California Bar Exam (July 2014) thread Forum

[Carryon]

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?

I wonder how a lower MBE pass rates affects the passing rate of examinees, like myself, who took the 2 day Attorney Exam, which does not include the MBE. Maybe no effect, any thoughts?

[a male human]

Every administration has at least one WTF question that everyone hates. It's doable for you to be minimally (probably decently) competent on 80% of the exam based on your preparation. Save the other 20% for the legal rockstars who like reading law review articles for fun and end up as the model answer.

[adonai]

Every administration has at least one WTF question that everyone hates. It's doable for you to be minimally (probably decently) competent on 80% of the exam based on your preparation. Save the other 20% for the legal rockstars who like reading law review articles for fun and end up as the model answer.

Minimal competence seems like such a high standard in ca..

[a male human]

Every administration has at least one WTF question that everyone hates. It's doable for you to be minimally (probably decently) competent on 80% of the exam based on your preparation. Save the other 20% for the legal rockstars who like reading law review articles for fun and end up as the model answer.

Minimal competence seems like such a high standard in ca..

Hence the "decently" part
Apparently minimal competence and practice of law require memorizing boxes of text.

[Jay Heizenburg]

Every administration has at least one WTF question that everyone hates. It's doable for you to be minimally (probably decently) competent on 80% of the exam based on your preparation. Save the other 20% for the legal rockstars who like reading law review articles for fun and end up as the model answer.

Lol, these people amaze me, but I bet they're better off than I am right now. Still was funny though.

[Jay Heizenburg]

Every administration has at least one WTF question that everyone hates. It's doable for you to be minimally (probably decently) competent on 80% of the exam based on your preparation. Save the other 20% for the legal rockstars who like reading law review articles for fun and end up as the model answer.

Minimal competence seems like such a high standard in ca..

This is so freakin' true. When it comes to the CA Bar, "Minimal Competence" has to be the most deceptive phrase/standard ever.

[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.

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.

That was my big missed issue as well.

[adonai]

Have they ever released ca bar results early? With NY being out I am getting really impatient..we still have 3.5 weeks and it feels like an eternity

[a male human]

No, they show no mercy. You will wait until the week before Thanksgiving and like it. You will watch the countdown go down by day, by hour, then by minute. Blood vessels and time dilating until you aren't sure such a thing as the future exists. Then you input your applicant ID. For 3 seconds of concentrated agony, you will walk the line between Heaven and Hell. You can't escape this fate.

[adonai]

No, they show no mercy. You will wait until the week before Thanksgiving and like it. You will watch the countdown go down by day, by hour, then by minute. Blood vessels and time dilating until you aren't sure such a thing as the future exists. Then you input your applicant ID. For 3 seconds of concentrated agony, you will walk the line between Heaven and Hell. You can't escape this fate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bImBBTaPDY

[a male human]

I'm just trying to relive the horror in light of Halloween.

[CALawGirl]

Just watched: "How Do You Know if you Failed [or Passed] the Bar exam."

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=juUPn2rBbZ4

I don't know if you can "really" know though. I've heard it all. People who were convinced they passed but failed and vice versa.

[krendall55]

No, they show no mercy. You will wait until the week before Thanksgiving and like it. You will watch the countdown go down by day, by hour, then by minute. Blood vessels and time dilating until you aren't sure such a thing as the future exists. Then you input your applicant ID. For 3 seconds of concentrated agony, you will walk the line between Heaven and Hell. You can't escape this fate.

MASOCHISTS!!!

[natelie1]

I've been pretty good about not thinking about the results until now, but it is starting to creep up on me. The wait is really torture.

[catechumen]

3 weeks until Dooms Day! Perhaps we should be thinking about organizing a mass study session for the next exam soon?

I don't know about you, but I am not optimistic. Never underestimate the CA Bar Exams ability to 'scam' you... I would suggest a class action law suit, but somehow I don't see that going well... Perhaps they would let us represent ourselves?

[jarofsoup]

3 weeks until Dooms Day! Perhaps we should be thinking about organizing a mass study session for the next exam soon?

I don't know about you, but I am not optimistic. Never underestimate the CA Bar Exams ability to 'scam' you... I would suggest a class action law suit, but somehow I don't see that going well... Perhaps they would let us represent ourselves?

A class action is to much of a blunt tool and I am pretty sure you run into sovereign immunity. Basically you would need a SuperPAC and a lobbying firm.

[LawDog86]

No, they show no mercy. You will wait until the week before Thanksgiving and like it. You will watch the countdown go down by day, by hour, then by minute. Blood vessels and time dilating until you aren't sure such a thing as the future exists. Then you input your applicant ID. For 3 seconds of concentrated agony, you will walk the line between Heaven and Hell. You can't escape this fate.

This was brilliant and unfortunately, very apt. AMH hit this experience right on the head.

[barjamie8]

The wait is absolutely killing me. I don't understand why they can't hire more graders and get the results earlier.

[Jay Heizenburg]

The wait is absolutely killing me. I don't understand why they can't hire more graders and get the results earlier.

You are not alone. And I don't care that our results are released after New York's, but the fact that they're being released several weeks after New York's is irritating the fuck out of me.

As you can see, I'm annoyed.

[uvauvauva]

What day/time do results usually get posted?

I took CA on a whim and crammed for the exam. I don't have any intention to moving to CA anymore.

[CALawGirl]

@ uvauvauva Nov. 21st 6pm

I'm so numb...I don't care anymore! I guess I got it all out of my system.

On another note, after I took Feb., a day after the exam, I estimated my scores/performance based on how I felt. This is how it turned out:

Essay 1:PR
Guessed 65 --> ended up with 70 (got all issues; I had no ABA/CA distinctions)

Essay 2: Comm Prop
65---> 62.5 (1st read = 65 & 2nd read = 60) didnt go into details on Van Camp/ Periera

Essay 3: Civ Pro
55 ---> 52.5 (50 & 55) wasted time talking about Personal JDX, didn't discuss timing issue, vague removal/remand analysis & ran out of time.

PTA
55 ---> 55 instead of three headings, I had one. Ran outta time.

Essay 4: Property
60 ---> 62.5 (60 & 65) my organization was kinda off but I got all the issues

Essay 5: Con Law
60 ---> 60 I didn't raise state action & standing. My time/place/manner analysis was not as tight as I would have loved.

Essay 6: Remedies
65 ---> 55 I stupidly analyzed rights/claims with the remedies instead of just remedies. So there was a whole lotta non-issues & I ran outta time

PTB
60 ---> 60 I kinda got confused on how to organize but gave it my best shot and concluded. I wasn't sure if to analyze phone script or voicemail but I did.

MBE
135 raw based on Barbri midterm ---> 148 scaled

For July, when I saw Remedies, I got a cold chill! I was like FOOL ME ONCE!!!

Hang in there guys!

[Law-So-Hard]

How useful do you think this calculator is? I felt okay on my essays and one of the PTs and I put in a low MBE score because I felt like I guessed on a lot of them. I find it really hard to judge or assess myself, though.

http://one-timers.com/calculate-your-fi ... exam-grade

The anxiety is starting to really kill me -- acne, my hair is falling out, and my sleep cycle is F-ed up. If it wasn't for my amazing support system I would be in a really bad place. I can't afford to re-take immediately and I am not employed yet/no real prospects, so I really need to pass to move life forward.

[a male human]

I used that calculator to occupy my time projecting my scaled scores on the low end and high end.

It's only good for fantasizing to keep your sanity in check or despairing further

Entertainment purposes only, so to speak.

[Carryon]

[quote="CALawGirl"]@ uvauvauva Nov. 21st 6pm

I'm so numb...I don't care anymore! I guess I got it all out of my system.

On another note, after I took Feb., a day after the exam, I estimated my scores/performance based on how I felt. This is how it turned out:

Essay 1:PR
Guessed 65 --> ended up with 70 (got all issues; I had no ABA/CA distinctions)

Essay 2: Comm Prop
65---> 62.5 (1st read = 65 & 2nd read = 60) didnt go into details on Van Camp/ Periera

Essay 3: Civ Pro
55 ---> 52.5 (50 & 55) wasted time talking about Personal JDX, didn't discuss timing issue, vague removal/remand analysis & ran out of time.

PTA
55 ---> 55 instead of three headings, I had one. Ran outta time.

Essay 4: Property
60 ---> 62.5 (60 & 65) my organization was kinda off but I got all the issues

Essay 5: Con Law
60 ---> 60 I didn't raise state action & standing. My time/place/manner analysis was not as tight as I would have loved.

Essay 6: Remedies
65 ---> 55 I stupidly analyzed rights/claims with the remedies instead of just remedies. So there was a whole lotta non-issues & I ran outta time

PTB
60 ---> 60 I kinda got confused on how to organize but gave it my best shot and concluded. I wasn't sure if to analyze phone script or voicemail but I did.

MBE
135 raw based on Barbri midterm ---> 148 scaled

For July, when I saw Remedies, I got a cold chill! I was like FOOL ME ONCE!!!

Hang in there guys![/quote

You must have been really close to passing. My scores in February were a bunch of 55s. I think this time I did better, but not sure if it is enough to pass.

[david33mba]

Question - how do you check if you passed on 11/21? Do you just check your Admission Status or is there a different website that you use to check? Thanks.