July 2017 Texas Bar Exam Forum

[Tiredbuthappyitsover]

Am I the only one that just doesn't get commercial paper? It makes no sense to me. Any advice on understanding/internalizing what I actually need to know to write a decent answer on the essay?

you need to do TONS OF OLD ESSAYS on commercial paper. try one and do your best, check it against the answer on the BLE site, memorize the concepts, and then move to another commercial paper question and so on and so forth. your knowledge base will become greater with the more questions you do and you'll gain experience practicing. the exam makers tend to repeat concepts.

[Tiredbuthappyitsover]

Anybody doing extra work outside of what your bar prep company has assigned?

I successfully passed in February 2017. I hit Adaptibar and Critical Pass in a BIG way in addition to my prep program. PM me anyone if you want discount codes for either program.

[TheWalrus]

How exactly does the P&E essay's work. Say you get all of the answers right, but your reasoning is brief. How good is that grade wise?

[BVest]

How exactly does the P&E essay's work. Say you get all of the answers right, but your reasoning is brief. How good is that grade wise?

Nobody really knows, but they encourage brief reasoning. If you handwrite P/E, you'll have exactly 5 lines to write on and may not write outside those lines. If you type P/E you have a short word limit (something like 37 or 47). The BLE says something to the effect that correct answers may be very short for some questions.

e: also there are some questions that call for short answers, e.g. "Name five types of discovery permitted under Texas civil procedure rules." Obviously those will be entirely right if you have 5 types of discovery.

[Tiredbuthappyitsover]

How exactly does the P&E essay's work. Say you get all of the answers right, but your reasoning is brief. How good is that grade wise?

They'll give you partial credit for getting the answer right, and full credit if in addition to that your reasoning/rationale is on point.

[lsatyolo]

I thought it was absolutely required that you handwrite P&E?

[TheWalrus]

I thought it was absolutely required that you handwrite P&E?

I don't think so.

Also, I didn't realize you were a 3L.

[Pneumonia]

I thought it was absolutely required that you handwrite P&E?

is this true?

[lsatyolo]

I thought it was absolutely required that you handwrite P&E?

I don't think so.

Also, I didn't realize you were a 3L.

Yup, glad to be done with law school but studying for the bar is absolutely miserable.

[shawktheworld]

I thought it was absolutely required that you handwrite P&E?

is this true?

No.

[TheJanitor6203]

I thought it was absolutely required that you handwrite P&E?

is this true?

Not true. Look at the exam files in Exam Soft; there's one for P&E.

[lsatyolo]

Good news

[BVest]

I believe my exam (July 2015) was the last exam where P/E was handwrite-only.

[leib10]

Did the Barbri refresher exam today, got 60/100. Target IIRC was 55/100. Why they keep throwing these difficult questions at us this late in the game, I have no idea. It's starting to piss me off though. I cracked open the Emmanuel Strategies and Tactics book and was doing a lot better on their questions, which aren't nearly as tricky.

Any advice on whether to stick with Barbri or start doing other companies' MBE questions?

[blatallic]

Honestly, I'm doing barbri as well and I've stopped doing the course last week. I looked at the schedule and they are focusing more on MBE towards the end. For MBE, I'm doing adaptibar and I'm also practicing everything else. I memorize best when applying the law, even if I have an essay question that asks about a rule that I can't remember. I'll practice my plan B, which is, get as close as possible and just make sure I CIRAC it (1/2 the time I'm right, even if I don't hit all the "buzz" words)

[np1211]

is anyone else taking Kaplan course?

[TheJanitor6203]

Are the MPT and both P&Es each given separately (90 minute block for MPT; 45 minute block for one P&E; second 45 minute block for the second P&E)?

[shawktheworld]

Are the MPT and both P&Es each given separately (90 minute block for MPT; 45 minute block for one P&E; second 45 minute block for the second P&E)?

The MPT is given separately from the P&E--i.e., the test administrators will collect your MPT packet and then distribute the P&E packet.

The P&E sections are in one packet, I believe. You are given a 90 minute block to complete both.

[lsatyolo]

I'm so afraid of the MBE.

[TheWalrus]

I'm so afraid of everything.

FTFM.

[TheJanitor6203]

I'm so afraid of the MBE.

Just keep reminding yourself that you only have to do better than about 30% of everyone else and that you're taking the exam with a bunch of people that went to tier 2, 3, and 4 law schools. It's been keeping me calm(ish). You'll be fine.

[clickerss]

Hey TX Bar takers who are doing Barbri, I need some assistance.

I took a bunch of the 1st and 2nd exams in the essay testing book, but I tore them out to take them and then threw them away thinking I wouldn't need them again. However, now I want to review them and I don't have them. Can someone who has the July 2017 Testing for Texas book please tell me the month/year for the first and second questions for the following subjects?

a) Agency, Partnerships, LLCs
b) Corporations
c) Family Law
d) Guardianship
e) Sales
f) TX Real Property (Qs 2 & 4)
g) Trusts

I know everyone is super busy but if any one could take a few minutes and help me out I'd greatly appreciate it. Also, I know I could contact Barbri, but I've contacted them about a couple things already and have only received a response to one of my questions and even then it took like 4 days.

Thanks!

[checkers]

Hey TX Bar takers who are doing Barbri, I need some assistance.

I took a bunch of the 1st and 2nd exams in the essay testing book, but I tore them out to take them and then threw them away thinking I wouldn't need them again. However, now I want to review them and I don't have them. Can someone who has the July 2017 Testing for Texas book please tell me the month/year for the first and second questions for the following subjects?

a) Agency, Partnerships, LLCs
b) Corporations
c) Family Law
d) Guardianship
e) Sales
f) TX Real Property (Qs 2 & 4)
g) Trusts

I know everyone is super busy but if any one could take a few minutes and help me out I'd greatly appreciate it. Also, I know I could contact Barbri, but I've contacted them about a couple things already and have only received a response to one of my questions and even then it took like 4 days.

Thanks!

That was a dumb thing to do.

a) July 2012; July 2014
b) Feb 2015; Feb 2008
c) July 2010; Feb 2014
d) July 2013; Feb 2010
e) Feb 2013; July 2014
f) Feb 2012; Feb 2012
g) Feb 2014; July 2014

[lumberjack00]

So how many essay questions (on average) would you say we need to get correct to pass. I was skimming the Feb 2017 exam (and mind you, I've completed most of Barbri), and I knew 3 or 4 of them for sure, and maybe another 2 or 3 about halfway. The other half I did not know at all (except to make up rules). How worried should I be?

[TheJanitor6203]

So how many essay questions (on average) would you say we need to get correct to pass. I was skimming the Feb 2017 exam (and mind you, I've completed most of Barbri), and I knew 3 or 4 of them for sure, and maybe another 2 or 3 about halfway. The other half I did not know at all (except to make up rules). How worried should I be?

I don't know the answer but I do know that Barbri's example answers are unattainable so if that's what you're comparing yourself to, don't worry too much. I've been checking my answers against the Barbri model answers but occasionally look at the sample answers on the BLE website to make myself feel better. All of the BLE sample answers contain multiple errors. Some are entirely wrong but were still picked as the sample answer. I think it's much more important to put down a well reasoned answer and come to a reasonable conclusion than it is to actually get the law perfectly right.