February 2015 Bar Exam Forum

[numbertwo88]

Another question ... for damages in tort actions, I know for the MBE we're to assume pure comparative negligence if the question is silent about that. If the question is also silent as to joint & several liability, are we to assume that as well?

Thanks in advance!

I'm also under the impression that if the Q is silent about J&S liability it's assumed

Thanks! I'm pretty sure you're right about that - I've come across a few questions like that now. It would've helped if my bar prep materials said that from the start!

[ilovetypos]

yes, and the comparative neg/JSL assumption should be stated on the cover page of the booklet in the instructions

[ashle484]

Does anyone have an NY admin law outline?

[jarofsoup]

Have you gotten an admission ticket from NY yet?

[ashle484]

Have you gotten an admission ticket from NY yet?

I don't believe so, I just know my seat is in albany for sure.

[dxchpwd]

Given the amount of time left and that I have only completed 2 of the 6 BarBri MPQ sets for each MBE subject, would I be better off completing all of the MPQ sets, doing the MBE questions in the Emmanuel's S&T, doing real MBE questions with answers from some other source, or some mixture of those? Across the first two MPQ sets, i'm scoring 85th percentile or better in 5 of the MBE subjects on the MPQs and 45th to 65th percentile on the other 2 subjects. I will also be spending tomorrow doing the full length simulated MBE, so that takes that day away and probably one additional day as I review my answers.

I'm pretty behind the ball on this, but luckily most of the MBE stuff seems to be clicking for me.

I personally think doing mixed MBE sets would be more beneficial - since the exam is mixed and your brain is switching from subject to subject it's worth the extra practice. I found when I started the mixed sets I had a slight dip in my scores but after doing a few mixed sets I gained my confidence back.

& then maybe doing single-subject MBE questions in your weaker area? That's what I'm doing but ... everyone is different after all.

Great advice! Good luck..

[TheFutureLawyer]

X

[wool]

And I got a Contracts question. I noticed it when studying the state (MD) distinctions, but it's generally applicable I think..

[/quote][/quote]

MD!!!

[jarofsoup]

Did anyone do the practice exam for NY for Kaplan. Felt it was very difficult.

[soonerlaw]

Hi all. I'm taking the OK bar and doing Barbri. I've been fortunate that I have not had to work during the last few months and I've done all the Barbri assignments. (For those of you who have had to work during the last few months, I'm sorry and not trying to be rude). My question is this: my Barbri schedule has not gotten to the point where I have 10-12 hour days. In fact, since I worked ahead on Sunday, I pretty much had this afternoon off. Yesterday afternoon too. What am I missing? I'm only doing Barbri but I'm doing everything assigned. I'm doing alright on the MBE practice tests (got a 121 on the MBE practice test) and the essays are ok. Bankruptcy and secured transactions are my worst.

[Holly Golightly]

I'm self-studying and so far have just been using old Barbri and Themis outlines. What site is the cheapest to get real MBE questions?

[ditch digger]

Hi all. I'm taking the OK bar and doing Barbri. I've been fortunate that I have not had to work during the last few months and I've done all the Barbri assignments. (For those of you who have had to work during the last few months, I'm sorry and not trying to be rude). My question is this: my Barbri schedule has not gotten to the point where I have 10-12 hour days. In fact, since I worked ahead on Sunday, I pretty much had this afternoon off. Yesterday afternoon too. What am I missing? I'm only doing Barbri but I'm doing everything assigned. I'm doing alright on the MBE practice tests (got a 121 on the MBE practice test) and the essays are ok. Bankruptcy and secured transactions are my worst.

Dude, if you got a 121 on the simulated MBE test then you are in good shape. The questions on the actual MBE are not nearly as difficult as the Barbri MBE questions. Don't worry about falling behind because NOBODY can keep up with the pace of Barbri's assignments. I passed my last bar exam and I only completed 70% of the assignments. You got this.

[underthirty]

.

[Denverlaw2014]

I passed the Colorado Bar in July 2014, and wrote about the experience on my wife's blog. Here are some tips for anyone taking the bar (especially those who are working and taking the bar) that helped me to pass. I go into more detail on the blog (http://www.imaginainventaeintenta.com/t ... -bar-exam/), but here is the condensed version.

1. Look into less expensive bar review options, such as BarMax. I am sure there are others as well, but that is what worked for me.

2. Use some of the money you are saving by not getting an expensive bar course to purchase supplemental materials, such as Lean Sheets, and NCBE Practice MBE tests.

3. Get a study partner and study together at least once a week if not more. This is great so that you can see what difficulties other people are having and so that you can talk through the rules. It really helps to be able to explain what you are studying to someone else out loud.

4. Do at least 30-50 practice MBE questions per day. BarMax has 2,500 real MBE questions from past tests, and there are other resources as well where you can get real questions.

5. Have at least a few essays graded by someone who knows what graders are looking for. BarMax allows you to submit essays to be graded by actual past graders and they give you an estimated score. Other bar course offer this service as well.

6. Create a memorization plan and stick to it. Memorization can be boring and hard, but I promise that it is worth it and it will help you on exam day.

7. Make time for your family – don’t listen to people who say that you cannot take breaks from studying to work or to be with your family. They are the most important people and probably the reason that you are doing this in the first place, so make time for them whenever you can.

8. If you don’t know a rule, make one up and push through. You are being tested on whether you know how to work your way through a legal issue, so if you don’t get the rule exactly right, as long as you can form a coherent argument based on a rule, you will get some points.

9. Keep Calm, and don’t panic. Everyone is just as nervous as you. If you go into panic mode, it will affect your ability to remember what you studied. Try to stay calm and just take things one question at a time.

If you have any questions about any of this, I would be happy to share more!

Good luck to everyone taking the bar in a few weeks!

[minnbills]

Finished MBE barbri diag. 46/100. Am I right to be terrified right now?

[jarofsoup]

Do you think I am ok for MBE? For Kaplan I got: Midterm 133, Final 132?

[a male human]

"Yes" to the above 5 posts

[numbertwo88]

Reached a crash in studying today. I'd love to take a day off but I figure an early evening today will have to suffice - the exam is just too close to get comfortable now.

But really, it feels like my brain is broken. Like it hurts to blink my eyes as if that's a function of my brain.

[jarofsoup]

Reached a crash in studying today. I'd love to take a day off but I figure an early evening today will have to suffice - the exam is just too close to get comfortable now.

But really, it feels like my brain is broken. Like it hurts to blink my eyes as if that's a function of my brain.

Some times its good just to take the night off. I had interviews today and I have a call back next week so I have forced time off. But if you cannot get anything done take the day off and then hit it again hard tomorrow morning.

[Holly Golightly]

What site is the cheapest to get real MBE questions?

I think BarMax has 1500+ old real MBE questions for $149.

Hmm, but it looks like that doesn't include civ pro. Any decent/not crazy expensive sites that have practice civ pro Qs?

[Elms]

What site is the cheapest to get real MBE questions?

I think BarMax has 1500+ old real MBE questions for $149.

Hmm, but it looks like that doesn't include civ pro. Any decent/not crazy expensive sites that have practice civ pro Qs?

Anyone looking for civ pro should stay away from Barmax.

When I bought the app in December, they told me they would have an update with 70 civ pro questions within a week, and that they would be continually adding more until the bar. LATE January they finally added 20-something questions, and it doesn't look like they are adding anymore. (I actually spoke on the phone with one of Barmax's founders and he was pretty unapologetic about it).

[redblueyellow]

What site is the cheapest to get real MBE questions?

I think BarMax has 1500+ old real MBE questions for $149.

Hmm, but it looks like that doesn't include civ pro. Any decent/not crazy expensive sites that have practice civ pro Qs?

Anyone looking for civ pro should stay away from Barmax.

When I bought the app in December, they told me they would have an update with 70 civ pro questions within a week, and that they would be continually adding more until the bar. LATE January they finally added 20-something questions, and it doesn't look like they are adding anymore. (I actually spoke on the phone with one of Barmax's founders and he was pretty unapologetic about it).

Good looking out! Sucks that they're not even being that accommodating especially when they know students are going to be stressing.

[cooperlaserpup]

Anyone here doing NY in feb?

I passed the MD bar in July, then promptly got my dream job in NYC. I'm sworn in here pro hac vice but that only lasts 18 months....technically I would probably be allowed to take the Jul 2015 NY bar if I fail but I also might get fired. So a lot is riding on this.

I have had the last two weeks off to study and I just don't feel like I'm getting anywhere with the essays. I'm not concerned so much about the MBE (got a 148 scaled in MD, got a 132 raw on the Themis simulated MBE, have been consistently at or over 50% with fed civ pro, which is my weakest subject.) Anyhow the way Themis has portrayed the NY essays makes them seem SO MUCH HARDER THAN MD. They are far more detailed, which stands to reason because there are fewer of them and you're expected to take longer on each one. But every time I read a model answer I feel like I am no where CLOSE to it and I'm getting really really nervous. With MD Themis provided real answers that achieved high scores, and it was obviously that very brief answers and even answers that came to different conclusions got full points if they had sound logical reasoning. They are not giving the impression that that is the case with NY.

Does anyone have insight into this? I honestly believe with the time I have left I cannot straight up MEMORIZE every statement of law I'm going to need to memorize in order to pass. For MD, I knew I could rely on sound logic if I ever got into a jam. With NY it seems like that isn't the case :/ I'm also generally starting to panic because I haven't really buckled down until I was off work, and even then I've taken some days off. But, to be fair, I haven't needed to focus on the MBE since I just passed it in July. I don't know. Ball of stress and I'm venting here. All thoughts welcome.

Best of luck to everyone!!

[Holly Golightly]

What site is the cheapest to get real MBE questions?

I think BarMax has 1500+ old real MBE questions for $149.

Hmm, but it looks like that doesn't include civ pro. Any decent/not crazy expensive sites that have practice civ pro Qs?

Anyone looking for civ pro should stay away from Barmax.

When I bought the app in December, they told me they would have an update with 70 civ pro questions within a week, and that they would be continually adding more until the bar. LATE January they finally added 20-something questions, and it doesn't look like they are adding anymore. (I actually spoke on the phone with one of Barmax's founders and he was pretty unapologetic about it).

That's awful, thanks for the tip. I'll just use the Glannon multiple choice supp I used for 1L civ pro.

[nvbar2015]

Are you guys going over flash cards everyday?