February 2015 Bar Exam Forum

[mouse89]

Yeah I feel the same way. Before this happened all I could think was "FREE FOREVER. I will never again have to sacrifice having a real social life, hobbies, time to read a book, etc. again for an exam." Should have realized that I sealed my fate with those thoughts.

[CourtneyElizabeth]

I wasn't working last two times I took it, now I'm working full time. This is going to SUCK.

[numbertwo88]

If anyone comes across a property mortgages miracle, please let me know! I need to master those ridiculous things.

[numbertwo88]

Yeah I feel the same way. Before this happened all I could think was "FREE FOREVER. I will never again have to sacrifice having a real social life, hobbies, time to read a book, etc. again for an exam." Should have realized that I sealed my fate with those thoughts.

I felt the exact same way. I seriously hope to pray this is the last time I have to do this. It's so hard for me to click myself back into study mode

Hopefully it'll be easier once winter fully sets in and it's cold and dark and I have no desire to leave the warmth of my apartment.

[CourtneyElizabeth]

Or you could live where it's hot and sunny every day and it's torture no matter what...haha

[target]

I wasn't working last two times I took it, now I'm working full time. This is going to SUCK.

True this. I am not sure how to find time to study, working full time and spending time with family. Currently, I would go over 10-15 critical flash cards per night, and pray for the best.

[lalala21]

I will also be working full time this time around. I have no idea how I am going to do it... blah! Any sane and sustainable study schedules floating around out there? How many hours of studying per day are people going to try to get in during the week?

[CourtneyElizabeth]

Every night, flash cards at work when it's slow, weekends....

[mouse89]

Right now 2-3 hours at night when I get home from work. 6-7 hours each weekend day. Reviewing cheat sheets, editing my outlines, and flash cards during lulls at work.

[Holly Golightly]

Ugh you guys are studying that much already? I haven't even started yet. Guess I need to get off my ass.

[TheFutureLawyer]

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[Holly Golightly]

I wasn't working the first time and now I'm working fulltime. I wasn't a very good studier the first time around but this time is actually more important. I know I shouldn't burn myself out, but I should probably start doing something.

[wannabeapd2014]

Studying for MD Feb 2015. Starting next Monday with used 2014 Barbri materials from ebay.

I think I will also buy the Critical pass flashcards and Adaptibar/BarMax/Kaplan Q Bank for the MBE.

[TheFutureLawyer]

x

[mouse89]

I wasn't working the first time and now I'm working fulltime. I wasn't a very good studier the first time around but this time is actually more important. I know I shouldn't burn myself out, but I should probably start doing something.

Yeah, that's tough. I don't think I could do it, personally, unless I started like six months early. But you passed the first time around without trying too hard. Just come up with a schedule to start soon and you should be alright.

That's why my study schedule probably seems a little intense. I wasn't working last time and I'm working full time now + didn't pass the first time.

If I'm not studying or working, I'm typically freaking out about all the things I need to memorize in order to finally pass. I just figured my time was better spent actually doing something instead of stressing about it so much.

[LAWYER2]

I tried to sum up my experience and the best bar exam advice I got here http://www.thecadillaclawyer.com/law-sc ... -received/

It was really helpful for me, and hopefully I'll be successful again in 2015 when I sit for another jurisdiction.

[IndyHCKM]

I feel like I've asked this somewhere already, but any of you have insight into which is a better bet?

Barmax or Adaptibar?

My understanding is Adaptibar has explanations, but Barmax doesn't necessarily. I'm not really sure how important the explanations are though. I didn't like a lot of Kaplan's explanations and often had to figure out the reason for the right answer myself anyways. Maybe it would be better if I had great explanations? Maybe it would be worse? I don't know.

I have both. One is good for offline--the other is when you have access to the internet. I am updating my Barmax now--not sure how improved it will be

As for AdaptiBar--it has way more bells and whistles and you are allowed to 'pass' on some questions, especially those you know you will guess. You can also program your Adaptibar with tests and subject areas you feel weak in (i.e. mortgages which seem to be an MBE favorite). Otherwise it keeps throwing out questions you miss in that particular area. I do like to see how I am doing compared to examinees in my state (CA) and in the country so I know I am not that far off. Right now I am about 67.5% overall--for 4 subjects, I've done 306 questions so far. The explanations are good--not as good as Strategies and Tactics (Emanuel) but its pretty decent.

A guy I went to school with used Adaptibar for the July CalBar, he felt very good about the MBEs and thinks he scored high (guess he will know if that helped him pass the bar on the 21st).

I also have the Kaplan Redbook--that just depresses me haha.

As for Civ Pro--I bought the civ pro MBEs for Siegels--they sell e-Chapters for $12.00. If you have a device like iPad or iPhone you read them in Bluefire reader. Siegels answers are pretty good.

Thank you for this. I'm trying out Adaptibar's free trial right now. I think I may get it. I'm frustrated by the lack of detail about what Barmax looks like on their website. The mere fact that Adaptibar has so much detail and is very open about their product makes me want to purchase from them.

[1234567888]

Missed by 2 points. Sigh....

[numbertwo88]

Missed by 2 points. Sigh....

I'm with you. It's literally horrible. Horrible. Horrible. Horrible.

Getting into official study mode on Monday

[Holly Golightly]

I finally started slowly reading outlines. Sigh.

[numbertwo88]

I dove into civil procedure today. For some twisted reason, I don't think I'll hate it being added. It definitely likes me more than constitutional law and property.

106 days to go until the MBE.

I've started a countdown because ...

[TheFutureLawyer]

x

[Holly Golightly]

Oh please do not start counting down days until the bar. I beg you.

[numbertwo88]

After doing some Themis practice civil procedure questions, I am kind of worried about what they're going to look like on the February exam. I'm doing good on the problem sets (to my absolute surprise!) but there's only so much confidence I have knowing the NCBEX only released a tiny as sprinkle of example questions.

This worries me greatly.

[TheFutureLawyer]

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