Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2016 Forum

[iliketurtles123]

Hi, fellow Themis people!

So, I started the program on Monday, and I'm figuring out that my method of studying isn't efficient and is causing me to get off-schedule. I've been spending a lot of time on the long outlines, going through and reading thoroughly and taking notes in the margins, as this really does help me retain things. However, it takes me so long to do this, that I then get behind with the lectures and fill-in outlines. It's frustrating because I'm trying to go with the method that has worked for me in the past, but I'm realizing that this method may not work time-wise for me with this program.

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips with respect to efficiency. I find it useful to go through these long outlines, and I'm afraid that if I don't, or if I rush through them, I won't retain what I need to. I guess, though, that the fill-in outlines probably contain the most pertinent information for exam purposes. I'm not sure.

Any thoughts?

By the way, I hope everyone is hanging in there!

Lectures at 1.5x or 2x speed but also USE CAPTIONS. I can't do 2x speed without captions.

Maybe try reading the long outlines AFTER the lecture. This way, you already have a good gist of what you're reading. Also, that way, you're not reading a paragraph over and over again trying to remember what your 1L Contracts professor said.
I was told by my Themis person not to spend too much time on the long outlines.

[alexau]

Is there anything else outside of NAOs 250 "Advanced Opticians Tutorial" that would help? Ive scoured the interenet and it seems this is the ONLY review guide in existence for advanced certification. There are a number of books for standard certification, which helps when youre looking for a cost effective way to study; but it seems a little ridiculous that only one book would be out there for this and its only offered by one organization.

[Easy-E]

Torts guy is seriously pissing me off. Just read the fucking handout.

It's really bad, it's to the point where it seems like someone at Themis screwed up. The subsection or bailors and bailees was essentially not covered at all in the handout, and he went on and talked about the rules for a few minutes. Torts looks like it's gonna be an outline review topic instead of a handout review one.

Also, I wish there was a 1.7 speed for him. 1.5 speed for Torts guy is like normal speed. 2.0 speed is still slightly fast.

I have a few blanks I need to get from the outline. Torts is a stronger subject for me at least. I'm glad contracts bro was really good.

It's insane when you put him at normal speed. I feel like I'm Quicksilver.

[Easy-E]

Is there anything else outside of NAOs 250 "Advanced Opticians Tutorial" that would help? Ive scoured the interenet and it seems this is the ONLY review guide in existence for advanced certification. There are a number of books for standard certification, which helps when youre looking for a cost effective way to study; but it seems a little ridiculous that only one book would be out there for this and its only offered by one organization.

...are you lost?

[ultimolugar]

Just checking in all, hope everyone is well.

[Nebby]

Hi, fellow Themis people!

So, I started the program on Monday, and I'm figuring out that my method of studying isn't efficient and is causing me to get off-schedule. I've been spending a lot of time on the long outlines, going through and reading thoroughly and taking notes in the margins, as this really does help me retain things. However, it takes me so long to do this, that I then get behind with the lectures and fill-in outlines. It's frustrating because I'm trying to go with the method that has worked for me in the past, but I'm realizing that this method may not work time-wise for me with this program.

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips with respect to efficiency. I find it useful to go through these long outlines, and I'm afraid that if I don't, or if I rush through them, I won't retain what I need to. I guess, though, that the fill-in outlines probably contain the most pertinent information for exam purposes. I'm not sure.

Any thoughts?

By the way, I hope everyone is hanging in there!

Lectures at 1.5x or 2x speed but also USE CAPTIONS. I can't do 2x speed without captions.

Maybe try reading the long outlines AFTER the lecture. This way, you already have a good gist of what you're reading. Also, that way, you're not reading a paragraph over and over again trying to remember what your 1L Contracts professor said.
I was told by my Themis person not to spend too much time on the long outlines.

I skip the outlines. I do the lectures/handout. After that, I use the outline when doing practice questions and practice essays. I will use the outlines when building my own, but I can't every see myself reading an outline front to back, because I just don't think that's very useful or efficient

[Easy-E]

Hi, fellow Themis people!

So, I started the program on Monday, and I'm figuring out that my method of studying isn't efficient and is causing me to get off-schedule. I've been spending a lot of time on the long outlines, going through and reading thoroughly and taking notes in the margins, as this really does help me retain things. However, it takes me so long to do this, that I then get behind with the lectures and fill-in outlines. It's frustrating because I'm trying to go with the method that has worked for me in the past, but I'm realizing that this method may not work time-wise for me with this program.

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips with respect to efficiency. I find it useful to go through these long outlines, and I'm afraid that if I don't, or if I rush through them, I won't retain what I need to. I guess, though, that the fill-in outlines probably contain the most pertinent information for exam purposes. I'm not sure.

Any thoughts?

By the way, I hope everyone is hanging in there!

Lectures at 1.5x or 2x speed but also USE CAPTIONS. I can't do 2x speed without captions.

Maybe try reading the long outlines AFTER the lecture. This way, you already have a good gist of what you're reading. Also, that way, you're not reading a paragraph over and over again trying to remember what your 1L Contracts professor said.
I was told by my Themis person not to spend too much time on the long outlines.

I skip the outlines. I do the lectures/handout. After that, I use the outline when doing practice questions and practice essays. I will use the outlines when building my own, but I can't every see myself reading an outline front to back, because I just don't think that's very useful or efficient

1) Wow I didn't see the captions option, that is helpful. The only feature I'm really missing is a "quick rewind", like jump back 15/30 seconds on a hot key.

2) I've been skipping the outlines. I don't need to familiarize myself generally with the subjects, I know the basic concepts, beyond that just browsing the outline isn't gonna help me. I am building my own from the handout/lecture, trying to make it really concise. Does Themis say whether to use an outline during the practice work? I'll reference it for the assessments, but I did the PQs blind. I guess it makes sense to use it for the essay. I'll get more from having to reference a rule and applying it versus just drawing a blank and staring at the wall.

[chestnutbrowncanary]

Hello all-

I used Themis and passed in PA and NJ July 2015 if anyone has questions.

My best advice is to learn each subject (really focus and absorb) before moving to the next one. You will have to learn them all eventually, and it's really overwhelming to come back at the end and do them piecemeal.

Other advice: if you are a decent writer, don't bother writing the practice essays. Instead, look at the prompts, write down some key points you'd address if you were to be answering them in full, then review the sample answers critically.


3 weeks before the exam, abandon the Themis schedule and drill yourself on MBEs and flashcards with succinct mnemonics of legal factoids. This is where most of my learning happened. But you do have to have a foundational knowledge of general legal concepts across all subjects before you do this.

Last thing: if you are really having trouble on a particular subject (for me: Tax and Corporations), find a friend from law school who is better at those subjects. Go on a walk with them or have coffee with them and TALK IT OUT.

[luxxe]

Checking in, taking AZ!

Started a few days early because I'm moving from law school (DC) to AZ early July so wanted to have some solid days off. Finished property lectures yesterday and started MPT today.

I'm using the critical pass app as well and have found it useful!

[xdeuceswild81xx]

Property bro is the nuts. I think he's pretty funny, he says most of the fill in blanks twice, like "Affirmative waste, affirmative waste" and he's concise in terms of his examples.

Sounds like torts dude really sucks though, so that's something to look forward to

[happygolucky5536]

If anyone is in SF area and taking Themis I'd love to meet up/ study together or side by side. I passed NC bar but this is my first attempt in CA.

[BigZuck]

Just started today

So tag, I guess

[Easy-E]

So, take practice essays with outline (Themis or our own)?

[ndp1234]

I am REALLY glad people have trouble following the Torts guy. I thought I was just not paying attention. If you haven't gotten to Products Liability yet, 2x is doable there because he talks slower than the other videos. I hope the slope of good lecturers goes up and not down from here

[Vantwins]

I am REALLY glad people have trouble following the Torts guy. I thought I was just not paying attention. If you haven't gotten to Products Liability yet, 2x is doable there because he talks slower than the other videos. I hope the slope of good lecturers goes up and not down from here

I'm really not looking forward to Torts now, and I feel like that ought to be the most entertaining one!

[ndp1234]

I am REALLY glad people have trouble following the Torts guy. I thought I was just not paying attention. If you haven't gotten to Products Liability yet, 2x is doable there because he talks slower than the other videos. I hope the slope of good lecturers goes up and not down from here

I'm really not looking forward to Torts now, and I feel like that ought to be the most entertaining one!

I'm pretty sure the this Torts guy is only for UBE jurisdictions. So if you're not in a UBE jurisdiction, you might be saved!

[Hmasterflex]

TX examinee checking in. Wrapping up first full week of Themis, supposedly on-schedule. I'm interested in supplemental materials for the essay portions of the TX exam if anyone has a suggestion. I'm already panicking

-H

[Vantwins]

Anyone else in a jurisdiction that counts the essay day as 2/3 of the total score, or is that just Maryland??

[not guilty]

holy shit John Jeffries is an awful speaker. what is Themis thinking. At the very least have a professional speaker do it and just quote him word for word.

[Easy-E]

holy shit John Jeffries is an awful speaker. what is Themis thinking. At the very least have a professional speaker do it and just quote him word for word.

Yeah why do they even need to be attorneys/professors? It's not like they're responding to questions. Get some attractive young people in there.

[not guilty]

someone animated. good with analogies. reading from the outline is not lecturing.

[Easy-E]

Just did the first K's practice essay. So, apparently the lectures do NOT cover everything. Literally missed a whole question because of it. Got the other two very close to the sample answer, so I guess that's good enough, but still, shit. Really don't feel like combing through those outlines.

Also, are we assigned random practice essays? My first one was related to a boat.

[Vantwins]

Also, are we assigned random practice essays? My first one was related to a boat.

Maybe, because I didn't have a boat question.

[Easy-E]

Also, are we assigned random practice essays? My first one was related to a boat.

Maybe, because I didn't have a boat question.

Yeah looks like Nebby's was different than mine as well. I'm doing NY.

So, how much work (if any) are you guys putting in this weekend?

[BostonCeltics]

UBE state. It appears I'm in the minority but I actually liked the earring torts guy lol.