February 2015 Bar Exam Forum

[minnbills]

12/18 on Property set 2.

[ilovetypos]

We're only allowed to pee once per session. Not kidding.

Have you called yet? I'm interested to hear how it went.

[ilovetypos]

Having a panicky day today

[numbertwo88]

Anyone have access to a civ pro bar outline they'd be willing to share? My materials don't cover it and I only have my outlines from school.

If you haven't gotten one, PM me and I'll email you a copy.

ALSO

Can someone explain in super simple terms when you calculate the 10 years for a prior conviction? Specifically with sentences -- is it 10 years from the date a sentence ends? I feel like this is obvious, only it isn't that obvious to me ...

[numbertwo88]

Having a panicky day today

This is me! I don't know how I'm going to retain all of this essay information. Over the summer I did fine but going into this 2.0 I'm doubting myself all day every day. You're definitely not alone

[fslexcduck]

From the date of the conviction, but I really doubt there's going to be a question that makes you know the difference.

[ilovetypos]

Having a panicky day today

This is me! I don't know how I'm going to retain all of this essay information. Over the summer I did fine but going into this 2.0 I'm doubting myself all day every day. You're definitely not alone

Ugh, exactly. Like I haven't studied a subject for a couple days and have already forgotten so much. WTF.

[cooperlaserpup]

From the date of the conviction, but I really doubt there's going to be a question that makes you know the difference.

Agree with this. They will give you dates that make it pretty clear. And usually when it is too old its also either not moral turpitude or a non-relevant felony, so they make it pretty obvious that its inadmissible.

[underthirty]

.

[JoanSloan]

How do you stop overcomplicating things? My worst MBE subject by far is Torts. I'm lucky to get maybe 50%. I started off getting 70-80% right in Torts and it's been a steady decline.

Are you me? I worked my way up to 75% and nose-dived to 58% on negligence and professional liability questions this week.

What do I know what the reasonable mental capacity of a 12 year old is?

Since when did I need to know that cattle stampeding is not abnormal behavior? I'm taking the test in NYC for a reason...Because I know nothing of what typical bovine behavior is.

[fslexcduck]

Oh well there ya go, I didn't know the actual rule, and I've encountered a LOT of questions of that type and never got one wrong. (Re: criminal convictions and 10 yrs)

[fslexcduck]

How do you stop overcomplicating things? My worst MBE subject by far is Torts. I'm lucky to get maybe 50%. I started off getting 70-80% right in Torts and it's been a steady decline.

Are you me? I worked my way up to 75% and nose-dived to 58% on negligence and professional liability questions this week.

What do I know what the reasonable mental capacity of a 12 year old is?

Since when did I need to know that cattle stampeding is not abnormal behavior? I'm taking the test in NYC for a reason...Because I know nothing of what typical bovine behavior is.

LOL yeah they seem to be getting tricker/more abstract.

yesterday i got one wrong because i was supposed to know that apologizing to a priest for stabbing him was NOT seeking religious/spiritual counsel, while confessing a murder to a clergyman was. apparently we are all supposed to know the ins and outs of why people confess things...

i'm Jewish, wtf. All I know is what I learned watching the Sopranos.

[cooperlaserpup]

How do you stop overcomplicating things? My worst MBE subject by far is Torts. I'm lucky to get maybe 50%. I started off getting 70-80% right in Torts and it's been a steady decline.

Are you me? I worked my way up to 75% and nose-dived to 58% on negligence and professional liability questions this week.

What do I know what the reasonable mental capacity of a 12 year old is?

Since when did I need to know that cattle stampeding is not abnormal behavior? I'm taking the test in NYC for a reason...Because I know nothing of what typical bovine behavior is.

LOL yeah they seem to be getting tricker/more abstract.

yesterday i got one wrong because i was supposed to know that apologizing to a priest for stabbing him was NOT seeking religious/spiritual counsel, while confessing a murder to a clergyman was. apparently we are all supposed to know the ins and outs of why people confess things...

i'm Jewish, wtf. All I know is what I learned watching the Sopranos.

If it helps, you can be pretty sure that no public policy exceptions will apply when the individual is the victim of the crime.

[Holly Golightly]

We're only allowed to pee once per session. Not kidding.

Have you called yet? I'm interested to hear how it went.

Got a voicemail, apparently their offices are closed today.

http://abovethelaw.com/2015/02/which-st ... -bar-exam/

[OfThriceandTen]

How do you stop overcomplicating things? My worst MBE subject by far is Torts. I'm lucky to get maybe 50%. I started off getting 70-80% right in Torts and it's been a steady decline.

Are you me? I worked my way up to 75% and nose-dived to 58% on negligence and professional liability questions this week.

What do I know what the reasonable mental capacity of a 12 year old is?

Since when did I need to know that cattle stampeding is not abnormal behavior? I'm taking the test in NYC for a reason...Because I know nothing of what typical bovine behavior is.

I think that's what makes Torts so ridiculously hard for me. I actually know the elements of the classic torts, but whereas actually knowing the rules is enough in Evidence (with the exception of some things like "does this qualify as a statement for medical diagnosis" that my Evidence prof was fairly good about probing us on) and Ks, knowing the rules just drives me in circles in my head in Torts. I cannot grasp what they are getting at in any negligence question. I apply the rule and I'm still left with two seemingly viable answers. It's frustrating as hell, but at least it's only a problem for MBE questions. I'd be able to hit most of the important aspects for an essay question -- hopefully I don't lose too many points for coming out with the wrong answer.

[cooperlaserpup]

How do you stop overcomplicating things? My worst MBE subject by far is Torts. I'm lucky to get maybe 50%. I started off getting 70-80% right in Torts and it's been a steady decline.

Are you me? I worked my way up to 75% and nose-dived to 58% on negligence and professional liability questions this week.

What do I know what the reasonable mental capacity of a 12 year old is?

Since when did I need to know that cattle stampeding is not abnormal behavior? I'm taking the test in NYC for a reason...Because I know nothing of what typical bovine behavior is.

I think that's what makes Torts so ridiculously hard for me. I actually know the elements of the classic torts, but whereas actually knowing the rules is enough in Evidence (with the exception of some things like "does this qualify as a statement for medical diagnosis" that my Evidence prof was fairly good about probing us on) and Ks, knowing the rules just drives me in circles in my head in Torts. I cannot grasp what they are getting at in any negligence question. I apply the rule and I'm still left with two seemingly viable answers. It's frustrating as hell, but at least it's only a problem for MBE questions. I'd be able to hit most of the important aspects for an essay question -- hopefully I don't lose too many points for coming out with the wrong answer.

I'm pretty good at torts, and I don't have a firm memorization of specific elements. If you post an example question, I'd be happy to take you through my logic in getting the right answer. I've sort of developed skills at feeling out the answer based on the way the MBE tests. I've been told I'm good at explaining that sort of thing, and it always helps me study a lot to explain it to another person....my poor poor boyfriend who is in IT has had to sit through hours of him giving me a massage while I explain to him what an easement is. I think I owe him when the bar is over....

[fslexcduck]

I'm pretty good at torts, and I don't have a firm memorization of specific elements. If you post an example question, I'd be happy to take you through my logic in getting the right answer. I've sort of developed skills at feeling out the answer based on the way the MBE tests. I've been told I'm good at explaining that sort of thing, and it always helps me study a lot to explain it to another person....my poor poor boyfriend who is in IT has had to sit through hours of him giving me a massage while I explain to him what an easement is. I think I owe him when the bar is over....

Your boyfriend sounds like a good dude.

I asked my wife to quiz me on my flashcards yesterday and after about 30 minutes she gave up and quit. She claimed it was too boring and hard to understand anything, but her understanding seemed fine when she got to the "fault divorce" card and asked me "so if I divorce you right now based on the last couple of months, will my best cause of action be on abandonment or cruel and inhuman treatment, and why?"

[cooperlaserpup]

I'm pretty good at torts, and I don't have a firm memorization of specific elements. If you post an example question, I'd be happy to take you through my logic in getting the right answer. I've sort of developed skills at feeling out the answer based on the way the MBE tests. I've been told I'm good at explaining that sort of thing, and it always helps me study a lot to explain it to another person....my poor poor boyfriend who is in IT has had to sit through hours of him giving me a massage while I explain to him what an easement is. I think I owe him when the bar is over....

Your boyfriend sounds like a good dude.

I asked my wife to quiz me on my flashcards yesterday and after about 30 minutes she gave up and quit. She claimed it was too boring and hard to understand anything, but her understanding seemed fine when she got to the "fault divorce" card and asked me "so if I divorce you right now based on the last couple of months, will my best cause of action be on abandonment or cruel and inhuman treatment, and why?"

haha. he is very patient but he starts to needle me after a while. At one point reading an outline I was sarcastically like "oh look! women can own their own property AND keep their own wages in NY!" to which he was like "wtf that's bullshit."

[fslexcduck]

btw cooper, you said you are taking it in nyc? are you at armory or javits center? i'm at the armory.

also, themis or something else? i NEED to bitch about themis NY questions with someone...

[cooperlaserpup]

btw cooper, you said you are taking it in nyc? are you at armory or javits center? i'm at the armory.

also, themis or something else? i NEED to bitch about themis NY questions with someone...

armory and I live in BK. Not fucking pleased about an hour long trip at 6am :/ I don't think anyone is at javitz this time!

Themis plus supplementing with some friends' 2014 barbri materials. but only themis MBE questions. bitch away, shit is ridiculous. Also I used themis to pass MD in july and figured since I passed might as well stick with it. But I'm pretty meh about it at this point. I

[fslexcduck]

PM sent

[BeachedBrit]

My rant for today: Barbri's harder Civ Pro questions are at times, Evidence questions. I hate Evidence.

[cooperlaserpup]

Can someone please explain to me how the MBE is scaled?

In July when I passed MD my MBE scaled score was 148. Lets say for the sake of my example that this means I answered 135 questions correctly.

My understanding is that in february, even if I answer exactly 135 questions correctly again, that the way it is scaled will give me a LOWER scaled score (assuming the trend of february test takers getting lower MBEs is true.)

Is this really how it works?? I can't wrap my mind around how this is fair?

[BeachedBrit]

Can someone please explain to me how the MBE is scaled?

In July when I passed MD my MBE scaled score was 148. Lets say for the sake of my example that this means I answered 135 questions correctly.

My understanding is that in february, even if I answer exactly 135 questions correctly again, that the way it is scaled will give me a LOWER scaled score (assuming the trend of february test takers getting lower MBEs is true.)

Is this really how it works?? I can't wrap my mind around how this is fair?

Here's my understanding, I could be wrong but I believe that basically the higher up the curve of raw scores you fall, the less bonus/curve points you get. The July administration typically has higher raw scores, so you end up falling closer to the middle of the curve which means you get more bonus/curve points. The Feb administration typically has lower raw scores, so you end up closer to the top of the curve, which means you get fewer bonus/curve points.

I haven't been able to really find much logic in how that puts the various administrations test takers on equal footing.

[YibanRen]

Anyone want to guess MEE topics?

Based upon the last eight administrations, we will definitely get at least two, possibly three non-MBE topics.

Non-MBE topics (2/3)
Wills or Trusts hasn't been on the same administration, but we almost always get one of the two of those those. We got neither last time, so I am saying Wills/Trusts is one, leaning towards Wills.

At least one of Corporations/Partnerships/Commercial Paper is usually tested. Commercial paper can't be tested, so I'm guessing in response we are getting one of Corps and Partnerships. Guessing Corporations.

Agency, Family Law, and Secured Transactions: Family law is tested sparsely, and was tested last time. Unlikely. We are likely getting one of the other two, probably not both (but who knows?). I'm going to guess Secured Transactions.

MBE Topics
Torts hasn't been tested for two administrations, so Torts.

Real Property hasn't been tested for three, so Real Property.

FRCP has been test 8/9 times, plus it is a new topic on the MBE. I think this means that NCBEX is gonna shy away from it this time. No FRCP.

Crim and Evidence and Ks all were tested last time. Roll a dice to decide which one you are getting. Gut is leading me to Evidence (you have to have some Federal-rule based material right)? Ks has been tested a ton lately, and Crim has been tested twice in a row.

In conclusion:

MEE: Wills/Trusts+ Corps/Partnerships+ Agency/Secured Transactions.

MBE: Real Property, Torts, and Evidence.