February 2016 California Bar Exam Forum

[just_lila]

Anyone else sruggling(ed) with Evidence MBE's? Is this one of your stronger MBE subjects? If so, need your help!

I have reviewed BarBri's tips and read through Emanuel's Strategies & Tactics. I improved slightly after Emanuel's to just barely meet BarBri's goal scores, but still do not feel confident with the subject. Will be doing more questions and reading the explanations going forward with hope for improvement, but looking for any other strategies or tips on how to tackle this subject on the MBE. Anyone have a specific thought process they go through/issue priority checklist approach for Ev.Q that is working for them?

I feel your pain! I have the same problems with Evidence MBE. My accuracy rate was terrible. I just stopped answering the questions and proceeded with the essays. After reading the essay rules and outlining some essays I came back to the MBE questions. It's improving after all but I am still struggling:( Let me know if you find any useful sources.

[BrokenMouse]

Has anyone been doing practice essays? I've completely shut out MBE and doing MBE essays only. I find this helps me memorize the rules and outline better. I plan to start MBE practicing after I cover all the MBE essay subjects first with as many essays as I can.

I'm doing the essays Barbri assigns, which I think has been about 2-3 per subject (so 8-10 total so far?). Can you recommend the trickiest essays you've done so far? I feel like I can handle a straight subject essay from each of the subjects covered so far, but I can still get thrown on crossovers [and basically did get thrown for a loop on Essays 5 and 6 last July]

The problem I find with Barbri's assignment is that they do not require you to do more than one full essay for each subject (they make you outline the rest) so you don't really get to understand and learn how to write the law properly for the essay (also I think they only grade like two or three essays during the whole course, when they should be grading at least one or two for each subject). If you can, do all the essays that they provide you with, and get someone to grade them, telling you your weak points and strengths. You need to learn how to write an essay, and Barbri doesn't teach you how. If you think you already know how to write an essay and feel like you can pass with your skills, then just do every essay they assign, but do not outline, I personally think that's a total waste of time.

I don't think it is necessary to do all the essays. What's more important is outlining and then reading the model answers to make sure you are honestly getting it right. Barbri's HW is nonsense. The only thing I am using on Barbri right now is their general schedule and 2-3 essay submission for grading they have. All other online MBE games or whatever are absolute waste of time.

[storge]

I feel your pain! I have the same problems with Evidence MBE. My accuracy rate was terrible. I just stopped answering the questions and proceeded with the essays. After reading the essay rules and outlining some essays I came back to the MBE questions. It's improving after all but I am still struggling:( Let me know if you find any useful sources.

Someone else suggested focusing on essays to improve understanding of the law and how it's tested. The rec came from someone who said they were struggling with Prop MBE's (50-60% accuracy), did every essay from 2000 to present and allegedly improved MBE to 70-80% accuracy. I'm going to try that with Evidence. I'll keep you posted with any improvements or any new ideas to improve. If you come across any, please let me know as well. We are not alone!

[storge]

I would thoroughly study the outline again. MBE is a good tune up study for the essays since it tests in pieces the nuances of the law. When you do bad consistently you dont have a good foundation for it. I literally answered in outline form every essay released for property since 2000. It helped me memorize the rules. My accuracy on the MBE isat 70-80% compared to 50-60 last time around.

Thanks, I'll give it a shot!

[newusername]

I can't believe there's only 1 month left to go! Do you guys think it's too late to get a tutor? I'm in the LA area, in case anyone has one they'd recommend.

[attjen]

Any info on staying at the Jack London Inn in Oakland? I booked it but have read disturbing review. I'm not looking for fancy but just curious? Anybody else stayed there or booked it?????

[hotsummer]

I also have questions about hotels, in Ontario though. Does anyone have experience staying at either Red Lion Ontario Airport or Motel 6?

[AMCD]

I just want to chime in and recommend the following hotel for Ontario -- I stayed there in July:

Ontario Grand Inn & Suites

3333 Shelby St, Ontario, CA, 91764 United States of America
Tel: 1 (909) 948-7000, Fax: 1 (909) 948-7008

It's literally a straight shot, traffic-free drive to the convention center -- 4.5 to 5 mins. tops. I was never once delayed in any way at all. I previously, when I didn't pass in February, stayed at the Hilton, right next to the convention center. My total cost for staying at this hotel from Mon-Thursday was about $260, tax included. I paid 2.5 times that at the Hilton and it was, frankly, just an OK experience. I loved the fact that I didn't have to see or talk to any other Bar takers at this other hotel, plus the room was very spacious and quiet, versus the Hilton where I had to complain about 10 times about the noise of my neighbors next to me and above me. Yes, I was worried about staying not within walking distance of the convention center, but truly it was a non-issue. Just a really short drive and I would just park at the neighboring hotels! As it was over 100' in July, I would just walk to the Hilton and sit in the lobby during the break! I think that Motel 6 would be horrible, in terms of accommodations and comfort, and the Red Lion (if it's even available) is also going to be loud at night b/c of the train tracks that are in close proximity to the hotel. I could hear the trains all night at the Hilton, and they start their horns really early! If you are not sensitive to noise at all, then this won't bother you. I am a fussy hotel guest, and found this to have been a perfectly good experience.

[rcharter1978]

I also have questions about hotels, in Ontario though. Does anyone have experience staying at either Red Lion Ontario Airport or Motel 6?

I used to work at a hotel out there and I live nearby. I used to work at the hotel that is now the Radisson (formerly a Marriott) and that is literally just across the street. I would NOT stay at the Red Roof Inn, that place used to get robbed regularly.

The Red Lion used to be the Country Inn&Suites, and from what I remember that was a pretty nice hotel. The Motel 6 looks very depressing, but I've heard its not an awful place. The thing about Ontario is that it is next to an airport, so you get a lot of business travelers, and therefore some pretty nice hotels. But it borders on some sketchy areas so you can also get a less than pleasant element and a few lower end hotels/motels. This is why I could work at the Marriott, and feel fine, but the Red Roof Inn was getting robbed every other month.

The Radisson location that I used to work at (right across the street from the convention center) was probably the hotel that was nearest the train tracks. The only time we had complaints about train noise was when we put people in the rooms facing the train tracks (the back part of the hotel). Even though our hotel was nearest the train tracks if we put people in front of the hotel, they were fine, so I think unless you have a sensitivity to noise you'd probably be fine in a hotel nearby the convention center.

I'm not sure whats important in a hotel to you. If it were my decision, I would probably stay at the Residence Inn because you would be able to prepare your own food if you didn't feel like going out and having to run into millions of other people talking about the exam and what not. You wouldn't have to deal with the line for restaurants at dinner, etc, etc. And you could make whatever it is that you like instead of trying to figure out where you are going to go and whatever. That time could just be spent resting and relaxing. I suppose you can also do room service , but I would suspect the wait for room service would be extra long and annoying. It is also within walking distance of the convention center, is pretty far removed from the train tracks, and has a little workout room (if thats your thing).

The poster above also had a good point about potentially going to a less crowded hotel that wasn't right in that cluster of hotels around the convention center. But then you have to drive/pay for parking.

However, if you're just between the Motel 6 and the Red Lion, I would just go for the Red Lion.

[bioreboot]

Does anyone have an adaptibar coupon they could message me? Thank you!

[EyeTwitchAllSummer]

I can't believe there's only 1 month left to go! Do you guys think it's too late to get a tutor? I'm in the LA area, in case anyone has one they'd recommend.

Patrick Lin is my tutor. He is tutoring me on my essays and PTs. I recommend him if you need help with your writing. His website is http://barexam101.com/. I do not have a coupon for him.

[hotsummer]

I just want to chime in and recommend the following hotel for Ontario -- I stayed there in July:

I used to work at a hotel out there and I live nearby.

Thank you both AMCD and rcharter1978! I will look into those choices you mentioned! Many many thanks for sharing your insights!

[barexamjuggernaut]

I also have questions about hotels, in Ontario though. Does anyone have experience staying at either Red Lion Ontario Airport or Motel 6?

I'd go with the Red Lion Hotel if I were you. It's 5 min walking distance from the convention center. Very nice. Breakfast + gym provided.

If you tell them you're a part of the bar you can reserve your room for $84 a night which is a steal.

[EyeTwitchAllSummer]

Does anyone have an adaptibar coupon they could message me? Thank you!

PM'd you. Message me back if you still need an adaptibar coupon.
Thanks and good luck!

[rcharter1978]

I also have questions about hotels, in Ontario though. Does anyone have experience staying at either Red Lion Ontario Airport or Motel 6?

I'd go with the Red Lion Hotel if I were you. It's 5 min walking distance from the convention center. Very nice. Breakfast + gym provided.

If you tell them you're a part of the bar you can reserve your room for $84 a night which is a steal.

Wow, that is very reasonable. The person I know who stayed at the Motel 6 was paying $99/night.

[BrokenMouse]

How far is everybody in review?

[fadedsunrise]

I'm scared I'm hitting a slump. I've done all of these subjects and sort of started contracts and con law according to the Barbri schedule. I'm not sure if I'm just /better/ at Torts and Property, which were earlier on the Barbri schedule, but I'm getting worse scores on evidence/contracts, which were two of my latest subjects. Like consistent mid 70%s on torts and property vs as low as mid 50's on evidence and contracts.

[duskfall]

Aloft Hotel was awesome if you're staying in Ontario. I stayed there in February 2014 and had no trouble getting to the convention center. No traffic. 5-10 min drive. Booked through Hotwire, got a rate of $60 per month.

[FinallyPassedTheBar]

Anyone taking the exam in Sacramento? I am staying at The Residence Inn, but would prefer to find something cheaper if possible.

[a male human]

Anyone taking the exam in Sacramento? I am staying at The Residence Inn, but would prefer to find something cheaper if possible.

I stayed at a Quality Inn, a 5-minute walk to the convention hall. Good price and the manager was flexible with checkout times since he knew we were taking the bar.

Bring earplugs in case they still have metal banging next door at 2 am.

[Raiden]

If you feel behind, don't worry. Stay strong and keep up MBE and essay practice. Still have a month till game day, we got this.

[storge]

If you feel behind, don't worry. Stay strong and keep up MBE and essay practice. Still have a month till game day, we got this.

Much needed words of encouragement!

[healthnut]

If you're feeling in a slump, it's normal, but don't let the slump go any further than a few days--you'll lose traction.

Try switching something up:
-Start with a subject you know every day to build your confidence throughout the days
-Start with MBE questions for warm up (you should really rev these up come February)
-Walk away and take a walk when you begin to feel like you're hitting a wall (OPTOUTSIDE)
-Make posters so you SEE the subject matter more often in random places (bedroom/office where you study)
-Make your own condensed outlines (2-3 pages tops!)
-Make notecards
-Fill out these MBE handouts: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dec2k4tm6hik ... Qd2Ja?dl=0

When you do things like this, you realize what you KNOW and then are slowly able to focus on what you don't know. The key is CONFIDENCE IN WHAT YOU KNOW. Those of us that passed didn't know everything, but we had confidence in what we know to expand on those topics and BS (or act like we knew) the rest.

If I did it, YOU CAN.

[juniormint33]

If you're feeling in a slump, it's normal, but don't let the slump go any further than a few days--you'll lose traction.

Try switching something up:
-Start with a subject you know every day to build your confidence throughout the days
-Start with MBE questions for warm up (you should really rev these up come February)
-Walk away and take a walk when you begin to feel like you're hitting a wall (OPTOUTSIDE)
-Make posters so you SEE the subject matter more often in random places (bedroom/office where you study)
-Make your own condensed outlines (2-3 pages tops!)
-Make notecards
-Fill out these MBE handouts: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dec2k4tm6hik ... Qd2Ja?dl=0

When you do things like this, you realize what you KNOW and then are slowly able to focus on what you don't know. The key is CONFIDENCE IN WHAT YOU KNOW. Those of us that passed didn't know everything, but we had confidence in what we know to expand on those topics and BS (or act like we knew) the rest.

If I did it, YOU CAN.

+1

Really needed this. Got the flu on Wednesday, gave myself a few days to rest, and am trying to get back on the horse today. Thank you.

[barprepblues]

Anyone else sruggling(ed) with Evidence MBE's? Is this one of your stronger MBE subjects? If so, need your help!

I have reviewed BarBri's tips and read through Emanuel's Strategies & Tactics. I improved slightly after Emanuel's to just barely meet BarBri's goal scores, but still do not feel confident with the subject. Will be doing more questions and reading the explanations going forward with hope for improvement, but looking for any other strategies or tips on how to tackle this subject on the MBE. Anyone have a specific thought process they go through/issue priority checklist approach for Ev.Q that is working for them?

I feel your pain! I have the same problems with Evidence MBE. My accuracy rate was terrible. I just stopped answering the questions and proceeded with the essays. After reading the essay rules and outlining some essays I came back to the MBE questions. It's improving after all but I am still struggling:( Let me know if you find any useful sources.

+1 to sucking at evidence. apparently i don't know how to impeach anyone for anything...