Those sitting for the July Bar Exam

[Brad]

Originally Posted by zbromer

My only advise for true last-minute cramming is to just stop at a certain point the night before the first test. No peaking at outlines in the morning while waiting to go inside. No studying the night after the first day. At that point, you truly either know it or not. Real last minute cramming only flusters you, and half the test is just having the nerves.

+1. Last July I drank margaritas for three straight nights while watching the TdF. No studying.

 

[zalb916]

Originally Posted by Brad

There is nothing to be "ok with" on the MPT.Just follow the question. I never practiced for that portion of the exam. I didn't see the point.

I thought the MPT was kind of a joke. You could potentially get some nuanced question, like write a motion or something, but it's generally write a memo laying out the arguments for some case. I didn't study for it either and found it by far the easiest section. If you have reading comprehension and writing skills, you're fine. My question didn't even really require any legal knowledge.

 

[overdog]

Originally Posted by zbromer

My only advise for true last-minute cramming is to just stop at a certain point the night before the first test. No peaking at outlines in the morning while waiting to go inside. No studying the night after the first day. At that point, you truly either know it or not. Real last minute cramming only flusters you, and half the test is just having the nerves.


I, for one, plan to do a quick review of every subject the night before. Hell, I'm even planning on breaking out my study materials during lunch on the day of the exam once I figure out which essay subjects will be tested in the afternoon. That is the only way I will remember all the crazy statutes of limitations, time deadlines, and critical dates.

 

[CTGuy]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Any last-minute cramming advice? Or am I truly screwed.

Don't slack on the number of Multistate practice questions. You should do somewhere in the neighborhood of 3k. Don't ignore the state specific essays, but don't spend TOO much time on them.

 

[CTGuy]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

Well, I just took a third of a MBE practice test and got 73% right. Good, bad?

You're fine.

 

[CTGuy]

Ditto on the people who say take the last couple days off. No doubt you are overloaded and the Bar isn't something you can cram for at the last minute. I took the last days off and went up to my family's cabin in Vermont-- ran and got plenty of sleep. Taking the test itself is a sort of an endurance test since it is two days and likely you will not sleep well either night. My advice is to make sure you walk in and feel as fresh as possible.

 

[overdog]

Originally Posted by CTGuy

Don't slack on the number of Multistate practice questions. You should do somewhere in the neighborhood of 3k. Don't ignore the state specific essays, but don't spend TOO much time on them.
3K? Really? At roughly 2 minutes apiece, it would take you 100 hours to do 3,000 questions, and that's not even including the time it takes to read the answer explanations. I've done close to 900 so far, and I think I'm about done preparing for the MBE.

 

[DNW]

Originally Posted by overdog

3K? Really? At roughly 2 minutes apiece, it would take you 100 hours to do 3,000 questions, and that's not even including the time it takes to read the answer explanations. I've done close to 900 so far, and I think I'm about done preparing for the MBE.
I think he meant 3k from the beginning of the summer. You can't possibly do that now.

 

[awcollin]

From someone who didn't do a ton of studying for the bar:

Relax, you'll be amazed at how much comes back to you once you begin taking the exam.

 

[yerfdog]

I think advice is going to differ by state, depending on how stuff is weighed. In CA, the MBE is only worth 35% of the exam, because we have 3 days of exam, so I'm not spending too much time studying it.

 

[JetBlast]

Good luck to all, hopefully we'll have a few new Bar members here on Teh SF.

JB

 

[lawyerdad]

Good luck, folks. You should take Sunday off. No studying, do something fun to clear your head.

 

[DNW]

Originally Posted by lawyerdad

Good luck, folks. You should take Sunday off. No studying, do something fun to clear your head.

I wish! BTW, the bar exam in NY is on Tuesday & Wednesday (MBE portion). I'm also stupid enough to take the MA bar as well (Thursday).

 

[overdog]

^ Man, I can't imagine having to study for 2 bar exams at the same time!

People have been congratulating me all throughout law school, such as congratulations for finishing 1L year, congratulations for finding a job, congratulations on graduating, etc. But the way I feel at this moment, when I finally get this exam out of the way and if I actually pass it, it will feel like much more of a significant accomplishment than anything that I ever did in law school.

 

[yerfdog]

Originally Posted by overdog

But the way I feel at this moment, when I finally get this exam out of the way and if I actually pass it, it will feel like much more of a significant accomplishment than anything that I ever did in law school.

i could not have said it better myself


thanks for the best wishes, all