July 2016 Virginia Bar Thread Forum

[bsktbll28082]

Best cheap hotels in the area?

The 'official' bar exam hotels on the VA website are like 89$/night I think. They are listed on the website somewhere. But they are about 20min away from the site I believe.

[VirginiaBarExamTutor]

Hotels closest to the exam site are probably already full. I'd book quickly.

[ironbmike]

How early are yall arriving in Roanoke?

[bsktbll28082]

How early are yall arriving in Roanoke?

Monday I think. I have a long drive in the morning, I'll relax for a few hours, then bed. Not planning on studying Sunday/Monday before the exam.

[jaysgirl42671]

TBF, I'm staying at the Econo Lodge across the street. I'm going to call a few days ahead and ask to be put in the back so it's more quiet.

Also, if you're a AAA member, sometimes that's less expensive than the advertised bar rate on the Roanoke website. Just FYI for anyone looking!!

[First Offense]

Got a hotel 5 minutes away from the test area.

Try to go to the hotel sites instead of expedia and the like. Might still be some vacancies.

Also checking in fuckers.

[anon sequitur]

Curious if anyone is going to focus more on the MBE than essays (even though its 40%/60%). Time-wise, I just don't think it makes sense to try and learn 21 subjects well for the essays when I could focus on learning 7 subjects well for the MBE.

Of course I could be totally wrong.

Passed last year. I spent 90% or more of my time on the MBE. Did eight graded practice essays about a week before the bar, and another couple of days looking over model essays from http://law.wm.edu/academics/howto/prepa ... pastexams/, which were extremely useful. Other than that, I listened to the lectures for the most commonly tested state subjects on double speed. Did not memorize any rule statements or state law distinctions. Total of 4-5 days of prep for the essays, and 35-40 on the MBE.

You really can just make up the law and analyze that for the essays. If it's a reasonable approximation of the law, and your analysis is coherent, you'll get some points. With a strong MBE, that's enough to pass. Not saying that this is the best or only strategy to follow, but I hated practicing essays, and got good enough at the MBE that I was confident I was going to pass, and felt pretty good about having passed afterward.

[ellewannabe]

Checking In!

Anyone else doing Barbri online? What do you think of it so far? I personally find the AMP questions to be a waste of time....

[vthokies88]

Is it just me or did barbri make us take a "Virginia Mortgages and Liens Assessment" without actually giving us a bunch of the info?

[ellewannabe]

Is it just me or did barbri make us take a "Virginia Mortgages and Liens Assessment" without actually giving us a bunch of the info?

It's not just you. I was definitely thinking the same thing!

[First Offense]

So I'm kind of ignoring the VA specific stuff in Kaplan right now in favor of MBE study right now. Stupid or not?

[doctoroflaw91]

So I'm kind of ignoring the VA specific stuff in Kaplan right now in favor of MBE study right now. Stupid or not?

I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I'm forcing myself to just follow the plan that the bar prep company sets forth. Otherwise, I get too wrapped up in how overwhelming the sheer amount of information is.

[vthokies88]

So I'm kind of ignoring the VA specific stuff in Kaplan right now in favor of MBE study right now. Stupid or not?

FWIW, Barbri hasn't started VA stuff yet (with the exception of telling us to read VA distinctions in tort law and property)

[vthokies88]

Checking In!

Anyone else doing Barbri online? What do you think of it so far? I personally find the AMP questions to be a waste of time....

I'm doing Barbri online too (I was signed up for the in-class stuff, but going to the classes was a complete waste of time, not to mention that NOVA traffic...). I agree - the AMP stuff is a waste. I downloaded the Barbri app on my phone, and I occasionally answer a couple questions on there when I'm not really doing anything. I find the explanations on there to be much more useful than the AMP stuff. The Barbri Essay Architect thing is the absolute worst...if I never figure out what an "Issue T" is, I will die happy.

[bsktbll28082]

So I'm kind of ignoring the VA specific stuff in Kaplan right now in favor of MBE study right now. Stupid or not?

I'm sort of doing the same thing. I'm watching the lectures and outlining the VA stuff, but not stressing about the essays. I want to get the MBE down first. Maybe do more essays as it gets closer.

[justonemoregame]

*Further discussion of this topic WILL be necessary*

http://barexam.virginia.gov/bar/barmdc.html

What kind of trousers and shoes can a young professional get by with? Can I go dark jeans/dress shoes? What about slacks/vans?

[doctoroflaw91]

So I'm kind of ignoring the VA specific stuff in Kaplan right now in favor of MBE study right now. Stupid or not?

I'm sort of doing the same thing. I'm watching the lectures and outlining the VA stuff, but not stressing about the essays. I want to get the MBE down first. Maybe do more essays as it gets closer.

You mean outlining the distinctions? That's more or less what I'm doing too. I figure Babri will adequately prepare us for the rest as we go.

[First Offense]

*Further discussion of this topic WILL be necessary*

http://barexam.virginia.gov/bar/barmdc.html

What kind of trousers and shoes can a young professional get by with? Can I go dark jeans/dress shoes? What about slacks/vans?

Wear a suit.

[justonemoregame]

*Further discussion of this topic WILL be necessary*

http://barexam.virginia.gov/bar/barmdc.html

What kind of trousers and shoes can a young professional get by with? Can I go dark jeans/dress shoes? What about slacks/vans?

Wear a suit.

Are you speaking from experience? I get that a suit would be sufficient - I'd like to know if something more comfortable would also be sufficient.

[bsktbll28082]

Are you speaking from experience? I get that a suit would be sufficient - I'd like to know if something more comfortable would also be sufficient.

A comfortable suit

[anon sequitur]

If you wear khakis, a collared shirt, a tie and a sportscoat, no one will stop you. I don't know if that's what you're looking for, as far as more comfortable? Seems like the same thing as wearing a suit to me. I never actually put my coat on for day two cause it was steamy jungle conditions in Roanoke, so you could probably just get away with having a vaguely sportscoat-shaped thing draped over your arm as you walk in, like I did. Or you could just ditch the coat entirely, you probably wouldn't get noticed, people are busy. I'd really not be interested in adding stress about getting hassled over your clothes to bar exam day, but you may feel differently.

[polareagle]

*Further discussion of this topic WILL be necessary*

http://barexam.virginia.gov/bar/barmdc.html

What kind of trousers and shoes can a young professional get by with? Can I go dark jeans/dress shoes? What about slacks/vans?

The picture on the cover of this Virginia Lawyer magazine doesn't show anything besides suits and what looks like one guy in khakis. (Also make sure to check out the article in the magazine titled "Fear and Trembling in Roanoke"—sounds like we're in for a fun time.)

And the description on the website seems pretty clear. You need "traditional business attire," specifically not the "dress down" policies that varying firms have adopted. I don't know any definition of "traditional business attire" for lawyers that includes jeans.

[vthokies88]

*Further discussion of this topic WILL be necessary*

http://barexam.virginia.gov/bar/barmdc.html

What kind of trousers and shoes can a young professional get by with? Can I go dark jeans/dress shoes? What about slacks/vans?

Wear a suit.

What about dark jeans/vans?

[First Offense]

*Further discussion of this topic WILL be necessary*

http://barexam.virginia.gov/bar/barmdc.html

What kind of trousers and shoes can a young professional get by with? Can I go dark jeans/dress shoes? What about slacks/vans?

Wear a suit.

What about dark jeans/vans?

What about my sweet Iron Maiden T-shirt?

[justonemoregame]

*Further discussion of this topic WILL be necessary*

http://barexam.virginia.gov/bar/barmdc.html

What kind of trousers and shoes can a young professional get by with? Can I go dark jeans/dress shoes? What about slacks/vans?

The picture on the cover of this Virginia Lawyer magazine doesn't show anything besides suits and what looks like one guy in khakis. (Also make sure to check out the article in the magazine titled "Fear and Trembling in Roanoke"—sounds like we're in for a fun time.)

And the description on the website seems pretty clear. You need "traditional business attire," specifically not the "dress down" policies that varying firms have adopted. I don't know any definition of "traditional business attire" for lawyers that includes jeans.

Dammit, I shouldn't have started that article. "Not being totally stupid, I signed up for a prep course..."