Someone e-mailed and asked about how I studied for the Bar Exam. More detail is in my posts from last June and July over at my old blog, but the quick answer is that I bought someone's old set of Bar/Bri books, read the Conviser Mini Review, did a couple hundred practice multiple choice questions, read through a dozen of the essays and answers, got someone's Bar/Bri class outlines and read through those a couple times, and spent the subway ride over to the exam trying to teach myself the difference between Strict Scrutiny and whatever the other one is, which didn't come up on the exam, and since I really can't remember what the other one is, clearly didn't stick at all.
[Updated to add: I believe I didn't pass by much -- my MBE score was pretty low -- so I probably didn't study enough and was fortunate that I squeaked by. Oh, and it's rational basis review. It hit me over the weekend at some point.]
I have a friend who failed the bar (passed it the second time) and saw I said I was going to post about the bar exam, and sent me some thoughts, which are far, far, far more useful than mine. I feel compelled to share:
if you are going to post on the bar, i have a little advice from someone who had the privilege of taking it two times: it's all about the MBE. i basically gave up on new york, more or less, improved my MBE by 24 (raw) points by doing PMBR, and that was all it took. as far as i'm concerned, the NY part is a total wash and you can learn enough just studying for the MBE to fake answers on NY. sure, read over some distinctions, whatever, go to the classes if you're registered in bar/bri… but if i had just done MBE practice questions i'm sure i would've passed the first time. as it was i did like… one practice test and that was it. so 200 questions total. that ain't enough. before the second one i did maybe… 1000. that helped.
also, failing is NOT the end of anyone's life and people shouldn't be so friggin' paranoid. it was an annoyance, don't get me wrong. and it was embarrassing. but nothing happened to me at the firm -- nothing. and there ARE partners at every firm who failed the first time. having failed myself, i learned about all SORTS of people who failed. it's like being let into a secret club or something. there were at least five people from [my school] that i knew of personally who failed new york -- probably more but i didn't know enough people to look everyone up, nor did i care. the passage rate for Feb 2006 was 46% (in NY!! not even CA!). people fail, shit happens. i felt bad because i felt like i let down the firm, considering they had fronted me money and expenses and everything to pass it on the first try, but no one here made me feel bad about it. in fact, when i told the work coordinating partner i had to go on leave for ten days to study before the february exam he had no idea i had failed. and he was like, "oh, man. it must be such a pain in the ass to have to study again. go see some movies or something while you're off work -- or else you'll go crazy." that was it. they even paid for my PMBR (which i ironically skipped last summer because i thought it was superfluous).
I'm not sure how much I'll get to post while I'm down in DC this weekend (leaving for the airport as soon as I post this), but hopefully I'll get to a computer and have something to say. Otherwise, lots on Monday about BookExpo. And maybe something about that Milberg firm.
though i would just add some commentary to that - i know someone who failed multiple times because she just focused on the essays the first time and failed because of the MBE, and then just focused on the MBE the second time and failed the essay section. i would say practice both - practice is what helps. but yes, don't shirk the MBE - those multiple choice questions are a bitch, and practicing them is the best way to learn.
Posted by: calatty | May 19, 2006 at 09:45 AM
What calatty said. And how.
Posted by: JFK Jr.'s Ghost | May 19, 2006 at 11:43 AM
I've taken both NY and CA, and both are a bear. I'd maybe agree with what your friend is saying about NY, but that won't work for CA. There are two days of CA essays, and they don't just test distinctions. They test entirely new areas of law like Community Property. So I guess my point is that if you're reading this in CA and think it might apply to you too, beweare.
Posted by: Treved | May 19, 2006 at 01:14 PM
You've made me all twitchy and nauseous with NY bar exam flashbacks...
Posted by: Martha | May 19, 2006 at 11:03 PM
I just wanted to add that it's really not necessary to pay all that money to take the class. I'm saying this because although I decided not to take a class, I was nervous throughout studying that I might be missing out on something.
The books cover it all. Save time and money.
Posted by: Sean | May 20, 2006 at 12:17 PM
CA is tough on the essay portion. It's all subjective. I worked as a temp for the Bar Association, as a transcriber-transcribing the written essays from candidates who couldn't (disabilities) for whatever reason, write theirs up.
I couldn't believe some of the stuff (tripe) that passed, and some of the good stuff that didn't make it.
Again, it's all subjective, and at the whim of who's doing the judging.
I wish I could say brevity is the soul of wit.....but not always!
Wish I had more advice. That was one of the most miserable temp assignments I'd ever had....transcribing Bar exams...wouldn't wish that on anyone!
Peace, Maxine
Posted by: Maxine | May 21, 2006 at 09:46 PM
I have started a blog for the VA bar exam. Please check it out.. moral support and study advice!
Posted by: VaBarTaker | May 24, 2006 at 06:32 PM
I didn't take PMBR or Barbri. When you think about efficiency it doesn't make sense to sit in a class for four hours a day while someone reads an outline out loud that you could read in an hour (or read at least four times in four hours). I think those classes are kind of like security blankets. You don't need them, but they give you some sense of confidence. I did Micromash (self-study program), but I think just getting the old books and especially the Barbri (short) class outlines would work as well.
I also think not taking the classes and being around other stressed out exam takers was very helpful.
Posted by: Ally | June 20, 2006 at 03:52 PM
I recently took the D.C. bar exam and was interested to learn that my stamped and addressed envelopes for my references had only just arrived. Delaware explicitly states that they will only conduct a character and fitness review if the candidate passes. A friend of mine who failed the bar reported that his letters were never sent (as far as he can tell). Any insights on this?
Posted by: DCBarCandidate | March 21, 2007 at 11:19 PM
Does anyone know when the 2007 NY bar exam result come out?
Posted by: sanam | April 26, 2007 at 12:21 PM
I am currently waiting on the July 2007 IL Bar Results. They are expected to be published on Oct. 1.
I received a letter stating that I have to meet with a character and fitness committee member.
Does anyone know if Il has the same policy, as stated by Ally above, in which "Delaware explicitly states that they will only conduct a character and fitness review if the candidate passes."
Any incite?
Posted by: IL Bar Candidate | September 25, 2007 at 02:43 PM
I have passed 4 bar exams including NY (4 MBE's, no waiving). I concur that it is all about the MBE. I got a 161 on the MBE and I did not study much for the essay/ny portion of the exam. I had previously gotten a 167 scaled on an MBE.
If you can write, you can fudge an essay. Focus on the MBE and rock it. do TONS of practice questions. It's like a video game, the more times you play, the better you do.
Posted by: wookie | October 27, 2007 at 09:42 PM
It really is about the MBE; however, good essays can make up for a weak score. This is coming from someone who got a 127 scaled MBE and passed NY this summer.
Posted by: loyah | November 16, 2007 at 01:10 AM
I am looking for a historical list of what essays D.C. has tested on past bars. BarBri usually gives out this list. ie - a grid listing each essay topic and which years it was tested in.
Posted by: tarheelio | May 25, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Just wanted to say that I read the back of your book and it actually sounds really good. May pick up a copy. Good luck with the writing career which is much better than being a lawyer, at least from what I hear.
Posted by: RecentGrad | November 13, 2008 at 02:10 PM