Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2014 Exam Forum

[Genuine4ps]

I have a question about grading of the MEE. The entire process seems like bullshit, because essay grading is at least partially subjective. Do the bar people have anyway of controlling for easy or hard graders?

[bedefan]

I have a question about grading of the MEE. The entire process seems like bullshit, because essay grading is at least partially subjective. Do the bar people have anyway of controlling for easy or hard graders?

In Illinois, at least, if you fail but come within 4 points of passing, your essays will be re-graded by a different grader. They say that experience has shown them that re-grading essays almost never leads to more than a 4 point swing on the final score.

[VermiciousKnid]

Anyone else in PA? I was looking at the essay testing frequency chart and noticed rape has not been tested in the last 10 years, so I was thinking thats a good place to not bother memorizing and focus on the big frequently tested crimes. But I also saw no mention of DUI testing in the frequency charts, but that was a huge chunk of material in the outline and lectures, so now I'm worried that the charts are not accurate. I've read a handful of past exams and don't recall much about DUIs...how are you guys handling these subjects?

[Lilly76]

Anyone else in PA? I was looking at the essay testing frequency chart and noticed rape has not been tested in the last 10 years, so I was thinking thats a good place to not bother memorizing and focus on the big frequently tested crimes. But I also saw no mention of DUI testing in the frequency charts, but that was a huge chunk of material in the outline and lectures, so now I'm worried that the charts are not accurate. I've read a handful of past exams and don't recall much about DUIs...how are you guys handling these subjects?

I'm in PA and I think the charts are bullshit. This is what I take from the frequency charts:

1) Some things are so frequently tested that they are likely to appear on the next administration of the exam
2) Some things are so frequently tested that they are unlikely to appear on the next administration just so the examiner can switch things up
3) Some things haven't been tested in 10 years so they are unlikely to show up on the next administration
4) Some things haven't been tested in 10 years so they are ripe for testing on the next administration
5) Some things have never been tested, but there's a first time for everything.

So, I'm making strategic decisions on what not to focus on. If I get a question about something I decided to not study, so be it, but it's impossible to learn everything in the little time left.

[lawyerwannabe]

Anyone else in PA? I was looking at the essay testing frequency chart and noticed rape has not been tested in the last 10 years, so I was thinking thats a good place to not bother memorizing and focus on the big frequently tested crimes. But I also saw no mention of DUI testing in the frequency charts, but that was a huge chunk of material in the outline and lectures, so now I'm worried that the charts are not accurate. I've read a handful of past exams and don't recall much about DUIs...how are you guys handling these subjects?

I'm in PA and I think the charts are bullshit. This is what I take from the frequency charts:

1) Some things are so frequently tested that they are likely to appear on the next administration of the exam
2) Some things are so frequently tested that they are unlikely to appear on the next administration just so the examiner can switch things up
3) Some things haven't been tested in 10 years so they are unlikely to show up on the next administration
4) Some things haven't been tested in 10 years so they are ripe for testing on the next administration
5) Some things have never been tested, but there's a first time for everything.

So, I'm making strategic decisions on what not to focus on. If I get a question about something I decided to not study, so be it, but it's impossible to learn everything in the little time left.

Fixed that for you.

This is a fine strategy. You do not need to get a 100% on the exam to pass. Know the big stuff and hope you remember the small stuff.

[VermiciousKnid]

I'm in PA and I think the charts are bullshit. This is what I take from the frequency charts:

1) Some things are so frequently tested that they are likely to appear on the next administration of the exam
2) Some things are so frequently tested that they are unlikely to appear on the next administration just so the examiner can switch things up
3) Some things haven't been tested in 10 years so they are unlikely to show up on the next administration
4) Some things haven't been tested in 10 years so they are ripe for testing on the next administration
5) Some things have never been tested, but there's a first time for everything.

So, I'm making strategic decisions on what not to focus on. If I get a question about something I decided to not study, so be it, but it's impossible to learn everything in the little time left.

Yeah, that totally makes sense. Just having a moment of rage inducted panic directed at all the PA statutes with a million elements.

[Tanicius]

I'm in PA and I think the charts are bullshit. This is what I take from the frequency charts:

1) Some things are so frequently tested that they are likely to appear on the next administration of the exam
2) Some things are so frequently tested that they are unlikely to appear on the next administration just so the examiner can switch things up
3) Some things haven't been tested in 10 years so they are unlikely to show up on the next administration
4) Some things haven't been tested in 10 years so they are ripe for testing on the next administration
5) Some things have never been tested, but there's a first time for everything.

So, I'm making strategic decisions on what not to focus on. If I get a question about something I decided to not study, so be it, but it's impossible to learn everything in the little time left.

Yeah, that totally makes sense. Just having a moment of rage inducted panic directed at all the PA statutes with a million elements.

Remember, guys, everyone's in the same boat as you.

[kapital98]

I don't care if it's Themis or NCBE -- this question is totally asinine. Why does the bar penalize you for knowing stuff about the real world?

Assume for the purposes of this question that you are counsel to the state legislative committee that is responsible for real estate laws in your state. The committee wants you to draft legislation to make all restrictions on land use imposed by deeds (now or hereafter recorded) unenforceable in the future so that public land-use planning through zoning will have exclusive control in matters of land use.

Which of the following is LEAST likely to be a consideration in the drafting of such legislation?
A. Compensation for property rights taken by public authority.
B. Impairment of contract.
C. Sovereign immunity.
D. Police power.

Answer choice C is correct. . . . Sovereign immunity would not be relevant to enacting a statute such as the one posed in this question (apparently because there's no possible chance that a state would waive its sovereign immunity as to controversial new legislation to encourage people to litigate it in state instead of federal court -- despite the fact that this happens all the time.), which makes it the least likely to be a consideration. . . . Answer choice D is incorrect because if the government is using its police power to regulate land use without compensation, the regulation must be rationally related to a legitimate state interest (which is such a hard standard to meet that I'm sure the legislature would be sweating bullets).

This is an NCBE question. I got it yesterday on Adaptibar. I picked answer D and then was pretty surprised at answer C being correct. There are going to be some terrible subjective questions on the bar. What are you going to do?

[bport hopeful]

So I think as the test day roles close, Im going to click on all of the practice essays and not do them so I can read the answers. I am definitely not going to have time to actually do them all.

[jumpingjack]

Finally outlining Commercial Paper based on the handout. It's effing 49 pages. There is no damn need to have an essay topic longer than several of the MBE topics.

[iLoveFruits&Veggies]

So I think as the test day roles close, Im going to click on all of the practice essays and not do them so I can read the answers. I am definitely not going to have time to actually do them all.

smart

[bobanderson]

Holy shit just got 44% on the new york multiple choice section of today's simulated essay exam. Anyone else do horribly? I'm actually surprised I got even 44% right... I was only confident on about one of the questions.

[094320]

..

[champ33]

Holy shit just got 44% on the new york multiple choice section of today's simulated essay exam. Anyone else do horribly? I'm actually surprised I got even 44% right... I was only confident on about one of the questions.

If you look at the national avg, you'll see that an avg of "0%" exists for some subjects.

I was told to aim for 50% on test day since they are notoriously difficult and only count for 10%. I am going to study NY distinctions for essay purposes, not sure if that will also cover me for the NY multiple choice of if more is needed.

[kapital98]

I was doing the NY practice questions and ran into a problem. See anything wrong with this picture? It doesn't help that the last two problems had the correct answer be "D".

[lawyerwannabe]

I see the D . . . on the A . . . at least for the rest of them . . . lol

[lawyerwannabe]

Also, since NYMC is going to be shitshow for me, how many of the questions can you answer based on your general knowledge just from studying from the MBE? For example, I reasonably guessed that the employer would not be held liable in the above question because he could not be held vicariously liable.

Assurances welcome!

[kapital98]

I see the D . . . on the A . . . at least for the rest of them . . . lol

When using the program this means that A and D are both unavailable. I can only choose B and C as answers. So, these 25 questions are essentially useless. I'm just going through the motions deliberately killing my score.

[Genuine4ps]

Finally outlining Commercial Paper based on the handout. It's effing 49 pages. There is no damn need to have an essay topic longer than several of the MBE topics.

Yeah, I'm just about to start my review of Commercial Paper. Was thinking about outlining, but I don't think I am. It's just too much.

[Genuine4ps]

Anyone else much more concerned about essays than the MBE?

[champ33]

Anyone else much more concerned about essays than the MBE?

Yes.

[lawyerwannabe]

Anyone else much more concerned about essays than the MBE?

Yes.

Yes. Pretty much focusing on Wills, Family Law and Corporations but also making sure I know the distinctions. Know this and that is the bulk of the essays.

[071816]

Anyone else much more concerned about essays than the MBE?

Yes.

Yup. I'm gonna do the simulated essay exam tomorrow and I'm freaking out about it. I don't feel ready at all.

[jigglypuffdreams]

Anyone else much more concerned about essays than the MBE?

Definitely. My graded essays have been spectacularly average, I know they're harsher than they'd be on the real thing and some of my graded essays look closer to the ones that actually passed featured in "Michigan Bar Essay Deconstruction" and I'm memorizing more than I thought. But the sheer number of subjects is pretty crazy, so I've been working on perfecting my attack outlines. I'm officially out of Themis practice questions for essays so memorizing is all I can do at this point.

[whirledpeas86]

Anyone else much more concerned about essays than the MBE?

Yes.

Completely fucking terrified.