Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Some good news ...

It looks like most of what I learned in the Spring is still in my brain. When I start to outline an essay, after taking a few moments to get my bearings, the rules, exceptions and defenses bubble right back up to the surface.

That's a huge relief. I really didn't want to spend a ton of time re-reviewing substantive law. That's not to say that I won't be doing a fair amount of review, it's just that I won't have to beat it to death before I can get to what really ails me.

7 comments:

biff said...

I still remember the darnest things. Agency - agreement, benefit, control. But overall I think I've lost about 75% of bar knowledge.

Bitter Quasi-Lawyer said...

The 2nd round of review has been interesting for me. On the one hand, I'm relieved by how much I remember. On the other...I'm scared by how much I gave short shrift to last summer that is now rearing its ugly head...

Anonymous said...

I saw that the model answers for the July exam were posted on the Cal Bar website... Do you happen to know what score the model answers signify? An 85? 75?

The Grand Poobah said...

Biff: I think you would be surprised to find how much you actually do remember if you were to pick up an exam and outline it as you did back in June. The stuff's still there, it's just that the recall triggers are not present in our regular daily routine. As soon as you saw a Contracts essay the rules would come floating up to the front of your brain. And after saying that, I'll add that you're fortunate not to have to test my theory! (;-)>

BQL: It is amazing how much becomes obvious with a little perspective. I think I've gained an insight as to what the Bar's looking for in our essay answers after having a close look at the ones I produced in July. And I think the library at baressays.com adds a great deal to this new knowledge.

Fellow Repeater: The Bar doesn't give us any clue as to what score they gave the released answers. All they tell us is they are "good passing answers". I suspect they're chosen as much for the style the author used as they are for the analysis and the conclusions each one arrived at, which is why the released answers bug me. I feel like they're sending a message with each one. The challenge has always been to properly decipher and interpret that message.

Anonymous said...

Hi GP, glad you are feeling good about your level of retention from the last bar. Off to London to see the Queen and hopefully come back refreshed and ready to battle the Bar. Wishing you and everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The Grand Poobah said...

Anon: Thanks much! Back at ya'! Tell the Queen I said "Hi!" And don't forget to "Mind The Gap!"

Anonymous said...

LOL yes, "Mind the Gap, Mind the Gap" one day they will have to change those words or at least close the gap.

GP you are so lucky, it might be the shock but I can barely remember some rules. I have my own outlines, not sure if I will just check them rather than going through all over again (I don't think I have much time either). A friend of mine passed in the 2nd try staying away from the outlines and practising tonns of old questions and comparing his answers with the model answers and of course the MBE. He already had passed Illinois, pretty easy he says.

This will be my second and last time in CA; if I don't make it I will go to Arizona where I know is much easier to pass the Bar. I want to be a lawyer rather than a perennial student; I am more a lawyer than a Californian.

Although if I cannot make it in my State I know I will have to work to avoid some degree of frustration, who knows?

I already filed for Arizona for July, but I will put my b**ls on fire to pass this time in CA.

You sound pretty grounded GP, I am sure you will make it this time; best luck!