MD Bar Exam- July 2015- Thoughts Forum

[eloise16]

Came across a hard copy (they still exist!!) of the Daily Record, and they have a nice, two-page spread showing off our names.

The writers noted that this year's passage rate (63%) was the worst in over a decade. UM Law's passage rate was 76% for first timers, and U. Baltimore's was 60%. No info on the DC schools.

jealous! Would have really liked to see it in print (or on the internet... why would MD post the list with a newspaper that requires a paid subscription...?)

[NYKfanAIesq]

Came across a hard copy (they still exist!!) of the Daily Record, and they have a nice, two-page spread showing off our names.

The writers noted that this year's passage rate (63%) was the worst in over a decade. UM Law's passage rate was 76% for first timers, and U. Baltimore's was 60%. No info on the DC schools.

jealous! Would have really liked to see it in print (or on the internet... why would MD post the list with a newspaper that requires a paid subscription...?)

wait our names are published already??

[gr8scOtt!]

Came across a hard copy (they still exist!!) of the Daily Record, and they have a nice, two-page spread showing off our names.

The writers noted that this year's passage rate (63%) was the worst in over a decade. UM Law's passage rate was 76% for first timers, and U. Baltimore's was 60%. No info on the DC schools.

jealous! Would have really liked to see it in print (or on the internet... why would MD post the list with a newspaper that requires a paid subscription...?)

wait our names are published already??

Yep! Today's Daily Record

[secondtimer87]

Congrats to all who passed! Those who failed, been there done that, it's easier the second time. PS: doesn't seem to be any way to actually get your scores unfortunately, no idea what's the reasoning of not releasing it aside from saving on some ink and paper. Check later this year to see if your answers made it to the sample answers document for each question if he did, you'd know you did great.

[crimsontide]

Hi,

Where can we find a hard copy of the daily record? I really would like one, since the other option is paying more than I can currently afford for a temp subscription......arrrrrgghh......

[daveaa]

Hi,

Where can we find a hard copy of the daily record? I really would like one, since the other option is paying more than I can currently afford for a temp subscription......arrrrrgghh......

It looks like you can order "PLAQUE REPRINT PACKAGES" by emailing Morgan Cook at morgan.cook@thedailyrecord.com or by phone at 443-524-8181 : http://thedailyrecord.com/reprints/

Or you can order a whole back issue from Molly Bartello at 443-524-8184, or molly.bartello@thedailyrecord.com : http://thedailyrecord.com/back-issues/

If you go through with that, I'd appreciate if you posted on here whether or not you think it's worth it once you get the copy.

[crimsontide]

Seems they're giving away copies for $2 if you go to their office in person. It's a bit problematic if you live far away from Baltimore though :/

Why didn't they post it for public view like they normally do? ****Siiiigh*****

[kateebee]

So when are we allowed to start using Esq. after our name????? I know we aren't supposed to do any lawyering until after the oath, but I'm trying to add Esq. to my email signature ASAP so my emails carry a little more heft (right now, my title is still Paralegal Specialist and will be for a while). I assume it's not allowed until after the oath also, but I'm just wondering if anyone has any other intel on that.

[robinhoodOO]

So when are we allowed to start using Esq. after our name????? I know we aren't supposed to do any lawyering until after the oath, but I'm trying to add Esq. to my email signature ASAP so my emails carry a little more heft (right now, my title is still Paralegal Specialist and will be for a while). I assume it's not allowed until after the oath also, but I'm just wondering if anyone has any other intel on that.

Perhaps someone with a linguistic background can correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't esquire mean lawyer? Technically, we're already lawyers. We're just not attorneys because we're not licensed to actually practice law in our respective jurisdictions until sworn in, etc. Thus, you likely could include it now. But, just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. I suspect that certain jurisdictions would consider use of the title as potential evidence of the unauthorized practice of law. Thus, I would think everyone wanting to use the title should wait until they are officially licensed. It's also possible others would consider it being used in bad taste. Err on the side of caution here

[eloise16]

Has anyone heard back about their swearing in date?

[NYKfanAIesq]

Has anyone heard back about their swearing in date?

Not yet!

[gr8scOtt!]

Anyone yet?

Based on this, I'm calling tomorrow morning...
http://mdcourts.gov/coappeals/baradmissions201512.html

[kateebee]

Got my letter with the tickets last night. If anyone's on the 16th at 1pm, see you there!

[NYKfanAIesq]

Got my letter with the tickets last night. If anyone's on the 16th at 1pm, see you there!

Awesome, did anyone else get theirs?

I still have not, hopefully today or tmrw.

[buttes]

Got my letter for the 15th either last night or the night before. I had my contact info validation form thing in the mail the same day I got the official bar results, so I think it's probably just a function of how quickly they got all your stuff together.

[NYKfanAIesq]

Got my letter for the 15th either last night or the night before. I had my contact info validation form thing in the mail the same day I got the official bar results, so I think it's probably just a function of how quickly they got all your stuff together.

That makes sense, I sent mine in the day after Veterans Day.

[crimsontide]

Also, for those who received MD Justice bar association membership letters (ie. membership is free 2 years)--is it worth it to join? Which associations is anyone choosing to join? Some/all/none? I heard there's four specialty bar associations in MD.

[kateebee]

Also, for those who received MD Justice bar association membership letters (ie. membership is free 2 years)--is it worth it to join? Which associations is anyone choosing to join? Some/all/none? I heard there's four specialty bar associations in MD.

I will not be joining the Md. Association for Justice or whatever that group is called. It's the trial lawyers bar association, and I couldn't be farther from that type of practice. I think it just depends what you want to do. I am not going to join any Md. associations because I will be practicing in DC for the government. I am going to use my school's young alumni group as my primary networking group for now. I may join the Inns of Court in Anne Arundel County eventually because I am planning to move there soon but even that's questionable for me. Will re-evaluate in a few years if I decide there's a next step for me. (Doubtful... I love working for the government...)

[eloise16]

Is anyone else confused about the dress instructions for the mandatory professionalism course? "Women must wear appropriate business suits including a blazer and business appropriate shoes. Those persons wearing jeans, sweat suits, polo shirts, sandals, khakis, flip flops, capris, cropped pants, slim fit pants, tapered leg pants, leggings, “jeggings”, etc. will be directed to leave."

All of business pants, purchased at Ann Taylor or Banana Republic, are "tapered" or "slim fit" so as to allow me to wear flats. Wtf?

[kateebee]

Is anyone else confused about the dress instructions for the mandatory professionalism course? "Women must wear appropriate business suits including a blazer and business appropriate shoes. Those persons wearing jeans, sweat suits, polo shirts, sandals, khakis, flip flops, capris, cropped pants, slim fit pants, tapered leg pants, leggings, “jeggings”, etc. will be directed to leave."

All of business pants, purchased at Ann Taylor or Banana Republic, are "tapered" or "slim fit" so as to allow me to wear flats. Wtf?

I found those instructions so demeaning. I'm an adult. Tell me the attire is business professional, and I'll dress appropriately. Anyone who doesn't know what business professional is by now has bigger problems. I don't understand the slim fit/taper restriction either. It doesn't make a lot of sense. I went to the class yesterday, everyone was wearing suits. No outfit check at the door, haha. If you wear a suit with full-length pants and flats, regardless of the taper, you'll be fine. I think they were probably just trying to keep out capris, pants that are too tight, and possibly ankle-length pants.

[crimsontide]

What was the class like--do we need to bring a notebook to write with? Just curious (also I'm in a non-legal per se job at the moment so I have no idea what to expect lol). Did pack the nice business stuff though.

[kateebee]

What was the class like--do we need to bring a notebook to write with? Just curious (also I'm in a non-legal per se job at the moment so I have no idea what to expect lol). Did pack the nice business stuff though.

Sorry I didn't see this sooner... they provide a hefty notebook of materials with some pages in the back for notes. I found it more than sufficient for jotting down the few things I found interesting (like the announcement of ANOTHER fee we have to pay, ha). A pen should be all you need. The morning session was mostly people presenting, but they were good speakers and kept it interesting (although it was 90% irrelevant if you aren't practicing traditional client-based law). At lunch there were information tables scattered about with info about bar associations and people from the clerk's office and bar examiners office to talk to about issues with swearing in/bar application. In my afternoon breakout session, we went over hypotheticals that were basically a repeat of Professional Responsibility class from law school. About 30 people in my session... talked once and felt okay with my participation level.

At the end of the day, I am pretty frustrated that I had to burn an entire day of annual leave to take this class, especially because it's coming directly out of my paid maternity leave in the spring. Everything that was discussed was covered in my PR class in law school, by studying for the MPRE, or by not being a complete and total moron/sociopath. It's like the dress code stuff... if you need to be told that it's a bad idea to be late to court without calling or to lie to the judge about how long your motion will take or to be an A-hole to court staff, then you've got bigger problems and this course probably isn't going to set you straight. Anyway, just my personal opinion. I can't wait to be sworn in and be done with jumping through all these hoops.

[FrattyBoh]

Thanks for that Katie. Like you, I had to take time off. I also had to rent a car for the commute. One of my friends had to fly in from California. All this to be "taught" things that every graduate of an ABA accredited school already took a course on in law school (the ABA requires a course on professional responsibility).

[kateebee]

Thanks for that Katie. Like you, I had to take time off. I also had to rent a car for the commute. One of my friends had to fly in from California. All this to be "taught" things that every graduate of an ABA accredited school already took a course on in law school (the ABA requires a course on professional responsibility).

OMG, buying a plane ticket for this would have sent me over the edge. Is your friend going to have to fly in again for swearing-in???? I would lose my mind.

[NYKfanAIesq]

Thanks for that Katie. Like you, I had to take time off. I also had to rent a car for the commute. One of my friends had to fly in from California. All this to be "taught" things that every graduate of an ABA accredited school already took a course on in law school (the ABA requires a course on professional responsibility).

OMG, buying a plane ticket for this would have sent me over the edge. Is your friend going to have to fly in again for swearing-in???? I would lose my mind.

FYI- they posted the july 2015 essay questions, but not the answers yet... im so curious to see what the model answers look like