Illinois bar prep- suggested courses for 3L spring Forum

[Cboyle1215]

Hello all,

I will be taking the IL bar exam in July 2015. In a few weeks, I will be choosing my class schedule for my final semester of law school (thank god!). I am looking for recommendations on classes I should take this spring. I would like to take all IL bar tested classes. I have already finished all of my required courses and I only need 2 more classes to graduate (though I will take more if there are enough IL bar tested courses that I really should take).

As far as upper level classes go, I have already taken Trusts and Estates, Federal Taxation, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Business Organizations, Com Law II (which included a ton of First Amendment material), and Family Law. The class options/IL bar tested subjects that I am tossing around for the spring are Civ Pro II, Administrative Law, Secured Transactions, and Securities Regulations (thought I really don't want to take either of the last two!). Would any of you recent IL bar takes suggest any of those classes I just mentioned? Any other classes I didn't mention?

I go to law school at the ASU college of law in AZ, so there aren't too many locals who are able to shine any light on this topic! Any help anyone could provide would be very helpful! Thanks!

[Assumpsit]

Chill out.

[Philosopher1]

Hello all,

I will be taking the IL bar exam in July 2015. In a few weeks, I will be choosing my class schedule for my final semester of law school (thank god!). I am looking for recommendations on classes I should take this spring. I would like to take all IL bar tested classes. I have already finished all of my required courses and I only need 2 more classes to graduate (though I will take more if there are enough IL bar tested courses that I really should take).

As far as upper level classes go, I have already taken Trusts and Estates, Federal Taxation, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Business Organizations, Com Law II (which included a ton of First Amendment material), and Family Law. The class options/IL bar tested subjects that I am tossing around for the spring are Civ Pro II, Administrative Law, Secured Transactions, and Securities Regulations (thought I really don't want to take either of the last two!). Would any of you recent IL bar takes suggest any of those classes I just mentioned? Any other classes I didn't mention?

I go to law school at the ASU college of law in AZ, so there aren't too many locals who are able to shine any light on this topic! Any help anyone could provide would be very helpful! Thanks!

Of those options, go with Civ Pro II and Secured Transactions. There surely will be civ pro on the exam. Secured transactions is tested frequently, though no guarantee it will be on there like civ pro. Admin law is hardly ever tested in IL. Fed Tax the same as admin law, hardly ever/close to never (though still give them some time of day during summer studying just in case).

Something you did not name that gets tested quite a bit is equity (remedies it probably will be called in law school). Remedies actually came in handy. Still, a legitimate commercial bar review course will teach you everything you need to know, and bar courses for law school do not necessarily make a humongous difference compared to what you will do during the summer of the bar, but it depends. If you have civ pro II and secured transactions in the last semester, it won't be fun, but of what you listed, those would be the 2. Check for remedies; I highly recommend that subject for the IL bar. Though, the crux of the subjects (involving the MBE and many essays) such as contracts, torts, crim law/procedure, property, etc., you have already taken. Best of luck. Advice for the looming summer is that for whatever bar course you take during the summer upon graduation, just do what they say and put in a good faith effort with the volume of work, and your odds of passing will be high.

[Desert Fox]

I'd only recommend trusts and estates and family law.

Admin law is never tested. Securities isn't even a topic. Whatever is in civpro 2 isn't tested.

What type of job do you have. Take something practical.

[Philosopher1]

I'd only recommend trusts and estates and family law.

Admin law is never tested. Securities isn't even a topic. Whatever is in civpro 2 isn't tested.

What type of job do you have. Take something practical.

I don't think this is entirely true. I just googled different "Civ Pro II" outlines/exam questions from law schools that are posted, and that subject matter absolutely is subject matter that is part of the Illinois Bar Exam. For Fed Jur/civ pro on the IL portion and MEE portion. I only have taken the main civ pro, but the II material I see posted online is material that is for sure tested. Also, yes Trusts and fam law are good ones to take, though the person already indicated that he took those courses. Wish I would have taken family law! But it all worked out. Best of luck to everyone going forward.