2016 North Carolina Bar Thread Forum

[North]

ITT let's talk C&F and the Exam.

I submitted my app in early November and just got the "you're complete" letter from my analyst a few days ago.

[Wissper]

Man you're on it... I didn't even know that the 'real' deadline was in November until almost January lol. I managed to get everything signed sealed and delivered by the last week of Feb. Based on your experience that probably means I'll be doing my C&F interview after the exam sometime. lol. The C&F for NC seems unnecessarily brutal, at least for anyone who's moved around much or worked more than a few jobs in their lives before going to law school.. I lived in 4 states on 2 coasts, and held a ton of contract jobs, so tracking down every gig I've ever worked and every place I've ever lived down to the month was a real PITA. Hopefully they won't hold a few memory lapses against me -

Have you got a study schedule worked out yet? I'm thinking that starting in April is a good idea since I went to law school outside of NC and have some catching up to do compared to in-state people. Covering 17 potential state essay topics is no walk in the park.

[lookingin]

How is everyone's studying going? We're a month out!

[North]

How is everyone's studying going? We're a month out!

Ugh

[WinSome]

How is everyone's studying going? We're a month out!

Not too worried about the MBE, but state specific stuff is bit rough. There's so much they can ask about in the essays that there's no way I'm going to know all the elements to everything. Does anyone know if the essays are scaled in any way? I'm guessing not at the speed they grade them at.

[North]

state specific stuff is bit rough. There's so much they can ask about in the essays that there's no way I'm going to know all the elements to everything.

Seriously. There is a NC distinction for pretty much every MBE rule, and then 12 additional subjects for good measure.

[lookingin]

Probably no one knows, but I'm wondering if you score "below passing" on enough essays, would NC fail you? I just took Barbri's practice half day essay exam and scored 5s on two essays ("below passing"), but then two 7s and two 8s on the other essays... anyone know if this is good/bad/doesn't matter?

[WinSome]

Probably no one knows, but I'm wondering if you score "below passing" on enough essays, would NC fail you? I just took Barbri's practice half day essay exam and scored 5s on two essays ("below passing"), but then two 7s and two 8s on the other essays... anyone know if this is good/bad/doesn't matter?

The way I understand the test to be scored is there are 500 total possible points, 200 dedicated to the scaled MBE, 300 to the essays. 12 essays are scored from 1-10. This adds up to only 120 points for the essays so you have to multiply your essay score by 2.5. You need at least 350 to pass. Median scaled MBE was about 140 last July. So if you score that you need 210 on the essays. This means you need to average 7s on each essay to pass if you are at the median for MBE.

NC won't fail you because you scored below passing on a bunch of essays if your other essays and MBE pull your score up. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong on how it's scored, but that is my understanding of how NC scores. I've also heard that the essays are graded on a curve, so your Barbri score might not be accurate. Also, essay grading is ridiculously subjective, hence why NC does not re-grade essays.

[lookingin]

Gotcha, thanks!

[WinSome]

Only a couple days left. Is everyone ready? Hopefully, they ask the same twelve subjects they have the past couple couple years on the essay. If somehow tax comes up, I might just write an angry letter in SofTest.

Also, I hear one of the questions asks for 10 more references. You have to do it the top of your head and cannot repeat any you gave on the application.

[lookingin]

Not feeling too ready myself but I bet most of us probably feel that way!
I have not even read the Barbri tax outlines so if tax comes up I will be screwed lol

[WinSome]

Not feeling too ready myself but I bet most of us probably feel that way!
I have not even read the Barbri tax outlines so if tax comes up I will be screwed lol

I think it's been like the 80's since they last tested on it. Also, I'm not sure how accurate this site is, but it says they have to notify NC Law schools before testing on tax. http://ibarexam.com/north-carolina-bar-exam/

[lookingin]

Awesome! Did you go to a NC Law school? I am out of state.

[WinSome]

Awesome! Did you go to a NC law school? I am out of state.

Yeah. I'm sure I would have heard of it if they planned on testing on tax. I'm just not sure if that site's information is accurate.

[North]

Bump.

[lookingin]

I'm guessing results will go out/start arriving next weekend and the following week based on prior years' timelines... scary!!!

[LegalEagle2016]

Very scary but I'm so glad that the wait is about to be over! Just praying for passing results...

[TenaciousJ]

The anxiety is killin' me! I can't imagine what it must be like for states like GA where they make you wait almost 5 months for your score... 4 weeks is traumatic enough.

[LegalEagle2016]

I can't imagine waiting more than 4 weeks either! The closer it gets, the more worried I get. I hope they mail them out this Friday like they have in previous years.

[TenaciousJ]

Anyone gotten a letter yet?

[LegalEagle2016]

Nope, not yet. Still waiting anxiously. I'll probably receive mine Monday or Tuesday since I don't live in the Raleigh area.

[TenaciousJ]

deleted

[TenaciousJ]

Looks like you're right.. still nothing today so it'll most likely be next week. Hopefully. I'm out of state too, in DC, so maybe in state takers will get their's sooner.

[JEB]

See, TenaciousJ, now you're just being cruel to all of us who have followed this thread so we know when the first person in-state gets it so we out-of-staters know they're on the way. Every time I get an email that this thread has a new reply my heart leaps up into my throat.

[SaulGoodman77]

I heard they may have gone out today...
If so, maybe Raleigh tomorrow, the rest of NC Saturday or Monday