts essay because I feel like there's no way I could mess those up TOO bad. Trusts I feel is simple enough that I'll feel strong in it by the time the exam come around.

Basically: stoked

[MoneyMay]

Anything not involving too much property and FL con law is awesome.

[MoneyMay]

Oh and is FL evidence on the MC a given?

[Shawshank33]

Themis takers: is anyone else getting under the " Themis average" for essays? I feel like my grader is being insanely tough, especially when comparing mine to the model answers. She has given me scores in the high 20s, with little critique.

[SenorTaxLawl]

Is anyone else deviating from the Paced Program right about now? I can't believe they taught us BE's the two days before they expected us to take a full Florida Day exam with very little room to review.

I'm moving everything around to give myself some time to practice and review FL subjects - I can barely remember some of the stuff we covered at the start of the course, so how the hell are they going to just throw us into that right now? Lol.

Moving some of the MBE stuff forward, then after I finish that during the day, using the afternoons to review FL subjects. Maybe I'll take the FL Exam Monday or something. At this point, I'm just flying solo here....hope it doesn't bite me in the ass!

[alicrimson]

Is anyone else deviating from the Paced Program right about now? I can't believe they taught us BE's the two days before they expected us to take a full Florida Day exam with very little room to review.

I'm moving everything around to give myself some time to practice and review FL subjects - I can barely remember some of the stuff we covered at the start of the course, so how the hell are they going to just throw us into that right now? Lol.

Moving some of the MBE stuff forward, then after I finish that during the day, using the afternoons to review FL subjects. Maybe I'll take the FL Exam Monday or something. At this point, I'm just flying solo here....hope it doesn't bite me in the ass!

I'm trying to do the things the paced program tells me to do, but I'm building in some extra time for memorizing essay things. It just seems smart. The MBE just doesn't seem very difficult. For the essays, I need a bit more work. I think I'm going to start writing the essays out instead of just outlining it. That way, I can practice bsing when I don't know the BLL.

[hous]

Themis takers: is anyone else getting under the " Themis average" for essays? I feel like my grader is being insanely tough, especially when comparing mine to the model answers. She has given me scores in the high 20s, with little critique.

Yes.

I got one score in the mid 50s and the others are in the 20's and 30s. Completely subjective. The trust essay I nailed it and I got one of my worst grades. I turned it in late so maybe she didnt put as much into it. I feel like her advice is pretty good though (except for the trusts essay).

[MoneyMay]

Is anyone else deviating from the Paced Program right about now? I can't believe they taught us BE's the two days before they expected us to take a full Florida Day exam with very little room to review.

I'm moving everything around to give myself some time to practice and review FL subjects - I can barely remember some of the stuff we covered at the start of the course, so how the hell are they going to just throw us into that right now? Lol.

Moving some of the MBE stuff forward, then after I finish that during the day, using the afternoons to review FL subjects. Maybe I'll take the FL Exam Monday or something. At this point, I'm just flying solo here....hope it doesn't bite me in the ass!

I'm trying to do the things the paced program tells me to do, but I'm building in some extra time for memorizing essay things. It just seems smart. The MBE just doesn't seem very difficult. For the essays, I need a bit more work. I think I'm going to start writing the essays out instead of just outlining it. That way, I can practice bsing when I don't know the BLL.

You sound exactly like me. I am not worried at all about the MBE (idk why, it just seems like they ask the same shit over and over and over and over, and when I do get tricked, I pretty much tell myself no matter what I would have done, I wasn't going to get that question correct).

FL essays and multiple choice on the other hand is a different story. I may take the entire next week only for FL stuff, bc I am horrified of dose MCs and essays. Except family law lolol.


EDIT: Taxlawl didn't see your post before I posted. I am 100% deviating at this point. I don't enough about any of the FL subjects at this point to take the final exam (except maybe evidence, maybe). So I am panicking and am going to start my memorizing the procedures, then wills, and BEs last because I didn't take it in law school and it's going to be a BITCH.

[gator6589]

I am too am about to deviate from the Paced Program to focus more on Florida. I feel like Barbri has barely touched on Florida in comparison to the MBE.

Are any of you going through the past exam multi-choice released by the FLA bar? I know they say not to trust the sample essays, but recent MC's are likely still good law.

[silky bruh]

I am too am about to deviate from the Paced Program to focus more on Florida. I feel like Barbri has barely touched on Florida in comparison to the MBE.

Are any of you going through the past exam multi-choice released by the FLA bar? I know they say not to trust the sample essays, but recent MC's are likely still good law.

Kaplan has barely addressed Florida MC, too. I'm just trusting the system.

[Hannibal]

It's amazing how quickly you can fall out of "bar mode." I'm in Florida looking for housing right now and I've been too busy to study for a couple days, I already feel like I've forgotten everything.

[missimmigration]

I am too am about to deviate from the Paced Program to focus more on Florida. I feel like Barbri has barely touched on Florida in comparison to the MBE.

Are any of you going through the past exam multi-choice released by the FLA bar? I know they say not to trust the sample essays, but recent MC's are likely still good law.

I'm planning on going over these as soon as I get caught up on FL law.