Any tips for studying for the bar exam
2007-03-03 15:21:02 · 4 answers · asked by Rachel P 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Standards & Testing
Hi Rachel P, I just took a bar exam in Feb. and have taken others around the country over the course of my career as an attorney.
It would help to know where you are thinking about taking the exam since some states vary a lot in terms of number of essays and whether they use the MPT. Also, it would help to know if you are taking a course in person or through home study. This reply is based upon the presumption that you have signed up for or will sign up for a course. If you have not signed up for one, you really have to in order to do well and most say you can't pass without one.
I. If you have not yet signed up for a course...
You have to definitely take a course! For instance, one that covers all portions of the test aside from just one part like essay prep. or MBE prep only. It may help to take PMBR since those questions are closer in difficulty than those that are offered in other courses according to people I recently asked opinions of at the bar exam.
II. If you have taken or signed up for a course and are studying let's say for the July exam...
The course should have a syllabus but you will have to do more. The syllabus should end within about two weeks before the exam and that is a critical time. Try and have several days at least before the bar exam to be able to review everything. Ideally, you will make yourself a schedule that starts with memorizing the rules in the major/MBE subjects then the others. The schedule should maybe have you reviewing all the topics twice or even a third time for refinement with incorporation of essay writing and MBE question practice along the way (i.e., Contracts on Monday with essays and a hour or two of tough MBE questions, Friday with Wills/Trusts, and Domestic Relations with essays, etc.).
Answering MBE questions and writing out essays is a must because if you are just memorizing rules you may have trouble quickly spotting and issue. This is important since the tests are usually time pressured and you cannot spend too much time on much of anything.
As for the MBE, try and get your hands on the very difficult MBE questions because the MBE has become more difficult over the last eight years or so. If you can get PMBR books from somewhere (E-Bay? or a friend) it may be worth the effort.
As for essays, if the course has assigned essays do them as they instruct and turn in essay answers for grading and comment. It is very helpful to do so even if just a few of the ones the course says to turn in. Also, be certain to study the sample answers for how they convey a precise and one sentence statement of the rule of law. Some lectures didn't even do this but you will need to have such a statement of law in mind for when you answer the essays. The answers are good not just for format and rules of law but also for giving you a hand in issue spotting since the model answers usually have an issue or two that most people did not see.
If you have access to a chart or statistics for essay topics asked study with that in mind. For instance, some states always ask criminal law/pro, torts, etc. So, concentrate on getting those essay issues down with precise rules of law you can convey on paper and with application of the facts given to the law, plus issue spotting of course. The lesser asked essay topics will still have to be studied though...
For important rules of law have mnemonics. You can use flash cards that you create to help (I may have used hundreds for the MBE topics last time). For instance, a popular one is that MIMIC mnemonic for Evidence. You will have to create more such as for Real Property for whether easements run with the land.
I could go on but will stop for now...if you have any other questions please ask and I will do my best to answer!
2007-03-07 09:34:08 · answer #1 · answered by VegasistheBest 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. See a stupid movie. laugh De-stress. Don't watch "Blair Witch Project"
2. Set two alarms. You'll sleep better knowing this.
3. Drink a glass of wine. Relaxes you and helps you sleep.
4. Eat oatmeal and banana for breakfast. Gives energy.
5. Bring ear plugs. Some person could be cracking his gum during the exam.
Bonus tip. Find a song that lifts your spirits, gives you energy and makes you dance. Listen to it at lunch and between test days. When you've passed the test dance like crazy.
Good luck.
2007-03-03 15:43:14 · answer #2 · answered by X-Woman 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
3 days on each and each? that isn't something I particularly have been attending regulation college for YEARS and look getting nowhere.on occasion i've got faith like my eyes will explode of my head collectively as in a regulation librabry !sturdy success !
2016-12-18 05:12:45 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's a whole page full
http://search.aol.com/aolcom/search?&query=bar%20exam%20tips&invocationType=TB40
2007-03-07 11:25:37 · answer #4 · answered by gone 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋