Texas Saloon- Feb. 2016 Texas Bar Forum

[ladylawyer1221]

Wow, so much information to cover.


I have a question,...if one can get a 150 on the MBE, and get atleast half the points on the short answer and MPT, what do ya'll think will be the absolute lowest average score for all 12 essays.


I personally think, i can get away with a 10 on each and still be within striking distance.

BVest, you seem knowledgeable on many issues taking the bar exam.

I have a question, since i presume you are in Austin, how do you think the laptop charger situation is going to work ?

My laptop will last a solid 3 hours on a charge, but what about afternoon? How do people do it. And is the convention center in Austin going to be an issue, or are there things to plan for?

thanks!

I did not take the bar in Austin, but in Houston this past July there were power strips that reached every person. They told us to bring an extension cord to be sure that our chargers would reach the closest power strip.

[BVest]

I have a question, since i presume you are in Austin, how do you think the laptop charger situation is going to work ?

My laptop will last a solid 3 hours on a charge, but what about afternoon? How do people do it. And is the convention center in Austin going to be an issue, or are there things to plan for?

thanks!

I did not take the bar in Austin, but in Houston this past July there were power strips that reached every person. They told us to bring an extension cord to be sure that our chargers would reach the closest power strip.

This is correct. If you have a full length cord, you shouldn't have any problem reaching the power strips. If you have just a short cord (like using an apple power brick without the cord), you may be a tad stretched. But this summer the power strips weren't taped down under the tables, so you could get a little movement. IIRC there was one power strip under each 6 or 8 foot table and there were two examinees per table.

(BTW, I suspect this is why the BLE charges you to use your laptop. Venues tend to charge $15-25/day for each power strip provided.)

[left shark]

I have a couple of questions for those of you who are retakers or passed in July. I took it, but I can't remember anything about the MBE.

Did the civ pro questions focus much on the timing of the various filings/motions? I'm having a hard time keeping all of them in my head.

Did the civ pro questions on the MBE refer to stuff by rule numbers? Or base answers on small distinctions within rules?

I got a practice question last night about types of notice for class members who are not named representatives. I got it wrong because I chose the answer that applied to a member of a class that was certified under Rule 23(b)(3), when the answer was for a class is certified under Rule 23(b)(1) or (2).

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Please tell me you don't remember the MBE being like that.

[Lemon Lyman]

I had the same PQ yesterday and thought the same thing. I don't remember the MBE being like that.

From what I remember, there were a lot of questions on JMOL, renewed JMOL, and post-trial procedures in general. Most prep companies seemed to emphasize jurisdictional questions but not many showed up on the exam.

[left shark]

I had the same PQ yesterday and thought the same thing. I don't remember the MBE being like that.

From what I remember, there were a lot of questions on JMOL, renewed JMOL, and post-trial procedures in general. Most prep companies seemed to emphasize jurisdictional questions but not many showed up on the exam.

Awesome, thank you! I wish they'd ask nothing but jurisdictional questions- at least then I'd have a stronger chance of getting out alive! I'm off to memorize post-trial now.

[BVest]

There were a number of time-counting questions. I hadn't studied those at all, so unless the days were the same as Texas Civ Pro (which I took 3L, and I'm pretty sure they were not), then I either got them wrong or got lucky on those.

I don't recall too many rule-number questions. If there were any, they were obvious ones: Rule 11, 12, etc. There were definitely some that based the answers on small distinctions within the rules.

I can see that type of question relating to class actions being on the exam because of the three types of classes. The use of rule number seems a bit much, but the distinction between the four classes (notice, remedies, opt-out, etc.) seems like fair game, though one of those things that, when you do triage on what to study you might just choose not to study at all. Realistically, there are not likely to be more than 1 or 2 class action questions on the exam, and if there are, they're probably experimental.

[left shark]

There were a number of time-counting questions. I hadn't studied those at all, so unless the days were the same as Texas Civ Pro (which I took 3L, and I'm pretty sure they were not), then I either got them wrong or got lucky on those.

I don't recall too many rule-number questions. If there were any, they were obvious ones: Rule 11, 12, etc. There were definitely some that based the answers on small distinctions within the rules.

I can see that type of question relating to class actions being on the exam because of the three types of classes. The use of rule number seems a bit much, but the distinction between the four classes (notice, remedies, opt-out, etc.) seems like fair game, though one of those things that, when you do triage on what to study you might just choose not to study at all. Realistically, there are not likely to be more than 1 or 2 class action questions on the exam, and if there are, they're probably experimental.

Well, hell. I'll just be sure I know the big ones, I guess.

I am perfectly fine with them referring to Rule 11 or 12, but if they come at me with 13, 18, 22, 23, 26, blah blah blah instead of JUST SAYING WHAT THOSE ARE, then I might eenie meenie miney mo that nonsense.


Fingers crossed for jurisdiction and conflict of laws questions...

[bluesplitter]

"Admission Tickets will be delivered electronically to examinees’ eFast accounts beginning February 1, 2016."-BLE website.


Anyone received theirs? What should i be looking for ?

[KTnKT]

"Admission Tickets will be delivered electronically to examinees’ eFast accounts beginning February 1, 2016."-BLE website.


Anyone received theirs? What should i be looking for ?

Fuck.

[longhornlaw]

For those of y'all that have taken the exam in Austin before - what's the venue like? Is it abnormally cold/hot?

[DueProcessDoWheelies]

"Admission Tickets will be delivered electronically to examinees’ eFast accounts beginning February 1, 2016."-BLE website.


Anyone received theirs? What should i be looking for ?

Fuck.

Relax. You'll get your admission ticket.

[BVest]

For those of y'all that have taken the exam in Austin before - what's the venue like? Is it abnormally cold/hot?

It was a little cold in the summer, but not bad. I wore jeans, long-sleeved tshirt, and a fleece vest, which often came off. The folding tables have a brushed stainless steel top, so long sleeves are key.

[left shark]

Most of my request was on my low MPT score which was not part of the informal review in the email. I went to the office and talked to them (mostly because emails and phone conversations have left something to be desired in the past and because it isn't that hard considering where I live in Austin). Apparently MPT informal review meant to go out with that email but it hadn't yet as of when I was there this afternoon. I don't know if you got it in a separate email or what later. I haven't but I don't know if they didn't send it to me because I talked to them (which would be odd; my guess is we all get it tomorrow). But it's a helpful sheet as well that shows you what you missed.

Did you get yours yet? I finally called and talked to the assistant director- she said that several people have been calling, so she sent mine while we were on the phone.

It's helpful, but only sort of. What I took from it was that I need to find a lawyering gig somewhere that does not require me to apply law to facts. Any recs?

[BVest]

It's helpful, but only sort of. What I took from it was that I need to find a lawyering gig somewhere that does not require me to apply law to facts. Any recs?

Based on the briefs and motions I read on a daily basis, there are apparently a lot of these positions out there.

[jamescastle]

Most of my request was on my low MPT score which was not part of the informal review in the email. I went to the office and talked to them (mostly because emails and phone conversations have left something to be desired in the past and because it isn't that hard considering where I live in Austin). Apparently MPT informal review meant to go out with that email but it hadn't yet as of when I was there this afternoon. I don't know if you got it in a separate email or what later. I haven't but I don't know if they didn't send it to me because I talked to them (which would be odd; my guess is we all get it tomorrow). But it's a helpful sheet as well that shows you what you missed.

Did you get yours yet? I finally called and talked to the assistant director- she said that several people have been calling, so she sent mine while we were on the phone.

It's helpful, but only sort of. What I took from it was that I need to find a lawyering gig somewhere that does not require me to apply law to facts. Any recs?

Yeah I got mine in an email Friday I think.

Retook the simulated MBE and got only marginally better than I did last time and worse than I did on the real thing (assuming 12 points scaling).
Frustrating.

This time, though, most of my misses were in two subjects (one at 41% and one at 25% (wtf)) so hopefully if I can pull those up to average that would get me say 130 scaled. Big if and honestly probably not gonna happen given my track record of repeated failure.

[left shark]

Retook the simulated MBE and got only marginally better than I did last time and worse than I did on the real thing (assuming 12 points scaling).
Frustrating.

This time, though, most of my misses were in two subjects (one at 41% and one at 25% (wtf)) so hopefully if I can pull those up to average that would get me say 130 scaled. Big if and honestly probably not gonna happen given my track record of repeated failure.

Well, here is where I give the standard "You can do it! It's gonna be fine!" And if I were some of the ridiculously annoying people I know, I'd also tell you to "put on your big kid panties and suck it up!" Those people can shove it.

But seriously, it's still all just practice. Better to get them wrong now and shove as many of them in your head as you can for later.

This whole process sucks, and it can be demoralizing at times, but it's the last stupid hurdle and I will be damned if don't clear it. You will too, so go get 'em, tiger.

[bluesplitter]

Anyone get their ticket yet?


Just wondering, what is the window to get the ticket.


Bvest you know?


I dont want to have to get on the phone tomorrow,...to track down my ticket....

[KTnKT]

Anyone get their ticket yet?


Just wondering, what is the window to get the ticket.


Bvest you know?


I dont want to have to get on the phone tomorrow,...to track down my ticket....

I did not get mine. I probably won't worry about it until Friday at least. Gluck!

[BVest]

Anyone get their ticket yet?


Bvest you know?

No inside knowledge. July was via snail mail, arriving July 3 here in Austin (25 days out). There was a lot more reason for concern for folks because until then we didn't really know for sure what our testing location was.

[longhornlaw]

Anyone get their ticket yet?


Just wondering, what is the window to get the ticket.


Bvest you know?


I dont want to have to get on the phone tomorrow,...to track down my ticket....

Just got an email that my ticket is available.

[bluesplitter]

Yes, just got the email as well.


It's getting real folks!

.............. .............

[Cshark440]

How are we feeling about essays at this point?

They are scaring the hell out of me.

[DueProcessDoWheelies]

How are we feeling about essays at this point?

They are scaring the hell out of me.

Practice practice practice. Fuck the lectures. I do all my essay learning from writing them out, reading the model answer, then writing down the rule for each one. I plan on cleaning out the essay book. There's only so much they can test you on.

[Cshark440]

How are we feeling about essays at this point?

They are scaring the hell out of me.

Practice practice practice. Fuck the lectures. I do all my essay learning from writing them out, reading the model answer, then writing down the rule for each one. I plan on cleaning out the essay book. There's only so much they can test you on.

I am aiming to be done with all of the substantive lectures by the end of today, and taking my Practice MBE tomorrow.

Hopefully that gives me enough time to get enough practice in for the essays.

Any recommendations on how to organize and tackle these last 2.5 weeks before the exam. Love to compare my plan with others. (approximately 60 MBE questions every morning and then essays for the rest of the day).

[bluesplitter]

How are we feeling about essays at this point?

They are scaring the hell out of me.

Practice practice practice. Fuck the lectures. I do all my essay learning from writing them out, reading the model answer, then writing down the rule for each one. I plan on cleaning out the essay book. There's only so much they can test you on.

YES, this is definitely "freakout" time.

If you haven't been working diligently for atleast 2-3 weeks, i can see how it seems almost impossible,...because yea, unless your one of those top candidates like say top 25%, yea it's prolly not gonna happen for ya.

But if you have been putting in a good faith effort, as I know most if not all of yall have, then i think a mini freakout sesh is not only acceptable, but expected.

Good news is, there is still plenty of time. Take a deep breath. Exhale. Most of us are experiencing similar anxieties. The good news is, if you have been working hard up to this point, you know who you are, your still on track .


Just keep on working hard, and practicing!

We are all gonna make it!