Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2016 Forum

[BigZuck]

Question about Contracts essay 2245 (about the knives):

[+] Spoiler

Why is the chef considered a merchant? He is not in business of buying and selling knives?

I had the same question when I completed that essay. Messaged Themis about it. Never got a reasonable answer.

That feature of the Themis program is what's called an "Easter Egg," just a fun little thing for especially attentive people to find.

Nice catch!

[PhillyLawGirl2015]

Need help with this one from Property PQ set #5:

[+] Spoiler

A wealthy individual loaned money to a friend to facilitate the purchase of a home. The friend executed a promissory note, payable to the lender, in the amount of the loan plus interest and gave the lender a mortgage on the home as security for repayment of the loan. Subsequently the friend sold the home to an unrelated third party. The documents associated with this sale made no mention of the third party’s liability with respect to the loan. Later, when the value of the home exceeded the outstanding obligation on the note, the lender released her mortgage interest in the home. Shortly thereafter, the loan fell into default. The third party is the current record owner of the home.

Can the lender successfully maintain an action against the friend for repayment of the loan?

Why does this release the friend entirely from the loan liability, and not just the liability w/r/t enforcement on the mortgage? Shouldn't the friend still have to pay back the loan, even if the lender can't use the mortgage to enforce it?

No. Because the lender released her mortgage interest. The note follows the mortgage. Which means that they are transferred together.

[ndp1234]

Question about Contracts essay 2245 (about the knives):

[+] Spoiler

Why is the chef considered a merchant? He is not in business of buying and selling knives?

I had the same question when I completed that essay. Messaged Themis about it. Never got a reasonable answer.

I stopped contacting them about these questions because they always fail to give a reasonable answer. Contacting them through the message center frustrates me more than not knowing the answer. What was the answer they gave you?

[rambleon65]

Question about Contracts essay 2245 (about the knives):

[+] Spoiler

Why is the chef considered a merchant? He is not in business of buying and selling knives?

I had the same question when I completed that essay. Messaged Themis about it. Never got a reasonable answer.

I stopped contacting them about these questions because they always fail to give a reasonable answer. Contacting them through the message center frustrates me more than not knowing the answer. What was the answer they gave you?

If you're getting the merchant information from the sample answer, I'd just ignore it. I've gotten plenty of really really bad sample answers that cites wrong law.

[+] Spoiler

Chefs are not merchants of knife-selling.

[Chardee_MacDennis]

Did two IL specific essays today with very similar fact patterns. The model answers reach opposite conclusions re: the same issue despite nearly identical facts on that particular issue.

LOL Themis

[unidentifiable]

Did two IL specific essays today with very similar fact patterns. The model answers reach opposite conclusions re: the same issue despite nearly identical facts on that particular issue.

LOL Themis

themis gonna theme

[hirkaismyname]

Question about Contracts essay 2245 (about the knives):

[+] Spoiler

Why is the chef considered a merchant? He is not in business of buying and selling knives?

I had the same question when I completed that essay. Messaged Themis about it. Never got a reasonable answer.

I stopped contacting them about these questions because they always fail to give a reasonable answer. Contacting them through the message center frustrates me more than not knowing the answer. What was the answer they gave you?

If you're getting the merchant information from the sample answer, I'd just ignore it. I've gotten plenty of really really bad sample answers that cites wrong law.

[+] Spoiler

Chefs are not merchants of knife-selling.

[+] Spoiler

Chefs are not merchants of knife-selling. -- true, but isn't there a colorable argument that chefs have "specialized knowledge" of knives (types of knives used for different cuts/meats)... I remember my 1L class where I made that argument re: car collectors. I was adamant, being a gear-head myself, that collectors purchase classic cars to collect then, not sell. (say, Jay Leno or Paul Walker's garages) -- my professor was like as long as you have "specialized knowledge" of the goods you're dealing with, it doesn't matter whether you buy/sell them ... shrugs?...

[1down1togo]

Anyone else lack motivation to do anything today? This is the worst.

I haven't had motivation in a while. Luckily, good ol' Mr. Fear keeps me on track.

[ndp1234]

Question about Contracts essay 2245 (about the knives):

[+] Spoiler

Why is the chef considered a merchant? He is not in business of buying and selling knives?

I had the same question when I completed that essay. Messaged Themis about it. Never got a reasonable answer.

I stopped contacting them about these questions because they always fail to give a reasonable answer. Contacting them through the message center frustrates me more than not knowing the answer. What was the answer they gave you?

If you're getting the merchant information from the sample answer, I'd just ignore it. I've gotten plenty of really really bad sample answers that cites wrong law.

[+] Spoiler

Chefs are not merchants of knife-selling.

[+] Spoiler

Chefs are not merchants of knife-selling. -- true, but isn't there a colorable argument that chefs have "specialized knowledge" of knives (types of knives used for different cuts/meats)... I remember my 1L class where I made that argument re: car collectors. I was adamant, being a gear-head myself, that collectors purchase classic cars to collect then, not sell. (say, Jay Leno or Paul Walker's garages) -- my professor was like as long as you have "specialized knowledge" of the goods you're dealing with, it doesn't matter whether you buy/sell them ... shrugs?...

[+] Spoiler

I personally don't think so. The car collector would definitely be a merchant because of the specialized knowledge he has because of the regular dealings he does with cars. He regularly buys cars. But I don't think a chef rises to that level. Under that logic, a chef could be a merchant for any items it uses on a regular basis to cook. Still makes no sense to me.

[hirkaismyname]

Question about Contracts essay 2245 (about the knives):

[+] Spoiler

Why is the chef considered a merchant? He is not in business of buying and selling knives?

I had the same question when I completed that essay. Messaged Themis about it. Never got a reasonable answer.

I stopped contacting them about these questions because they always fail to give a reasonable answer. Contacting them through the message center frustrates me more than not knowing the answer. What was the answer they gave you?

If you're getting the merchant information from the sample answer, I'd just ignore it. I've gotten plenty of really really bad sample answers that cites wrong law.

[+] Spoiler

Chefs are not merchants of knife-selling.

[+] Spoiler

Chefs are not merchants of knife-selling. -- true, but isn't there a colorable argument that chefs have "specialized knowledge" of knives (types of knives used for different cuts/meats)... I remember my 1L class where I made that argument re: car collectors. I was adamant, being a gear-head myself, that collectors purchase classic cars to collect then, not sell. (say, Jay Leno or Paul Walker's garages) -- my professor was like as long as you have "specialized knowledge" of the goods you're dealing with, it doesn't matter whether you buy/sell them ... shrugs?...

[+] Spoiler

I personally don't think so. The car collector would definitely be a merchant because of the specialized knowledge he has because of the regular dealings he does with cars. He regularly buys cars. But I don't think a chef rises to that level. Under that logic, a chef could be a merchant for any items it uses on a regular basis to cook. Still makes no sense to me.

[+] Spoiler

Yeah, it doesn't make sense to me either. Even from a secured transactions perspective -- the knives would be equipment...as tools used in trade...rather than inventory. Ordinary course of business for the chef would be vending food (inventory). Now a chef could be a merchant if there's a lot of knife exchanging/purchasing going on -- meaning chefs run through knives like toilet paper -- but a reasonable person would know chefs understand how to maintain the longevity of knives and keep them sharp etc. Themis gonna Theme.

[Fivedham]

Anyone else lack motivation to do anything today? This is the worst.

I got super tired yesterday and took a few hours off during the middle of the day because I was just so daunted by the number of essays Themis has me doing. I'm feeling better today, the half-day was needed.

[PotLuck]

Anyone else lack motivation to do anything today? This is the worst.

Yeah pretty brutal tbh. My MBE scores have been garbage so I've been trying to force myself to buckle down and focus, but definitely lacking motivation. There is nothing like bar study that can make everything else in the outside world appealing.

That being said, 10 days until go time. If you need a couple hours away from bar prep, take it. Chances are if you are super burnt out today you aren't going to comprehend much. Study smart.

[Vantwins]

Anyone else lack motivation to do anything today? This is the worst.

I got super tired yesterday and took a few hours off during the middle of the day because I was just so daunted by the number of essays Themis has me doing. I'm feeling better today, the half-day was needed.

Yep, Themis wants me to write 7 essays today. Obviously I've been focusing more on the MBE, but I'll need to switch over to focus on essays more.

BTW, am I the only one who never got around to doing the simulated essay exam??? Guess I'll do that this week.

This was an unexpected start to a con law pq:

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.

[just_me]

There seems to be a whole section in the Corporations long outline on sale of securities - wasn't mentioned at all in the lecture and looks complicated!! What are people thinking - worth learning or not?

[minimumcontacts]

Anyone else lack motivation to do anything today? This is the worst.

I got super tired yesterday and took a few hours off during the middle of the day because I was just so daunted by the number of essays Themis has me doing. I'm feeling better today, the half-day was needed.

Yep, Themis wants me to write 7 essays today. Obviously I've been focusing more on the MBE, but I'll need to switch over to focus on essays more.

BTW, am I the only one who never got around to doing the simulated essay exam??? Guess I'll do that this week.

This was an unexpected start to a con law pq:

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.

I still have to do the simulated essay exam (I keep thinking there will be a day where I'll want to wake up and do it, but it hasn't happened yet).

I've done 53% of the essays and I'm slowly realizing that hitting 75% for that isn't going to happen (some days I'm assigned 7+ essays). I've switched from trying to learn all of the state distinctions to practicing bsing when I don't know the law.

Upside is my boyfriend (also doing Themis) has 25 assignments per day at this point, so I'm feeling pretty good about the fact I'm around 78% done and am kind of picking and choosing what to do of my leftover assignments at this point.

[1down1togo]

Anyone else lack motivation to do anything today? This is the worst.

I got super tired yesterday and took a few hours off during the middle of the day because I was just so daunted by the number of essays Themis has me doing. I'm feeling better today, the half-day was needed.

Yep, Themis wants me to write 7 essays today. Obviously I've been focusing more on the MBE, but I'll need to switch over to focus on essays more.

BTW, am I the only one who never got around to doing the simulated essay exam??? Guess I'll do that this week.

This was an unexpected start to a con law pq:

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.

I still have to do the simulated essay exam (I keep thinking there will be a day where I'll want to wake up and do it, but it hasn't happened yet).

I've done 53% of the essays and I'm slowly realizing that hitting 75% for that isn't going to happen (some days I'm assigned 7+ essays). I've switched from trying to learn all of the state distinctions to practicing bsing when I don't know the law.

Upside is my boyfriend (also doing Themis) has 25 assignments per day at this point, so I'm feeling pretty good about the fact I'm around 78% done and am kind of picking and choosing what to do of my leftover assignments at this point.

25 ASSIGNMENTS PER DAY!?? Did he start yesterday? I have 25 assignments left total...

[unidentifiable]

Anyone else lack motivation to do anything today? This is the worst.

I got super tired yesterday and took a few hours off during the middle of the day because I was just so daunted by the number of essays Themis has me doing. I'm feeling better today, the half-day was needed.

Yep, Themis wants me to write 7 essays today. Obviously I've been focusing more on the MBE, but I'll need to switch over to focus on essays more.

BTW, am I the only one who never got around to doing the simulated essay exam??? Guess I'll do that this week.

This was an unexpected start to a con law pq:

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.

I still have to do the simulated essay exam (I keep thinking there will be a day where I'll want to wake up and do it, but it hasn't happened yet).

I've done 53% of the essays and I'm slowly realizing that hitting 75% for that isn't going to happen (some days I'm assigned 7+ essays). I've switched from trying to learn all of the state distinctions to practicing bsing when I don't know the law.

Upside is my boyfriend (also doing Themis) has 25 assignments per day at this point, so I'm feeling pretty good about the fact I'm around 78% done and am kind of picking and choosing what to do of my leftover assignments at this point.

25 PER DAY?! HOLY SHIT I THOUGH 7 WAS A LOT!

[1down1togo]

Anyone else lack motivation to do anything today? This is the worst.

I got super tired yesterday and took a few hours off during the middle of the day because I was just so daunted by the number of essays Themis has me doing. I'm feeling better today, the half-day was needed.

Yep, Themis wants me to write 7 essays today. Obviously I've been focusing more on the MBE, but I'll need to switch over to focus on essays more.

BTW, am I the only one who never got around to doing the simulated essay exam??? Guess I'll do that this week.

This was an unexpected start to a con law pq:

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.

I still have to do the simulated essay exam (I keep thinking there will be a day where I'll want to wake up and do it, but it hasn't happened yet).

I've done 53% of the essays and I'm slowly realizing that hitting 75% for that isn't going to happen (some days I'm assigned 7+ essays). I've switched from trying to learn all of the state distinctions to practicing bsing when I don't know the law.

Upside is my boyfriend (also doing Themis) has 25 assignments per day at this point, so I'm feeling pretty good about the fact I'm around 78% done and am kind of picking and choosing what to do of my leftover assignments at this point.

25 PER DAY?! HOLY SHIT I THOUGH 7 WAS A LOT!

[minimumcontacts]

Anyone else lack motivation to do anything today? This is the worst.

I got super tired yesterday and took a few hours off during the middle of the day because I was just so daunted by the number of essays Themis has me doing. I'm feeling better today, the half-day was needed.

Yep, Themis wants me to write 7 essays today. Obviously I've been focusing more on the MBE, but I'll need to switch over to focus on essays more.

BTW, am I the only one who never got around to doing the simulated essay exam??? Guess I'll do that this week.

This was an unexpected start to a con law pq:

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.

I still have to do the simulated essay exam (I keep thinking there will be a day where I'll want to wake up and do it, but it hasn't happened yet).

I've done 53% of the essays and I'm slowly realizing that hitting 75% for that isn't going to happen (some days I'm assigned 7+ essays). I've switched from trying to learn all of the state distinctions to practicing bsing when I don't know the law.

Upside is my boyfriend (also doing Themis) has 25 assignments per day at this point, so I'm feeling pretty good about the fact I'm around 78% done and am kind of picking and choosing what to do of my leftover assignments at this point.

25 PER DAY?! HOLY SHIT I THOUGH 7 WAS A LOT!

He works full-time and spent June watching 2 subjects worth of MBE videos and started really studying over the past 2 weeks. I think he's around 25% total? If he passes and I don't after studying 6-8 hours a day for 2+ months I may actually lose my mind.

[unidentifiable]

Anyone else lack motivation to do anything today? This is the worst.

I got super tired yesterday and took a few hours off during the middle of the day because I was just so daunted by the number of essays Themis has me doing. I'm feeling better today, the half-day was needed.

Yep, Themis wants me to write 7 essays today. Obviously I've been focusing more on the MBE, but I'll need to switch over to focus on essays more.

BTW, am I the only one who never got around to doing the simulated essay exam??? Guess I'll do that this week.

This was an unexpected start to a con law pq:

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.

I still have to do the simulated essay exam (I keep thinking there will be a day where I'll want to wake up and do it, but it hasn't happened yet).

I've done 53% of the essays and I'm slowly realizing that hitting 75% for that isn't going to happen (some days I'm assigned 7+ essays). I've switched from trying to learn all of the state distinctions to practicing bsing when I don't know the law.

Upside is my boyfriend (also doing Themis) has 25 assignments per day at this point, so I'm feeling pretty good about the fact I'm around 78% done and am kind of picking and choosing what to do of my leftover assignments at this point.

25 PER DAY?! HOLY SHIT I THOUGH 7 WAS A LOT!

He works full-time and spent June watching 2 subjects worth of MBE videos and started really studying over the past 2 weeks. I think he's around 25% total? If he passes and I don't after studying 6-8 hours a day for 2+ months I may actually lose my mind.

yeah, i'd be pretty damn outraged, too.

would love to hear a success story though

[Fivedham]

He works full-time and spent June watching 2 subjects worth of MBE videos and started really studying over the past 2 weeks. I think he's around 25% total? If he passes and I don't after studying 6-8 hours a day for 2+ months I may actually lose my mind.

Seriously though, I feel like if you can study for the bar and pass with three weeks of part-time study, you're a superhuman.

[Vantwins]

Anyone else lack motivation to do anything today? This is the worst.

I got super tired yesterday and took a few hours off during the middle of the day because I was just so daunted by the number of essays Themis has me doing. I'm feeling better today, the half-day was needed.

Yep, Themis wants me to write 7 essays today. Obviously I've been focusing more on the MBE, but I'll need to switch over to focus on essays more.

BTW, am I the only one who never got around to doing the simulated essay exam??? Guess I'll do that this week.

This was an unexpected start to a con law pq:

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.

I still have to do the simulated essay exam (I keep thinking there will be a day where I'll want to wake up and do it, but it hasn't happened yet).

I've done 53% of the essays and I'm slowly realizing that hitting 75% for that isn't going to happen (some days I'm assigned 7+ essays). I've switched from trying to learn all of the state distinctions to practicing bsing when I don't know the law.

Upside is my boyfriend (also doing Themis) has 25 assignments per day at this point, so I'm feeling pretty good about the fact I'm around 78% done and am kind of picking and choosing what to do of my leftover assignments at this point.

25 PER DAY?! HOLY SHIT I THOUGH 7 WAS A LOT!

He works full-time and spent June watching 2 subjects worth of MBE videos and started really studying over the past 2 weeks. I think he's around 25% total? If he passes and I don't after studying 6-8 hours a day for 2+ months I may actually lose my mind.

Wow! Is he panicked? I'm at 68% percent, but at least I'll hit that 75% mark this week! My husband is an attorney, I'm glad we never had to study the same summer. I'm also feeling really guilty now about how much I stressed him out with wedding planning while he was studying - we got married 2 weeks after his exam.

I'm sort of missing the blissful ignorance of when I studied for the VA bar in 2003 - no online resources, so no percentage you'd gotten right or percentage of the course you'd gotten through. I know it's useful information but it's stressful too!

[PotLuck]

Got a 70% on the simulated AM PQ. Thanks for all the advice. Prior to this, I had not gotten above 60% on any mixed PQ.

One thing I feel that was helpful was going through and classifying each question on the test first (i.e. this is "torts, K's, etc."). Then going through and only doing one category at a time.

[transferror]

Anyone else lack motivation to do anything today? This is the worst.

I got super tired yesterday and took a few hours off during the middle of the day because I was just so daunted by the number of essays Themis has me doing. I'm feeling better today, the half-day was needed.

Yep, Themis wants me to write 7 essays today. Obviously I've been focusing more on the MBE, but I'll need to switch over to focus on essays more.

BTW, am I the only one who never got around to doing the simulated essay exam??? Guess I'll do that this week.

This was an unexpected start to a con law pq:

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.

I still have to do the simulated essay exam (I keep thinking there will be a day where I'll want to wake up and do it, but it hasn't happened yet).

I've done 53% of the essays and I'm slowly realizing that hitting 75% for that isn't going to happen (some days I'm assigned 7+ essays). I've switched from trying to learn all of the state distinctions to practicing bsing when I don't know the law.

Upside is my boyfriend (also doing Themis) has 25 assignments per day at this point, so I'm feeling pretty good about the fact I'm around 78% done and am kind of picking and choosing what to do of my leftover assignments at this point.

25 PER DAY?! HOLY SHIT I THOUGH 7 WAS A LOT!

He works full-time and spent June watching 2 subjects worth of MBE videos and started really studying over the past 2 weeks. I think he's around 25% total? If he passes and I don't after studying 6-8 hours a day for 2+ months I may actually lose my mind.

In a similar situation. I started in mid/late June and I had 29 assignments today, probably averaging low 20s.

It's doable if you're in a 50% MBE state (which I am). Finished all MBE lectures in about 2 weeks and starting hammering practice sets at 100-200 questions per day.

edit: obviously you can't follow Themis' schedule and have to pick and choose based on priority, haha

[NaeDeen]

Anyone else lack motivation to do anything today? This is the worst.

I got super tired yesterday and took a few hours off during the middle of the day because I was just so daunted by the number of essays Themis has me doing. I'm feeling better today, the half-day was needed.

Yep, Themis wants me to write 7 essays today. Obviously I've been focusing more on the MBE, but I'll need to switch over to focus on essays more.

BTW, am I the only one who never got around to doing the simulated essay exam??? Guess I'll do that this week.

I just completed the simulated exam. I enjoy the essays so it was definitely worth it. The issues really do jump out at you and so it's easy to miss one or two. So slowing down is necessary. It wasn't that bad at all. But I am biased, as I enjoy writing essays. It's the MBE buggers I can't stand. But I'm sure you'll do fine!!