THE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS BAR EXAM SUCCESS: WHAT EVERY LAW STUDENT NEEDS TO KNOW MICROMASH BAR REVIEW JESSICA SPERATH OCTOBER 8, 2009 http://barexambrief.com http://micromashbar.com

COMMON BAR EXAM ACRONYMS NCBE = National Conference of Bar Examiners Think “authors” MBE = Multistate Bar Exam Think “multiple choice” MEE = Multistate Essay Exam Think “generic essay” MPT = Multistate Performance Test Think “closed-universe problem” MPRE = Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam Think “ethics portion”

NCBE = National Conference of Bar Examiners

Think “authors”

MBE = Multistate Bar Exam

Think “multiple choice”

MEE = Multistate Essay Exam

Think “generic essay”

MPT = Multistate Performance Test

Think “closed-universe problem”

MPRE = Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam

Think “ethics portion”

THE BAR EXAM Twice per year – last week in February and July 2, 2 ½, or 3 day exam, depending on jurisdiction Nearly every jurisdiction tests the MBE 200 questions (190 count, 10 experimental) Two, three-hour sessions, 100 questions each 200 questions/six hours = 1.8 minutes/question Covers six core legal subjects: Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Constitutional Law, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts Handful of jurisdictions (NY, FL) test state-specific multiple choice questions

Twice per year – last week in February and July

2, 2 ½, or 3 day exam, depending on jurisdiction

Nearly every jurisdiction tests the MBE

200 questions (190 count, 10 experimental)

Two, three-hour sessions, 100 questions each

200 questions/six hours = 1.8 minutes/question

Covers six core legal subjects: Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Constitutional Law, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts

Handful of jurisdictions (NY, FL) test state-specific multiple choice questions

THE BAR EXAM, CON’T All jurisdictions administer essays A majority of jurisdictions author their own questions 23 jurisdictions incorporate the MEE either in addition to, or in place of, their own questions Nearly two-thirds of jurisdictions administer a performance test Small number author own performance test (CA, PA) while the rest administer the MPT Designed to test lawyering skills in typical situations Contains instructions and substantive documents Have 90 minutes to read information, analyze problem, and write answer

All jurisdictions administer essays

A majority of jurisdictions author their own questions

23 jurisdictions incorporate the MEE either in addition to, or in place of, their own questions

Nearly two-thirds of jurisdictions administer a performance test

Small number author own performance test (CA, PA) while the rest administer the MPT

Designed to test lawyering skills in typical situations

Contains instructions and substantive documents

Have 90 minutes to read information, analyze problem, and write answer

THE BAR EXAM APPLICATION Must graduate from law school before take exam Begin application process early in last year Deadlines for July exam (more popular) range between preceding February and May Examples of necessary information Home addresses – approximately 10 years Employment history – approximately 10 years References – non-relatives who can attest to character Former professors – undergrad/law school

Must graduate from law school before take exam

Begin application process early in last year

Deadlines for July exam (more popular) range between preceding February and May

Examples of necessary information

Home addresses – approximately 10 years

Employment history – approximately 10 years

References – non-relatives who can attest to character

Former professors – undergrad/law school

THE BAR EXAM APPLICATION, CON’T Examples of necessary records Driving history – each state in which you’ve been licensed Criminal history – each state in which you’ve lived Transcripts – undergrad/law school Small number or jurisdictions require fingerprints and/or passport-style photo Some jurisdictions interview select or all candidates Cardinal sins Lying – either actively or by omission Procrastination Not following direction

Examples of necessary records

Driving history – each state in which you’ve been licensed

Criminal history – each state in which you’ve lived

Transcripts – undergrad/law school

Small number or jurisdictions require fingerprints and/or passport-style photo

Some jurisdictions interview select or all candidates

Cardinal sins

Lying – either actively or by omission

Procrastination

Not following direction

WHAT CAN I DO DURING LAW SCHOOL TO PREPARE FOR THE BAR EXAM? Take recommended bar subject classes Evidence (Hearsay is tricky) Rights portion of Con Law (nuanced SCOTUS opinions) Hone your writing skills IRAC, IRAC, IRAC!!! Important for you AND the grader. Get the MPRE out of the way Offered in March, August, and November Can take prior to graduation Do yourself a favor by preparing adequately

Take recommended bar subject classes

Evidence (Hearsay is tricky)

Rights portion of Con Law (nuanced SCOTUS opinions)

Hone your writing skills

IRAC, IRAC, IRAC!!! Important for you AND the grader.

Get the MPRE out of the way

Offered in March, August, and November

Can take prior to graduation

Do yourself a favor by preparing adequately

TIPS FOR A HASSLE-FREE APPLICATION Don’t wait to take care of business If you have a library fine, pay it If you have a parking ticket, pay it If you have a speeding ticket, pay it Watch your credit Avoid defaulting on a loan Avoid missing a credit card payment Avoid running up excessive credit card debt Be on your best behavior Legal profession has incredibly high ethical standards Sorry to report… You’re on the hook from now until retirement!

Don’t wait to take care of business

If you have a library fine, pay it

If you have a parking ticket, pay it

If you have a speeding ticket, pay it

Watch your credit

Avoid defaulting on a loan

Avoid missing a credit card payment

Avoid running up excessive credit card debt

Be on your best behavior

Legal profession has incredibly high ethical standards

Sorry to report… You’re on the hook from now until retirement!

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT MICROMASH? MBE review software Offers instantaneous feedback to avoid rereading questions Interactive program more engaging than questions on paper Tracks your progress to effectively guide your review Contains 2,300 questions for plenty of practice Attorney-mentor program Every student assigned to mentor licensed in the jurisdiction in which he or she is to take the bar Can contact mentor at any time during bar study process Can submit up to eight essays for grading by mentor Program offers personalized attention not available elsewhere

MBE review software

Offers instantaneous feedback to avoid rereading questions

Interactive program more engaging than questions on paper

Tracks your progress to effectively guide your review

Contains 2,300 questions for plenty of practice

Attorney-mentor program

Every student assigned to mentor licensed in the jurisdiction in which he or she is to take the bar

Can contact mentor at any time during bar study process

Can submit up to eight essays for grading by mentor

Program offers personalized attention not available elsewhere

FINANCIAL BREAKS FOR TOUGH TIMES Low overhead costs allow us to keep price down Approximately half the price of traditional review, ~ $1,500 Study Now, Pay Later deferred payment plan Small deposit up front, balance due one month AFTER exam New and improved PASS GUARANTEE Purchase our program, and we’re with you until you pass – no overbearing requirements, no questions asked Flexible payment plans We’ll work with you to stretch out your balance due

Low overhead costs allow us to keep price down

Approximately half the price of traditional review, ~ $1,500

Study Now, Pay Later deferred payment plan

Small deposit up front, balance due one month AFTER exam

New and improved PASS GUARANTEE

Purchase our program, and we’re with you until you pass – no overbearing requirements, no questions asked

Flexible payment plans

We’ll work with you to stretch out your balance due

NOW IT’S TIME FOR A PEP TALK! Bar exam is not rocket science due diligence + thinking ahead + solid preparation = success! Do your research! Read everything you can find on your jurisdiction’s exam. Contact the Board of Law Examiners to fill in any gaps in information. Give yourself plenty of time to gather information and records. Send your application in at least a week early. If you put the time in now, you won’t have to later. This means making studying for the bar your primary focus. But don’t forget to take a break every now and again!

Bar exam is not rocket science

due diligence + thinking ahead + solid preparation = success!

Do your research! Read everything you can find on your jurisdiction’s exam. Contact the Board of Law Examiners to fill in any gaps in information.

Give yourself plenty of time to gather information and records. Send your application in at least a week early.

If you put the time in now, you won’t have to later. This means making studying for the bar your primary focus. But don’t forget to take a break every now and again!

CONTACT INFORMATION Presenter: Jessica Sperath, Academic Director [email_address] 312.873.6962 MicroMash: 1-800-BAR-EXAM [email_address] www.micromashbar.com Read our blog: www.barexambrief.com Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/micromash Become a Facebook fan

Presenter: Jessica Sperath, Academic Director [email_address] 312.873.6962 MicroMash: 1-800-BAR-EXAM [email_address] www.micromashbar.com Read our blog: www.barexambrief.com Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/micromash Become a Facebook fan