NY-NJ Forum

[myrtlewinston]

I am considering tacking on the NJ exam in Feb. Was it difficult for those of you who took both Bars to keep the state distinctions straight? Thanks.

[incongruousmouse]

The only distinctions on the NJ bar is the civil procedure section, and even then you can probably pass so long as you follow the maxim "when in doubt, apply the federal rule"

[myrtlewinston]

Did you have time to review the Civ Pro distinctions after the MBE?

[LSATclincher]

There are no NJ distinctions to study.

NJ Civ Pro has appeared on only a handful of past tests. Even then, you are likely to see a standard jurisdictional question. No one I know, including myself, studied NJ civ pro. On the July exam, lucky enough (and as expected), they only tested on Fed Civ Pro. And as expected, it was a jurisdiction question.

[nyny]

Did you have time to review the Civ Pro distinctions after the MBE?

I kind of regret not taking NJ now that I think about it... But I do not want to have to sit through nor study for another MBE. I think I may tack on Ct in the summer and transfer my July 2015 MBE score, so I only take the essay section... CT allows you to transfer the MBE as long as it is within the last 3 testing cycles.

[myrtlewinston]

There are no NJ distinctions to study.

NJ Civ Pro has appeared on only a handful of past tests. Even then, you are likely to see a standard jurisdictional question. No one I know, including myself, studied NJ civ pro. On the July exam, lucky enough (and as expected), they only tested on Fed Civ Pro. And as expected, it was a jurisdiction question.

So, it'll just be an extra day of nastiness?

[myrtlewinston]

Did you have time to review the Civ Pro distinctions after the MBE?

I kind of regret not taking NJ now that I think about it... But I do not want to have to sit through nor study for another MBE. I think I may tack on Ct in the summer and transfer my July 2015 MBE score, so I only take the essay section... CT allows you to transfer the MBE as long as it is within the last 3 testing cycles.

That would be a pain. If only there were some kind of tri-state reciprocity.

[LSATclincher]

There are no NJ distinctions to study.

NJ Civ Pro has appeared on only a handful of past tests. Even then, you are likely to see a standard jurisdictional question. No one I know, including myself, studied NJ civ pro. On the July exam, lucky enough (and as expected), they only tested on Fed Civ Pro. And as expected, it was a jurisdiction question.

So, it'll just be an extra day of nastiness?

The hardest part is really bouncing back after the MBE day, traveling to another state (getting hotel, car etc.), and re-focusing for 3rd straight day of testing. The actual NJ essays are just opened-ended law school-type essays. Just much shorter.

[mithriliel]

Definitely just take it. I know so many people who regret not taking both. Like the other posters said, you have no distinctions except Civ Pro, and in the first minute of the BarBri video for NJ Civ Pro, the instructor said something along the lines of "the majority of NJ Civ Pro follows Federal Civ Pro." I turned it off. For the maybe one question where there was a difference, it's worth sacrificing the point to save your sanity at trying to keep something else straight.

The only things you need to worry about are 1) exhaustion after 2 days of NY bar and 2) not getting upset when everyone else is out drinking after the MBE day. Issue one is just stamina and, in the case of many NJ/NY takers, bringing a spouse/friend/parent with you to NY to deal with driving to NJ after the MBE (no joke, it looked like Pre-K pickup after the MBE day in Albany and I am more than happy to admit handing all logistics to my mom was a lifesaver)

Issue two, well, that's your career, might as well get used to having to say no to parties in order to meet deadlines

[myrtlewinston]

I'm not a partier, so it will be a question of stamina. It looks like Bridgewater, NJ, is the likely location for me. I'll have to figure out the logistics.

[KibblesnBitts]

There are no NJ distinctions to study.

NJ Civ Pro has appeared on only a handful of past tests. Even then, you are likely to see a standard jurisdictional question. No one I know, including myself, studied NJ civ pro. On the July exam, lucky enough (and as expected), they only tested on Fed Civ Pro. And as expected, it was a jurisdiction question.

So, it'll just be an extra day of nastiness?

The hardest part is really bouncing back after the MBE day, traveling to another state (getting hotel, car etc.), and re-focusing for 3rd straight day of testing. The actual NJ essays are just opened-ended law school-type essays. Just much shorter.

Definitely this hits the nail on the head. Hell, I was Javits/Secaucus, the closest proximity to two testing centers. And I legitimately can't remember anything about the New Jersey day other than losing $500 in AC that night.

[cmblack]

There are no NJ distinctions to study.

NJ Civ Pro has appeared on only a handful of past tests. Even then, you are likely to see a standard jurisdictional question. No one I know, including myself, studied NJ civ pro. On the July exam, lucky enough (and as expected), they only tested on Fed Civ Pro. And as expected, it was a jurisdiction question.

So, it'll just be an extra day of nastiness?

The hardest part is really bouncing back after the MBE day, traveling to another state (getting hotel, car etc.), and re-focusing for 3rd straight day of testing. The actual NJ essays are just opened-ended law school-type essays. Just much shorter.

THIS. I did PA/NJ, and by the time I got to the Atlantic City testing center on Thursday, I kind of wanted them to find a reason to throw me out. I was fucking wiped from the MBE - I don't even remember driving from philly to AC, although my credit card statement tells me I stopped at a Red Robins. I had NO focus that night, and was burned out by the end. Its kind of freeing - about half way through the afternoon, I really absolutely stopped caring.

[jaylo2]

I'm only a middling test taker, but having lived through law school finals 6 times already, having to do one more day of essays didn't feel too bad. The worst part is when everyone celebrates after finishing the 2nd day of NY and you're just sitting there going fuck, one more day.

[ricking1288]

I took NY/NJ this July. Suprisingly I passed NY. I was almost sure I failed because of NY essays. While driving from Albany to NJ after day 1 to take the MBE in NJ, I was cursing my ass off on NY thruway. But when I got home, I was like hell with this and figured I might as well see the MBE questions and the NJ essays because I thought chances were that I was going to be taking at least NY again in FEB. Because of that I was fairly calm and at peace through MBE day and NJ essay. I wasn't nervous at all and I think that helped a lot during MBE day, which helped me pass NY. I don't know my MBE score because I took MBE in jersey and these guys haven't told us shit yet. But knock on wood, I think I did well on NJ essay day. Hopefully I passed. GOD DAMNIT JERSEY RELEASE THE SCORES ALREADY!

[myrtlewinston]

Hope you guys got good news from NJ.

Did anyone take Pieper?

[BarTaker]

Bar exam in NJ is easy or not???

I read that only 52.64% passed the Bar exam there in February 2015. It's a low passage rate considering only ABA JD graduates can take the Bar.

[dietcoke0]

Bar exam in NJ is easy or not???

I read that only 52.64% passed the Bar exam there in February 2015. It's a low passage rate considering only ABA JD graduates can take the Bar.

I thought NJ essays were easy as hell. Very straight forward, just wanting to make sure you're not a nincompoop. I think there are two reason people fail at a high clip. 1. Not that many good law schools in Jersey (two Rutgers and Seton Hall IIRC) and those with good grades are going to NY and PA, and those with okay grades might not be as skilled as those going to NY might not be as prepared for the bar exam.

Another reason is that it's the second test if you're doing both. I had to drive from Albany after the MBE straight to Edison (where my sis lives) to get ready for the last day. You're either burnt out or just focused on NY.

Finally, the NY bar exam went smooth as hell, compared to NJ. It may not sound like much, but it does matter.

Also Feb rates are always less than Jul rates.

I walked out of the NJ exam with 45 minutes left in the first session, and 30 minutes left in the second session, not because I was tired or wore out, but because I exhausted all my talking points. Passed with the only worry is that I was missing major issues, because it was too easy. If you are doing both, drill MBE, because 1. MBE is on both tests, and 2. If you know MBE cold, you will know the rules for NJ cold. There are no distinctions that you need to know.

[BarTaker]

Bar exam in NJ is easy or not???

I read that only 52.64% passed the Bar exam there in February 2015. It's a low passage rate considering only ABA JD graduates can take the Bar.

I thought NJ essays were easy as hell. Very straight forward, just wanting to make sure you're not a nincompoop. I think there are two reason people fail at a high clip. 1. Not that many good law schools in Jersey (two Rutgers and Seton Hall IIRC) and those with good grades are going to NY and PA, and those with okay grades might not be as skilled as those going to NY might not be as prepared for the bar exam.

Another reason is that it's the second test if you're doing both. I had to drive from Albany after the MBE straight to Edison (where my sis lives) to get ready for the last day. You're either burnt out or just focused on NY.

Finally, the NY bar exam went smooth as hell, compared to NJ. It may not sound like much, but it does matter.

Also Feb rates are always less than Jul rates.

I walked out of the NJ exam with 45 minutes left in the first session, and 30 minutes left in the second session, not because I was tired or wore out, but because I exhausted all my talking points. Passed with the only worry is that I was missing major issues, because it was too easy. If you are doing both, drill MBE, because 1. MBE is on both tests, and 2. If you know MBE cold, you will know the rules for NJ cold. There are no distinctions that you need to know.

Thank you. Great advice! So, for NJ day, just IRACing essays witn MBE rules and that's it!

For NJ, which is the minimum MBE score to pass? What about the score needed to be considered "autopass"?

[superbloom]

Bar exam in NJ is easy or not???

I read that only 52.64% passed the Bar exam there in February 2015. It's a low passage rate considering only ABA JD graduates can take the Bar.

I thought NJ essays were easy as hell. Very straight forward, just wanting to make sure you're not a nincompoop. I think there are two reason people fail at a high clip. 1. Not that many good law schools in Jersey (two Rutgers and Seton Hall IIRC) and those with good grades are going to NY and PA, and those with okay grades might not be as skilled as those going to NY might not be as prepared for the bar exam.

Another reason is that it's the second test if you're doing both. I had to drive from Albany after the MBE straight to Edison (where my sis lives) to get ready for the last day. You're either burnt out or just focused on NY.

Finally, the NY bar exam went smooth as hell, compared to NJ. It may not sound like much, but it does matter.

Also Feb rates are always less than Jul rates.

I walked out of the NJ exam with 45 minutes left in the first session, and 30 minutes left in the second session, not because I was tired or wore out, but because I exhausted all my talking points. Passed with the only worry is that I was missing major issues, because it was too easy. If you are doing both, drill MBE, because 1. MBE is on both tests, and 2. If you know MBE cold, you will know the rules for NJ cold. There are no distinctions that you need to know.

Thank you. Great advice! So, for NJ day, just IRACing essays witn MBE rules and that's it!

For NJ, which is the minimum MBE score to pass? What about the score needed to be considered "autopass"?

Topic-wise, NJ essays are just MBE topics with a chance of NJ Civ Pro, which is nothing to lose sleep over. NJ essays are different from NY essays. While NY essays feature subparts that ask specific questions requiring specific answers, NJ essays are far more akin to those you'd see in law school. Issue spotting and good writing is key.

This is nothing you aren't capable of handling. Just don't waltz into NJ day unprepared.