THEMIS JULY 2018 - DISCUSSION Forum

[BlueLaw11]

Hey y'all? Is anyone supplementing their study with Emmanuel's Strategies and Tactics? I bought the book and received it two days ago, skimmed it, but haven't gotten into it yet. Other than Themis and S&T, the Only other supplement I am using is Critical Pass Flashcards that I downloaded onto my iPad Pro...I think having the Critical Pass on the iPad is a great alternative....What say you, people?

Using the same three tools, my friend. How did you download CP onto your iPad?

Hey there ! I found an app that allowed me to purchase the cards and download them (as opposed to buying the hard copies...It is great and so much easier, IMO...I love it. Search "critical pass" on your app icon and select the downloadable option (if you haven't bought them already..).

Ah damn hopefully it'll let me transfer the purchase over. Thanks!

[Lawworld19]

Just did the MBE Practice Exam #1... got most of the torts ones right, got a little less of property right, got barely any contracts right. This is weird, I really thought I knew contracts better than property. Even with all those correct torts ones, still got less than the average -- 51%. Eek. Well, these were the first ones I've done without letting myself look at outlines or anything else.

To make you feel better, on adaptibar I have been averaging 20 points higher than what I got on that practice test. I think that practice test had a few more nuanced questions than normal. Just my 0.2 C

[Transfer2016]

Just did the MBE Practice Exam #1... got most of the torts ones right, got a little less of property right, got barely any contracts right. This is weird, I really thought I knew contracts better than property. Even with all those correct torts ones, still got less than the average -- 51%. Eek. Well, these were the first ones I've done without letting myself look at outlines or anything else.

To make you feel better, on adaptibar I have been averaging 20 points higher than what I got on that practice test. I think that practice test had a few more nuanced questions than normal. Just my 0.2 C

I actually did better on the practice test than I have on the other questions. Somehow got 80% even though my averages have been around 65-70% on the other sets.

[Ohnt]

Hey y'all? Is anyone supplementing their study with Emmanuel's Strategies and Tactics? I bought the book and received it two days ago, skimmed it, but haven't gotten into it yet. Other than Themis and S&T, the Only other supplement I am using is Critical Pass Flashcards that I downloaded onto my iPad Pro...I think having the Critical Pass on the iPad is a great alternative....What say you, people?

So far only Themis for me and then Barbri outlines just to understand certain principles from a different perspective.

[Neilt001]

Hey. I'm taking the MBE, using Themis. I'm also working in the morning and have a family, so I try to cram in as much as I can in the limited time I have. I'm doing well on all of the practice tests (usually in the 80% range) and essays, but i feel like the reading takes way too long, and contains lots of unclear cut and pastes of the Restatement or statutory language, which is difficult to read and frustrating.

Due to my time constraints, I feel like skipping the reading and just doing lectures and tests. Any opinions on this? Will I get the info I need this way?

Hey, congrats on your strong results!

Yes, I think you can afford to skip the readings. I didn't once do the readings, and only did the lectures and tests, and I did well on the bar. I made my own notes from the lectures and studied those. The readings are just too much text, too thorough, and just too much info to bother memorizing.

Themis recommends doing the readings before the lectures so that you basically familiarize yourself with the subject matter and can hit the ground running for the lectures. it helps with memory and reinforces the lectures or whatever. Personally, I just didn't have time.

Anyway, you'll be fine!

[Neilt001]

Hope this isn't obvious, but are these Themis MBE PQs actual, licensed MBE questions? Or are they Themis-generated, or is it a mix of both?

I have read so many comments on past threads by passers who say something like "I was freaking out because I couldn't break above 60's on Themis PQs but ended up in the 80th percentile on the actual MBE, so don't worry!" What's the deal behind the big difference between performance on Themis PQs and the actual thing? Just a Themis scare tactic?

Good question - Themis uses a mix of both. There are definitely plenty of NCBE questions in their PQs, which I realized when I purchased an NCBE question set, and realized I had already done lots of them on Themis. Themis also uses their own which, as far as I could tell, had no difference to the official ones.

As for my results, I had difficulty breaking the 70% mark on my tests and hovered around 68% most of the time, and even in the 50s sometimes. I was definitely freaking out. Ended up in 85th percentile (which is 75% correct) on the bar. Don't know how it happened, but either way Themis PQs will prepare you well.

[CBlaw]

Hey y'all? Is anyone supplementing their study with Emmanuel's Strategies and Tactics? I bought the book and received it two days ago, skimmed it, but haven't gotten into it yet. Other than Themis and S&T, the Only other supplement I am using is Critical Pass Flashcards that I downloaded onto my iPad Pro...I think having the Critical Pass on the iPad is a great alternative....What say you, people?

Using the same three tools, my friend. How did you download CP onto your iPad?

I have the S&T book as well. Only have done 9 or so contract questions out of it. Have either of you done more? Are they the same as the Themis questions?

[NotSkadden]

Hey. I'm taking the MBE, using Themis. I'm also working in the morning and have a family, so I try to cram in as much as I can in the limited time I have. I'm doing well on all of the practice tests (usually in the 80% range) and essays, but i feel like the reading takes way too long, and contains lots of unclear cut and pastes of the Restatement or statutory language, which is difficult to read and frustrating.

Due to my time constraints, I feel like skipping the reading and just doing lectures and tests. Any opinions on this? Will I get the info I need this way?

Hey, congrats on your strong results!

Yes, I think you can afford to skip the readings. I didn't once do the readings, and only did the lectures and tests, and I did well on the bar. I made my own notes from the lectures and studied those. The readings are just too much text, too thorough, and just too much info to bother memorizing.

Themis recommends doing the readings before the lectures so that you basically familiarize yourself with the subject matter and can hit the ground running for the lectures. it helps with memory and reinforces the lectures or whatever. Personally, I just didn't have time.

Anyway, you'll be fine!

I don’t see how you could skip the full outlines for each subject. I’m noticing that a significant amount of questions are coming from more nuanced rules that the lectures and lecture handouts just don’t cover, or gloss over.

[yuppy]

Hey. I'm taking the MBE, using Themis. I'm also working in the morning and have a family, so I try to cram in as much as I can in the limited time I have. I'm doing well on all of the practice tests (usually in the 80% range) and essays, but i feel like the reading takes way too long, and contains lots of unclear cut and pastes of the Restatement or statutory language, which is difficult to read and frustrating.

Due to my time constraints, I feel like skipping the reading and just doing lectures and tests. Any opinions on this? Will I get the info I need this way?

Hey, congrats on your strong results!

Yes, I think you can afford to skip the readings. I didn't once do the readings, and only did the lectures and tests, and I did well on the bar. I made my own notes from the lectures and studied those. The readings are just too much text, too thorough, and just too much info to bother memorizing.

Themis recommends doing the readings before the lectures so that you basically familiarize yourself with the subject matter and can hit the ground running for the lectures. it helps with memory and reinforces the lectures or whatever. Personally, I just didn't have time.

Anyway, you'll be fine!

I don’t see how you could skip the full outlines for each subject. I’m noticing that a significant amount of questions are coming from more nuanced rules that the lectures and lecture handouts just don’t cover, or gloss over.

It's true that there is more in the text than the lectures. But I often pick up more information from the practice questions than i originally picked up from the reading. I'll probably try without reading at least for torts, civ pro and con law which I more or less remember from school.

[yuppy]

Hey. I'm taking the MBE, using Themis. I'm also working in the morning and have a family, so I try to cram in as much as I can in the limited time I have. I'm doing well on all of the practice tests (usually in the 80% range) and essays, but i feel like the reading takes way too long, and contains lots of unclear cut and pastes of the Restatement or statutory language, which is difficult to read and frustrating.

Due to my time constraints, I feel like skipping the reading and just doing lectures and tests. Any opinions on this? Will I get the info I need this way?

Hey, congrats on your strong results!

Yes, I think you can afford to skip the readings. I didn't once do the readings, and only did the lectures and tests, and I did well on the bar. I made my own notes from the lectures and studied those. The readings are just too much text, too thorough, and just too much info to bother memorizing.

Themis recommends doing the readings before the lectures so that you basically familiarize yourself with the subject matter and can hit the ground running for the lectures. it helps with memory and reinforces the lectures or whatever. Personally, I just didn't have time.

Anyway, you'll be fine!

Thanks for the advice man. I'm glad to know it worked for someone else, because I feel like I can get so much more done by skipping the reading. Honestly, I've been quite unimpressed by the reading they supply... Everything else in the course is solid though.

[Ohnt]

Guys would anyone be interested in forming a what's app group just for questions and explanations? For example just reading here that the admissibility of evidence is under the abuse of discretion standard. Wouldn't someone say admissible of evidence is determined by the judge bc it is a matter of law so the de novo standard should be used?

Much easier to correspond about specific topics by whatsapp than through this forum. What does everyone think please? Good idea/ not?

[rastajacob]

Guys would anyone be interested in forming a what's app group just for questions and explanations? For example just reading here that the admissibility of evidence is under the abuse of discretion standard. Wouldn't someone say admissible of evidence is determined by the judge bc it is a matter of law so the de novo standard should be used?

Much easier to correspond about specific topics by whatsapp than through this forum. What does everyone think please? Good idea/ not?

I'd be into that, that would be cool !

[Ohnt]

Guys would anyone be interested in forming a what's app group just for questions and explanations? For example just reading here that the admissibility of evidence is under the abuse of discretion standard. Wouldn't someone say admissible of evidence is determined by the judge bc it is a matter of law so the de novo standard should be used?

Much easier to correspond about specific topics by whatsapp than through this forum. What does everyone think please? Good idea/ not?

I'd be into that, that would be cool !

Pls send me a message on whatsapp if interested so I can create group. My number is 5719927133. Anyone else can also create the group and add me to it.

Thanks.

[ithrowds]

I'm in CA and I've put a lot of focus early on into getting the MBE topics down, but every few days now Themis has us learn a new state-specific essay topic like Remedies or Community Property in CA. I watched the lectures, filled out the handout, and I've done a practice essay or two (albeit open book because I can't really recall much of the law), but its tough to find time to study that stuff and really get it down at all when theres so much else to do every single day.

tldr; Does anyone have tips on how to handle state-specific essay topics? Should I just go through the lectures and whatever assigned work and then not worry too much about them till later in bar studying? My worry is that if I don't get a better grasp of this stuff now, that its all going to compound later the bar studying process as I pick up more and more subjects.

In the same boat, they gave only a day apiece for Remedies and CP so I'm floundering on the essays. I'm making flashcards tonight so I can get the ball rolling on trying to learn these now. With Civ Pro and Evidence on the horizon, I think the more we can do for it now the better

Yeah, I figure thats what I'll have to do. The essays for these are definitely a struggle (particularly CP, Remedies at least has decent overlap with Torts/Contracts). The good thing I guess is that there isn't a TON of material for CP, so I figure a small handful of flashcards would probably suffice.

[Ohnt]

Guys would anyone be interested in forming a what's app group just for questions and explanations? For example just reading here that the admissibility of evidence is under the abuse of discretion standard. Wouldn't someone say admissible of evidence is determined by the judge bc it is a matter of law so the de novo standard should be used?

Much easier to correspond about specific topics by whatsapp than through this forum. What does everyone think please? Good idea/ not?

I'd be into that, that would be cool !

Pls send me a message on whatsapp if interested so I can create group. My number is 5719927133. Anyone else can also create the group and add me to it.

New York July 2018 bar takers.
Thanks.

[lawbug123]

Is it me or does it feel like the outlines that are provided by themis are hard to read? I feel like they've re-written things such that they're so confusing and sometimes when I'm trying to review it, I read it, and then it just blanks out from my mind. I'm done with or at only 12% so then again, I'm also super behind :/

[Ohnt]

Is it me or does it feel like the outlines that are provided by themis are hard to read? I feel like they've re-written things such that they're so confusing and sometimes when I'm trying to review it, I read it, and then it just blanks out from my mind. I'm done with or at only 12% so then again, I'm also super behind :/

How do you guys not doze off? Reading a final review outline of torts and I'm dozing off so bad. Help on how to stay awake and motivated ...

[Ohnt]

Is it me or does it feel like the outlines that are provided by themis are hard to read? I feel like they've re-written things such that they're so confusing and sometimes when I'm trying to review it, I read it, and then it just blanks out from my mind. I'm done with or at only 12% so then again, I'm also super behind :/

How do you guys not doze off? Reading a final review outline of torts and I'm dozing off so bad. Help on how to stay awake and motivated ...

[lawbug123]

Is it me or does it feel like the outlines that are provided by themis are hard to read? I feel like they've re-written things such that they're so confusing and sometimes when I'm trying to review it, I read it, and then it just blanks out from my mind. I'm done with or at only 12% so then again, I'm also super behind :/

How do you guys not doze off? Reading a final review outline of torts and I'm dozing off so bad. Help on how to stay awake and motivated ...

Agreed, honestly, I am using the lectures to help me review the final outlines. But I think that might depend on how you memorize. I learn better when I hear things so that's how I'm reviewing, albeit at 1.5 speed on subjects that are highly tested. The first time I hear them I do it on regular speed at 1x.

[CBlaw]

Is it me or does it feel like the outlines that are provided by themis are hard to read? I feel like they've re-written things such that they're so confusing and sometimes when I'm trying to review it, I read it, and then it just blanks out from my mind. I'm done with or at only 12% so then again, I'm also super behind :/

How do you guys not doze off? Reading a final review outline of torts and I'm dozing off so bad. Help on how to stay awake and motivated ...

Agreed, honestly, I am using the lectures to help me review the final outlines. But I think that might depend on how you memorize. I learn better when I hear things so that's how I'm reviewing, albeit at 1.5 speed on subjects that are highly tested. The first time I hear them I do it on regular speed at 1x.

You think Torts is bad wait until Civ Pro. My god this is terrible.

[yuppy]

Is it me or does it feel like the outlines that are provided by themis are hard to read? I feel like they've re-written things such that they're so confusing and sometimes when I'm trying to review it, I read it, and then it just blanks out from my mind. I'm done with or at only 12% so then again, I'm also super behind :/

How do you guys not doze off? Reading a final review outline of torts and I'm dozing off so bad. Help on how to stay awake and motivated ...

Try caffeine, occasional cigar maybe...

Also, I found it easier to read from a screen, but the outline is difficult to read on the website. So I copied all the text and pasted in a word doc. Easier for me to read with my laptop on my lap. Also, sent as a kindle file to my kindle account, so I can easily read on my phone's kindle app.

[gladiator0flaw11]

Although I still wake up 4:30am to start off my day in the gym and maintain some mental clarity, this doc review job I took 5 days a week flexed my hours from 8am to 3pm and I still am too burned out by the time I get in the door after commuting. I got some property lectures and small assessment questions done, but haven't been able to do everything Themis is laying out. At this point, I can only find time to take the graded essays, full assessment questions for each subject, and practice exams. I'm most productive in the morning, I may need to take a day off and grind out the graded essay or practice exam # 1. Appreciate advice from anyone in a similar boat here

[Ohnt]

Guys would anyone be interested in forming a what's app group just for questions and explanations? For example just reading here that the admissibility of evidence is under the abuse of discretion standard. Wouldn't someone say admissible of evidence is determined by the judge bc it is a matter of law so the de novo standard should be used?

Much easier to correspond about specific topics by whatsapp than through this forum. What does everyone think please? Good idea/ not?

WhatsApp group up and running! Only for discussion of substantive law! We share tricky questions and explanations and point out what we could be missing. Something you learn on there may jump score from a 263 to 266!

No admin discussions...

[rastajacob]

Guys would anyone be interested in forming a what's app group just for questions and explanations? For example just reading here that the admissibility of evidence is under the abuse of discretion standard. Wouldn't someone say admissible of evidence is determined by the judge bc it is a matter of law so the de novo standard should be used?

Much easier to correspond about specific topics by whatsapp than through this forum. What does everyone think please? Good idea/ not?

WhatsApp group up and running! Only for discussion of substantive law! We share tricky questions and explanations and point out what we could be missing. Something you learn on there may jump score from a 263 to 266!

No admin discussions...

how do we get an invite?

[Ohnt]

Guys would anyone be interested in forming a what's app group just for questions and explanations? For example just reading here that the admissibility of evidence is under the abuse of discretion standard. Wouldn't someone say aPls send me a message on whatsapp if interested so I can create group. My number is 5719927133. Anyone else can also create the group and add me to it.
dmissible of evidence is determined by the judge bc it is a matter of law so the de novo standard should be used?

Much easier to correspond about specific topics by whatsapp than through this forum. What does everyone think please? Good idea/ not?

WhatsApp group up and running! Only for discussion of substantive law! We share tricky questions and explanations and point out what we could be missing. Something you learn on there may jump score from a 263 to 266!

No admin discussions...

how do we get an invite?

Pls send me a message on whatsapp. My number is 5719927133.