Bar Examination Success

[magogian]

I didn't take professional responsibility and looked at the outline for about an hour the night before. I "failed" by one point (1 point under the minimum for this state). I took it the next semester after taking a required ethics course and listening to the lecture and doing about 20 practice questions. Smashed it the second time.

Honestly, it's pretty easy if u took a professional responsibility/ethics course. The hardest part is getting used to the format of the questions. So if you don't do anything else, at least do some practice questions. Don't spend more than 6-7 hours studying for it, though. This test is REALLY not worth stressing out about. I took it a couple years ago and I think the magic number is 85 if you want it to apply to all jurisdictions (~32-35 questions right out of 60, I think). Not a difficult task, imo.

Funny, I did the same thing (studied for only about an hour), but passed in Illinois by one point.

Of course, my score isn't high enough for many other jurisdictions, so that will be rather embarrassing if I have to retake it.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I didn't want to start a new thread on the MPRE, but I was wondering what others did to prep. I'm the head rep this year for Barbri and I have their lectures/outline.

I know I have the proper materials, but I was curious how long I needed to study for this? Is the outline more helpful than the lecture? Or vice versa?

Thanks in advance.

I studied on the metro north on my way to the test site (about 40 minutes). Passed by one point. Can't say I endorse that strategy. One wrong guess and I would've had to retake. But it is possible to pass without a ton of effort. You won't get the esoteric stuff, but enough correct answers to ethical questions are intuitive that you have a puncher's chance.

 

[Rack Em]

Did you take a class in school? I think the spreading it out plan, maybe a little more condensed, is a good idea.

Shits, man, you seem like an ethical guy. I think you'll do just fine.

I haven't taken Professional Responsibility yet. That's why I was wondering if I needed to put in some extra effort in studying. Sounds like 'no'.

Thanks for all the advice guys.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

The National Jurist just named ND the 3rd best value among private law schools:

Brigham Young University tops a list of the best-value private law schools.

BYU is the only school getting an A grade on the list by National Jurist, and it’s the only private law school on National Jurist’s overall list of best-value law schools, which will be released in October. Above the Law published the list of National Jurist’s 21 best-value private schools and added “employment and financial fun facts” culled from U.S. News, Law School Transparency and a law professor’s scholarship retention study.

Here are the top five by letter grade, along with some of the additional information provided by Above the Law:

• Brigham Young University (A). The average indebtedness of 2012 graduates with law school debts was $56,112; 63.9% of 2012 graduates were known to be employed in long-term, full-time legal jobs

• Baylor University School of Law (B). The average indebtedness of 2012 graduates with law school debts was $99,852; 68.3% of 2012 graduates were known to be employed in long-term, full-time legal jobs.

• Notre Dame Law School (B). The average indebtedness of 2012 graduates with law school debts was $101,512; 66.8% of 2012 graduates were known to be employed in long-term, full-time legal jobs.

• Duquesne University (B). The average indebtedness of 2012 graduates with law school debts was $100,081; 52.7% of 2012 graduates were known to be employed in long-term, full-time legal jobs.

• Hamline University (B). The average indebtedness of 2012 graduates with law school debts was $104,647; 42.6% of 2012 graduates were known to be employed in long-term, full-time legal jobs.

Other schools on the list had grades ranging from B- to C+. Yale and Stanford law schools, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively by U.S. News, both received a B- on the National Jurist best-value list. Harvard, which tied with Stanford for the No. 2 spot by U.S. News, did not make the best-value list.

National Jurist’s best-value rankings are based on tuition, debt, cost of living, percentage of employed grads and bar pass rates. According to the press release, “The study is designed to identify and recognize law schools that help students pass the bar exam and land jobs without burdening them with huge debt.”

In related news, Mormons know how to network.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

In related news, Mormons know how to network.

The Utah and Colorado legal markets are pretty hot too. Lotta oil and gas work.

 

[BGIF]

The National Jurist just named ND the 3rd best value among private law schools:



In related news, Mormons know how to network.

His wives talk to your wives, and your wives talk to ...

 

[BGIF]

The study is designed to identify and recognize law schools that help students pass the bar exam and land jobs without burdening them with huge debt.

So $100k isn't a burden?

What is a huge debt for law school?



My wife's niece rolled up A $500K debt in med school. She in a fellowship program now. 35 years old, still in school, the debt is growing, and she and her also in the fellowship program husband just had a baby. His debt is a little less than hers ... but I digress.

Congrats to ND Law and to those of you who have made those professors successful teachers.

 

[Wild Bill]

So $100k isn't a burden?

What is a huge debt for law school?



My wife's niece rolled up A $500K debt in med school. She in a fellowship program now. 35 years old, still in school, the debt is growing, and she and her also in the fellowship program husband just had a baby. His debt is a little less than hers ... but I digress.

Congrats to ND Law and to those of you who have made those professors successful teachers.

IMO, $100k is a heavy burden, but I know several people in the $140-$180 range. Everything is relative, I guess.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

IMO, $100k is a heavy burden, but I know several people in the $140-$180 range. Everything is relative, I guess.

Yeah and that burden is just the 3 years of law school. Add in 4 years of private undergrad and that equals I hate myself. But, I got to see 6 home games from an ND team that went to a Naty so I think it all evens out.....

 

[Golden_Domer]

Notre Dame Law School (B). The average indebtedness of 2012 graduates with law school debts was $101,512; 66.8% of 2012 graduates were known to be employed in long-term, full-time legal jobs.

Woo! I was part of that graduating class. I am well under that figure. By like 40%.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Question for the lawyas on the board:

I'm going to practice in MD which doesn't require the MBRE, I guess because we DGAF I don't know, but I'm curious if anyone has any info (please don't research this because I'm only asking because I don't want to look this up) on what the bar dues are in states MD has reciprocity with. If dues are manageable then I think it makes sense to take the MBRE and transfer into another state/DC but otherwise I'm going to save myself some money and a weekend.





I realize that wasn't a question.

 

[notredomer23]

Quick question/Scenario:

A court held that a landlord who placed television transmitters and microphones in a tenant's apartment for security purposes wrongfully invaded the tenant's privacy. The court remarked in its discussion of the issue that cameras in the common hallways might not violate the tenants' privacy rights.

Would this last statement be considered dictum?

 

[Rack Em]

Quick question/Scenario:

A court held that a landlord who placed television transmitters and microphones in a tenant's apartment for security purposes wrongfully invaded the tenant's privacy. The court remarked in its discussion of the issue that cameras in the common hallways might not violate the tenants' privacy rights.

Would this last statement be considered dictum?

Better Call Saul!

 

[Rack Em]

Yes it is dictum. It's not binding precedent and it's an ancillary point made by the judge.

 

[notredomer23]

Yes it is dictum. It's not binding precedent and it's an ancillary point made by the judge.

Thank you sir, you finished my American Law Online quiz for me haha.

PS, Love the better call Saul reference. I am midway through Season 3 right now.

 

[Rack Em]

Thank you sir, you finished my American Law Online quiz for me haha.

PS, Love the better call Saul reference. I am midway through Season 3 right now.

Great, now I'm an accomplice to your academic impropriety.

 

[dshans]

[I'll succumb to "conventional wisdom" on this board and resort to italics]

It's a proven fact that all lawyers are liars and cheats. Why wait until after taking the bar exam to embark on a career path ...



I would like to think that this is clearly facetious, tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, but one can never be too careful.

 

[Rack Em]

[I'll succumb to "conventional wisdom" on this board and resort to italics]

It's a proven fact that all lawyers are liars and cheats. Why wait until after taking the bar exam to embark on a career path ...



I would like to think that this is clearly facetious, tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, but one can never be too careful.

We're not all liars and cheats. Unfortunately law schools do their best to bring out those characteristics by teaching unethical behavior.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

We're not all liars and cheats. Unfortunately law schools do their best to bring out those characteristics by teaching unethical behavior.

That's exactly what a liar and a cheat would say.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

That's exactly what a liar and a cheat would say.

Lawyered

 

[ShawneeIrish]

Scrolling through the bar exam numbers of the applicants who passed is probably more nerve wracking than the exam itself. Thankfully I passed the KY bar exam.

 

[gkIrish]

Passed the Ohio bar!! NY in February...

 

[#1rish]

Looking through this thread as someone who works in finance at a law firm:

 

[palinurus]

[I'll succumb to "conventional wisdom" on this board and resort to italics]

It's a proven fact that all lawyers are liars and cheats. Why wait until after taking the bar exam to embark on a career path ...



I would like to think that this is clearly facetious, tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, but one can never be too careful.

Ironic that you should finally choose to use italics in the ONE place they are least appropriate, lol

 

[palinurus]

Scrolling through the bar exam numbers of the applicants who passed is probably more nerve wracking than the exam itself. Thankfully I passed the KY bar exam.

Passed the Ohio bar!! NY in February...

Congrats to you both!

 

[Emcee77]

Congrats bros!

 

[gkIrish]

So I'm taking the NY bar on Tuesday & Wednesday. Didn't do a bar review course for this one considering half of it is stuff I've already done well on for the Ohio bar. However, I'm pretty nervous and don't feel great about it considering the low pass rates and the relatively low amount of time I spent studying.

Would appreciate some good thoughts or prayers from those who are so inclined.

 

[tadman95]

Git 'r done!

 

[Emcee77]

You got this homie.

Isn't it true that the NY bar only has a low pass rate because it is open to all the idiots, as in California? An intellectual giant like you should be more than fine. IRAC like a champion today.

 

[BobD]

So I'm taking the NY bar on Tuesday & Wednesday. Didn't do a bar review course for this one considering half of it is stuff I've already done well on for the Ohio bar. However, I'm pretty nervous and don't feel great about it considering the low pass rates and the relatively low amount of time I spent studying.

Would appreciate some good thoughts or prayers from those who are so inclined.