BarBri - NY Exam - July 2014 Forum

[Helpful]

How are you guys breaking down your days now? I feel like I'm way behind in terms of memorizing, need to start with the MBE subjects then go for NY. I had watched the wills lectures early and also have done the Fed Jur. lecture as well and they still haven't posted the conflicts lecture. I really would like to get all the lectures done by this weekend or at least Monday as I would like 2 real weeks to review and memorize. I am getting up around 8-8:30 and then do lecture from 9-12 or so, take an hour for lunch, then go to the library from 1:30-6, then an hour for dinner and back to the library from 7-8:50, then try and come home and do some more. Obviously I'm not productive the whole time and feel like I should be doing more. I also feel like I should be spending time on looking over essays, but I don't know where that time is going to come from now?

Me too, but at the rate they've been uploading I don't think we'll have that opportunity. Maybe by Monday if they post the Wednesday one by then.

Your schedule sounds good to me, pretty similar to what I'm doing. I'm satisfied with my Sim MBE so I think for now I'm going to start memorizing NY stuff, prioritizing based on the SmartBarPrep list. Then just do the practice stuff in the Paced program, maybe do a few extra essays from the BOLE site. But I don't want to try too many essays until I'm confident I've memorized the bulk of the stuff.

[alphagamma]

What are everyone's thoughts on Barbri's infatuation with Federal Jurisdiction? They give us a 30+ page CMR outline for a topic tested very, very rarely. Via the SmartBarPrep frequency thingy, it's been tested in 4 out of the last 197 essays, and mostly just on diversity citizenship jurisdiction and removal. Anyone (besides me) skipping everything else? It seems like a major waste of time.

[Helpful]

I've definitely noticed a few situations where the length of the material seemed to me to far outweigh the frequency of testing. I would guess they are just trying to be comprehensive. I'm going to just prioritize the most frequent stuff on the SBP list, then track back to the other stuff if I have time.

[encore1101]

Just came across a weird Evidence question re dying declarations. The answer implies that the declarant needs to actually know that the statement is correct about the person who killed him. It says that "mere suspicion that the defendant tampered w/ his brakes is insufficient. As well-founded as such a suspicion may be, a statement based on mere suspicion rather than actual knowledge does not constitute a statement concerning the cause or circumstance of an impending death for purposes of the dying declaration exception."

This seems like bullshit to me. Anyone have any idea?

I need to see the problem, but i think the answer is that the dying declarant must have personal knowledge as to what is being offered into evidence. A witness on the stand ordinarily cannot testify as to what he "thinks" or what he "suspects" without some degree of personal knowledge, so it wouldn't make sense to lessen the standard for a witness that cannot even be cross-examined.

[greenjuice]

Am I missing something, or is the RAP/POA material from the wills lecture not in the wills CMR? That was the part of her lecture that confused me the most, so I really wanted to go back and re-read it...

[encore1101]

Am I missing something, or is the RAP/POA material from the wills lecture not in the wills CMR? That was the part of her lecture that confused me the most, so I really wanted to go back and re-read it...

Rule Against Perpertuities was in the Real Property lecture, and POA stuff can be found on page 79 of the Wills CMR.

[Guchster]

Am I missing something, or is the RAP/POA material from the wills lecture not in the wills CMR? That was the part of her lecture that confused me the most, so I really wanted to go back and re-read it...

POA stuff can be found on page 79 of the Wills CMR.

Just to clarify, the POA stuff is actually on page 79 of the Wills NY Comprehensive Materials and not in the CMR.

[encore1101]

Am I missing something, or is the RAP/POA material from the wills lecture not in the wills CMR? That was the part of her lecture that confused me the most, so I really wanted to go back and re-read it...

POA stuff can be found on page 79 of the Wills CMR.

Just to clarify, the POA stuff is actually on page 79 of the Wills NY Comprehensive Materials and not in the CMR.

I stand corrected

[greenjuice]

Am I missing something, or is the RAP/POA material from the wills lecture not in the wills CMR? That was the part of her lecture that confused me the most, so I really wanted to go back and re-read it...

POA stuff can be found on page 79 of the Wills CMR.

Just to clarify, the POA stuff is actually on page 79 of the Wills NY Comprehensive Materials and not in the CMR.

I stand corrected

Thanks! UGH, I was hoping I wouldn't have to crack open those comprehensive outlines...

[Guchster]

Barbri's paced program's assignments have been SUPER minimal the past two days and it looks like that until next week.

I've been following the program because it feels safe to me and has given me a lot of discipline, but following it this week makes me feel like i'm really slacking off. Were we assigned to be doing something else not in the program?

I've been going over flash cards and updating my outlines with the spare time. I'm a solid essay writer, WHEN I KNOW THE DAMN LAW (which I don't), so at this point my weak area is just memorizing it.

I'm just hoping this is the calm before the storm or a reward for Monday's torture. Perhaps they are being gentle for the 13+ hours of cruel and unusual punishment we ruthlessly endured at the hands of an unnamed diet coke chugging, arbitrary decibel speaking, and questionably literate bar lecturer.

[bluecrab5448]

Barbri's paced program's assignments have been SUPER minimal the past two days and it looks like that until next week.

I've been following the program because it feels safe to me and has given me a lot of discipline, but following it this week makes me feel like i'm really slacking off. Were we assigned to be doing something else not in the program?

I've been going over flash cards and updating my outlines with the spare time. I'm a solid essay writer, WHEN I KNOW THE DAMN LAW (which I don't), so at this point my weak area is just memorizing it.

I'm just hoping this is the calm before the storm or a reward for Monday's torture. Perhaps they are being gentle for the 13+ hours of cruel and unusual punishment we ruthlessly endured at the hands of an unnamed diet coke chugging, arbitrary decibel speaking, and questionably literate bar lecturer.

It depends on what you're trying to focus on now. For me, getting a handle of the MBE is more feasible at this point, so I've been doing the problem sets under the tab "Practice Questions," which the paced program does not include. I don't know if some of the sets are repeats of what's included in the MPQ book.

I'm debating abandoning the paced program completely and building my own self-study schedule around MBE drills and stone-cold memorizing the material, because doing an essay where I can't remember any of the material for it is just a waste of time.

[bluecrab5448]

I also have not been able to bring myself to self-grade Monday's simulated exam yet, so things could change Friday night. Ugh.

[iusedtolurk]

Erica Fine referred to a RAP-related something or other that was posted on the Barbri site (may have had to do with the way RAP was most recently tested?)... I can't find it on the website. Does anyone know what she was referring to/where to find it?

[Guchster]

I also have not been able to bring myself to self-grade Monday's simulated exam yet, so things could change Friday night. Ugh.

Cool thanks for be insight and advice. I think that's a solid plan. I haven't self graded either and I guess I could so that--but honestly I'm just going to be butthurt about it, and it looks like we're going to party this weekend with the exam review lectures.

[AJS30]

I self graded, probably should have waited. I have my brother's wedding on Saturday so trying to watch those videos beforehand. Did the Con Law one earlier and wanted to stab myself because: 1. I don't really remember the questions off the top of my head ( I feel like I actually need to go back and read them and then read the explanations), 2. I had to keep flipping back and forth to see what I put down and you can go from reviewing question 2 to next doing question 154. I wish I could just go sit my ass on the beach.

[peanut123]

Erica Fine referred to a RAP-related something or other that was posted on the Barbri site (may have had to do with the way RAP was most recently tested?)... I can't find it on the website. Does anyone know what she was referring to/where to find it?

Enrolled Student Center -> Additional Resources (left hand side of screen) -> Updates and Other Materials -> "Supplemental RAP Essay"


Related question: the pages at the back of the lecture handout have frequency of issues tested - this looks very helpful, kind of like the SmartBarPrep approach. Am I missing something though, or was the power of appointment stuff just for the sake of it, and it's not really tested?

[anon919]

Just venting some frustration at the Wills lecturer. The outline is good, but I want to throat punch the lecturer.

Annoyances:
Every hypo: "You guys gotta get used to underlining this stuff, guys. I'm not going to be there with you to tell you."
That damn diet coke.
The fact her voice is either really quiet or really loud.

How about, "I hate mnemonics, just learn the law." Oh, ok, I'll just go ahead and learn this 103 page handout.

Ending the lecture with the story of the couple who asked her for advice and she asked them if they had jello in the house...Fine stuff there.

[peanut123]

Just venting some frustration at the Wills lecturer. The outline is good, but I want to throat punch the lecturer.

Annoyances:
Every hypo: "You guys gotta get used to underlining this stuff, guys. I'm not going to be there with you to tell you."
That damn diet coke.
The fact her voice is either really quiet or really loud.

How about, "I hate mnemonics, just learn the law." Oh, ok, I'll just go ahead and learn this 103 page handout.

Ending the lecture with the story of the couple who asked her for advice and she asked them if they had jello in the house...Fine stuff there.

I was really confused by that. Am I missing a joke/reference or was it a total non-sequitur?

[plath]

Just venting some frustration at the Wills lecturer. The outline is good, but I want to throat punch the lecturer.

Annoyances:
Every hypo: "You guys gotta get used to underlining this stuff, guys. I'm not going to be there with you to tell you."
That damn diet coke.
The fact her voice is either really quiet or really loud.

How about, "I hate mnemonics, just learn the law." Oh, ok, I'll just go ahead and learn this 103 page handout.

Ending the lecture with the story of the couple who asked her for advice and she asked them if they had jello in the house...Fine stuff there.

I was really confused by that. Am I missing a joke/reference or was it a total non-sequitur?

"This was tested on 2010 2012 2013 2235 10,3355 44,935702 5550,98888 I can waste your time for ever and ever"

[jets098]

Anybody else not have their last essay graded? I know the essay grading is pretty arbitrary and stupid but I submitted mine 9-10 days ago and still haven't gotten it back. I don't really see the point in Barbri even offering essay grading if there's going to be a week and a half turnaround (and counting).

[AJS30]

Anybody else not have their last essay graded? I know the essay grading is pretty arbitrary and stupid but I submitted mine 9-10 days ago and still haven't gotten it back. I don't really see the point in Barbri even offering essay grading if there's going to be a week and a half turnaround (and counting).

I got my last essay back on Sunday. I got an 85, which doesn't really help me because they should have realized I just copied straight from the CMR/lecture notes. However, with my 3rd essay which was submitted over 3 weeks ago I got an e-mail they lost it and I had to resubmit it, which I did. I e-mailed this week to find out about it and she told me that they are still finishing up the last essay this week and then they will grade the essays submitted late after that. So I guess you should get it back today or tomorrow. Also, not to sound like an ass but I think I should have gotten priority over the essays that were submitted late since I submitted on time and it was their fault in losing it.

On a totally different note, do we really need to know Powers of Appointment? For some reason it confused me....but knowing my luck it will show up on test day

[peanut123]

On a totally different note, do we really need to know Powers of Appointment? For some reason it confused me....but knowing my luck it will show up on test day

I posted something similar because EF's frequency list starting on page 99 of her outline does not appear to have anything on powers or the rap stuff she did with powers.

I will say though that the CMR on powers is way clearer. Basically: specific or general, presently exercisable or testamentary. With a few more nuances, that's the extent of CMR coverage.

[plath]

On a totally different note, do we really need to know Powers of Appointment? For some reason it confused me....but knowing my luck it will show up on test day

I posted something similar because EF's frequency list starting on page 99 of her outline does not appear to have anything on powers or the rap stuff she did with powers.

I will say though that the CMR on powers is way clearer. Basically: specific or general, presently exercisable or testamentary. With a few more nuances, that's the extent of CMR coverage.

she said at the lecture that POA isn't in the chart b/c it ued to be a part of the trusts lecture.

btw, she also said that secured transactions was hell for her when she took the bar but luckily we don't need to worry about it b/c it isn't on our exam. Why do I have it in my PP then? and a lecture? I assume she just doesn't know what TH she's talking about?

[Guchster]

On a totally different note, do we really need to know Powers of Appointment? For some reason it confused me....but knowing my luck it will show up on test day

I posted something similar because EF's frequency list starting on page 99 of her outline does not appear to have anything on powers or the rap stuff she did with powers.

I will say though that the CMR on powers is way clearer. Basically: specific or general, presently exercisable or testamentary. With a few more nuances, that's the extent of CMR coverage.

she said at the lecture that POA isn't in the chart b/c it ued to be a part of the trusts lecture.

btw, she also said that secured transactions was hell for her when she took the bar but luckily we don't need to worry about it b/c it isn't on our exam. Why do I have it in my PP then? and a lecture? I assume she just doesn't know what TH she's talking about?

I think she was referring to commercial paper (art. 3). I'm not sure if she actually said secured transactions or commercial paper but I wouldn't be surprised based off her inability to read off the handout.

[Guchster]

On a totally different note, do we really need to know Powers of Appointment? For some reason it confused me....but knowing my luck it will show up on test day

I posted something similar because EF's frequency list starting on page 99 of her outline does not appear to have anything on powers or the rap stuff she did with powers.

I will say though that the CMR on powers is way clearer. Basically: specific or general, presently exercisable or testamentary. With a few more nuances, that's the extent of CMR coverage.

Yeah, it used to be part of trusts hence the reason it's not in her outline, but the smartbarprep frequency puts both (PoA and RAP) at around 5% for past bar exams.