California Bar Exam (July 2014) thread Forum

[CourtneyElizabeth]

Guys - just don't look. It doesn't do a LICK of good and will just serve to make you more nervous/anxious/sick.

[dtl]

Guys - just don't look. It doesn't do a LICK of good and will just serve to make you more nervous/anxious/sick.

I dunno it kind of made me feel better. We all know what general points we had to raise given this forum. I already knew I missed a few things, but this confirms that there was no huge hidden thing I did not read right under pressure.

Can go either way.

[hyc9598]

Between 13 inch macbook air (850 dollars with Bestbuy discount) and 11 (touchscreen) or 15 inch Asus (284 or 240 dollars), which one is better for bar exam typing?

[LawJunky]

Hi,

The Apple product could be a better thing to go with "overall", meaning for years of use. I would be hesitant to use it on the bar exam compared with the Asus though, since I have many years (decades in fact) of experience with Window machines, and you definitely don't want any technical issues or usability challenges in the middle of the exam. The Windows machines have been in service longer than the Apple machines as far as ExamSoft goes, so that implies a more stable and better tested platform for ExamSoft. This is conjecture. I don't know anyone who has used an Apple on the exam. I would want a larger screen on the bar exam versus a smaller screen. 15 is not significantly larger than 13 since, on the horizontal measurement, there is maybe an inch (or less) difference. They measure the screens diagonally which I find a tad bit misleading. 15 sounds a lot bigger than 13, but it really is not much larger.

Your decision would probably depend upon weather you are a Windows person, or a Mac person. I have an iPad, so I am sold in terms of Apple quality and usability. Using ExamSoft is a breeze assuming you are completely acclimated to your computer of choice. If that acclimation occurred over many years on a Windows machine, it would probably not tempt Murphy's law to stick with Windows. But you could be afflicted by Murphy’s law by switching to a Mac too soon before taking the bar.

So if you don't have much experience with Apple products, and you have a lot of experience with Window products, the Asus is probably the better bet for the bar exam. Windows 7 would be better than Windows 8 since the latter is a bit more complicated.

Hopefully my points are helpful.

Thank you

[CourtneyElizabeth]

I'm typing from my macbook air. I'm a big fan. Never had an issue and I've taken two bar exams (ha) , even when everyone else had those huge ExamSoft issues.
I got it in 2012 I think? I've had no issues. The Microsoft Surface is cheaper, smaller, etc. so I was thinking about trading this bad boy in BUT this computer has been so reliable it would be foolish to do so.
Windows is a lot more prone to viruses, too.

[LawJunky]

I do completely agree that Windows is more prone to viruses. Actually, I have never heard of a virus on an Apple product.

So, I think your input is right on. If you are comfortable with Apple, go for it on the bar exam.

[TitoSantana]

Just in case you all forgot...
http://youtu.be/jScuYd3_xdQ

[Carryon]

Guys - just don't look. It doesn't do a LICK of good and will just serve to make you more nervous/anxious/sick.

I dunno it kind of made me feel better. We all know what general points we had to raise given this forum. I already knew I missed a few things, but this confirms that there was no huge hidden thing I did not read right under pressure.

Can go either way.

I looked too. I noticed that Question 4 asked if dan's confession could be suppressed for any reason at trial. Can't believe that I did not discuss impeachment use. Anybody have any other thoughts on this or the other exam questions. Wonder when barsecrets.com posts a video on their answers this exam now that the questions are out.

[CALawGirl]

Guys - just don't look. It doesn't do a LICK of good and will just serve to make you more nervous/anxious/sick.

I dunno it kind of made me feel better. We all know what general points we had to raise given this forum. I already knew I missed a few things, but this confirms that there was no huge hidden thing I did not read right under pressure.

Can go either way.

I looked too. I noticed that Question 4 asked if dan's confession could be suppressed for any reason at trial. Can't believe that I did not discuss impeachment use. Anybody have any other thoughts on this or the other exam questions. Wonder when barsecrets.com posts a video on their answers this exam now that the questions are out.

Yeah. I didn't discuss impeachment either. Hoping it is one of those "you can miss issues and still pass" situations. Keeping positive.

I sent an email to BarSecrets.com to ask when they plan to release essay debrief. This was his response:

"Thank-you for your inquiry. We are a bit behind on debriefs. We are finishing up a package to help Feb Bar candidates cope with the addition of Federal Civil Procedure on the MBE. As a result, I do not expect to do the debriefs until December. I do like your idea to distinguish major and minor issues, and we will try to do something in this regard."

[Jay Heizenburg]

Guys - just don't look. It doesn't do a LICK of good and will just serve to make you more nervous/anxious/sick.

I dunno it kind of made me feel better. We all know what general points we had to raise given this forum. I already knew I missed a few things, but this confirms that there was no huge hidden thing I did not read right under pressure.

Can go either way.

I looked too. I noticed that Question 4 asked if dan's confession could be suppressed for "any" reason at trial. Can't believe that I did not discuss impeachment use. Anybody have any other thoughts on this or the other exam questions. Wonder when barsecrets.com posts a video on their answers this exam now that the questions are out.

Yeah, after looking at Question 4 again I noticed that "any use at trial" too and specifically said to myself, "Oops, I guess Impeachment was an issue after all ... Oh well, I missed that one too. Whoop dee doo!" And left it alone.

P.S. To be sure, this was a "laugh out loud" moment for me.

P.S.S. To be fair, kudos to those who spotted and wrote about this issue, I tip my hat to you.

[jarofsoup]

I got the impeachment issue. But it does not make me feel any more confident.

[a male human]

Are people getting antsy about results with one month left? Anyone studying already?

[CALawGirl]

Are people getting antsy about results with one month left? Anyone studying already?

I call it getting it all out of my system now and mentally preparing for the possibilities. It would be quicker and easier for me to pick up the pieces & jump right back into it on Nov. 22nd with no lingering feeling of WHYYYY?!?!?

Anyway, I've already began reviewing Barbri long outline starting with Civ Pro. No more than an hour a day. Any suggestions?

BTW, I remember reading that you missed issues for PR & Property in Feb but felt you did well in the PTs & MBEs to pull you through. Why do you feel PTs & MBE were what helped? Did you finish? Did you feel confident?

I still laugh about that butt-crack drawing peeking through the chair that you posted. LMAO!!!!

[a male human]

Are people getting antsy about results with one month left? Anyone studying already?

I call it getting it all out of my system now and mentally preparing for the possibilities. It would be quicker and easier for me to pick up the pieces & jump right back into it on Nov. 22nd with no lingering feeling of WHYYYY?!?!?

Anyway, I've already began reviewing Barbri long outline starting with Civ Pro. No more than an hour a day. Any suggestions?

BTW, I remember reading that you missed issues for PR & Property in Feb but felt you did well in the PTs & MBEs to pull you through. Why do you feel PTs & MBE were what helped? Did you finish? Did you feel confident?

I still laugh about that butt-crack drawing peeking through the chair that you posted. LMAO!!!!

HAHA you just made my day! I didn't think anyone still remembered that drawing.

Re long outline: Is that the CMR or the detailed outline? If you mean the latter, I would reference the CMR instead because you don't need to (and can't) remember everything in the big outline. If you want more details on a particular concept, that's when I would use the big outline.

Also, you have a bit more time after results if you are taking the Feb bar: 3 months compared to a bit over 2 for July (assuming you didn't start studying before May). I wouldn't go full in just yet, although civ pro is a good choice since it will start appearing on the MBE. Just don't tire yourself out. Less than an hour a day is good. I would personally go for 20-30 minutes (I'm lazy and can't focus longer). If you want to retain the material, review it and apply it later, after Nov.

If you're concerned about memorizing, I wrote a guest post about it on Bar Exam Toolbox: http://www.barexamtoolbox.com/memorizat ... ple-1-2-3/

Re PTs: I was more confident because I felt that I saw most of the issues and organized them well. I don't like to memorize, which you don't need to do on open-book PTs. I practiced a bunch of PTs for Feb, too. People really underestimate the importance of PTs (relatively easy depending on the prompt but you only get two shots, and they make up 1/3 of your score). In July I got unexpectedly difficult ones, which threw me off.

Re MBE: I used real questions to practice and surgically treated my weak areas. For example, I was great at crim but bad at torts, especially negligence. I would hone in and study a lot more torts. I think this deliberate approach contributed to improving my score and feeling better.

Yes, I finished all sections to the extent SofTest allowed me (got a bug during PT-A where I couldn't insert spaces without doing some typographic gymnastics). I panicked over an MBE question I later found I got wrong even though I should have known the right answer. Kept thinking "what if that question pushes me below 1440." IIRC, each MBE question is worth around 3 scaled points!

[lmr]

I'm still haunted by that trusts/CP essay question. I cannot bear to even look at it. I just remember telling myself to aim for 50-55 on this one and move the hell on. It was awful.

The PR/Corps one was a bit weird too but idk anyone who thought that the PR rules/CA distinctions were clear.


Do we know how the MBE will be scaled based on other states' results? Can we just take our percentile rank from Barbri PT as a good indicator?


These 30 days are going to be agonizing-i'm already feeling myself get anxiety at work over it-the humiliation of not passing will be awful.

[a male human]

Most of the states now boast a lower passing rate for the most recent administration. I believe it's due to the MBE's ever-increasing difficulty.

[jarofsoup]

I'm still haunted by that trusts/CP essay question. I cannot bear to even look at it. I just remember telling myself to aim for 50-55 on this one and move the hell on. It was awful.

The PR/Corps one was a bit weird too but idk anyone who thought that the PR rules/CA distinctions were clear.


Do we know how the MBE will be scaled based on other states' results? Can we just take our percentile rank from Barbri PT as a good indicator?


These 30 days are going to be agonizing-i'm already feeling myself get anxiety at work over it-the humiliation of not passing will be awful.

I really did not know any concrete PR duties that apply to that question. It was all like duty of candor, duty to the court, duty to etc., duty to act reasonable.

Such a BS question.

[CALawGirl]

Are people getting antsy about results with one month left? Anyone studying already?

I call it getting it all out of my system now and mentally preparing for the possibilities. It would be quicker and easier for me to pick up the pieces & jump right back into it on Nov. 22nd with no lingering feeling of WHYYYY?!?!?

Anyway, I've already began reviewing Barbri long outline starting with Civ Pro. No more than an hour a day. Any suggestions?

BTW, I remember reading that you missed issues for PR & Property in Feb but felt you did well in the PTs & MBEs to pull you through. Why do you feel PTs & MBE were what helped? Did you finish? Did you feel confident?

I still laugh about that butt-crack drawing peeking through the chair that you posted. LMAO!!!!

HAHA you just made my day! I didn't think anyone still remembered that drawing.

Re long outline: Is that the CMR or the detailed outline? If you mean the latter, I would reference the CMR instead because you don't need to (and can't) remember everything in the big outline. If you want more details on a particular concept, that's when I would use the big outline.

Also, you have a bit more time after results if you are taking the Feb bar: 3 months compared to a bit over 2 for July (assuming you didn't start studying before May). I wouldn't go full in just yet, although civ pro is a good choice since it will start appearing on the MBE. Just don't tire yourself out. Less than an hour a day is good. I would personally go for 20-30 minutes (I'm lazy and can't focus longer). If you want to retain the material, review it and apply it later, after Nov.

If you're concerned about memorizing, I wrote a guest post about it on Bar Exam Toolbox: http://www.barexamtoolbox.com/memorizat ... ple-1-2-3/

Re PTs: I was more confident because I felt that I saw most of the issues and organized them well. I don't like to memorize, which you don't need to do on open-book PTs. I practiced a bunch of PTs for Feb, too. People really underestimate the importance of PTs (relatively easy depending on the prompt but you only get two shots, and they make up 1/3 of your score). In July I got unexpectedly difficult ones, which threw me off.

Re MBE: I used real questions to practice and surgically treated my weak areas. For example, I was great at crim but bad at torts, especially negligence. I would hone in and study a lot more torts. I think this deliberate approach contributed to improving my score and feeling better.

Yes, I finished all sections to the extent SofTest allowed me (got a bug during PT-A where I couldn't insert spaces without doing some typographic gymnastics). I panicked over an MBE question I later found I got wrong even though I should have known the right answer. Kept thinking "what if that question pushes me below 1440." IIRC, each MBE question is worth around 3 scaled points!

Thanks for the link & your response. Very helpful; I've booked marked it. I'm reviewing the long outline for subjects I struggle with Civ Pro & Evidence. Damn distinctions. I'm not going overboard though...don't want to burnout.

If I got 5 more points on PT in Feb., I would have passed or even 3 MBEs. So I don't underestimate PTs at all. 1432...So close yet so far!

P.S.: while I was sitting to take the exam, I found myself adjusting my pants to avoid butt crack peeking from the back of my chair [Bible]!!! LOL!

[CourtneyElizabeth]

HAHA I will ensure that no butt crack will be showing come February.

[lmr]

So i'm the only one who thought the trusts/CP question was hard?

[Jay Heizenburg]

So i'm the only one who thought the trusts/CP question was hard?

I don't know if you watch HBO or not, but in the famous words of Bill Maher, "Fuck no!"

I'll elaborate later.

[catechumen]

Everyone thought the Trusts/CP question was hard. That's good! (It means the graders won't have high expectations.)

I don't see the question helping anyone pass... That's bad!

The MBE pass rate is down for the entire nation, which means a easier curve. That's good!

The California Bar Exam is the hardest in the country so everyone will be proud of you if you do pass. (The odds are against us on passing...) That's bad

Now enjoy this Simpsons clip on what's good and bad...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_pqnsKWlpc

Oh and for those that watch the clip, the CA bar exam does not come with a free frogurt. That's bad.

[adonai]

So i'm the only one who thought the trusts/CP question was hard?

It was hard. Same with the the PR/Corps. I'd imagine the trusts/CP and remedies questions caught a lot of people off guard because it was the 4th/5th time in a row the subjects were tested. No one really expected those topics to get tested again, so lots of people may have been underprepared.

[chass]

Everyone thought the Trusts/CP question was hard. That's good! (It means the graders won't have high expectations.)

I don't see the question helping anyone pass... That's bad!

The MBE pass rate is down for the entire nation, which means a easier curve. That's good!

The California Bar Exam is the hardest in the country so everyone will be proud of you if you do pass. (The odds are against us on passing...) That's bad

Now enjoy this Simpsons clip on what's good and bad...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_pqnsKWlpc

Oh and for those that watch the clip, the CA bar exam does not come with a free frogurt. That's bad.

I thought if the MBE pass rate was down for the entire nation and CA then it meant a harder curve and less people admitted into CA?

[Carryon]

So i'm the only one who thought the trusts/CP question was hard?

I thought that it was a little hard too. I do think though, that I panic a little in answering the question too.