California Bar Exam (July 2014) thread Forum

[Carryon]

If I failed it was the PR essay that did me in.

If thats all you are worried about, you'll be fine. One essay can't make you fail. Besides, I feel like when an essay or PT is tricky, grading is generous.

I still can't believe the passing scores for July 2013. I think it was 59 for written; 129 for MBE. And I failed Feb. with a raw essay score of 59 and 148 scaled MBE (appx 135 raw). I was 7 points to passing! I ran out of time on 2 essays (wasted time discussing non-issues) and on PTA.

This time around, I feel I did better but you just never know. I've known people who thought they passed and are surprised to see their name not on the list. So annoying!

I agree with the fact that the harder the essay the more generous the grading, based on what I saw with the graded essays at baressays.com. Just for kicks, here is a link that looks like an RPT for glamping.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/i-spent-3 ... 56547.html

Any comments by anyone?

LOL! I'm going to be "objective" here and say it can be a structure since it kinda looks like a cabin but on the other hand, it can be an RV since it has wheels which means it cam be mobile.

I say it is an RV according to law given by PTA of 2014 July bar exam.

[LawJunky]

That photo is pretty hilarious. But in regard to the photo, I think that the RPTs described in the essay were larger and more glamorous. Thanks for the blast to the past....

I like that you were being "objective" as in objective memo.

I was sitting next to a NY attorney taking the attorney's exam. After the persuasive PT-B session was over, he said that he thought the persuasive brief was about a realistic, worthy topic (recovering of attorney's fees) but commented that the "glamping" essay was the dumbest essay he was ever asked to write. I think we can all agree with him.

[catechumen]

Perhaps the CA bar is just preparing us for the thankless and bleak future we have ahead of ourselves should we pass. Can you guys say document review. Given the current state of the legal economy writing a 'glamping' essay may be something we look back upon fondly.

[Carryon]

Perhaps the CA bar is just preparing us for the thankless and bleak future we have ahead of ourselves should we pass. Can you guys say document review. Given the current state of the legal economy writing a 'glamping' essay may be something we look back upon fondly.

Glamping sounds kind of fun. RPGs May be the solution to affordable housing ...oops, that is rv living.

[Carryon]

Perhaps the CA bar is just preparing us for the thankless and bleak future we have ahead of ourselves should we pass. Can you guys say document review. Given the current state of the legal economy writing a 'glamping' essay may be something we look back upon fondly.

Glamping sounds kind of fun. RPGs May be the solution to affordable housing ...oops, that is rv living.

Oops I meant rpts.

[CourtneyElizabeth]

Hey guys - skipped the July 2014 bar after failing July 2013 and Feb 2014...Taking it again this Feb 2015. Kill me.
Anyone pass have any private/semi-private tutors they can suggest? The giant online guys like kaplan and Barbri just are NOT going to cut it for me.

[catechumen]

Is anyone interested in doing a mass review in central cali? I have free access to bunch of classrooms and even a coffee shop at a local church and would love to organize a few days of review. Anyone up for that?

[CALawGirl]

Is anyone interested in doing a mass review in central cali? I have free access to bunch of classrooms and even a coffee shop at a local church and would love to organize a few days of review. Anyone up for that?

Sorry if this is a dumb question.

Mass review for Feb 2015? Or of July Bar? Or just a review just for the heck of it? What is the review for?

[catechumen]

Obviously it would be a mass review for the Feb. 2015 bar. I figure we can get a study group together and go over MBE's, past essays, and PT's. We could even do a quick study of black letter law on the harder subjects. We need to get organized on this thing. I mean if the CA bar test writers collaborate to fail us, why shouldn't we collaborate to pass? Besides, who wants or has another $1000 bucks for a stupid bar review course.

Like I said, I have access to an old churches facility to study. Its basically an old christian school with classrooms not being used during the day, and it has a coffee shop like area too with couches. Its a perfect 'chill' setting to hang out, and cram. So is anyone interested?

[glitter178]

Obviously it would be a mass review for the Feb. 2015 bar. I figure we can get a study group together and go over MBE's, past essays, and PT's. We could even do a quick study of black letter law on the harder subjects. We need to get organized on this thing. I mean if the CA bar test writers collaborate to fail us, why shouldn't we collaborate to pass? Besides, who wants or has another $1000 bucks for a stupid bar review course.

Like I said, I have access to an old churches facility to study. Its basically an old christian school with classrooms not being used during the day, and it has a coffee shop like area too with couches. Its a perfect 'chill' setting to hang out, and cram. So is anyone interested?

I think your cart is about 70-some-odd days ahead of your horse.

[CALawGirl]

Obviously it would be a mass review for the Feb. 2015 bar. I figure we can get a study group together and go over MBE's, past essays, and PT's. We could even do a quick study of black letter law on the harder subjects. We need to get organized on this thing. I mean if the CA bar test writers collaborate to fail us, why shouldn't we collaborate to pass? Besides, who wants or has another $1000 bucks for a stupid bar review course.

Like I said, I have access to an old churches facility to study. Its basically an old christian school with classrooms not being used during the day, and it has a coffee shop like area too with couches. Its a perfect 'chill' setting to hang out, and cram. So is anyone interested?

Dude/Dudette,

Are you that sure you failed to start studying this soon for Feb. 2015? And if you are that convinced you failed, maybe use this time to relax and get refreshed, then get back on the horse on Dec 1st ready to kick some ass!

[catechumen]

Honestly I don't think I failed. That being said, never underestimate the CA bars ability to throw you under the bus.
However, the review would not need to be until after we found out if we passed. Perhaps sometime in December?

As for me, I am doing about 5-10 MBE's a day now. Just keeping stuff fresh in my mind.

That said, I just wanted to put things on the radar for now so we can organize. The more we are organized, the better chance we have to pass this test.

[CALawGirl]

Honestly I don't think I failed. That being said, never underestimate the CA bars ability to throw you under the bus.
However, the review would not need to be until after we found out if we passed. Perhaps sometime in December?

As for me, I am doing about 5-10 MBE's a day now. Just keeping stuff fresh in my mind.

That said, I just wanted to put things on the radar for now so we can organize. The more we are organized, the better chance we have to pass this test.

Got it! "Expect the best; be prepared for the worst." I definitely do not underestimate CBX. In Feb., I ended up with a 1433 score. Close but no cigar.

I glanced at released sample Civ Pro questions posted in the February thread and said a little prayer hoping I don't have to deal with it.

http://www.ncbex.org/assets/media_files ... stions.pdf

[Carryon]

Honestly I don't think I failed. That being said, never underestimate the CA bars ability to throw you under the bus.
However, the review would not need to be until after we found out if we passed. Perhaps sometime in December?

As for me, I am doing about 5-10 MBE's a day now. Just keeping stuff fresh in my mind.

That said, I just wanted to put things on the radar for now so we can organize. The more we are organized, the better chance we have to pass this test.

Got it! "Expect the best; be prepared for the worst." I definitely do not underestimate CBX. In Feb., I ended up with a 1433 score. Close but no cigar.

I glanced at released sample Civ Pro questions posted in the February thread and said a little prayer hoping I don't have to deal with it.

http://www.ncbex.org/assets/media_files ... stions.pdf

How interesting, question 1 deals with trademarks and question 4 deals with patents, which is what I practice. That said, hope I don't have to deal with it on an exam.

[adonai]

Did the results come out and somehow I was not notified of it? Bunch of people on linkedin in recent days updated their profiles to Associate or Attorney/Lawyer. They took the Cal Bar. Maybe they're just that confident that they killed it.

[LSATNightmares]

Did the results come out and somehow I was not notified of it? Bunch of people on linkedin in recent days updated their profiles to Associate or Attorney/Lawyer. They took the Cal Bar. Maybe they're just that confident that they killed it.

No. I just think that they don't know how they're not supposed to call themselves lawyers/attorneys until they pass. I've noticed that many of my classmates have done that for states that have not had results yet either.

[LawDog86]

Did the results come out and somehow I was not notified of it? Bunch of people on linkedin in recent days updated their profiles to Associate or Attorney/Lawyer. They took the Cal Bar. Maybe they're just that confident that they killed it.

No. I just think that they don't know how they're not supposed to call themselves lawyers/attorneys until they pass. I've noticed that many of my classmates have done that for states that have not had results yet either.

A lawyer is someone who's been educated in the law (went to law school). A lawyer who has passed a state's bar exam is an attorney. Thus, it isn't improper for someone who has graduated law school, but has yet to pass the bar, to refer to themselves as a lawyer. However, it is improper for such a person to refer to themselves as an attorney.

[a male human]

Did the results come out and somehow I was not notified of it? Bunch of people on linkedin in recent days updated their profiles to Associate or Attorney/Lawyer. They took the Cal Bar. Maybe they're just that confident that they killed it.

No. I just think that they don't know how they're not supposed to call themselves lawyers/attorneys until they pass. I've noticed that many of my classmates have done that for states that have not had results yet either.

A lawyer is someone who's been educated in the law (went to law school). A lawyer who has passed a state's bar exam is an attorney. Thus, it isn't improper for someone who has graduated law school, but has yet to pass the bar, to refer to themselves as a lawyer. However, it is improper for such a person to refer to themselves as an attorney.

Really? Never knew that.

[CALawGirl]

Did the results come out and somehow I was not notified of it? Bunch of people on linkedin in recent days updated their profiles to Associate or Attorney/Lawyer. They took the Cal Bar. Maybe they're just that confident that they killed it.

No. I just think that they don't know how they're not supposed to call themselves lawyers/attorneys until they pass. I've noticed that many of my classmates have done that for states that have not had results yet either.

A lawyer is someone who's been educated in the law (went to law school). A lawyer who has passed a state's bar exam is an attorney. Thus, it isn't improper for someone who has graduated law school, but has yet to pass the bar, to refer to themselves as a lawyer. However, it is improper for such a person to refer to themselves as an attorney.

Wow! I never knew there was a difference between a lawyer and an attorney. Maybe because a lot of people don't know the difference, to protect the public, "lawyer" and "attorney" are used synonymously.

http://www.legalmatch.com/lawyer-or-att ... rence.html

[LawJunky]

Hello fellow bar takers,

According to Black's law dictionary, a lawyer means.... "one who is licensed to practice law". So don't call yourself a lawyer until after you pass the bar exam and are sworn in. According to Black's, Attorney means "1. strictly, one who is designated to transact business for another; a legal agent. -- also termed attorney-in-fact; private attorney. 2. A person who practices law".

So, a lawyer is one who is licensed to practice law, and an attorney is a person who actually does practice law. You could be a lawyer without being an attorney (you are licensed but for whatever reason you don't practice), but you cannot be an attorney without being a lawyer first (licensed).

An a side note, I believe all the Washington state bar takers knew their results in early September. Still a long way to go for us California bar takers.

Thank you

[a male human]

Hello fellow bar takers,

According to Black's law dictionary, a lawyer means.... "one who is licensed to practice law". So don't call yourself a lawyer until after you pass the bar exam and are sworn in. According to Black's, Attorney means "1. strictly, one who is designated to transact business for another; a legal agent. -- also termed attorney-in-fact; private attorney. 2. A person who practices law".

So, a lawyer is one who is licensed to practice law, and an attorney is a person who actually does practice law. You could be a lawyer without being an attorney (you are licensed but for whatever reason you don't practice), but you cannot be an attorney without being a lawyer first (licensed).

An a side note, I believe all the Washington state bar takers knew their results in early September. Still a long way to go for us California bar takers.

Thank you

No, thank you.

Your post reminded me of something called "power of attorney," which makes sense given your explanation. If I understand correctly, a patent agent (licensed to practice before the USPTO but not practice state law) can still be given POA.

[TitoSantana]

Just for further clarification for those who don't know the difference...A lawyer is like Star Jones (properly pronounced Lawya), a counselor is like Nick Nolte in Cape Fear ("Counselor, come out come out where ever you are"), and a true attorney is trained in both the law and origami. For more education, just click on this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBLTW-KLdHA

[LawJunky]

That's a great video with the lawyer ramming his truck into that car. Pretty hilarious indeed. I have seen that before somewhere. It was a great flashback. Thank you.

[CALawGirl]

ESSAYS ARE UP!

***Disclaimer: if you don't want to see it, Do Not Click On The Link!***

http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Portals ... ions_R.pdf

[patogordo]

oh it's just the essay questions lol. i thought it was model answers