Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2016 Forum

[AlanShore]

What % correct for MBE Qs are we expected to be at by the end of studying?

I think if we hit 65% for each subject (give or take for stronger and weaker subjects that balance each other out) we should be good on the MBE to get the median score of 130. Obviously, you should shoot for more, but I think that's the minimum.

Lisa McElroy says that it's fine to score lower than that in some subjects, as long as you're making up ground in others. So if you're hitting 55% in Contracts/Property/CivPro, you're okay so long as you're compensating with 70+ in Evidence/ConLaw/Crim.

Still, my stress levels will decrease significantly once I start regularly hitting 65% in everything, including my weak topics.

I asked my Themis Director this. She said 70% is their goal score at the end of the july and that 70% gives you passing with room so if you dont quite hit 70% it's fine. For my state, the final scaled score is 7-10 points higher than the raw score so that explains why 70% is passing with room.

[Nebby]

THE MPT LECTURE HANDOUT IS NOT A FILLABLE PDF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NaeDeen]

THE MPT LECTURE HANDOUT IS NOT A FILLABLE PDF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nope it's not. However, you'll find that you won't really need it if you take notes in the Themis book--that's what I did. And after, I tore out the page and used it to guide me when writing the PT.

Side note: I learned more about legal writing in the MPT lectures than I did in LR&W in law school--maybe I just wasn't paying attention then Either way, they are pretty substantive/informative lectures.

[Nebby]

THE MPT LECTURE HANDOUT IS NOT A FILLABLE PDF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nope it's not. However, you'll find that you won't really need it if you take notes in the Themis book--that's what I did. And after, I tore out the page and used it to guide me when writing the PT.

Side note: I learned more about legal writing in the MPT lectures than I did in LR&W in law school--maybe I just wasn't paying attention then Either way, they are pretty substantive/informative lectures.

Yeah, my T2 LRW class was very practical and taught me everything that this MPT lecture covers. I transferred after 1L, and from what I learned from people at the new school, they had very different experience in LRW than I

[Nebby]

Chapter 4 of the MPT is named after me... creepy

[Fivedham]

The lesson I'm taking out of these evidence PQs is that best evidence rule is almost ALWAYS the correct answer, which directly contradicts Themis' advice. Either they're intentionally giving us questions where best evidence is the right answer as a way of showing us when it rarely does apply, or their advice is crap.

[ndp1234]

The lesson I'm taking out of these evidence PQs is that best evidence rule is almost ALWAYS the correct answer, which directly contradicts Themis' advice. Either they're intentionally giving us questions where best evidence is the right answer as a way of showing us when it rarely does apply, or their advice is crap.

Same thing about their advice that personal jurisdiction is rarely tested because it's subjective. It showed up in the MBE PQs and the Essay PQ

[Fivedham]

The lesson I'm taking out of these evidence PQs is that best evidence rule is almost ALWAYS the correct answer, which directly contradicts Themis' advice. Either they're intentionally giving us questions where best evidence is the right answer as a way of showing us when it rarely does apply, or their advice is crap.

Same thing about their advice that personal jurisdiction is rarely tested because it's subjective. It showed up in the MBE PQs and the Essay PQ

Yeah it's really ticking me off, because regardless of whether their advice is correct or they're just trying to show us how the rule operates correctly, they're destroying my confidence in any question where the BER is implicated. I did a bunch of AdaptiBar evidence questions last night, and the BER never showed up.

[unidentifiable]

The lesson I'm taking out of these evidence PQs is that best evidence rule is almost ALWAYS the correct answer, which directly contradicts Themis' advice. Either they're intentionally giving us questions where best evidence is the right answer as a way of showing us when it rarely does apply, or their advice is crap.

Same thing about their advice that personal jurisdiction is rarely tested because it's subjective. It showed up in the MBE PQs and the Essay PQ

Yeah it's really ticking me off, because regardless of whether their advice is correct or they're just trying to show us how the rule operates correctly, they're destroying my confidence in any question where the BER is implicated. I did a bunch of AdaptiBar evidence questions last night, and the BER never showed up.

how is adaptibar? worth it?

i'm thinking i might not use it as much once the middle of july comes around when themis starts to heavy load them.

[AlanShore]

The lesson I'm taking out of these evidence PQs is that best evidence rule is almost ALWAYS the correct answer, which directly contradicts Themis' advice. Either they're intentionally giving us questions where best evidence is the right answer as a way of showing us when it rarely does apply, or their advice is crap.

Same thing about their advice that personal jurisdiction is rarely tested because it's subjective. It showed up in the MBE PQs and the Essay PQ

Yeah it's really ticking me off, because regardless of whether their advice is correct or they're just trying to show us how the rule operates correctly, they're destroying my confidence in any question where the BER is implicated. I did a bunch of AdaptiBar evidence questions last night, and the BER never showed up.

how is adaptibar? worth it?

i'm thinking i might not use it as much once the middle of july comes around when themis starts to heavy load them.

I bought it and have only done like 150 questions. Just dont have time. but looking ahead, I think I'll use it more in July. Some days its just maybe 50 mbe and a couple essays but if I could do it again, I wouldnt get it..

[Fivedham]

how is adaptibar? worth it?

i'm thinking i might not use it as much once the middle of july comes around when themis starts to heavy load them.

I like it. The interface is a little annoying, since the page basically reloads after you submit answers, whereas in Themis it automatically tells you how you did. But aside from that, I think it's substantively pretty good. I've just been doing problems when I have a minute here or there, and it's nice to know I have a huge bak of problems I can just run through. The one thing I've noticed is that the civ pro questions are kinda wonky and off. But otherwise, they're basically just MBE questions. Like Themis, it does a good job of breaking down your topic and subtopic performance, so it helps you drill down on what you need to review.

I got a $100 discount, so it only cost me $300, which I feel like is a reasonable price to pay for 2000 questions.

[lionelhutz123]

Chugging along at a good pace, about 35% done. But I also work a full time job (I'm an already barred lawyer relocating to a different state) and my pace is falling off as work heats up. I mostly listen to the lectures at the gym or on commute, so I can't fill in the handouts. Anyone have any idea where we can get completed handouts? My state director said they don't exist, but I'm sure they're out there somewhere.

[kay2016]

Chugging along at a good pace, about 35% done. But I also work a full time job (I'm an already barred lawyer relocating to a different state) and my pace is falling off as work heats up. I mostly listen to the lectures at the gym or on commute, so I can't fill in the handouts. Anyone have any idea where we can get completed handouts? My state director said they don't exist, but I'm sure they're out there somewhere.

what state?

[duncanmn95]

does anyone have a photoshopped image of the Themis logo but it says "Penis" instead of "Themis"?

[CaptainLeela]

Welcome to TLS

[lionelhutz123]

Chugging along at a good pace, about 35% done. But I also work a full time job (I'm an already barred lawyer relocating to a different state) and my pace is falling off as work heats up. I mostly listen to the lectures at the gym or on commute, so I can't fill in the handouts. Anyone have any idea where we can get completed handouts? My state director said they don't exist, but I'm sure they're out there somewhere.

what state?

Mass. But willing to settle for even just the main MBE subjects

[Rahviveh]

I have. 50$ discount code if anyone wants adaptibar. Just pm me

[ChocolateTruffle]

Are Themis' MBE PQs from past bar exams? Or are they questions that Themis made up?? Will the questions on the real bar exam be harder? I'm trying to figure out if I have a real chance of passing the bar by using Themis. I'm getting scared

[Easy-E]

Are Themis' MBE PQs from past bar exams? Or are they questions that Themis made up?? Will the questions on the real bar exam be harder? I'm trying to figure out if I have a real chance of passing the bar by using Themis. I'm getting scared

Everyone in this thread is assuming they can. It's a bar prep course. That's why you take it.

[ChocolateTruffle]

Are Themis' MBE PQs from past bar exams? Or are they questions that Themis made up?? Will the questions on the real bar exam be harder? I'm trying to figure out if I have a real chance of passing the bar by using Themis. I'm getting scared

Everyone in this thread is assuming they can. It's a bar prep course. That's why you take it.

Yes, but mainly I meant based on my own personal scores that I am getting on the questions. I'm good at Criminal Law and Procedure and Contracts, but suck at Property and Civil Procedure. So I want to know if Themis' questions are from real exams, or if they are made up, and which ones will be harder, so I can see if I have a chance at passing based on my own performance...

[ultimolugar]

Are Themis' MBE PQs from past bar exams? Or are they questions that Themis made up?? Will the questions on the real bar exam be harder? I'm trying to figure out if I have a real chance of passing the bar by using Themis. I'm getting scared

Everyone in this thread is assuming they can. It's a bar prep course. That's why you take it.

Yes, but mainly I meant based on my own personal scores that I am getting on the questions. I'm good at Criminal Law and Procedure and Contracts, but suck at Property and Civil Procedure. So I want to know if Themis' questions are from real exams, or if they are made up, and which ones will be harder, so I can see if I have a chance at passing based on my own performance...

I asked this same question of my director in FL, he stated and this is the exact language from his reply to my email:

"We use licensed actual questions, but Civ Pro is a newer subject and not a lot has been released thus far. We do create our own and those are as close as possible."

[ndp1234]

Are Themis' MBE PQs from past bar exams? Or are they questions that Themis made up?? Will the questions on the real bar exam be harder? I'm trying to figure out if I have a real chance of passing the bar by using Themis. I'm getting scared

Everyone in this thread is assuming they can. It's a bar prep course. That's why you take it.

Yes, but mainly I meant based on my own personal scores that I am getting on the questions. I'm good at Criminal Law and Procedure and Contracts, but suck at Property and Civil Procedure. So I want to know if Themis' questions are from real exams, or if they are made up, and which ones will be harder, so I can see if I have a chance at passing based on my own performance...

I asked this same question of my director in FL, he stated and this is the exact language from his reply to my email:

"We use licensed actual questions, but Civ Pro is a newer subject and not a lot has been released thus far. We do create our own and those are as close as possible."

I have heard from students who took the bar in the previous year that the Themis Civ Pro questions were closer to the actual thing as opposed to Barbri.

[Rahviveh]

Are Themis' MBE PQs from past bar exams? Or are they questions that Themis made up?? Will the questions on the real bar exam be harder? I'm trying to figure out if I have a real chance of passing the bar by using Themis. I'm getting scared

Everyone in this thread is assuming they can. It's a bar prep course. That's why you take it.

Yes, but mainly I meant based on my own personal scores that I am getting on the questions. I'm good at Criminal Law and Procedure and Contracts, but suck at Property and Civil Procedure. So I want to know if Themis' questions are from real exams, or if they are made up, and which ones will be harder, so I can see if I have a chance at passing based on my own performance...

You can deem all civpro questions from any company to be unreliable. After doing the first set from Themis, they feel like assessment questions with a scenario tacked on. They should still be helpful to practice and learn, but I would take the scores with a grain of salt in predictive value

[Easy-E]

I really don't know any MBE property. A third to half of our course was zoning, water rights, and eminent domain...I do not remember a single thing about deeds, foreclosure, or mortgages (it might have been one class).

Things are going GREAT.

Same boat. My class didn't cover foreclosures or mortgages. We did a ton on zoning, so that's just nifty.

[Fivedham]

I really don't know any MBE property. A third to half of our course was zoning, water rights, and eminent domain...I do not remember a single thing about deeds, foreclosure, or mortgages (it might have been one class).

Things are going GREAT.

Same boat. My class didn't cover foreclosures or mortgages. We did a ton on zoning, so that's just nifty.

Property Bro was great, but dang, couldn't we have just spent like 3x the class on mortgages, deeds, and land sale contracts? That seems to be like, the entire topic.

I was actually lucky in that my last law school class was on natural resources, and we covered stuff like water rights and the Takings Clause in detail, so I get happy every time I see one of those questions.