Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2014 Exam Forum

[JJ556]

Am I the only one that doesn't have 25 Property Lectures? I only have 24, yet the handout has 25 chapters. The 25th chapter covers water rights and zoning, neither of which were covered in any of the video lectures.

[Tanicius]

Am I the only one that doesn't have 25 Property Lectures? I only have 24, yet the handout has 25 chapters. The 25th chapter covers water rights and zoning, neither of which were covered in any of the video lectures.

Weird, I have a 25th video for Water Rights I'll be starting in about an hour.

[071816]

Am I the only one that doesn't have 25 Property Lectures? I only have 24, yet the handout has 25 chapters. The 25th chapter covers water rights and zoning, neither of which were covered in any of the video lectures.

Weird, I have a 25th video for Water Rights I'll be starting in about an hour.

That is weird. I have all 25.

[071816]

This is just so weird. Kramer's spending literally hours on subjects that are barely even touched on in the long outline and not even mentioned in the short outline. I feel like Themis really dropped the ball by not writing better Property materials.

This property stuff is taking me FOREVER to get through! At least Kramer is clear and mildly entertaining though.

[Tanicius]

This is just so weird. Kramer's spending literally hours on subjects that are barely even touched on in the long outline and not even mentioned in the short outline. I feel like Themis really dropped the ball by not writing better Property materials.

This property stuff is taking me FOREVER to get through! At least Kramer is clear and mildly entertaining though.

Yeah I think I'm at my tipping point for the day. I've got the Property MBE lecture and a few practice Q's scheduled for after this, but I think I'm checking out for the day once I'm done with the final lectures.

[iLoveFruits&Veggies]

Am I the only one that doesn't have 25 Property Lectures? I only have 24, yet the handout has 25 chapters. The 25th chapter covers water rights and zoning, neither of which were covered in any of the video lectures.

I have 25. The 25th one is titled: Ch 25: Water Rights; Support Rights; Zoning; Eminent Domain; Nuisance

btw, what do you guys think of Dr. Dennis Saccuzzo's Bar Predictions? You can google his name & "bar secrets" and you'll see his website and videos. I definitely don't want to encourage folks to rely on him, but he seems to get them right a good deal of the time - although I think he messed up a bit on the last exam. Was just curious if anyone follows him...

(CALIFORNIA BAR)

[puttycake]

Am I the only one that doesn't have 25 Property Lectures? I only have 24, yet the handout has 25 chapters. The 25th chapter covers water rights and zoning, neither of which were covered in any of the video lectures.

Did you scroll down? Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I find Themis's interface a bit weird sometimes and don't see that there are places to scroll.

[JJ556]

Am I the only one that doesn't have 25 Property Lectures? I only have 24, yet the handout has 25 chapters. The 25th chapter covers water rights and zoning, neither of which were covered in any of the video lectures.

Did you scroll down? Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I find Themis's interface a bit weird sometimes and don't see that there are places to scroll.

Yes, I did scroll down. Even in my directed study, it tells me to watch RP lectures 17-24. I just sent Themis an e-mail, so I'll await their reply.

[dudnaito]

Anyone just flipping around like I am? I just do whatever I want, and Property is not what I want to do at this moment, so all this talk of Property is scaring me

I've done Con Law, Torts, halfway through Evidence, (Agency/Partnerships/Corporation), 1/2 of Crim Law (not Procedure) , and uh.. some workshops, and uh... that's about it i think. Damn, i really need to pick it up.

[071816]

This is just so weird. Kramer's spending literally hours on subjects that are barely even touched on in the long outline and not even mentioned in the short outline. I feel like Themis really dropped the ball by not writing better Property materials.

This property stuff is taking me FOREVER to get through! At least Kramer is clear and mildly entertaining though.

Yeah I think I'm at my tipping point for the day. I've got the Property MBE lecture and a few practice Q's scheduled for after this, but I think I'm checking out for the day once I'm done with the final lectures.

I'm probably going to do the same thing. Did you do the graded property essay yet? I think I'm going to leave that for tomorrow morning.

[iLoveFruits&Veggies]

Anyone just flipping around like I am? I just do whatever I want, and Property is not what I want to do at this moment, so all this talk of Property is scaring me

I've done Con Law, Torts, halfway through Evidence, (Agency/Partnerships/Corporation), 1/2 of Crim Law (not Procedure) , and uh.. some workshops, and uh... that's about it i think. Damn, i really need to pick it up.

I scared myself with my poor performance on the Adaptibar's MBE contracts questions, so I went ahead and watched all of the contracts lectures... and I thought Professor Geis was good! I'm skipping around based on whatever is giving me stress at the moment...

(CALIFORNIA BAR)

[NC1]

I think people need to distinguish which bar exam they're talking about because I was getting confused as to what people were referencing.

[atlien]

Is anyone lost in the obscenity portion of the Con law lecture? Am I missing something or is there no obscenity section on the fill-in-the blank handouts??

[MinEMorris]

I don't really get why there's even an essay portion on the bar exam. (Doing CA, to be clear.) IMO, it should just be performance tests and the MBE. I understand the idea that a lawyer should have a general grasp of the law and should be able to correctly identify certain legal issues without looking anything up, but the MBE covers that base. And the ability to correctly and thoroughly analyze an issue once you've looked up the relevant law--probably the main responsibility of most lawyers--is covered by the PT. I just don't see how the essay portion fits in with legal practice, unless you plan to commit malpractice by writing briefs without doing research.

[iLoveFruits&Veggies]

I don't really get why there's even an essay portion on the bar exam. (Doing CA, to be clear.) IMO, it should just be performance tests and the MBE. I understand the idea that a lawyer should have a general grasp of the law and should be able to correctly identify certain legal issues without looking anything up, but the MBE covers that base. And the ability to correctly and thoroughly analyze an issue once you've looked up the relevant law--probably the main responsibility of most lawyers--is covered by the PT. I just don't see how the essay portion fits in with legal practice, unless you plan to commit malpractice by writing briefs without doing research.

Sounds good to me! I'd do 5 times as many MBEs and PTs if they'd get rid of those essays!

(CALIFORNIA BAR)

[puttycake]

I just don't see how the essay portion fits in with legal practice, unless you plan to commit malpractice by writing briefs without doing research.

You've discovered my plan for riches and world domination!

[dudnaito]

I don't really get why there's even an essay portion on the bar exam. (Doing CA, to be clear.) IMO, it should just be performance tests and the MBE. I understand the idea that a lawyer should have a general grasp of the law and should be able to correctly identify certain legal issues without looking anything up, but the MBE covers that base. And the ability to correctly and thoroughly analyze an issue once you've looked up the relevant law--probably the main responsibility of most lawyers--is covered by the PT. I just don't see how the essay portion fits in with legal practice, unless you plan to commit malpractice by writing briefs without doing research.

You fool, that would make way too much sense.

[dudnaito]

Dumb question, but how the heck do you control the font size on the "fill in the blanks." I can control the font size for note-taking on the side, but can't seem to separately manipulate font size for fill in the blanks. They're huge.

Using mac, "Preview" or "Adobe Reader" is fine. Thanks

[Tanicius]

I don't really get why there's even an essay portion on the bar exam. (Doing CA, to be clear.) IMO, it should just be performance tests and the MBE. I understand the idea that a lawyer should have a general grasp of the law and should be able to correctly identify certain legal issues without looking anything up, but the MBE covers that base. And the ability to correctly and thoroughly analyze an issue once you've looked up the relevant law--probably the main responsibility of most lawyers--is covered by the PT. I just don't see how the essay portion fits in with legal practice, unless you plan to commit malpractice by writing briefs without doing research.

This is because, frankly, the bar examiners don't give a shit about testing for workable skills. They need some kind of arbitrary line in the sand to act as a cut-off. It's a hazing standard that effectively dissuades complete idiots from joining the practice of law.

If they were serious about testing skills relevant to demonstrate competency in their state, they wouldn't even be joking around with this "multi-state" bullshit. You'd just be asked to write different state-procedure-specific documents and maybe take a state-jurisdictional-specific multiple choice test. But they don't do that. They don't do that because they have no interest in committing actual resources to increasing standards of competency. It's never been about that.

[MinEMorris]

I don't really get why there's even an essay portion on the bar exam. (Doing CA, to be clear.) IMO, it should just be performance tests and the MBE. I understand the idea that a lawyer should have a general grasp of the law and should be able to correctly identify certain legal issues without looking anything up, but the MBE covers that base. And the ability to correctly and thoroughly analyze an issue once you've looked up the relevant law--probably the main responsibility of most lawyers--is covered by the PT. I just don't see how the essay portion fits in with legal practice, unless you plan to commit malpractice by writing briefs without doing research.

This is because, frankly, the bar examiners don't give a shit about testing for workable skills. They need some kind of arbitrary line in the sand to act as a cut-off. It's a hazing standard that effectively dissuades complete idiots from joining the practice of law.

If they were serious about testing skills relevant to demonstrate competency in their state, they wouldn't even be joking around with this "multi-state" bullshit. You'd just be asked to write different state-procedure-specific documents and maybe take a state-jurisdictional-specific multiple choice test. But they don't do that. They don't do that because they have no interest in committing actual resources to increasing standards of competency. It's never been about that.

Well stated. Some of the efforts of state bars to shape the legal profession are just downright depressing.

Alright, insecurity requires that I check in: what percentage are you bros and sis's sitting at? I'm almost at 10%. Chugging along slowly and painfully. Figure that ~2% a day should put me in a good spot by the end of June.

[dudnaito]

I don't really get why there's even an essay portion on the bar exam. (Doing CA, to be clear.) IMO, it should just be performance tests and the MBE. I understand the idea that a lawyer should have a general grasp of the law and should be able to correctly identify certain legal issues without looking anything up, but the MBE covers that base. And the ability to correctly and thoroughly analyze an issue once you've looked up the relevant law--probably the main responsibility of most lawyers--is covered by the PT. I just don't see how the essay portion fits in with legal practice, unless you plan to commit malpractice by writing briefs without doing research.

This is because, frankly, the bar examiners don't give a shit about testing for workable skills. They need some kind of arbitrary line in the sand to act as a cut-off. It's a hazing standard that effectively dissuades complete idiots from joining the practice of law.

If they were serious about testing skills relevant to demonstrate competency in their state, they wouldn't even be joking around with this "multi-state" bullshit. You'd just be asked to write different state-procedure-specific documents and maybe take a state-jurisdictional-specific multiple choice test. But they don't do that. They don't do that because they have no interest in committing actual resources to increasing standards of competency. It's never been about that.

Well stated. Some of the efforts of state bars to shape the legal profession are just downright depressing.

Alright, insecurity requires that I check in: what percentage are you bros and sis's sitting at? I'm almost at 10%. Chugging along slowly and painfully. Figure that ~2% a day should put me in a good spot by the end of June.

10.1%. You need to step up your game. (SERIOUS: 12%). Getting "better" at studying though. Almost increasing my productivity at 150% what i was able to pull off first 2 weeks.

[Genuine4ps]

I don't really get why there's even an essay portion on the bar exam. (Doing CA, to be clear.) IMO, it should just be performance tests and the MBE. I understand the idea that a lawyer should have a general grasp of the law and should be able to correctly identify certain legal issues without looking anything up, but the MBE covers that base. And the ability to correctly and thoroughly analyze an issue once you've looked up the relevant law--probably the main responsibility of most lawyers--is covered by the PT. I just don't see how the essay portion fits in with legal practice, unless you plan to commit malpractice by writing briefs without doing research.

This is because, frankly, the bar examiners don't give a shit about testing for workable skills. They need some kind of arbitrary line in the sand to act as a cut-off. It's a hazing standard that effectively dissuades complete idiots from joining the practice of law.

If they were serious about testing skills relevant to demonstrate competency in their state, they wouldn't even be joking around with this "multi-state" bullshit. You'd just be asked to write different state-procedure-specific documents and maybe take a state-jurisdictional-specific multiple choice test. But they don't do that. They don't do that because they have no interest in committing actual resources to increasing standards of competency. It's never been about that.

I agree with this, but I think the main reason for the bar is the money. I could understand having the bar for everyone without a J.D., but if you graduate law school, the bar is just stupid.

[094320]

..

[WonkyPanda]

Sigh, i'm like a day 1/2 behind right now, and I feel like i'm failing.

It's really hard to keep this pace. It really does start weighing on you.

[Genuine4ps]

Sigh, i'm like a day 1/2 behind right now, and I feel like i'm failing.

It's really hard to keep this pace. It really does start weighing on you.

Well I think you're still well ahead, because Themis only expects you to complete 75%.