Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
What should you do after learning you failed the Bar Exam?
If you learn you have failed the bar exam, particularly if more than once, the most important thing you can do is to CHANGE your study habits and plan. You made it through law school so you are certainly smart enough to pass the bar exam. In all jurisdictions, the bar exam is a standardized test. You must learn to give the examiners the material in the manner in which they expect to see it. For example, IRAC will work on the essays.
Ask yourself the following questions.
Did I honestly study as much as I know I could have?
Did I practice essay questions under test conditions?
Did I practice MBE questions under test conditions?
Did I practice the MPT under test conditions?
If is important to KNOW the substantive law but DO NOT rely solely on the lowest level of learning which is rote memorization. There are four (4) levels of learning: (1) rote, (2) understanding, (3) application and (4) correlation. Your study plan MUST strive to reach the higher levels of learning. You MUST learn to apply the law and you do that best by practicing, practicing, practicing.
Besides the academic exercise you MUST go through, it is equally important to remove any and all distractions. You should seriously consider studying anywhere other than at home, near a refrigerator, telephone, family, friends, etc. You need to be studying in an environment that helps you avoid the temptations of going to the kitchen, turning on the TV, etc.
Finally, even if you are not the athletic type, add a little aerobic exercise, i.e., walking or anything else that works for you to your daily routine. You need the oxygen replenishment and that time can be used to ANALYZE a fact pattern you just worked on.
Many of us spend way too much money on tutors, courses or study aids when what you need most, is discipline.
Whatever you do, DO NOT QUIT. You can and will pass the Bar Exam when you are ready to be serious about applying the basic principles I mentioned above.
Good Luck!
Ask yourself the following questions.
Did I honestly study as much as I know I could have?
Did I practice essay questions under test conditions?
Did I practice MBE questions under test conditions?
Did I practice the MPT under test conditions?
If is important to KNOW the substantive law but DO NOT rely solely on the lowest level of learning which is rote memorization. There are four (4) levels of learning: (1) rote, (2) understanding, (3) application and (4) correlation. Your study plan MUST strive to reach the higher levels of learning. You MUST learn to apply the law and you do that best by practicing, practicing, practicing.
Besides the academic exercise you MUST go through, it is equally important to remove any and all distractions. You should seriously consider studying anywhere other than at home, near a refrigerator, telephone, family, friends, etc. You need to be studying in an environment that helps you avoid the temptations of going to the kitchen, turning on the TV, etc.
Finally, even if you are not the athletic type, add a little aerobic exercise, i.e., walking or anything else that works for you to your daily routine. You need the oxygen replenishment and that time can be used to ANALYZE a fact pattern you just worked on.
Many of us spend way too much money on tutors, courses or study aids when what you need most, is discipline.
Whatever you do, DO NOT QUIT. You can and will pass the Bar Exam when you are ready to be serious about applying the basic principles I mentioned above.
Good Luck!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Practice Essays
I learned the hard way that I did not practice enough essays when I attempted the bar exam before. I believe strongly that the key to passing the bar exam is to practice, practice, practice even though you do not believe you know enough substantive law. Get copies of your State's essay questions or contact the National Conference of Bar Examiners (www.ncbe.org) and order copies of the Multistate Essay Exams. You should work through no less than 80 practice essay exams before the real exam in February. Initially, it will be slow going. Use your notes, books or outlines but move towards taking the essay exams under test conditions. Believe all who tell you to follow IRAC!!! Keep it simple but lawyer like. The secret is in the analysis not the conclusion.
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Timing the Study Schedule
In preparing for the Bar Exam, you should design a study schedule that works around your daily life. Ideally you would be able to study for two months before the exam without having to work but for most of us, that is not possible. I have learned from experience that you must give yourself time to prepare and if that means skipping an exam and planning for the next one so be it.
If you allow time to review the substantive material and take plenty of practice exams then you will significantly improve the probability of you passing the bar exam. One thing I have learned for certain after failing the bar exam more than once, is that there is no way around practicing, particularly writing essays.
I encourage anyone preparing for the bar exam to visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners web site (www.ncbex.org) and order past exams to use in your exam practice. Also check with your State Bar office to obtain copies of past exams in your jurisdiction. When you design your study schedule use timed conditions. For example, if you jurisdiction has one hour essays, schedule one hour for a single essay.
In many cases you will want to delay practicing exams because you will believe you do not know enough substantive law. That is a mistake. You will learn more substantive law by working through practice exams then you will by reading outlines. PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! If possible find someone who has already passed the bar exam to review your essay answers and critique the for you. The feedback is invaluable.
If you are a bar exam repeater and you are planning to take the February 2011 bar exam, it is not too early to begin a study schedule now. Be careful not to burn out early but pace yourself and you will feel more confident come February 2011.
Good luck!
If you allow time to review the substantive material and take plenty of practice exams then you will significantly improve the probability of you passing the bar exam. One thing I have learned for certain after failing the bar exam more than once, is that there is no way around practicing, particularly writing essays.
I encourage anyone preparing for the bar exam to visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners web site (www.ncbex.org) and order past exams to use in your exam practice. Also check with your State Bar office to obtain copies of past exams in your jurisdiction. When you design your study schedule use timed conditions. For example, if you jurisdiction has one hour essays, schedule one hour for a single essay.
In many cases you will want to delay practicing exams because you will believe you do not know enough substantive law. That is a mistake. You will learn more substantive law by working through practice exams then you will by reading outlines. PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! If possible find someone who has already passed the bar exam to review your essay answers and critique the for you. The feedback is invaluable.
If you are a bar exam repeater and you are planning to take the February 2011 bar exam, it is not too early to begin a study schedule now. Be careful not to burn out early but pace yourself and you will feel more confident come February 2011.
Good luck!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Bar Review Course or NO Bar Review Cource
I posted two opposing views regarding whether or not to use a Bar Review course. From my experience it is up to the individual to determine whether or not they will benefit from a structured program. It did not work for me. I felt like I was drinking from a firehose! I do believe the material you receive coupled with the lectures provides you all of the information you need to pass the Bar Exam but if you do not find time to practice then you will still have difficulty with the bar exam. I cannot over emphasize the importance of practice. Practice all parts of your bar exam under test conditions. If you jurisdiction uses one hour essay exams then complete a practice essay in one hour. Do the same with your MBE and MPT. The more you practice the better. Don't wait to practice until you think you know enough substantive law. You will learn the substantive law as you practice. It is possible to pass the bar exam without taking an expensive bar review course and many who take the bar review course fail the bar exam. The key is to get your hands on the study material and practice, practice, practice!
Good luck!
Good luck!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Study Checklist
This has been posted on the Web for several years but is as useful today as the day it was posted. Thanks to Professor Vernellia Randall from the University of Ohio for posting this checklist and other helpful tips for bar exam candidates. Click on the title above to go to the web site for more information.
Survival Series for the Bar Exam
Jeff Adachi is a practicing attorney in California and author of several publications designed to help those who are preparing for the California Bar Exam. BarBreaker 1 and 2 will help anyone wanting to improve their essay writing skills. Click on the title to access the survival series website for more information.
Bar Advisor reports success on the bar exam boils down to three things
After I created this Blog I began to discover other Blogs designed to help bar exam applicants. One excellent Blog I discovered is the Bar Advisor. The author of the Bar Advisor has passed the Oregon and California Bar exams while married with a family. I will share a brief excerpt from his Blog and encourage you to visit the link for the full articles.
Here is a brief excerpt from the Bar Advisor's article on three things important to your success on the bar exam:
Success on the bar exam boils down to three things: diligence, anticipation of conditions, and stress reduction. Each of these three topics is discussed in detail in future posts on this blog. Diligence is simply the requirement that you prepare continuously and systematically for the examination without interruption or distraction. Anticipation of conditions is the need to understand how the test is administered, to practice under test-like conditions, and to understand how the test is graded. Stress reduction involves the mediation of anxiety and fear so that these states of mind do not interfere with maximum preparation and performance.
Here is a brief excerpt from the Bar Advisor's article on three things important to your success on the bar exam:
Success on the bar exam boils down to three things: diligence, anticipation of conditions, and stress reduction. Each of these three topics is discussed in detail in future posts on this blog. Diligence is simply the requirement that you prepare continuously and systematically for the examination without interruption or distraction. Anticipation of conditions is the need to understand how the test is administered, to practice under test-like conditions, and to understand how the test is graded. Stress reduction involves the mediation of anxiety and fear so that these states of mind do not interfere with maximum preparation and performance.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
State Bar Links
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Guam
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Northern Mariana Islands
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virgin Islands
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Guam
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Northern Mariana Islands
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virgin Islands
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
When the Character & Fitness Committee says NO!
I have experienced learning from the Character & Fitness committee that I will not be allowed to sit for the Bar Exam. Not because I had any criminal history or did anything morally repulsive but because I had financial issues related to a divorce and a period of unemployment. I appealed the recommendation to the State Supreme Court and the recommendation was upheld. The Order I received from the State Supreme Court was short and to the point, I was denied the opportunity to sit for the Bar Exam. Unlike someone with a drug or alcohol problem who could go through rehab or a disbarred attorney who could petition to be readmitted at some point in the future, my Order offered no hope of ever being allowed to sit for the exam in my State.
My personal circumstances are a bit more challenging because I am older than the typical law school graduate. I know that many recent graduates will experience divorce, maybe bankruptcy and other similar financial hardships, but because they will earn a license before life happens, they will be practicing attorneys with the same set of financial experiences I have now.
So knowing what I know now, I wonder if I would have attended law school and incurred the student loan debt I have now. The answer is NO! If only I could have had a Character & Fitness committee look at my divorce and bankruptcy before I started law school, I would have known not to get further in debt only to be told I can't get licensed as an attorney. Others may have continued but at least their decision would have been made knowing the risk that they may not be allowed to sit for the Bar Exam before they fully committed to law school.
Now, if I want to practice law, I have to shop around for a jurisdiction that may view my circumstances differently and allow me to obtain a license assuming I pass their Bar Exam. My family is supportive but it would not be fair to ask them to leave friends and surroundings just because I want to pursue my dream. I still have the desire to obtain a license to practice law and I know I would provide a good service to my community but I am not going to move my family.
What did I learn and what can I share with others who may be ordered to a Character and Fitness hearing? Retain council to assist you in the hearing if you can. I could not afford council so I represented myself and after it was all over, I knew there was information I should have submitted in evidence that I omitted because I was too emotionally involved in the process. Be completely candid about any and all issues under investigation. It is far better for you to disclose information than for the committee's investigators to learn of something before you have a chance to inform the committee. If your jurisdiction allows for you to submit to Character & Fitness before you commit to the Bar Exam, take advantage of the opportunity and do so. California is one jurisdiction that separates the Character & Fitness application from the Bar Exam application. Finally, be prepared for the possibility that you may not be allowed to sit for the exam or be admitted to practice even if you pass the exam. Have a contingency plan. For me, I returned to the profession I had before I went to law school. If you don't have something to fall back on, then begin thinking about your next career move if you are not allowed to obtain your license to practice law.
Good luck to all of you who have not yet gone through the Character & Fitness process!
My personal circumstances are a bit more challenging because I am older than the typical law school graduate. I know that many recent graduates will experience divorce, maybe bankruptcy and other similar financial hardships, but because they will earn a license before life happens, they will be practicing attorneys with the same set of financial experiences I have now.
So knowing what I know now, I wonder if I would have attended law school and incurred the student loan debt I have now. The answer is NO! If only I could have had a Character & Fitness committee look at my divorce and bankruptcy before I started law school, I would have known not to get further in debt only to be told I can't get licensed as an attorney. Others may have continued but at least their decision would have been made knowing the risk that they may not be allowed to sit for the Bar Exam before they fully committed to law school.
Now, if I want to practice law, I have to shop around for a jurisdiction that may view my circumstances differently and allow me to obtain a license assuming I pass their Bar Exam. My family is supportive but it would not be fair to ask them to leave friends and surroundings just because I want to pursue my dream. I still have the desire to obtain a license to practice law and I know I would provide a good service to my community but I am not going to move my family.
What did I learn and what can I share with others who may be ordered to a Character and Fitness hearing? Retain council to assist you in the hearing if you can. I could not afford council so I represented myself and after it was all over, I knew there was information I should have submitted in evidence that I omitted because I was too emotionally involved in the process. Be completely candid about any and all issues under investigation. It is far better for you to disclose information than for the committee's investigators to learn of something before you have a chance to inform the committee. If your jurisdiction allows for you to submit to Character & Fitness before you commit to the Bar Exam, take advantage of the opportunity and do so. California is one jurisdiction that separates the Character & Fitness application from the Bar Exam application. Finally, be prepared for the possibility that you may not be allowed to sit for the exam or be admitted to practice even if you pass the exam. Have a contingency plan. For me, I returned to the profession I had before I went to law school. If you don't have something to fall back on, then begin thinking about your next career move if you are not allowed to obtain your license to practice law.
Good luck to all of you who have not yet gone through the Character & Fitness process!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
What Not to Write
There is more than version of this book written for different jurisdictions. For more information visit Law Tutors.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
How to Start Preparing Early for the Bar Exam
Tomorrow night, Thursday, August 19, is Free Teleseminar on
"How to Start Preparing for the Bar Exam Early."
You can sign up at http://www.barwrite.com/081910-teleseminar.html
" If you are working full-time or already studying full-time, or
if you have commitments in-between, you will benefit. I will be
discussing strategies for using the months before the bar exam
to raise your scores. The teleseminar meets for one hour on
Thursday, August 19, at 7pm EDT. You will receive call-in information
by email after you register. Have your questions ready!
Wishing you the greatest success on the bar exam, MCG
Mary Campbell Gallagher, J.D., Ph.D., President
BarWrite® and BarWrite Press
P.O. Box 1308 Gracie Station
New York, NY 10028-0010
(212) 327-2817
"How to Start Preparing for the Bar Exam Early."
You can sign up at http://www.barwrite.com/081910-teleseminar.html
" If you are working full-time or already studying full-time, or
if you have commitments in-between, you will benefit. I will be
discussing strategies for using the months before the bar exam
to raise your scores. The teleseminar meets for one hour on
Thursday, August 19, at 7pm EDT. You will receive call-in information
by email after you register. Have your questions ready!
Wishing you the greatest success on the bar exam, MCG
Mary Campbell Gallagher, J.D., Ph.D., President
BarWrite® and BarWrite Press
P.O. Box 1308 Gracie Station
New York, NY 10028-0010
(212) 327-2817
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
MPRE
Many jurisdictions require Bar Exam candidates to complete the MPRE. The next exam is scheduled for November 6, 2010 You can learn more about the exam including future schedules by visiting the National Conference for Bar Examiners web site (see link above). Some commercial study guides for the MPRE are:
MPRE Secrets Study Guide: MPRE Test Review for the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination
Kaplan PMBR: Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)
Supreme Bar Review MPRE Review, Revised Edition (Book & DVD)
Strategies & Tactics for the MPRE (Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam)
Professional Responsibility Examples & Explanations, 2e
Professional Responsibility/ MPRE: 2-part Set (Law in a Flash)
I will publish additional information about the MPRE as the test date gets closer. Check with your State's Bar web site for MPRE requirements and passing score.
Study Aids - Flashcards
Kaplan PMBR: MBE Flash Review
Survival Series by Jeff Adachi
Ideally if you are fortunate to have the time, you should prepare your own flash cards in preparation for the Bar Exam. But for those of us who work full time, have families and other time managment issues, commercially prepared flash cards are essential. So as I learn of sources of commercial study aids, I will publish the information for the benefit of the readers who may be planning to study for the Bar Exam.
Survival Series by Jeff Adachi
Ideally if you are fortunate to have the time, you should prepare your own flash cards in preparation for the Bar Exam. But for those of us who work full time, have families and other time managment issues, commercially prepared flash cards are essential. So as I learn of sources of commercial study aids, I will publish the information for the benefit of the readers who may be planning to study for the Bar Exam.
How to Successfully Study for the Bar Exam
Several years ago, a Chase College of Law professor published information on the web written by a student who was attending law school at night and working during the day. She successfully passed the Ohio Bar Exam. The professor also provided several useful links. I have seen many web sites describing how to prepare for the bar exam but this particular site contains so much useful information I wanted to share it with anyone who may stumble across this Blog searching for pearls of wisdom on how to successfully study for the Bar Exam.
Feel free to comment on other sources of information you may have discovered and believe to be genuinely beneficial to the bar exam candidate.
The URL I referenced above is: http://academic.udayton.edu/legaled/barpass/general/others01.htm
Feel free to comment on other sources of information you may have discovered and believe to be genuinely beneficial to the bar exam candidate.
The URL I referenced above is: http://academic.udayton.edu/legaled/barpass/general/others01.htm
Monday, August 16, 2010
Character and Fitness Hearings
It is amazing to me to learn that one obstacle I must overcome to even attempt to pass my State's bar exam is the Character & Fitness committee. I have no criminal history of any type. But I have lived life, experienced more than one divorce, been through bankruptcy and experienced owing back taxes. Loss of employment in the past resulted my owing past due child support. So now that I am employed and current with all agreed upon payment plans, the Character & Fitness committee has determined that I do not have the character to qualify to sit for their exam. I have appealed their decision to the State Supreme Court and await their decision. If I had known that my age and life experiences would create this obstacle, I am not so sure I would have attempted law school at an age beyond 40.
The student loans I accumulated to attend law school must still be paid. I do have a Juris Doctorate degree but my current employment is due to the degrees I earned before earning my Juris Doctorate degree. I earn substantially more money per year than many Associate Attorneys and I work far fewer hours per week than most Associate Attorneys. So I wonder what happens now if the State Supreme Court agrees with the State Bar Character & Fitness committee's recommendation and tells me I cannot sit for their exam? Do I give up? Do I seek another more understanding jurisdiction and apply to take their exam? I don't know yet but I have learned that law school is the easy part of the path to become a licensed Attorney.
My experience has taught me that there are many good people who should be practicing law and they are not and there are many who are practicing law who should not be practicing law. In my opinion there is a significant flaw in the right of passage. It would be nice to witness the archaic methodologies of the past replaced with a more reasonable and modern approach such as a National Bar Exam but then what would all the State Bar offices have to do?
The student loans I accumulated to attend law school must still be paid. I do have a Juris Doctorate degree but my current employment is due to the degrees I earned before earning my Juris Doctorate degree. I earn substantially more money per year than many Associate Attorneys and I work far fewer hours per week than most Associate Attorneys. So I wonder what happens now if the State Supreme Court agrees with the State Bar Character & Fitness committee's recommendation and tells me I cannot sit for their exam? Do I give up? Do I seek another more understanding jurisdiction and apply to take their exam? I don't know yet but I have learned that law school is the easy part of the path to become a licensed Attorney.
My experience has taught me that there are many good people who should be practicing law and they are not and there are many who are practicing law who should not be practicing law. In my opinion there is a significant flaw in the right of passage. It would be nice to witness the archaic methodologies of the past replaced with a more reasonable and modern approach such as a National Bar Exam but then what would all the State Bar offices have to do?
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Back in the Blog
June 29, 2010
I started this Blog a couple of years ago with good intentions of sharing information about my experiences to pass the Bar Exam in hopes that others would benefit from these experiences. I cannot believe it has been more than two years since I posted anything here. So much has happened related to my efforts to obtain a law license that I became distracted from my original motivation for starting this Blog.
Now that I am back, I will strive to be more diligent in sharing my experiences and hopefully the experiences of others who hope to pass a Bar Exam.
Most recently, I have been engaged with a State Character & Fitness committee that has recommended I not be allowed to take their exam. I plan to write about the entire experience with details once I complete the process but for now I will say that anyone facing a Character & Fitness hearing should take the matter very seriously.
I am becoming a fan of the idea that there should be a National Exam accepted and recognized by all 50 States and any U.S. Territories. It is easier for a physician to relocate and work in the United States than it is for an attorney. That is just wrong in my opinion!
I started this Blog a couple of years ago with good intentions of sharing information about my experiences to pass the Bar Exam in hopes that others would benefit from these experiences. I cannot believe it has been more than two years since I posted anything here. So much has happened related to my efforts to obtain a law license that I became distracted from my original motivation for starting this Blog.
Now that I am back, I will strive to be more diligent in sharing my experiences and hopefully the experiences of others who hope to pass a Bar Exam.
Most recently, I have been engaged with a State Character & Fitness committee that has recommended I not be allowed to take their exam. I plan to write about the entire experience with details once I complete the process but for now I will say that anyone facing a Character & Fitness hearing should take the matter very seriously.
I am becoming a fan of the idea that there should be a National Exam accepted and recognized by all 50 States and any U.S. Territories. It is easier for a physician to relocate and work in the United States than it is for an attorney. That is just wrong in my opinion!
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