- Quickdraw McLaw
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- Judge Miranda Du denied request to stop Thacker Pass lithium mine work. [TNI]
- Protester sentenced for damaging federal building. [RJ]
- Tomorrow marks the start of the July 2021 bar exam. There’s not much left that those about to take it can do, but any last minute tips or horror stories?
For anyone taking the bar exam tomorrow, just remember it's testing minimum competency and you'll do great.
And think about all the dumbasses you know who are practicing lawyers. They all passed the bar too!
But did those dumbasses have to pass the bar while wearing a mask?
* Surgeons have entered the chat *
1. On the Multi-State(or whatever they currently call the multiple choice sections) make certain to finish it. So, work at a brisk pace, where you are proportionately completing a number of questions for whatever increment of time you are meadsuring it by(evry 30 minute increment, for example) so that you are working at a mathematical pace that will enable you to finish the number of questions in the time allotted. You donlt want to be randomly filling in 10 or 20 ovals the last 30 seconds.
2. On the essays, it is primarily issue identification(just like the Multi-State. If they have six issues to detect, find them and list them, even if you only have time to discuss each one briefly. It does no good to just find an issue or two, and rationalize that you are doing such a great, lengthy analysis on those couple issues, that it will compensate for not locating or discussing the other four issues. It will not. Some really bright people fail because they keep writing a lengthy, and often excellent, dissertation on each issue–and then fail the essay question because they only wound up locating and discussing two of the six available issues.
But I took the exam in the 80's, and it has changed so much since then, that perhaps my advice is worthless.
But those who took it in recent years will weigh in.
Rumor is that Betsy Gonzalez is retiring? Anyone have a source?
She said so herself in court this morning.
On the essays I agree with 10:21 – find the issues and ID them. Then just do IRAC. One sentence for each letter. Don't get bogged down with a lengthy essay. Move on.
Rebuttal @ 10:48
From someone who has taken and passed the bar in three states. One sentence is not enough. A couple of paragraphs will do. You are demonstrating that you know something about the issue, but you are not writing a brief for the Chief Justice.
That said, if you finish an essay with more than 5 minutes to spare, you have missed an issue. Find the missing issue and tag it onto the end of the answer you have already written. Going back to insert it in its logical sequence would be nice and tidy, but if this happens to you, you don't have the time. Just state the issue so that you get some points.
Yes. Agreed. Also, I suggest written affirmations every morning. "I will pass the bar exam." 15 times, by handwriting. I still have mine that I wrote every day for a month when I took the bar. The power of suggestion.
10:48 here – I finished the bar exam so quickly the people sitting around me thought I quit. When I showed back up after lunch they were surprised to see me. I passed. More time could just mean you have additional time to overthink and change your answer. Don't do it. Go get a drink at the bar.
I agree with 12:16. I took and passed 2 bar exams, first attempt on each. I had the same experience of finishing each section with substantial time to spare (1 1/2 hours on each of the MBE sections, 1/2 hour on the essays).
If you find yourself in that situation, don't try to overthink or question your answers. Take a quick re-read to make sure you didn't miss something and then enjoy a leisurely, no pressure lunch. (Not of the liquid variety). The small amount of decompression you will get will help relieve some of the pressure you will be feeling.
Remember, a large part of the test is not a test of your knowledge (they are looking for minimum competency) but rather can you perform under high stress situations.
Yep. Hit it and Quit it is the name of the game. For the MBE, you either know the black-letter law or you don't. You can mathematically divide the questions so that you have adequate time to complete them all, but it's much simpler to just burn through them. Analyze them, knock out the incorrect answers, make sure exceptions don't apply, and select the correct answer. Don't second-guess yourself, and you should end in plenty of time. For essays, hit the issue, discuss the rule and why it applies (or doesn't), and conclude and get out. Move on to the hot new issue.
"…any last minute tips or horror stories?"
Sure. Take a look at most of the people who practice law around here. Look what it's done to them. Many have allowed the practice of law to turn their life into a horror story. Alcoholism, anxiety, addictions, depression, anger, fear, perversion, dishonesty, loss of self worth, inability to enjoy life – – don't let it happen to you.
Wherever you go, there you are.
No matter where you go, there you are.
Wherever you go, you will always find yourself.
To anyone taking the exam,
Tomorrow is really perfunctory. You've done the work for three years (kind of) and for real through the summer. The hard part is done. One last push. When you are done, treat yourself to something. This was a big deal. Congrats. Welcome to the profession.
11:10–But exam takers are looking for last minute advice so they can pass the exam and encounter the parade of life horrors you correctly forecast.
So, what tips do you have so they can pass the exam and commence this life of agony and suffering?
Paradoxically, lawyers whose self worth is primarily based on being a lawyer make worse lawyers than those whose self worth is based elsewhere. If this is all you are, you're going to have a tough time.
Be sure to drink at least seven caffeinated beverages one to two hours before the exam. Also, follow that with 1/2 gallon of water. Gotta stay hydrated.
Anyone having issues with IDme this week for unemployment? My boss took PPP and a vacation, so I lost my job. Thanks!
I took a vacation with my PPP / Tax refund, as well. Sorry, you lost your job because you weren't valuable enough to keep. Don't sweat it, skip the Unemployment and go find a job. You'll be alright.
Hi, nasty fuck. You should get help with your substance abuse problem. Let me get you the phone number…
try late at night or early in the morning. A bunch of people have been hitting the system lately for the child tax advance too.
Thank you!
A Boyd professor wrote an article advocating criminal defendants speaking up more in court. I do not practice criminal law, but I would never, ever want my civil clients opening their fucking mouths in court without hours and hours of preparation, and even then only when necessary. Any one think I am off base? I wonder how many trials (or even court appearances) this professor has under his/her/ze's belt?
https://scholars.law.unlv.edu/facpub/1340/
A purse snatcher was on trial and the defendant was stating what had taken place. “Yes, that’s him,” she said. “I saw him clear as day. I would remember his face anywhere!” At that point, the defendant yelled out … “You didn’t even see my face, lady. I was wearing a mask!”
Seeing the author of this article didn't surprise me one bit. I took Hanan's Criminal Law course at Boyd a few semesters ago… very, very limited substantive criminal law material. Instead, we were taught how "racist" and "oppressive" the criminal justice system was. Thanks for nothing, Hanan.
See FN[1]: 1. My experience in criminal court is derived from practicing as a public defender in Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and Maryland, as well as supervising law students’ clinical legal education in Maryland and Nevada . . . .
You lost me at "A Boyd professor…"
At least 10 years of full-time practice experience should be a mandatory pre-requisite for all law professorships. It's embarrassing that the legal academy is full of people who are teaching lawyers but have little to no experience actually lawyering.
Rarely should a criminal defendant open his/her mouth in court. What they think will help them with actually sink their case. No "professor" with any real life experience would claim otherwise.
According to her c.v., Hanan did 5 years of PD work in Boston, 3 years of appellate criminal work in DC, when she stepped away from the law to pursue an MA in Creative Arts. After that, she was a mediator for 3 years, and a clinic fellow for another 3 years overseeing law students, then an APD for 1 year before getting hired at Boyd. So she does has experience in the field.
Concur, left leaning professors feel good about telling students how unjust and wrong is the legal system. I had similar experiences in law school as @4:47 in Crim Pro and Con Law. Neither professor had any private practice experience.
Bring your own food and do not eat out during the days of the exam. So many people seemed to get food poisoning when I took the exam and my boss at the time had said the same happened the year he took it. I had a cooler in my hotel room and ate boring mustard and cheese sandwiches for three days.
Haha this is funny. I bought a bunch of non-perishables to eat in my hotel room. By the end of the exam I was all puffy from eating so much salt.
I know you are going to think this is a joke answer. It is not. 45 minutes before the doors open, find a convenient location within blocks of the testing center and poop. I got to Cashman and the nerves set in but the doors were locked. No amount of pleading would convince Patrice Eichman's crew that I did not want to plant notes in the facility; I just really had to go and that there was no facility close which would suffice.
After that step, invest in a bottle of Kopectate.
I was prosecuting a sexual assault case–date rape situation. Woman was asked what happened after they went to the hotel room. Woman said, "Well let's just say he was not the gentleman of my fantasies." What does that mean? She was asked. "Well let's just say he could not complete his manly duties" she said. Oh no, I thought. She is saying he could not commit the act. Just as I was thinking the case was hopeless, the defendant jumped out of his chair and yelled, "Bitch!!I did just fine!!" Bound over for trial based on an in court confession.