California Bar Exam (July 2014) thread Forum

[CalBar2014]

Does anyone know how "good" the answers are on the California Bar's website for previous exams? (http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Examina ... Exams.aspx).

I've gone over a few of the PR questions and the model answers seem to get into issues that don't exist in the essay just to explain other duties and how they could possibly arise based on facts not in the prompt. I thought that was weird.

[Mr. Pink]

Does anyone know how "good" the answers are on the California Bar's website for previous exams? (http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Examina ... Exams.aspx).

I've gone over a few of the PR questions and the model answers seem to get into issues that don't exist in the essay just to explain other duties and how they could possibly arise based on facts not in the prompt. I thought that was weird.

Those are passing essays, but not perfect essays. Some have incomplete or even wrong rule statements, but can still pass as long as you don't screw it up too much. They are simply essays written by bar takers like ourselves who happened to pass.

[iLoveFruits&Veggies]

Does anyone know how "good" the answers are on the California Bar's website for previous exams? (http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Examina ... Exams.aspx).

I've gone over a few of the PR questions and the model answers seem to get into issues that don't exist in the essay just to explain other duties and how they could possibly arise based on facts not in the prompt. I thought that was weird.

Those are passing essays, but not perfect essays. Some have incomplete or even wrong rule statements, but can still pass as long as you don't screw it up too much. They are simply essays written by bar takers like ourselves who happened to pass.

I was wondering about the quality of them as well but was told by my bar review advisor that they are all in the 70-80 range, which is really high. But yes, the rule statements can be off on some of them. I've been looking at "model" essays from the bar code, themis, barbri and the bar website and they all seem SO different. Don't know what's best anymore.

[adonai]

Does anyone know how "good" the answers are on the California Bar's website for previous exams? (http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Examina ... Exams.aspx).

I've gone over a few of the PR questions and the model answers seem to get into issues that don't exist in the essay just to explain other duties and how they could possibly arise based on facts not in the prompt. I thought that was weird.

Those are passing essays, but not perfect essays. Some have incomplete or even wrong rule statements, but can still pass as long as you don't screw it up too much. They are simply essays written by bar takers like ourselves who happened to pass.

I was wondering about the quality of them as well but was told by my bar review advisor that they are all in the 70-80 range, which is really high. But yes, the rule statements can be off on some of them. I've been looking at "model" essays from the bar code, themis, barbri and the bar website and they all seem SO different. Don't know what's best anymore.

Most of them probably took over an hour to complete as well. I've just come to the conclusion that you just have to try your best and hope you get a good score. I can't, and others who have posted here, tell the difference between a passing essay and non-passing essay. It seems really subjective and you have to hope you have 8 different graders on your side.....8 times.

If I'm gonna fail, I'm gonna fail. So screw it. Not everyone will pass no matter what they do, and that's a reality. But I'm at least gonna do my best to maximize my chances.

[Kiwi917]

Does anyone know how "good" the answers are on the California Bar's website for previous exams? (http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Examina ... Exams.aspx).

I've gone over a few of the PR questions and the model answers seem to get into issues that don't exist in the essay just to explain other duties and how they could possibly arise based on facts not in the prompt. I thought that was weird.

I have also heard that for PR in particular, it is normal and expected for you to really reach for any possible issue or duty, even if not clearly suggested by the facts. Seems strange to me and could be prep-course kool-aid, but based on samples I have read on baressays.com and the CA Bar published answers, it really does look like the most common approach. I guess one way to look at it is, if you are done early and feel like you didn't skimp on analysis anywhere, you should take a few minutes to try to add any other remotely plausible issues.

[Carryon]

Does anyone know how "good" the answers are on the California Bar's website for previous exams? (http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Examina ... Exams.aspx).

I've gone over a few of the PR questions and the model answers seem to get into issues that don't exist in the essay just to explain other duties and how they could possibly arise based on facts not in the prompt. I thought that was weird.

Those are passing essays, but not perfect essays. Some have incomplete or even wrong rule statements, but can still pass as long as you don't screw it up too much. They are simply essays written by bar takers like ourselves who happened to pass.

I was wondering about the quality of them as well but was told by my bar review advisor that they are all in the 70-80 range, which is really high. But yes, the rule statements can be off on some of them. I've been looking at "model" essays from the bar code, themis, barbri and the bar website and they all seem SO different. Don't know what's best anymore.

The above 70-80 range of scores, if true by your bar review advisor, is low. I have seen a few answers at barressasy by exam takers that are above 80. Based on this, I would use the model answers not the examer's answers.

[iLoveFruits&Veggies]

Does anyone know how "good" the answers are on the California Bar's website for previous exams? (http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Examina ... Exams.aspx).

I've gone over a few of the PR questions and the model answers seem to get into issues that don't exist in the essay just to explain other duties and how they could possibly arise based on facts not in the prompt. I thought that was weird.

Those are passing essays, but not perfect essays. Some have incomplete or even wrong rule statements, but can still pass as long as you don't screw it up too much. They are simply essays written by bar takers like ourselves who happened to pass.

I was wondering about the quality of them as well but was told by my bar review advisor that they are all in the 70-80 range, which is really high. But yes, the rule statements can be off on some of them. I've been looking at "model" essays from the bar code, themis, barbri and the bar website and they all seem SO different. Don't know what's best anymore.

The above 70-80 range of scores, if true by your bar review advisor, is low. I have seen a few answers at barressasy by exam takers that are above 80. Based on this, I would use the model answers not the examer's answers.

I guess I should have said at least in the 70-80 range, meaning they're not simply just "passing" scores - they're pretty good scores. Better than I'm going to get! lol They're not perfect though, but they're not "bad" as some have implied before. Some folks said they were so bad to not even look at them, but that's not true. The student answers on the CA Bar website are pretty good, just not 100% perfect for the rule statements. Bottom line: we're all just going to have to hope for the best!

[Carryon]

Anyone do the February 2007 Wills essay (it's the essay in the Wills Writing Approach video in Barbri).

Any ideas as to why Barbri didn't discuss the widow's election? Wouldn't the attempt of T to give away more than his 1/2 of CP trigger the widow's election, essentially allowing W to take either 50 shares (worth $50) against the will or $160,000 ($500,000 minus $250,000 to Cole minus $10,000 to Frank minus $80,000 to Sue's issue) under the will?

I'm confused.

He said "my shares" He wasn't trying to give away the entire cp share, only his own. he's allowed to do that. If he said 100 shares then the rule would apply. The omitted kid thing is confusing me since they had no kids at time of will execution I don't see how that exception applied.

Ah, makes total sense. Interesting, because the Bar Essays model answer includes the widow's election discussion without the argument you make. Probably smart to discuss both.

I, too, didn't get the pretermitted child Barbri argument given the rule we got in lecture.

Also--for abatement, would you just say that all who receive are proportionately reduced to give the kid his 1/2 of the estate? Would you include the shares in this?

Obviously, I'm still shoring up my wills knowledge.

I just abated the residuary estate that the wife was going to get. when the will leaves no directions you abate in the following order: intestate property, residuary estate, then general gifts (non-relatives/relatives), specific gifts (non-relatives/relatives).

Residuary was first so I just took it from wife-i could be wrong but my final amount was consistent with the model answer.

I reviewed this again. the model answer says that T had no living children at the time of the will's execution. Thus, this exception for the inheritance of the intestate share by the pt child does not apply. I wonder what would happen if she was an ommited child? Maybe same result. any thoughts?

[iLoveFruits&Veggies]

I just downloaded exam soft for the bar and it was absolutely awful-apparently a lot of people had problems getting the thing to download properly mine kept on showing my school's name and wouldn't turn into the cal bar one until I kept on messing w it. My old law school exam files still show up there-i hope that's not a problem. I think exam soft is pretty crappy...

I had a horrible nightmare last night about how I couldn't download examsoft and I got to the bar and they said I had only a few minutes to fix it, but I couldn't so they said I couldn't take the exam. Writing wasn't an option. Actually, not so sure that's a nightmare... it was scary when I was dreaming, but at the moment, not taking it sounds darn GOOD!

[Carryon]

Anybody have any thoughts on the ommitted (not pretermitted) child who is the only living child of the testator and the testator thought s/he was dead or nonexistent and the parent of the ommitted child gets a substantial portion of the estate. Would the ommitted child get an intestate share?

[lmr]

Anybody have any thoughts on the ommitted (not pretermitted) child who is the only living child of the testator and the testator thought s/he was dead or nonexistent and the parent of the ommitted child gets a substantial portion of the estate. Would the ommitted child get an intestate share?

There's an explicit exception that if the only reason why the T failed to provide for the child was bc he/she erroneously thought kid was dead then they take an intestate share. The exception for substantial portion of the estate wouldn't apply-why would it? For the exception to make sense the T would have to know that the other parent is going to be providing for the kind (at least implicitly).

[lmr]

I just downloaded exam soft for the bar and it was absolutely awful-apparently a lot of people had problems getting the thing to download properly mine kept on showing my school's name and wouldn't turn into the cal bar one until I kept on messing w it. My old law school exam files still show up there-i hope that's not a problem. I think exam soft is pretty crappy...

I had a horrible nightmare last night about how I couldn't download examsoft and I got to the bar and they said I had only a few minutes to fix it, but I couldn't so they said I couldn't take the exam. Writing wasn't an option. Actually, not so sure that's a nightmare... it was scary when I was dreaming, but at the moment, not taking it sounds darn GOOD!

I can mentally handle writing an essay by hand but i am unprepared if my comp stops working midway through my PT and my entire outline that i was going to copy + paste just goes out the window...

[iLoveFruits&Veggies]

I just downloaded exam soft for the bar and it was absolutely awful-apparently a lot of people had problems getting the thing to download properly mine kept on showing my school's name and wouldn't turn into the cal bar one until I kept on messing w it. My old law school exam files still show up there-i hope that's not a problem. I think exam soft is pretty crappy...

I had a horrible nightmare last night about how I couldn't download examsoft and I got to the bar and they said I had only a few minutes to fix it, but I couldn't so they said I couldn't take the exam. Writing wasn't an option. Actually, not so sure that's a nightmare... it was scary when I was dreaming, but at the moment, not taking it sounds darn GOOD!

I can mentally handle writing an essay by hand but i am unprepared if my comp stops working midway through my PT and my entire outline that i was going to copy + paste just goes out the window...

Yep, midstream would be HORRIBLE.

[Mr. Pink]

I just downloaded exam soft for the bar and it was absolutely awful-apparently a lot of people had problems getting the thing to download properly mine kept on showing my school's name and wouldn't turn into the cal bar one until I kept on messing w it. My old law school exam files still show up there-i hope that's not a problem. I think exam soft is pretty crappy...

I had a horrible nightmare last night about how I couldn't download examsoft and I got to the bar and they said I had only a few minutes to fix it, but I couldn't so they said I couldn't take the exam. Writing wasn't an option. Actually, not so sure that's a nightmare... it was scary when I was dreaming, but at the moment, not taking it sounds darn GOOD!

I can mentally handle writing an essay by hand but i am unprepared if my comp stops working midway through my PT and my entire outline that i was going to copy + paste just goes out the window...

Yeah this is worst case scenario for sure. Knowing beforehand is one thing, having it go down mid assignment and having to 1) adjust and 2) start over would be devastating.

[LSATNightmares]

I just downloaded exam soft for the bar and it was absolutely awful-apparently a lot of people had problems getting the thing to download properly mine kept on showing my school's name and wouldn't turn into the cal bar one until I kept on messing w it. My old law school exam files still show up there-i hope that's not a problem. I think exam soft is pretty crappy...

I had a horrible nightmare last night about how I couldn't download examsoft and I got to the bar and they said I had only a few minutes to fix it, but I couldn't so they said I couldn't take the exam. Writing wasn't an option. Actually, not so sure that's a nightmare... it was scary when I was dreaming, but at the moment, not taking it sounds darn GOOD!

I can mentally handle writing an essay by hand but i am unprepared if my comp stops working midway through my PT and my entire outline that i was going to copy + paste just goes out the window...

I have nightmares about having to handwrite the PT. It must be impossible to pass unless you destroy the MBE portion. Is there any good advice how to handle such a scenario? I thought I read somewhere in these forums that you shouldn't copy and paste a lot of text on ExamSoft to prevent a systems crash, but wasn't sure if that was true.

Also, is anyone else finding themselves becoming super burnt out these last few weeks? I'm a few days ahead with the Paced Program, but their schedule the last two weeks is insane, and I find it takes me two days to do one day's work. And after all that memorizing, I can barely think at all by the end of the day. I'm trying to give myself a day and a half off before the exam to recuperate, but I find myself becoming less productive in the meantime.

[a male human]

lol @ SofTest nightmares

Did you guys hear about Feb takers (including me) whose shit froze up in the middle of their PT-A? That was awful. Don't trust ExamSoft to work perfectly.

Speaking of nightmares, I had one where I couldn't finish in time. 2 minutes left and an impossible amount left to write.

[LSATNightmares]

lol @ SofTest nightmares

Did you guys hear about Feb takers (including me) whose shit froze up in the middle of their PT-A? That was awful. Don't trust ExamSoft to work perfectly.

Speaking of nightmares, I had one where I couldn't finish in time. 2 minutes left and an impossible amount left to write.

Yeah, that story makes me all the more nervous. In conjunction with my mentor's story where ExamSoft failed on the CalBar two years ago, and another friend's story from two years ago where they didn't provide power outlets for everybody, I feel like the July exam will be a crapshoot. But major props to you for passing despite what happened. That's like a war hero's story.

[ilovesf]

Are we going to get e-mails about what time to check in & everything the morning of?

I just found out UCH is giving a free lunch to its students every day of the bar.. Coolest thing they have ever done.

[lmr]

I just downloaded exam soft for the bar and it was absolutely awful-apparently a lot of people had problems getting the thing to download properly mine kept on showing my school's name and wouldn't turn into the cal bar one until I kept on messing w it. My old law school exam files still show up there-i hope that's not a problem. I think exam soft is pretty crappy...

I had a horrible nightmare last night about how I couldn't download examsoft and I got to the bar and they said I had only a few minutes to fix it, but I couldn't so they said I couldn't take the exam. Writing wasn't an option. Actually, not so sure that's a nightmare... it was scary when I was dreaming, but at the moment, not taking it sounds darn GOOD!

I can mentally handle writing an essay by hand but i am unprepared if my comp stops working midway through my PT and my entire outline that i was going to copy + paste just goes out the window...

I have nightmares about having to handwrite the PT. It must be impossible to pass unless you destroy the MBE portion. Is there any good advice how to handle such a scenario? I thought I read somewhere in these forums that you shouldn't copy and paste a lot of text on ExamSoft to prevent a systems crash, but wasn't sure if that was true.

Also, is anyone else finding themselves becoming super burnt out these last few weeks? I'm a few days ahead with the Paced Program, but their schedule the last two weeks is insane, and I find it takes me two days to do one day's work. And after all that memorizing, I can barely think at all by the end of the day. I'm trying to give myself a day and a half off before the exam to recuperate, but I find myself becoming less productive in the meantime.

I'm not even following the paced program at this point. I'm memorizing one subject all day and then reviewing/outlining essays on that topic. next day i briefly review what i memorized the prior day and then start new subject plus essays. Memorizing some of these MBE subjects is taking forever.

I have four OPEs that were released from ncbe and will do each set throughout these next two weeks. I'm afraid everything i've been memorizing now will be gone by day of exam-i hope not. I will not be able to handle doing this again!

[JJDancer]

I just downloaded exam soft for the bar and it was absolutely awful-apparently a lot of people had problems getting the thing to download properly mine kept on showing my school's name and wouldn't turn into the cal bar one until I kept on messing w it. My old law school exam files still show up there-i hope that's not a problem. I think exam soft is pretty crappy...

I had a horrible nightmare last night about how I couldn't download examsoft and I got to the bar and they said I had only a few minutes to fix it, but I couldn't so they said I couldn't take the exam. Writing wasn't an option. Actually, not so sure that's a nightmare... it was scary when I was dreaming, but at the moment, not taking it sounds darn GOOD!

I can mentally handle writing an essay by hand but i am unprepared if my comp stops working midway through my PT and my entire outline that i was going to copy + paste just goes out the window...

I have nightmares about having to handwrite the PT. It must be impossible to pass unless you destroy the MBE portion. Is there any good advice how to handle such a scenario? I thought I read somewhere in these forums that you shouldn't copy and paste a lot of text on ExamSoft to prevent a systems crash, but wasn't sure if that was true.

Also, is anyone else finding themselves becoming super burnt out these last few weeks? I'm a few days ahead with the Paced Program, but their schedule the last two weeks is insane, and I find it takes me two days to do one day's work. And after all that memorizing, I can barely think at all by the end of the day. I'm trying to give myself a day and a half off before the exam to recuperate, but I find myself becoming less productive in the meantime.

I'm behind on the schedule but still finding myself burnt out. Not necessarily in terms of a new day (for example, I'm fine when I wake up) but I've gotten through half of what I planned to for today and it's 11PM so that's disconcerting to say the least. I'm burnt out for the day and don't want to stay up for 3-4 hours because then it will throw off my tomorrow .. but I need to speed this up somehow and my brain hurts.

I think I will need to a) speed up but also prioritize and just have to live with not being able to go over everything as I might have wanted. Also need to figure out how to optimize my breaks and which tasks to do earlier in the day vs. later.

[duskfall]

Are we going to get e-mails about what time to check in & everything the morning of?

I just found out UCH is giving a free lunch to its students every day of the bar.. Coolest thing they have ever done.

Dear All First Timers,

I would higly recommend everyone visit the test center the day before the first day--if they allow it. I took the Cal Bar the first time in February 2014 at the Ontario Convention Center. My friend and I drove by and decided to walk around the test center. To our surprise, it was open and there were a lot of staff there to answer questions and allowed us to peer into the testing room (but not enter). It was a great walk through that helped calmed the nerves a bit. More importantly, there were staff that were goign to be proctors for testday to answer any questions. That experience was invaluable.

It might also be helpful to see where you can enter for parking or search around for bathroom areas (during breaks, depending on where you take it, they won't allow you to re-enter to use the bathroom). Knowing where the eateries are may also be helpful. Plan accordingly and good luck to all the test takers in July!

[a male human]

lol @ SofTest nightmares

Did you guys hear about Feb takers (including me) whose shit froze up in the middle of their PT-A? That was awful. Don't trust ExamSoft to work perfectly.

Speaking of nightmares, I had one where I couldn't finish in time. 2 minutes left and an impossible amount left to write.

Yeah, that story makes me all the more nervous. In conjunction with my mentor's story where ExamSoft failed on the CalBar two years ago, and another friend's story from two years ago where they didn't provide power outlets for everybody, I feel like the July exam will be a crapshoot. But major props to you for passing despite what happened. That's like a war hero's story.

This is like the best thing anyone's told me today
(counting after 12:00 AM)

Are we going to get e-mails about what time to check in & everything the morning of?

I just found out UCH is giving a free lunch to its students every day of the bar.. Coolest thing they have ever done.

Have they extended the free breakfast or lunch or whatever to any other locations or just the Oakland center? I would have liked it if they brought some food to Santa Clara too.

[LSATNightmares]

Re: lunch. I have been curious about that, since I'll be at Santa Clara. I hope it won't be difficult getting breakfast or lunch with massive amounts of students getting out at the same time.

[iLoveFruits&Veggies]

make that THREE votes for food at the santa clara location!! would be super nice!

[2807]

For those at Century Plaza:

You just go down to the lobby in the morning and you will see... There will be 1000 of you in there and you just follow the crowd. I was nervous too, and asked the front desk for help and they smiled and told me this same thing.... They said, "just come on down here in the morning" I did not realize that the test is actually in the hotel itself.. haha.

At some point they will begin and you will go down, down, down, deep into the ground to a MASSIVE ballroom where there will be 1000 tables set up and assigned seating. This area has its own "lobby" and restrooms and water and you can last minute study and leave your backpack there too. You will need to show your paper ticket to enter and will be escorted to your seat where a badge will await you and you then wear it/carry it with you for the next few days. KEEP IT (It also as what you need to get your results later...)

As far as lunch: The hotel has a small shop that will have sandwich/chip/drink combo and there is a restaurant (or room service if you stay there and have cash..) The bummer is, there will be 1000 of you trying to solve this problem at the same time... You will see many many schools handing out lunch to their people, so the line to get food will not be horrible and it all moves fast because they know what is going on.

You will have around and hour and half. You will want to get back early for the second part as they require it and read info/rules prior to starting each time.

Just relax. You will certainly see the flow after day 1. If you are a real panic person, just pack a lunch for day 1 and go out by the pool and find a spot on the grass and relax. After that, you can walk around and see what will work for the next 2 days.

I get really nervous, and I survived ! So, you can too. Any specific questions, just PM me.

Onward !