California Bar Exam (July 2014) thread Forum

[Carryon]

Bleh. Just did the remedies essay from February 2001. Remedies is so frustrating, I can remember the big concepts but when it gets down to the specific sub factors the fact that it's so tort-specific can be frustrating at times.

IKR. I wish the Bar was open book.... YOU KNOW LIKE REAL LIFE.

You got a third of your wish. Pts are open book.

[Lasers]

speaking of PTs, how do we know proper format of a document?

like statement of facts? a question presented?

[Carryon]

speaking of PTs, how do we know proper format of a document?

like statement of facts? a question presented?

It seems like the general rule is that if the question doesn't mentioned needing a statement of facts then do not need too include it. Anybody have any thoughts about this?

[Jim Halpert]

For people taking in Pasadena, what are you doing for lunches?

I just went to the test center today to scope it out and I'm happy to report the floors are fully carpeted so hopefully that will muffle the sounds of people walking a bit. There's a Subway a couple blocks away, the Gelsons is closed, it looks like there's a Starbucks attached to the covnention center but it's actually closed (might be a kiosk open on weekdays) and there's a shopping center sort of across the street with franchise chain places like PF Changs and a couple other places like Rubios.

I was thinking of bringing a cooler in my car but i'm going to be parking a few blocks away at a cheap parking lot (6 bucks) so probably Subway...protein, veggies, some iced tea for caffeine, some sugar

Just a correction: only the lobby is carpeted. The actual room is concrete from what I saw through the door.

[a male human]

3. Want to maximize your essay points? Decide now the order in which you will approach your essays. Then take 15 seconds to skim each essay question in the beginning. 1) Arrange them so your weakest subject is last; if you will bomb it, you can at least reserve your mental endurance for the first two essays. This was my approach. Or 2) arrange them weakest first so that things get less frustrating over time. Either way, decide which intentional approach you will take beforehand. Don't get suckered into their pace and run out of time on essay 3, your best subject. Make sure you type your answers in the right screen on SofTest.

What do you think about not looking ahead at the essays at all? I am a little worried that if I see something terrifying on #2 or 3, it will stress me out and make it harder to perform well on the other essays. But at the same time, I can see the benefit of arranging them strategically.

It's up to you. Personally I'd be too curious not to look, and going in blind would make me more stressed. It may not be as terrifying as you think. You may also get a sense of how much time to spend on each essay depending on your level of confidence.

Just decide on a plan of course (look/don't look) now, so you don't have to wonder about it on the day of the test.

[a male human]

speaking of PTs, how do we know proper format of a document?

like statement of facts? a question presented?

It seems like the general rule is that if the question doesn't mentioned needing a statement of facts then do not need too include it. Anybody have any thoughts about this?

Just follow the instructions.

[iLoveFruits&Veggies]

I'm making avocado sandwiches for lunch and having cliff bars for snacks. Just wondering if I'll be able to get back to the hotel room to get them. I'd rather leave them in a cool fridge than a hot car but I've heard it can take foreverrrrrrrrrrrr to get in and out of the elevators Oh well. Honestly, lunch is the least of my worries. Unfortunately. Feb 2015 is suddenly my biggest worry. Ugh. These ESSAYS!!! They're gonna get meeeee!!! I just KNOW it!

[Carryon]

I'm making avocado sandwiches for lunch and having cliff bars for snacks. Just wondering if I'll be able to get back to the hotel room to get them. I'd rather leave them in a cool fridge than a hot car but I've heard it can take foreverrrrrrrrrrrr to get in and out of the elevators Oh well. Honestly, lunch is the least of my worries. Unfortunately. Feb 2015 is suddenly my biggest worry. Ugh. These ESSAYS!!! They're gonna get meeeee!!! I just KNOW it!

Not sure where you are taking the exam, but in Ontario they have a place at the test center that serves deli sandwiches. I ate right there.

[iLoveFruits&Veggies]

I'm making avocado sandwiches for lunch and having cliff bars for snacks. Just wondering if I'll be able to get back to the hotel room to get them. I'd rather leave them in a cool fridge than a hot car but I've heard it can take foreverrrrrrrrrrrr to get in and out of the elevators Oh well. Honestly, lunch is the least of my worries. Unfortunately. Feb 2015 is suddenly my biggest worry. Ugh. These ESSAYS!!! They're gonna get meeeee!!! I just KNOW it!

Not sure where you are taking the exam, but in Ontario they have a place at the test center that serves deli sandwiches. I ate right there.

I'll be in Santa Clara, but drove by the location today and noticed a bagel place down the street. If there's time, I guess that would be a good back up option. I love bagels! Although, I'd prefer not to leave the test site...

(sorry to hear the sad news, Charles B.)

[Apple Tree]

Same here. I read through a Con Law essay from a few years ago on partial vs. full takings, and a Torts essay on defamation qualified privileges and I just want to cry. I can say like two sentences, AT BEST, about each of those things. Even on topics I'm good at I could get completely fucked, very easily, like a Contracts essay I read yesterday part of which hinged on whether a condition in the contract was a condition precedent to effectiveness or a condition precedent to performance. Screwed.

I even went to baressays.com to look at some lower scoring essays on those topics to try to make myself feel better, and was super stressed to see that even the people scoring 60 on that torts essay knew all the nuances of various qualified privileges.

I'm terrified of what I will see on those essays...

The exact same thing happened to me. I could not tell the difference between the failing and passing essays... And people always say if you don't know a rule just make one up. I feel like that it's easy to do, IF you can spot the issue. If I miss an issue there's nothing to make up about (and I've missed major issues on so many essays. But it does make me feel better that I'm not the only one feeling this way haha.

[iLoveFruits&Veggies]

Same here. I read through a Con Law essay from a few years ago on partial vs. full takings, and a Torts essay on defamation qualified privileges and I just want to cry. I can say like two sentences, AT BEST, about each of those things. Even on topics I'm good at I could get completely fucked, very easily, like a Contracts essay I read yesterday part of which hinged on whether a condition in the contract was a condition precedent to effectiveness or a condition precedent to performance. Screwed.

I even went to baressays.com to look at some lower scoring essays on those topics to try to make myself feel better, and was super stressed to see that even the people scoring 60 on that torts essay knew all the nuances of various qualified privileges.

I'm terrified of what I will see on those essays...

The exact same thing happened to me. I could not tell the difference between the failing and passing essays... And people always say if you don't know a rule just make one up. I feel like that it's easy to do, IF you can spot the issue. If I miss an issue there's nothing to make up about (and I've missed major issues on so many essays. But it does make me feel better that I'm not the only one feeling this way haha.

You are NOT alone. I'm one of those people who has trouble spotting the issues! Like you said, can't make up the law, if I can't even find what I'm supposed to be talking about!! Just finished a set of MBEs, and went back and watched a snippet of a CA Civ Pro video - I am SO lost in that subject! Will read more old essays now... I'm a MESS. My low essay scores will be my gift to the rest of the test takers!! lol

[FutureInLaw]

So...we can't bring backpacks, right?

I'm walking 15 minutes to my test center. Guess I'm just carrying everything in hand, laptop and charger? Maybe I'll get a paper bag I can throw away.

[vastrei]

Also walking 15 minutes to the test site. Surely you can bring a bag and leave it in the hallway at the test site. Right? At least that is what I am hoping for at the Santa Clara location

So...we can't bring backpacks, right?

I'm walking 15 minutes to my test center. Guess I'm just carrying everything in hand, laptop and charger? Maybe I'll get a paper bag I can throw away.

[yips]

Also walking 15 minutes to the test site. Surely you can bring a bag and leave it in the hallway at the test site. Right? At least that is what I am hoping for at the Santa Clara location

So...we can't bring backpacks, right?

I'm walking 15 minutes to my test center. Guess I'm just carrying everything in hand, laptop and charger? Maybe I'll get a paper bag I can throw away.

Walking here, too -- and I don't necessarily want to flash my electronics on the street
I thought about the paper bag solution, but I became convinced that a better idea is to take a reusable grocery sack: less chance of breaking on the walk, easier to carry, and if someone steals it from the hallway, NBD.

[Law-So-Hard]

Seconding the plastic bags idea.

FWIW I figure if there's something REALLY funky on the essay, it's unlikely they'll ask it again, right, if the essay was relatively recent? The ones from the 80s and 90s with the funky issues are what I'm worried about seeing again.

For example just did a Civ Pro essay the other day about forum non conveniens. Which my lecturer spent maybe 2 minutes on.

Then again the weird s*** is probably just worth a couple points.

I'm dreading Corporations, Real Prop, Civ Pro, Contracts, and Prof Resp (which ALWAYS COMES UP and so I'm spending the next hour frantically memorizing) so I figure if I get a really really bad essay and don't know it it's gonna be a 50, 55, but I doubt I'll go lower than that and whatever I'll deal with getting a 50-55 on 1 essay on the Bar.

We will survive.

[Carryon]

So...we can't bring backpacks, right?

I'm walking 15 minutes to my test center. Guess I'm just carrying everything in hand, laptop and charger? Maybe I'll get a paper bag I can throw away.

You can bring the backpack to the test center for Ontario, but must leave it in designated area in the test center.

[lmr]

Dumb Q-my hotel is 10 minutes walking from testing site…what time do I wake up? Danger of waking up @ 5am? Just to be mentally awake. Will I be exhausted by the end of the day? Or by end of PT on third day or is adrenaline and getting decent sleep enough?

[a male human]

You'll be tired and awake at the same time. In fact, you will most likely chat with the rest of the active posters in this topic fueled by rage and confusion, complaining about this issue and that issue and the person next to/in front of you.

Don't wake up at 5. You won't want to on Wednesday or Thursday. You won't even need a 7AM alarm; your body is ready. You'll be plenty mentally awake.

[prezidentv8]

Hey, y'all nervous yet??


JK GOOD LUCK BROS

[Law-So-Hard]

Missing a lot of issues on Prof Resp essays

[yips]

Dumb Q-my hotel is 10 minutes walking from testing site…what time do I wake up? Danger of waking up @ 5am? Just to be mentally awake. Will I be exhausted by the end of the day? Or by end of PT on third day or is adrenaline and getting decent sleep enough?

Remember, the exam doesn't start until 9. If you wake up at 5, that will leave you 4 hours to churn with anxiety. Plus, if you're not normally an early riser, you're going to be worn out by the end of the day. 6:30 is way more reasonable: shower, breakfast, some quick MBEs to get your brain going, walk over, and still get there at like 7:40 or so. Honestly, even 7 is probably fine if you aren't really slow in the AM.

[duskfall]

Also walking 15 minutes to the test site. Surely you can bring a bag and leave it in the hallway at the test site. Right? At least that is what I am hoping for at the Santa Clara location

So...we can't bring backpacks, right?

I'm walking 15 minutes to my test center. Guess I'm just carrying everything in hand, laptop and charger? Maybe I'll get a paper bag I can throw away.

Walking here, too -- and I don't necessarily want to flash my electronics on the street
I thought about the paper bag solution, but I became convinced that a better idea is to take a reusable grocery sack: less chance of breaking on the walk, easier to carry, and if someone steals it from the hallway, NBD.

At Ontario, they let us leave our bags in the hallway of the test center. I highly doubt that the other test centers will prohibit the bags in the hallways.

[Apple Tree]

Well, I've been studying at the east coast and just flew in on Sunday. Couldn't keep my eyes open past 9 and got up at 4:30... This should be fun.

[Carryon]

Well, I've been studying at the east coast and just flew in on Sunday. Couldn't keep my eyes open past 9 and got up at 4:30... This should be fun.

Same with me, the three hour difference is a little tough.

[LSATNightmares]

Well, I've been studying at the east coast and just flew in on Sunday. Couldn't keep my eyes open past 9 and got up at 4:30... This should be fun.

Same with me, the three hour difference is a little tough.

I know what you mean, since I also flew in. It takes a couple of days to adjust, but at least you can be confident you won't oversleep on Tuesday!