Texas Saloon- Feb. 2016 Texas Bar Forum

[bluesplitter]

Thanks BVEST! (your the best at this) lol


But i have yet another question.

What is a good CRIM/CIV/PRO score.

I have been trying to get know everything down "cold" as other have suggested, but really starting to doubt I will be able to do that.

Without puttting a pencil to what I think i getting right percentage wise, I would say about 65-70%. What have you heard is a "good score".

What is the "median"?

[Cshark440]

What is a good raw MBE score to aim for in Texas. Just scored a 119 on Themis's Simulated MBE. Kinda down about it. Was planning on spending the rest of my time focusing on essays over the next 2 weeks with a few MBE PQ's a day to stay current.

Should I change this plan and spend more time on the MBE? I really need to get my ass in gear over the essays.

[BVest]

What is a good raw MBE score to aim for in Texas. Just scored a 119 on Themis's Simulated MBE. Kinda down about it. Was planning on spending the rest of my time focusing on essays over the next 2 weeks with a few MBE PQ's a day to stay current.

Should I change this plan and spend more time on the MBE? I really need to get my ass in gear over the essays.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

Raw practice scores of 116-120 this summer on Themis came out at 145-150 on test day.

[longhornlaw]

I have a question.


How does one know the time?

We cannot bring even analog watches right?

Anyone have any pro-tips?
Suggestions?

My biggest concern is Essays and short answer questions.

The MBE, i have it down by instinct on how much time there is to spend on each question. And the MPT, well that's like being able to watch a boat coming into harbor. lol (gosh i have been in this office for better part of 3 months...my jokes are getting bad)

I believe Examsoft has a clock in one of the corners as well, no?

[BVest]

I believe Examsoft has a clock in one of the corners as well, no?

Yes. But the projection screen is a lot easier to spot... especially when you're reading, outlining, or especially when you're doing the MBE.

[jamescastle]

There will be snacks and drinks available to purchase this time at Palmer. Dunno if they will only be active during the break on Wednesday and Thursday or what.
But I imagine there will at least be some activity in the hallways where our backpacks/personals/stuff is because of that. Or at least more than in July which was essentially 0.

[Cshark440]

What is a good raw MBE score to aim for in Texas. Just scored a 119 on Themis's Simulated MBE. Kinda down about it. Was planning on spending the rest of my time focusing on essays over the next 2 weeks with a few MBE PQ's a day to stay current.

Should I change this plan and spend more time on the MBE? I really need to get my ass in gear over the essays.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

Raw practice scores of 116-120 this summer on Themis came out at 145-150 on test day.

Thanks amigo. This sets my mind a little more at ease. I'll stick to the plan.

[longhornlaw]

Is there any particular score on the MBE that puts you in the range where everything doesn't really matter?

Edit: other than, you know, getting all 190 that count right.

[bluesplitter]

Yea, best I cam come with is scoring around a 150 raw. Absent a complete disaster on the other sections, should be smooth sailing.


Yet, a 150 raw would put you in the top 10%. So unless you have exhibited top 10% scores on standardized tests in the past in a consistent manner, I would say it would be very tough to be able to rely on that.

[Cshark440]

Hey guys, using themis and trying to hammer essays as hard as I can right now. Themis only provides 5 practice essays per topic plus a graded essay. I have already done a large chunk of these as I have been going through the video lectures.

I was hoping to do 10 essays a day from here on in for each subject. But at best I only have 5 or so for each topic. Any advice on where to get some more practice essays, or do you think doing 5 a day and then really going over the answers is sufficient?

[left shark]

Hey guys, using themis and trying to hammer essays as hard as I can right now. Themis only provides 5 practice essays per topic plus a graded essay. I have already done a large chunk of these as I have been going through the video lectures.

I was hoping to do 10 essays a day from here on in for each subject. But at best I only have 5 or so for each topic. Any advice on where to get some more practice essays, or do you think doing 5 a day and then really going over the answers is sufficient?

You can find old essays (with selected answers, though beware- some include incorrect law) on the ble website (http://ble.state.tx.us/) at the "examination information" link. As for whether 5 is enough, perhaps BVest has some insight?

[longhornlaw]

Hey guys, using themis and trying to hammer essays as hard as I can right now. Themis only provides 5 practice essays per topic plus a graded essay. I have already done a large chunk of these as I have been going through the video lectures.

I was hoping to do 10 essays a day from here on in for each subject. But at best I only have 5 or so for each topic. Any advice on where to get some more practice essays, or do you think doing 5 a day and then really going over the answers is sufficient?

Have you tried the essays/sample answers from the BLE? They have every question and at least 2 sample answers for most exams, dating from February 2009 on.

Link's here: http://www.ble.state.tx.us/MainPage/examinfo.htm

[BVest]

As everyone says, BLE site. BTW, I'm not sure where Themis gets their essays, but Barbri's plethora of essays are just the old BLE essays with Barbri's own model answers.

[longhornlaw]

As everyone says, BLE site. BTW, I'm not sure where Themis gets their essays, but Barbri's plethora of essays are just the old BLE essays with Barbri's own model answers.

Kaplan's essays are older bar exams (2008 and older) and I assume the sample answers are ones they have written

[DueProcessDoWheelies]

Two weeks to go and I still feel like I don't know shit about Texas procedure and evidence

...or commercial paper

[longhornlaw]

Two weeks to go and I still feel like I don't know shit about Texas procedure and evidence

...or commercial paper

I'm just going to memorize some stock answers for the P&E and hope I get 3 points a pop. End of the day, it's 10%.

But seriously though...why are we testing checks?

[DueProcessDoWheelies]

Two weeks to go and I still feel like I don't know shit about Texas procedure and evidence

...or commercial paper

I'm just going to memorize some stock answers for the P&E and hope I get 3 points a pop. End of the day, it's 10%.

But seriously though...why are we testing checks?

I studied my ass off for P&E in July and I still didn't do that well on it. But I remember the Crim one being really weird and difficult. MBE was what hurt me though and I've killed that lately.

It's baffling they still test us over checks and all the stupid rules about them. You'd think CP wouldn't show up that often anymore but it's almost always there.

[BVest]

I studied my ass off for P&E in July and I still didn't do that well on it. But I remember the Crim one being really weird and difficult.

The one where the prosecutor decided not to make an opening statement and therefore the defense attorney was not allowed to do so prior to the state's case-in-chief? That's the one that I went back and forth on (wrecking all the space I had for an answer).

[longhornlaw]

So were any of these bar subjects required courses at your law schools? I can't imagine how dreadfully boring a Commercial Paper course would be.

[left shark]

So were any of these bar subjects required courses at your law schools? I can't imagine how dreadfully boring a Commercial Paper course would be.

Aside from property (which didn't include oil and gas), my school didn't require any of them. Students on academic supervision had to take most of them, though. I think I can safely say that I am in the very small minority that really enjoyed commercial paper. I like the UCC, I suppose. Of course that didn't help me in July, when I completely choked on that stupid essay. STUFF I KNEW. AAARGH.

[mtyler19]

I haven't watched the MPT lecture, but does Barbri say which format they think it'll be this time? Did pretty well on it last time but only because it ended up being the only type I'd prepared for.

[BVest]

So were any of these bar subjects required courses at your law schools? I can't imagine how dreadfully boring a Commercial Paper course would be.

No. (Aside from Property and UCC-2(insofar as we covered it in contracts))

I haven't watched the MPT lecture, but does Barbri say which format they think it'll be this time? Did pretty well on it last time but only because it ended up being the only type I'd prepared for.

I don't recall barbri guessing, but I'm remembering from July. See a list of past MPTs in my MPT thread (or possibly previously in this thread). Of course, since there are two done each examination and Texas gets to pick which one it administers, that gives Texas some extra flexibility.

ETA: Here's the list. It doesn't break down what Texas had though:

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 1&t=256555

[BVest]

Here are the past 5 years of MPTs with Texas noted with a star (and parenthetical number)

SUMMARY:
7 (3) X Objective/Partner memo (including 2 (0 in Texas) that had an extra assignment (Arbitration clause language; Closing argument))
4 (3) X Brief/Arguments for brief
4 (3) X Client/Opinion Letter
1 (1) X Demand Letter
1 X Response Letter
1 X Contract Provisions Redraft
1 X Bench Memo
1 X Persuasive Legislative document

2015
July
Client Letter *
Client Letter
February
Objective Memo *
Response letter to regulatory agency

2014
July
Objective Memo
Demand Letter *
February
Brief for hearing appealing administrative decision *
Objective Memo

2013
July
Arguments for MSJ Brief *
Redraft contract provisions with notes as to why changes made
February
Opinion Letter *
Brief for Mot. to Transfer

2012
July
Bench Memo
Arguments for brief on preliminary injunction *
February
Persuasive document advocating legislation
Client letter for partner's signature *

2011
July
Objective memo re Arbitration clauses AND an arbitration clause
Objective memo *
February
Objective memo AND closing argument
Objective memo *

[left shark]

I need help on a Crim Pro P&E question from the July 2015 exam...

Arnie is convicted of impersonating a public servant and is sentenced to serve 5 years in prison. Arnie subsequently writes a letter to the Court complaining that he rejected a pretrial plea agreement that had offered him one year in jail. Arnie's letter complains that you incorrectly advised him that impersonating a public servant was a Class A misdemeanor and that he could not be sentenced to more than one year in jail even if he were convicted after a trial.

If Arnie's letter is true, does he have any remedy now that he has been convicted after a jury trial? Explain your answer.


This is the commentary from the BLE:
This question called upon examinees to demonstrate knowledge of claims of ineffective assistance of counsel ad the available remedy. Some examinees recognized the availability of a claim for ineffective assistance, but only a few examinees identified the correct remedy.


The informal review from the BLE gives the rule numbers for all other questions except this one. Are there any other remedies besides a reversal of the conviction?

[DueProcessDoWheelies]

I need help on a Crim Pro P&E question from the July 2015 exam...

Arnie is convicted of impersonating a public servant and is sentenced to serve 5 years in prison. Arnie subsequently writes a letter to the Court complaining that he rejected a pretrial plea agreement that had offered him one year in jail. Arnie's letter complains that you incorrectly advised him that impersonating a public servant was a Class A misdemeanor and that he could not be sentenced to more than one year in jail even if he were convicted after a trial.

If Arnie's letter is true, does he have any remedy now that he has been convicted after a jury trial? Explain your answer.


This is the commentary from the BLE:
This question called upon examinees to demonstrate knowledge of claims of ineffective assistance of counsel ad the available remedy. Some examinees recognized the availability of a claim for ineffective assistance, but only a few examinees identified the correct remedy.


The informal review from the BLE gives the rule numbers for all other questions except this one. Are there any other remedies besides a reversal of the conviction?

Is that the very last question! I remember looking at that one and thinking "what the fuck?" Looks like other people felt the same way.

I also checked the BLE website and found their answer to be unhelpful. I still dont know what the right answer was.