BarBri Bar Review Hangout - February 2016 Exam Forum

[jdmar]

I really don't understand how conflicts is tested. I know it's essay-only- is it never a stand-alone question? and if not- how much should i be studying it?

[NY_Sea]

I really don't understand how conflicts is tested. I know it's essay-only- is it never a stand-alone question? and if not- how much should i be studying it?

I'd say it's most likely going to come up in conjunction with a Torts essay, which screams Neumeier to me.

EDIT: This is for if you're in NY, BTW.

[jdmar]

I really don't understand how conflicts is tested. I know it's essay-only- is it never a stand-alone question? and if not- how much should i be studying it?

I'd say it's most likely going to come up in conjunction with a Torts essay, which screams Neumeier to me.

EDIT: This is for if you're in NY, BTW.

makes sense, thank you!

[fadedsunrise]

Having trouble with MBEs that test contracts remedies. There's just so many formulas that I keep mixing up Should I skip to essays and come back? Skip to the remedies lectures entirely? Something else?

[UnfrozenCaveman]

Having trouble with MBEs that test contracts remedies. There's just so many formulas that I keep mixing up Should I skip to essays and come back? Skip to the remedies lectures entirely? Something else?

Those formulas make it too complicated for rote memorization. I just try to think of the type of damages the claimant should get: expectation, reliance, etc. For expectation, how much profit would the claimant have gotten had the opposing party not breached? That's expectation damages essentially--with some exceptions, eg, lost volume.

[OneMoreTime]

Alright, ya'll, set me straight. I am retaking the exam (failed in July) and unfortunately have not been able to study a bunch until now. So far I've read the entire CMR book once over (and a couple topics twice). I've barely done any practice questions, I seem to bomb whenever I try just a few. I couldn't follow the traditional plan because I've been working 40+ hours a week and trying to study at night. However, I've got a full month now with no work and I'm looking to kill it. At this point, do I have a reasonable chance at passing and what do you all recommend I should be doing?

[ryu89]

Alright, ya'll, set me straight. I am retaking the exam (failed in July) and unfortunately have not been able to study a bunch until now. So far I've read the entire CMR book once over (and a couple topics twice). I've barely done any practice questions, I seem to bomb whenever I try just a few. I couldn't follow the traditional plan because I've been working 40+ hours a week and trying to study at night. However, I've got a full month now with no work and I'm looking to kill it. At this point, do I have a reasonable chance at passing and what do you all recommend I should be doing?

I too work 40+ hours a week and am trying to study at night (with not much success). I do put in a decent amount of hours, about 6-8 per day on the weekends. There's no way I'm going to get through all the Barbri stuff. I've barely got through 3 subjects so far with less than a month to go. I'm taking off starting the 8th and going to try to cram and focus hard on MBE in hopes it will help me know rules for the essays. I've always been able to cram law school exams in 1-3 days and pass. Anyone have any idea if anyone has crammed for the bar exam in two weeks and passed or is this wishful thinking?

[NY_Sea]

Alright, ya'll, set me straight. I am retaking the exam (failed in July) and unfortunately have not been able to study a bunch until now. So far I've read the entire CMR book once over (and a couple topics twice). I've barely done any practice questions, I seem to bomb whenever I try just a few. I couldn't follow the traditional plan because I've been working 40+ hours a week and trying to study at night. However, I've got a full month now with no work and I'm looking to kill it. At this point, do I have a reasonable chance at passing and what do you all recommend I should be doing?

So I think with a solid month off and some practice (get adaptibar if you can) I think you should be ok. That being said, the side of me who has been working a 40+ hour/week job and has been studying about 15-20 hours a week since Late October calls bullshit. You could have been studying barring any serious family/health stuff (if so, tell me to fuck off). What I've really learned doing practice MBE questions is that there are patterns and there are answers that are more likely to be right (if you're down to two that you think are right, see if one of them has any of the buzz words associated with that rule/concept).

You'll be fine, but you really have to put in the work now... The 2 months between me getting my results and BARBRI starting consisted of me reading an outline and 20 MBE questions each weeknight and 2 outlines and 30 MBE questions Sat/Sun. Now I just do BARBRI's plan (minus lectures... I read my outline for the lecture assigned instead), plus 30 MBE questions each weekday and then add a couple BOLE essays to that on Sat/Sun.

Best of luck to you and use the forum if you need to vent/ask questions/etc. because it really is a good resource to have that I think too few people take advantage of.

[OneMoreTime]

So I think with a solid month off and some practice (get adaptibar if you can) I think you should be ok. That being said, the side of me who has been working a 40+ hour/week job and has been studying about 15-20 hours a week since Late October calls bullshit. You could have been studying barring any serious family/health stuff (if so, tell me to fuck off).

That's fair. I have been studying, but not nearly enough and I feel like it hasn't been "sticking" really well. I know plenty of other people do it, but working all day and then studying at night has felt almost impossible at times. I would get off at 6, home by 630, and then have to make/eat dinner. By 715 or 730, I would start studying. I might read for a few hours, but it almost seemed worthless because I was too exhausted to really be retaining stuff.

What I've really learned doing practice MBE questions is that there are patterns and there are answers that are more likely to be right (if you're down to two that you think are right, see if one of them has any of the buzz words associated with that rule/concept).

Last time, I felt a very clear disconnect between the Barbri questions and the actual MBE questions. I don't know if I'm alone in that, but it kind of scared me because I thought I was doing pretty good on the practice sets and ended up scoring a 130 on the MBE. The test just didn't feel like what I had been going over and the patterns I thought I had begun picking up on weren't really there. It could clearly be a case of just not putting in the requisite work, though.

[z0rk]

So I think with a solid month off and some practice (get adaptibar if you can) I think you should be ok. That being said, the side of me who has been working a 40+ hour/week job and has been studying about 15-20 hours a week since Late October calls bullshit. You could have been studying barring any serious family/health stuff (if so, tell me to fuck off).

That's fair. I have been studying, but not nearly enough and I feel like it hasn't been "sticking" really well. I know plenty of other people do it, but working all day and then studying at night has felt almost impossible at times. I would get off at 6, home by 630, and then have to make/eat dinner. By 715 or 730, I would start studying. I might read for a few hours, but it almost seemed worthless because I was too exhausted to really be retaining stuff.

What I've really learned doing practice MBE questions is that there are patterns and there are answers that are more likely to be right (if you're down to two that you think are right, see if one of them has any of the buzz words associated with that rule/concept).

Last time, I felt a very clear disconnect between the Barbri questions and the actual MBE questions. I don't know if I'm alone in that, but it kind of scared me because I thought I was doing pretty good on the practice sets and ended up scoring a 130 on the MBE. The test just didn't feel like what I had been going over and the patterns I thought I had begun picking up on weren't really there. It could clearly be a case of just not putting in the requisite work, though.

As a student who attended law school part-time while working full time in a litigation shop I have the following reccomendation: (1) buy a crock pot, (2) set aside 2 hours on EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. Spend no more than the first 45 minutes at the grocery store buying protein (chicken, pork, beef, tofu, whatever you eat), veggies, and healthy snacks (carrots, celery, pickles, hummus), deli meats (or PB&J), salad, whatever you normally eat. When you return spend no more than an 1-1.25 hours cutting up and preparing meals for a crock pot. Make sure you have at least 7 dinners to get you through the week separated out into gallon ziplocks. Each morning, throw one of the prepped meals into a crockpot and turn it on low before heading into work. When you get home dinner will be ready for you (and hopefully it is a clean healthy meal. I make a lot of chicken and vegetables). Right there you won back about 5 hours of study time during the week, because you are not slaving away at the stove each day and (hopefully) its health food that does not contribute to stress eating. Moreover, pack simple lunches (a sandwhich or something healthy) for work. Taking care of yourself is important, but if you are losing time and focus because you need to make dinner every night then you have to make an adjustment. Do not let chores become your excuse, efficiency is your friend. Study while eating dinner, either use flashcards or watch a lecture and take notes. Do SOMETHING to make use of your time.

As for the rest of prep, you need to get yourself into war mode. This does not mean panic. Yes, the task ahead of you is large, but the only way to attack it is to break it down into smaller manageable pieces and to hold yourself accountable to completing each piece. Barbri does this for folks already, follow their plan as best as you can. I know it sounds silly, but seriously, jot down "Do One Thing At A Time!" in bold letters on a piece of paper and post it above your computer monitor at home. Keep it there as a reminder to stay focused and work towards your goal!

Also, consider downloading anti-distraction software. I use freedom https://freedom.to/about. Get off of any social media. Hunker down, and make the bar your sole mission. If you maximize your time, the material will begin to stick.

Also, either do AdaptiBar, or purchase an actual MBE exam from the NCBE. I have been repeatedly reading that its important to practice with actual MBE questions in addition to what the test prep companies provide. Set a goal for yourself to complete (1) a certain number of questions (either from AdaptiBar or your test prep company) and (2) a certain number of essays by the date of the exam. Break that goal out over the number of remaining days, and hold yourself to it. Moreover, and I cannot stress this enough, make sure you go back and study the explanations after you complete the exam. That is how you learn.

Finally, I had a friend who took the NY bar in July, who told me that she would record her voice reading the rule sections on model essays and listened to them while working out. I have not done this, but it worked for her. She had those down by rote memory. Everybody has different study methods, you have to do what works for you and not let excuses get in the way.

You got this. Keep at it, and do not let despair of anxiety control your destiny. Sometimes our worries can be self-fulfilling. To quote Paula Franzese: "feelings are not facts!"

[NY_Sea]

That's fair. I have been studying, but not nearly enough and I feel like it hasn't been "sticking" really well. I know plenty of other people do it, but working all day and then studying at night has felt almost impossible at times. I would get off at 6, home by 630, and then have to make/eat dinner. By 715 or 730, I would start studying. I might read for a few hours, but it almost seemed worthless because I was too exhausted to really be retaining stuff.

This is where having an awesome girlfriend has been clutch for me... I work a pretty set 8:30-5ish job, and she works in government. She gets home around 6 and throws something in the oven while I study. I get home around 5:30, do my BARBRI stuff, which I usually finish by 7:30-8 (not today because of that graded MPT) and then we have dinner.

She's going into her busy time of the year, so this setup will only go until maybe the end of this week and then she works long hours. Anywho... Sandwiches will be my best friend during that time. You might want to get acquainted... Or take Zork's advice (even though I have a serious phobia of leaving shit on while I'm not there... My GF thinks I'm crazy cause I don't even want to run the dishwasher while we sleep lol). Breakfast for dinner is never not good and it's quick, too.

I get that the days are long... I wake up around 5:30 to go to the gym before work, so it ends up being a long day, but you'll get through this. You have the right mindset... Just use it to your advantage and push yourself! I have faith and like I said before if you need to bounce any questions off me, I usually check TLS at least once a day.

[fadedsunrise]

Y'all, I did the wrong PT for the simulated CPT today o_O. I did People v. Draper and realized after I clicked the review video that it's actually Phoenix Towers v. Porter...

Where the hell is Phoenix Towers. v. Porter? I guess I'm swapping that one in for whenever I was supposed to do People. v. Draper.

[MrMustache]

I'll be skipping the simulated PT and the essays. I already know what the real thing feels like and feel that the 6 hours can be spent better memorizing rule statements, reviewing outlines, or answering MBEs

[gtg]

Does anyone know how does the adaptibar free trial work? Is it for a number of days/hours/questions? Thanks

[fadedsunrise]

Alright, ya'll, set me straight. I am retaking the exam (failed in July) and unfortunately have not been able to study a bunch until now. So far I've read the entire CMR book once over (and a couple topics twice). I've barely done any practice questions, I seem to bomb whenever I try just a few. I couldn't follow the traditional plan because I've been working 40+ hours a week and trying to study at night. However, I've got a full month now with no work and I'm looking to kill it. At this point, do I have a reasonable chance at passing and what do you all recommend I should be doing?

Practice! FWIW, I feel things like listening to lectures and filling in the handouts, or even reading the outlines, are more like priming my memory than actually making me memorize. Since I haven't been working as of Jan 1, I've had the time to mostly follow the Barbri program but since you're pressed, those parts are probably extra. I do feel like starting with essays makes it stick better than starting with MBEs because I can see how the rules of law fit together in a coherent fact pattern (since the MBE is so bite sized, it's sometimes incoherent to me).

Contrary to some people, I'm only writing out like 2-3 full essays per subject, if that. If I overcome the initial fact shock and realize what the question is asking for I tend to be ok to crank out an organized essay with headings and all that jazz, but my problem is usually with getting it started. I've done whatever Barbri has assigned as MPQ sets plus maybe 200 more questions on Adaptibar at this point. My downfall last time was doing too many too fast and not letting it sink in, so I'm really trying to go the other way and let it sink in.

Hope that helps!

[BVest]

Alright, ya'll, set me straight. I am retaking the exam (failed in July) and unfortunately have not been able to study a bunch until now. So far I've read the entire CMR book once over (and a couple topics twice). I've barely done any practice questions, I seem to bomb whenever I try just a few. I couldn't follow the traditional plan because I've been working 40+ hours a week and trying to study at night. However, I've got a full month now with no work and I'm looking to kill it. At this point, do I have a reasonable chance at passing and what do you all recommend I should be doing?

You have to crawl before you walk. Take your lumps on the practice questions and eventually you'll get better.

[OneMoreTime]

As a student who attended law school part-time while working full time in a litigation shop I have the following reccomendation: (1) buy a crock pot, (2) set aside 2 hours on EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. Spend no more than the first 45 minutes at the grocery store buying protein (chicken, pork, beef, tofu, whatever you eat), veggies, and healthy snacks (carrots, celery, pickles, hummus), deli meats (or PB&J), salad, whatever you normally eat. When you return spend no more than an 1-1.25 hours cutting up and preparing meals for a crock pot. Make sure you have at least 7 dinners to get you through the week separated out into gallon ziplocks. Each morning, throw one of the prepped meals into a crockpot and turn it on low before heading into work. When you get home dinner will be ready for you (and hopefully it is a clean healthy meal. I make a lot of chicken and vegetables). Right there you won back about 5 hours of study time during the week, because you are not slaving away at the stove each day and (hopefully) its health food that does not contribute to stress eating. Moreover, pack simple lunches (a sandwhich or something healthy) for work. Taking care of yourself is important, but if you are losing time and focus because you need to make dinner every night then you have to make an adjustment. Do not let chores become your excuse, efficiency is your friend. Study while eating dinner, either use flashcards or watch a lecture and take notes. Do SOMETHING to make use of your time.

As for the rest of prep, you need to get yourself into war mode. This does not mean panic. Yes, the task ahead of you is large, but the only way to attack it is to break it down into smaller manageable pieces and to hold yourself accountable to completing each piece. Barbri does this for folks already, follow their plan as best as you can. I know it sounds silly, but seriously, jot down "Do One Thing At A Time!" in bold letters on a piece of paper and post it above your computer monitor at home. Keep it there as a reminder to stay focused and work towards your goal!

Also, consider downloading anti-distraction software. I use freedom https://freedom.to/about. Get off of any social media. Hunker down, and make the bar your sole mission. If you maximize your time, the material will begin to stick.

Also, either do AdaptiBar, or purchase an actual MBE exam from the NCBE. I have been repeatedly reading that its important to practice with actual MBE questions in addition to what the test prep companies provide. Set a goal for yourself to complete (1) a certain number of questions (either from AdaptiBar or your test prep company) and (2) a certain number of essays by the date of the exam. Break that goal out over the number of remaining days, and hold yourself to it. Moreover, and I cannot stress this enough, make sure you go back and study the explanations after you complete the exam. That is how you learn.

Finally, I had a friend who took the NY bar in July, who told me that she would record her voice reading the rule sections on model essays and listened to them while working out. I have not done this, but it worked for her. She had those down by rote memory. Everybody has different study methods, you have to do what works for you and not let excuses get in the way.

You got this. Keep at it, and do not let despair of anxiety control your destiny. Sometimes our worries can be self-fulfilling. To quote Paula Franzese: "feelings are not facts!"

Wow, thanks for all the advice. The good news is I've done a lot of this already. I've recorded myself reading almost all of the CMR, and I listen whenever I'm in the car and sometimes while I go to bed. I've got a goal of 2000 questions; 50 essays; 5 MPTs; and 1 NCBE practice exam over the next 4 weeks. That seems doable to me, does it seem like it will be enough? Last time I remember my performance on practice questions wildly fluctuating for a while which is kind of a scary thought.

This is where having an awesome girlfriend has been clutch for me... I work a pretty set 8:30-5ish job, and she works in government. She gets home around 6 and throws something in the oven while I study. I get home around 5:30, do my BARBRI stuff, which I usually finish by 7:30-8 (not today because of that graded MPT) and then we have dinner.

She's going into her busy time of the year, so this setup will only go until maybe the end of this week and then she works long hours. Anywho... Sandwiches will be my best friend during that time. You might want to get acquainted... Or take Zork's advice (even though I have a serious phobia of leaving shit on while I'm not there... My GF thinks I'm crazy cause I don't even want to run the dishwasher while we sleep lol). Breakfast for dinner is never not good and it's quick, too.

I get that the days are long... I wake up around 5:30 to go to the gym before work, so it ends up being a long day, but you'll get through this. You have the right mindset... Just use it to your advantage and push yourself! I have faith and like I said before if you need to bounce any questions off me, I usually check TLS at least once a day.

Thanks for the advice. I've been able to buy myself quite a bit of time, and the last few days I've put in about 13 hours/day and it hasn't seemed like a big deal at all. For some reason, the stress of work always exhausted me way more than a day of studying did. Also, props man on being able to workout through all of this. I've just resigned myself to not hitting the gym until I finish the bar and it's what I'm looking forward to most once I finish. Good luck and keep truckin.

Practice! FWIW, I feel things like listening to lectures and filling in the handouts, or even reading the outlines, are more like priming my memory than actually making me memorize. Since I haven't been working as of Jan 1, I've had the time to mostly follow the Barbri program but since you're pressed, those parts are probably extra. I do feel like starting with essays makes it stick better than starting with MBEs because I can see how the rules of law fit together in a coherent fact pattern (since the MBE is so bite sized, it's sometimes incoherent to me).

Contrary to some people, I'm only writing out like 2-3 full essays per subject, if that. If I overcome the initial fact shock and realize what the question is asking for I tend to be ok to crank out an organized essay with headings and all that jazz, but my problem is usually with getting it started. I've done whatever Barbri has assigned as MPQ sets plus maybe 200 more questions on Adaptibar at this point. My downfall last time was doing too many too fast and not letting it sink in, so I'm really trying to go the other way and let it sink in.

Hope that helps!

Yea, state portion was what pretty much doomed me last time. I frontloaded my studies with all of the state topics, but I really need to get writing essays on the regular now. It's just not my strong suit (although I already feel much better about it than I did before). Good point about priming your memory. Although I'm clearly not the best person to take advice from, I thought that listening the lectures and not filling in the lecture outlines was WAY better than trying to keep up with filling in the blanks. If I just listened to the lectures and really concentrated, the material would sink in to some degree and was a good base. On the other hand, if I was desperately trying to keep up with the lecturer, I didn't focus as much on the substance of the lecture but rather getting each word onto the paper.

You have to crawl before you walk. Take your lumps on the practice questions and eventually you'll get better.

Thanks, I feel like I might be getting over a "hump" on some of these topics. Hope to see some really good returns soon.

[StaceyS]

Hi, everyone...I'm going to hang out with you guys and obsess about the bar. I've been lurking and I wish you all the best of luck.

I graduated law school years ago...so I'm very nervous. So much stuff I don't remember that I am having to learn all over again.

I'm freaking out a little more each day...might help to hang out with other people who get it.

Stacey

[Ineedhelpplease]

Hi, everyone...I'm going to hang out with you guys and obsess about the bar. I've been lurking and I wish you all the best of luck.

I graduated law school years ago...so I'm very nervous. So much stuff I don't remember that I am having to learn all over again.

I'm freaking out a little more each day...might help to hang out with other people who get it.

Stacey

I feel your pain. I couldn't sleep last night, essays were legit giving me nightmares.

[DueProcessDoWheelies]

Anyone else doing the simulated MBE tomorrow?

[NY_Sea]

Anyone else doing the simulated MBE tomorrow?

I work full-time, so I'm doing it Saturday and taking tomorrow off from studying after work as it'll probably be my last chance to do so before D-Day... I'll watch whatever videos I planned on watching on Saturday. Probably not going to watch all of them, because I'm sure they're the same as the ones in the summer.

[JoeAccidentally]

Anyone else doing the simulated MBE tomorrow?

Retaker here, I am, but in the comfort of my own home instead of a lecture site.

Any other retakers doing it? I question whether I can get an accurate score after having been exposed to the questions already. Some of my scores on the barbri sets seem like they are inflated because they aren't 'new' to me. Wondering if I should take a full-length NCBEX or Adaptibar exam in its place.

[jamescastle]

Anyone else doing the simulated MBE tomorrow?

Retaker here, I am, but in the comfort of my own home instead of a lecture site.

Any other retakers doing it? I question whether I can get an accurate score after having been exposed to the questions already. Some of my scores on the barbri sets seem like they are inflated because they aren't 'new' to me. Wondering if I should take a full-length NCBEX or Adaptibar exam in its place.

Texas BARBRI retaker here and we do it Monday. Let me know if it's the same and if you felt like you knew answers because of seeing the question before as opposed to knowing the law.

[OneMoreTime]

Anyone else doing the simulated MBE tomorrow?

Saturday. I think it's going to be an eye-opener. Taking the questions 1 topic at a time vs. taking a mixed bag of subjects is actually a lot different.

[MrMustache]

Bleh