Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2014 Exam Forum

[Tanicius]

Does anyone have a link to the MEE "essay checklists"? It's an assignment listed on my final day of prep, Monday before the test. I have never been given access to this document before, or even knew it was a thing.

[Bobo1]

62% on the 2013 MBE exam.

I was really hoping I was out of the woods on the MBE. Looks like I have more work to do this weekend. The strange thing was that I did worst on my best topics (Evidence/Con Law) and best on my worst (Property/Contracts). It's the exact opposite of my last practice exam.

Wait... how did you get access to the 2013 MBE?

Adaptibar has it. and a few other years.

[j1987]

Ugh was in mid 60s - mid 70s on my MBEs and now my scores seem to have gone down. Don't know why. Very frustrating. Don't know what to do.

[BarExamAvoider]

Count me in on those whose MBE scores have gone way down. I think I might be a bit burn out and not paying attention, I also feel like the last bunch of sets have been weirder. I've done them all now except 13. Hoping for a test day come back.

[j1987]

Does anyone know the exact hours of the NJ exam? Both the MBE and the essay portion? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

[SilverE2]

If Themis wrote the MBE, best evidence would be a tested subject all on its own.

[champ33]

I am not worrying about lower scores on the later MBEs too much. It seems like they are inserting a lot of questions just to put you on notice of random tidbits within the topics that we have not been exposed to.

[lawyerwannabe]

Slightly knitpicky, but I cannot find this in my notes but remember seeing it.

Could someone explain reasonableforce used to stop a fleeing criminal (could be deadly or nondeadly and felon or misdemeanor). Thanks!

[SilverE2]

Have you guys noticed this trend of easy property questions with gigantic fact patterns. So basically, if you can get through and comprehend the facts, then the answer is obvious? On one hand, they're such a time sink and a weight on concentration, but on the other...they're still easy questions. For that reason I'm not sure if I like them or hate them. I feel like they weed out people who are like "fuck it, impossible question, next" on the exam.

[legalmindedfella]

Are there any big differences between the MBE assortment and the question-batches Themis gives out? Doing okay on the MQs combining sets to get to 200, but not sure if there's something different with the actual exam. (Like, harder questions?)

[catfished]

Have you guys noticed this trend of easy property questions with gigantic fact patterns. So basically, if you can get through and comprehend the facts, then the answer is obvious? On one hand, they're such a time sink and a weight on concentration, but on the other...they're still easy questions. For that reason I'm not sure if I like them or hate them. I feel like they weed out people who are like "fuck it, impossible question, next" on the exam.

They are absolutely the worst, and IMO, a perfect example of why this exam is the worst. When you write questions with the sole purpose of attempting to trick the examinee, it's time to revamp the system. The exam is nothing more than another way for state bar associations to ensure that they have a steady revenue stream year after year. Bar associations will face major challenges in years to come especially with regard to regulation of the practice of law between states. Then again, the entire legal community is resistant to change because our livelihoods are for the most part dependent on a past way of life.

/end rant.

[WonkyPanda]

I am 100% convinced the Themis later mixed are more difficult than anything else. I took the AB 2011 NCBE and scored well over 75%. I was struggling to hit 65% on the later mixed sets, and I do mean struggling.

[Tanicius]

I am 100% convinced the Themis later mixed are more difficult than anything else. I took the AB 2011 NCBE and scored well over 75%. I was struggling to hit 65% on the later mixed sets, and I do mean struggling.

The reason they're hard, though, isn't necessarily because of content. It's because they seem to be the sloppiest questions. Some of the answers you read and you're like "WTF does that word you use even mean? That's not even part of the legal test, and it's totally subjective." And then sure enough it's the right answer. Almost every time it's the second of two "best" answers I narrowed down to a subjective judgment call, or it was the very least applicable answer due to its stupid wording.

[WonkyPanda]

I am 100% convinced the Themis later mixed are more difficult than anything else. I took the AB 2011 NCBE and scored well over 75%. I was struggling to hit 65% on the later mixed sets, and I do mean struggling.

The reason they're hard, though, isn't necessarily because of content. It's because they seem to be the sloppiest questions. Some of the answers you read and you're like "WTF does that word you use even mean? That's not even part of the legal test, and it's totally subjective." And then sure enough it's the right answer. Almost every time it's the second of two "best" answers I narrowed down to a subjective judgment call, or it was the very least applicable answer due to its stupid wording.

Definitely. At least with the NCBE questions, I'll begrudgingly agree with the tougher questions. Some of the "tougher" Themis questions are poorly worded.

[jigglypuffdreams]

Got a 63/100 on the "extra practice written questions" in the multistate workbook, but I'll chalk it up to burnout I guess. They're definitely decent if you're running out of stuff or get easily frustrated by seeing repeat questions, but definitely had me saying "ugh, that question was stupid" that made me want to type them up and complain about them. But oh well, at least I'll stay on my toes.

[TooManyLoans]

Anybody know if we can go back and forth between essay questions on the actual exam. Like just between the questions in a given session like AM.

[Prime]

The dreaded 50 question 'best evidence' test.

As for the later sets, I think one particular set had 7 defamation questions.

[blue920]

Does anyone know the exact hours of the NJ exam? Both the MBE and the essay portion? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

Not from NJ bar, but this is what I found: http://www.law.pitt.edu/students/barexa ... new-jersey

[schweitziro]

I am 100% convinced the Themis later mixed are more difficult than anything else. I took the AB 2011 NCBE and scored well over 75%. I was struggling to hit 65% on the later mixed sets, and I do mean struggling.

This anecdote made me feel better. Thank you.

[mmmnnn]

What kind of words/actions are necessary for a shipment of nonconforming goods to be a counteroffer, rather than an acceptance + breach?

[dtl]

What kind of words/actions are necessary for a shipment of nonconforming goods to be a counteroffer, rather than an acceptance + breach?

It just has to be a note of accommodation. As long as it generally says that its an accommodation instead of performance, I think you are set. I highly doubt they will throw a letter in that is vague.

[jigglypuffdreams]

What kind of words/actions are necessary for a shipment of nonconforming goods to be a counteroffer, rather than an acceptance + breach?

It just has to be a note of accommodation. As long as it generally says that its an accommodation instead of performance, I think you are set. I highly doubt they will throw a letter in that is vague.

Yup. Someone asks for red pens, you send green pens instead. If you send a note saying "sorry, I hope these green pens are okay" or something like that, it's a counteroffer. If you just send the green pens and act like nothing's wrong, it's an acceptance plus breach.

[mmmnnn]

What kind of words/actions are necessary for a shipment of nonconforming goods to be a counteroffer, rather than an acceptance + breach?

It just has to be a note of accommodation. As long as it generally says that its an accommodation instead of performance, I think you are set. I highly doubt they will throw a letter in that is vague.

This was an MBE question where A made an offer to buy laptops, and B shipped desktops w/ a note that said "hope desktops are okay." It was a counteroffer, which I agree with IRL, but I'm accustomed to seeing questions where it's much clearer that the shipper doesn't think he's complying.

I guess I'll just remember that any indication from the seller to the buyer that the goods are nonconforming is a counteroffer.

[FlanAl]

Does anyone have a link to the MEE "essay checklists"? It's an assignment listed on my final day of prep, Monday before the test. I have never been given access to this document before, or even knew it was a thing.

I emailed them to try and figure this out but if anyone knows and could help us out that would be great.

[dtl]

I guess I'll just remember that any indication from the seller to the buyer that the goods are nonconforming is a counteroffer.

I think thats the takeaway rule of thumb. If it was an essay, totally argue both ways. The MBE is not going to put a letter with the nonconforming shipment then go "HAH! That was just a love letter between the CEOs you dummy".

Or at least I hope not. They are sadists, after all.