Friday, November 20, 2009

The Good News Is That I Will REALLY Know The Law When I Pass

The bad news is, I won't be able to use it in a court of law until next year.

The good news is, I can really focus on my judgment recovery business for the next six months or so.

The bad news is, I'll have to manage my time between that and bar prep for February 2010 for a few months.

The really good news is, I sincerely feel like my chances on the next exam are better than they've ever been.

And there's nothing bad about that!

Cheers, all. It'll be Groundhog Day for just a little while longer!

72 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nooooooooooooo!

Anonymous said...

Poobah, wait to see what your MBE results are man. I passed FL and got a 161 scaled on my MBE; I really believe an insane high MBE is the ticket so long as you somewhat tread water on the essays and PTs (no one does well on them)

Anonymous said...

I could utter some platitude or crap here, but I will spare you.

That's BS!!!

Your neighbor, who will be waiting with an open tab...

Anonymous said...

Nicely written GP. I am with you my brother. We will get it next time around. All the best.

Gabriel

Anonymous said...

Your neighbor sounds pretty cool. Funny comment.

Get it next time in feb, dude!

Anonymous said...

Maybe it's going to be a really low pass rate. I've been checking facebook for two law school friends who took the test and they haven't posted anything yet which means they probably didn't pass.

BarNuts said...

Pass rate for repeaters was in low 20%.

First timer pass rate in low 70%

Total pass rate was in the low 50s.

Bar had a press release on it. Just go to the site and type in search. Has the percentages there.

It was not good for repeaters.

BarNuts said...

sorry. Meant to say, "type in the search function, the word "press".

The Bar's press release will come up.

Anonymous said...

Keep trying. Keep your head up.

Anonymous said...

Yay, I re-checked facebook and both my former classmates DID pass.

The Grand Poobah said...

And more good is, someone out there in Blog-O-Land might have a recent vintage Conviser they may not need anymore and would be willing to part with for a reasonable price? Maybe?

Anonymous said...

i've been following this blog for a while now. i'm bummed to hear that bad news, but i'm glad to hear that you're up for another challenge. my regards.

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry to hear that you didn't pass. I know if you keep trying you will for sure.

I graduated from law school 17 years ago, took it once right after, and came close and then gave up. I just got my July 09 results and passed, so I know you can do it too.

Best of luck to you, and I will make sure to check back and congratulate you in May when you find out you passed the Feb 10 bar.

Anonymous said...

I too have been watching this blog & rooting for you since the beginning. Don't give up. I will keep reading... Hang in there!

Anonymous said...

GP, I will be in LA for thanksgiving. I think I have old conviser. Will let you know. I think I might have two. If that is the case, I will give it to you.

Anonymous said...

Grand Poobah,

I will say it for you...

blah

Bar Advisor said...

Damn, sorry, man.

I have been pulling for you since I discovered this blog in January 2008.

Anonymous said...

Damn sorry to see this tonight man. I passed CBX on my 5th try...you can do it. It is just frustrating as hell in the meantime. By now, you know all that you need to....Enjoy the next week with friends and family!

The February prep will begin soon enough.

Anonymous said...

I feel your pain and I am so sorry. Don't give up! I just passed and it took me seven times. It will all be worth it someday!

If I may plug my coach that helped me pass, I highly recommend strategicbarcoach.blogspot.com. He is not a tutor, he is a coach. Steve actually coaches all aspects of the game. He coached me through the last two sittings and made a huge difference. He actually had me believing I was going to pass before I took the test.

Anonymous said...

give up this stupid little charade man. how many hours/day did you study for the july 09 bar? if its less than 6, then cut the crap and stop playing this game.

if you've been sincerely studying hella hard (6+ hrs/day) for 2-3 months... then i commend you for keeping at it. but i have a feeling you're not doing that.

Anonymous said...

Keep your chin up, GP. I've been following this blog since I failed the Bar my first time.

I just found out I passed tonight on my 3rd try. I was very discouraged after the entire earthquake episode and missing passing by 20pts scaled on re-read, but your determination helped me find the strength to try again.

There's a place in the California Bar for you, GP. If you fight half as hard for your clients as you have the Bar, you'll prove to be a worthy advocate.

I'll keep checking in from time to time. Know that people are keeping their fingers crossed for you.

Anonymous said...

Aw, damn. I was really hoping and wishing you would pass this time.

Well, you are a great person, and I know you will make a fantastic lawyer once you become a member of the Bar.

Hang in there. Good luck next time!

Anonymous said...

Hey Grand Poobah, you CAN and you WILL do it. Just when I had sunk into my deepest despair, and thought my life would never turn around, I learned that I finally passed this test. It was my 6th try. I have total confidence that you will be licensed in 2010. Don't give up! I'm so glad I didn't.

Anonymous said...

Great Attitude my friend. All the best.

kris said...

so sorry to hear the news.

Anonymous said...

Hi, GP, You will pass it!! I will pray for your next one.

July 09 is my second try and I passed it. But I still feel for you and others who have not. Please keep going and don't give up! I came to this site after I failed the Feb 09 exam, and I have got so much inspirations and encouragements and tips from here. I really want to say thank you. let me know if you I can be of any help in your prep for Feb 09. I believe you will pass!

Please don't gve up.

legis said...

We are the strong and the persevering GP. :) I wish I could tell you what the silver bullet is with this thing. If I could, I'd use it myself. I do know that a few things helped while studying for NY and NJ last administration and those things helped me pass NJ at least. I remember toward the end feeling that NY was going to be a lost cause and focusing more on NJ which tests fewer subjects. When I got to the exam I found that I was right to really hit the studying hard in the last few weeks in favor of the MBE subjects and the one NJ subject that is tested. I am happy to say that strategy of focusing my efforts where it would do most good paid off this time.

The problem with New York is that because of the volume of subjects tested (20) it takes so long to prepare for it and I just didn't have the time. I was working full time and I started studying for New York in May, which gave me two months to study. Two months is enough time if you are studying full time, but for many re-takers it is just not enough time if you're working.

I'm unemployed now and so I have the luxury of studying for NY full time in December to February. I got a few updated lectures and re-upped with Barwrite which was so invaluable to me this past summer. As a matter of fact, it was the woman who runs Barwrite who says that the optimal situation to study for a bar like NY is full time for two months. Since CA is the most challenging bar exam in the country, I imagine the same advice applies there.

Maybe skipping an administration would do you some good and give you some distance from the exam. I know you've kind of shot the idea down before, and that it's painful to step away for a bit since it's taken a couple years. But considering the psychological effect this thing can have a bit of distance might help. Instead of taking Februrary, working full time and studying part time, you could take the exam in July and start studying now. You could take a Feburary course and then a July course and, spread out over seven months instead of two, the studying might add up to be enough for you to finally make it on CA.

My problem has always been with knowing the law. I found that really memorizing the rules that are highly tested (contract formation, negligence, Due Process, etc) caused my scores to really shoot up. Outlining essays over and over also made a huge difference to me. The tricky thing with CA seems to be the Performance tests, and I can't really give feedback on that, because we only take one PT here in NY and I have found that to be more of a crapshoot. Sometimes I do phenomenally on it, sometimes I blow it.

My point is, for re-takers like us we have a bunch of things that we need to change. I think it's important for us to do something different. I spent years doing the same kind of crap over and over until this year I decided to do a few things different and it made a huge difference to me. Lord knows doing something different can be so hard. When I came out of the test this summer I felt ill with the effort. But thank God, it did pay off even if it was in the easier jurisdiction. I am grateful for it and for having passed NJ. I am now more confident I can pass NY. And I really believe you can pass CA too.

Anonymous said...

The Bar Exam is like being invited to a knife fight and when you arrive everyone but you is carrying a gun. Bad analogy but the whole concept of the curve and the impact that first time takers from top law schools have on grading makes it tough for repeaters. Some people are great test takers and that is probably why they graduated from top law schools. But they can sure affect the curve.I know that ultimately you still must be able to compete, but sometimes it is frustrating. Sorry for the whining.

Anonymous said...

GP (and everyone else who hasn't passed yet):
Anyone can quite this task and it happens all the time. It takes no backbone or stamina to say, "that's it, I'm never taking it again". It says volumes about you that you have committed to NOT being one of the quitters. It takes real guts NOT to quit! You can do this.

APGIC said...

I commend your will power. I still recommend prof. schmidt.

Let me tell you what is out there after you pass! Endless hours of looking for a job, frustration, making appearances for other lawyers and not even making enough to pay for gas! Believe me, you are not missing much! At least when I was studying for the bar I was completely oblivious to the outside world and the loan people were not after me! I wish I knew a better way of looking for a job than on craigslist, monster,...!!!

Anonymous said...

Sisyphus had better luck than you, GP. Keep it up, best of luck.

Anonymous said...

APGIC @ 9:30 - you've got to do better than that. Legal economy's in the toilet, but you'll find nothing but ShitLaw jobs on craigslist and monster. Start shaking down your alumni association, spend your evenings in the library working on something publishable, and start working with a head hunter.

Anonymous said...

Quitters never win, winners never quit. But those who never win and never quit are idiots. David Brent

Jonathan L. Kramer, Esq. said...

Anon at 7:41 PM:

You are the best example of what I continue to say: The only way to truly fail the bar exam is not to take it until you pass. Granted, I don't know too many people to take a break of about 17 years. You are an inspiration.

-Jonathan Kramer, Esq.

PS: Brian, I'm proud of your consistent effort to bag this bugger. Keep it up, because you have NOT failed the Bar since you have not given in to the bastard. -j

Jonathan L. Kramer, Esq. said...

Legis:

I took two years off just before taking and passing the California test.

The funny thing is that when I was studying for the exam I passed, I was so swamped with work that I gave up on the live BarBri classes here in L.A. and just used their tapes. It actually worked better for me since I could rewind when I zoned out.

You never know what works to pass the bar, but only >when< it works.

jlk

Anonymous said...

Anon, 8:32: The "curve" has nothing to do with failing the bar exam. Not giving it to the bar examiners the way they want it does. Tight, concise writing that shows you know the law and can apply it to a "real world" situation is what they're looking for, plain and simple. I've said it before, ANY time spent on anything but studying for the bar (except work and sleep) is a waste. The "grand poobah" will likely continue to fail until he takes this exam seriously and stops wasting time here with his fan club.

MAP, Esq.

APGIC said...

Thanks so much for the advice, where do I get a head hunter? I have a couple of agents from the employment agencies who for 8 months have been telling me there is no hope and it will get worse!!!! I would love to have a head hunter or someone who can help me in any way! You are right, Craigslist is pretty crabby and monster is not even worth trying!

Anonymous said...

WOW, now that is some insight. Unfortunately MAP, not everyone has that lesiure. The time one spends studying must be quality time. Don't waste your time praying that the subject won't be on the exam but to focus on it.

I have three kids and a house to run. My boys are all under 6. I studied when I could and sometimes late into the night for the July, 2008. When I was studying that is all I did. I passed. Life doesn't stop. We are not 23 years old, fresh out of law school with oogles amount of time. With age comes wisdom and better time management. I passed.

Best of luck for February. No one ever asks you once you passed the bar how many times you have taken it. You have taken it 5 times..so what right? When you pass it will be the last time.

As for a job...who cares if there is one? You will be a card carrying member and that euphoria will last.

Have a good weekend. Send us some of your essays and perhaps this community can give you some pointers.

Anonymous said...

HI GP!
Three years ago, I eagerly waited for my results. I typed in my id number and waited for those magical words and viola...it says "the name you typed does not appear on the past list" blahblahblah. I did it several times over and over with different variations.

I was upset to say the least. Especially since my study partner who KNEW nothing passed.

Sunday morning came and I was up at 6 a.m. to check and my name WAS ON THE LIST. Yes, you read correctly.

At this point I thought, maybe it was a mistake? Can the bargods be that cruel?

I was shaking and my boyfriend tried to find something on the internet regarding it. But we found nothing. I called Monday morning and they told me to wait for WRITTEN CONFIRMATION. I said that was bullshit. I already printed out calbar website pass list with my NAME on it and was ready to find a lawyer to bring a cause of action for anything.

But, that beautiful letter arrived on Tuesday.

So folks, wait until the WRITTEN CONFIRMATION comes in. Because you never know...

Anonymous said...

Sure, maybe nobody(except employers, who want to know everything)comes out and actually asks "how many times did you take the bar." But it's quite obvious if you graduated law school in 2007 and weren't admitted to the bar till 2009.

Anonymous said...

Anon 1:00 p.m.
Obviously you didn't pass. The point is about focusing. I had my third child and did not take the bar immediately after I graduated (He was born in June. I passed on the second try but again, no one ever asks me how many times did I take it. AND honestly, it does not matter. I passed...

So try not to be a hater.

Alli said...

To Anon 1:00 -- I graduated in December 2006. At that point I knew I didn't want to practice law and had already gotten back into the business world. I still planned to take the bar and got around to it in Feb 09. I didn't enter the bar until June 09 ... a good 2.5 years later. So, I don't think a gap really matters. Everyone's story is different.

Anonymous said...

So since you are looking for a Convisor, can I presume you have not been using BarBri during your most recent attempts? At this point, I would STOP looking for the Holy Grail --- make a decision now whether you want to retake in February (not recommended) or retake in July. Choose one or the other, then proceed as though you were taking this test for the FIRST TIME. You have built up too many years of crap, tutor u[on tutor, system after system -- you need to dump it all and just go back to the basics.

That means you start from scratch - take the first available PMBR 6-day course just as though it was your first exposure ever. Work the MBE practice problems into your early study days and then keep working a few all throughout your BarBri experience which you will do VIA iPOD or tapes. DO NOT try to "cram" the sitting through the class schedule. DO NOT search and sort through tons of research on which bar guru of the moment has the "best" program. Forget it. Just go back to what "everybody else" is doing (BarBri and PMBR), only do BarBri as a home study. If you do not live within the 50 mile radius that was required when I did the home-study program, then you should either (1) move (2) pretend to move, or (3) find someone who has the course and arrange to get it from them. Just do it. Like it was the first time, and this time, take everything they say as gospel -- quit looking for the silver bullet, just bite the one that everyone else bites and follow it to the letter. Then it will be for the last time. Keep us posted.

Anonymous said...

I am anon 1:00 pm.
Perhaps I have a different perspective than most of the posters here. I haven't flunked the bar as anon 1:06 thinks, I haven't even taken it yet. I am a full time law student at a ABA school scheduled to graduate next May and my from my experience potential employers are absolutely BRUTAL. They want to know absolutely everything about your academic record. Even my friends who graduated order of the coif did not the same great offers they did a couple of years ago. So from my POV, not passing the bar on your first attempt is nearly career suicide, at least at the firms I hope to work for. Thus my comment. Back to my studies.

The Grand Poobah said...

Anon 1:55: I've been using a copy of the Conviser from early 2007, which did not reference the new California Law material for Evidence or CivPro, nor did it contain anything specific to Agency or Partnerships. I threw out all of my 2-plus year old reference material in August.. I decided that if I did not pass, I would obtain current material.

I haven't yet received my scores for July, but I got a 145 raw MBE score in February, 2009. I'm going to try to maintain that score, but I'm not going to do it with material from PMBR.

I'm going to use a minimum of reference material, primarily BarBri's outlines (the Conviser) and Steven Emanual's MBE books. I've retained a tutor for the PTs, which are a very weak link for me.

The Grand Poobah said...

Anon 1:00/3:58: Of all the people I know who have graduated from law school, none of them are looking to get hired by a big law firm. Your account of the importance of school, grades, class rank, first-attempt pass, etc, is undisputed in that case. I certainly don't dispute it because I've never entertained the prospect and know nothing about their hiring standards. Please consider that when you post comments here.

Your opinion is not the only one that matters, no one person's is, but it's still welcome here. All I ask is that comments/opinions are rendered with courtesy and consideration.

Thanks,

GP

Anonymous said...

to anon 12:10 pm

Congradulations to you. You are giving me some hope!
I will be up tomorrow at 6:00 am.

Anonymous said...

I just want to thank you for this blog. This was my third attempt. I scored a 1432. Each time I get closer the harder it gets, since each time I think I passed. But, your blog gives me the knowledge that there are others like me out there. And you have no idea how invaluable that is at a time like this.

I blame no one (except the first read bar grader who gave me a 55 on PTA--when the second gave me a 65) but myself. This is the first time I've posted here. And I just want to say: Thank You.

Anonymous said...

To all those who have taken it more than once.

You are doing something wrong.

Stop, hire a tutor and have them look over your essays to see the problematic areas. Hire several tutors if necessary.

Anonymous said...

If you are scoring 145 on the MBE, it's obvious that you know the law - so your problem lies in how you are writing the essays and the PT. Studying more won't help you pass, and I agree you need a tutor to help you with the essays and PT (glad to see you've already gotten one for the PT). I think for a lot of people, time management is a problem with the PT, and frankly - I imagine those suckers are impossible to study for. I took the CA bar after I had been licensed for several years in other jurisdictions (and passed), but I thought then and still do think that had I not had practice experience I wouldn't have quite known how to tackle the PTs. But as I said, I think a lot of it is time management and not getting bogged down by all the materials so that one can write a coherent answer.

Anonymous said...

You have the right attitude. I passed the July 2009 Bar on my 7th attempt. I graduated from law school 14 years ago. After a 7 year break from taking the bar, I took it in February and failed. I really thought I bombed this one but apparently not. I can't tell you what worked for me but with the limited amount of time I had to study, I really focused on actually writing exams and doing as many PT's as I could. I spent the 3 hours to write them so that I could get my system down pat. Find a system that works for you in practice and STICK TO IT. You don't want to change up right before the exam or during the exam! Don't worry about the statistics for repeaters. Who cares as long as you're in the percentage that passes. It's incredibly hard to continue to study and retake the exam but the only sure way that you won't pass is to quit taking it. You have a great attitude and best wishes to you.

Anonymous said...

Why isn't the pass list on line?

Anonymous said...

GP, I would like to share some of my prep experence, hopefully it helps. I got 65 and 70 on my PTs for feb 09 (in preparing for Feb exam, I did 3 PT practices). I did not pass. For July 09, I forced myself to do 1 PT every weekend starting the week right after the results were released. I also forced myself to do two essays everyday since then until the last week. I used an essay tutor as well for July 09 exam (I don't have much to say about the tutor, truthfully). I tried all kinds of esaay books posted on this blog and found them more helpful than tutor. I then selected the ones that easy to memozrie and I tried to memorize some of the essays that I had problems. But having someone ruthlessly critique the essays is valuable. Another thing I focused was on the subjects I felt I was weak.

besides, I worked full-time at a very demanding job. So, I tried my best to study for 8 hours at least.was able to take some time off each week (2 days per week). Not much sleep. so, I agree with many others here that finding an approach working for you is the most important thing to do.

Anonymous said...

WELL DID YOU PASS ANON 11:16?

Anonymous said...

I WROTE not just outlined 90 essays and over 16 PTs. I also had someone read my essays. It was brutal but I did it. Heck, GP send it this community we can read it. 90 essays is not much when you divide it among the subjects. I really wanted to write 10 essays per subject but I didn't have time.

But I passed in July-2008 and its a good feeling.

By the time I was at the bar, I had practiced so many essays that I saw the pattern, I knew what was being asked and the little "twists" that was usally thrown in did not scare me. The law is the same how many variations can they test it? Do not pray that a certain subject will be on it...just study it!

Its about organization, confidence and focus. The bar answers aren't always right anyway and GP you know the law! But look at HOW they write. Read pass bar answers.

According to clock you have 92 days. I start immediately. So when you spend time celerbating the holidays or just taking a break you won't feel guilty. I still get goosebumps when I say..

"I AM A LAWYER."

You will too.

Anonymous said...

GIVE UP THE CHARADE MAN. I THINK YOU ENJOY THIS SHIT... YOU AND YOUR LITTLE FAN CLUB.

how many hours/day did you study??? tell us that... and if its not alot, then you're an idiot.

Anonymous said...

Do not be so harsh to him...

Maybe he has a unique way of studying
because he got 145 raw on the MBE...

His essays are tripping him up....and he
has to find a way to devote time to his
practice essays without his MBE scores
diminishing...

The person near to me passed on her
first try & so did all her friends....

She/They did not have the distractions of
work or families...

She moved to her sisters home which is in
a farm area...

She started the day with exercise & a healthy
breakfast & B-complex drops under her tongue.

She checked & answered her E-mails..& returned
any calls that she had..So did her friends..

9:30 She started her studies....

12:30 Her sister gave her lunch & a small
break...

2:00 Back to studying....

6:30 Break & dinner....

8:00 To 10:30...Studying...

In bed by 11:00 PM...

She sent a print out of her time table
to all the people interested in her success.

Her friends all had similar methods for
studying for the Bar...

They all passed on the first try...

They also attended a Top 10 Law School...

She made friends with a young woman
who attended a Law school none of them
had head of...This young lady would laugh..
When ever she mentioned the school, people
would ask her where the school was located.
When she went for an interview..They had to
look up the school...

This young lady also has 2 children...She tried
to follow this study plan as close as possible.
She sat the exam in July for the first time and
she passed........ From a 4 th tiered school..
She believes the study plan given to her by
the top 10 Law School student helped her to
pass...

Develop a strong study plan...Stick to it....

Sorry no parties or Sat/Sun night football or
what ever game of the season is on....

Wives,Husbands, Girlfriends, boyfriends, parents.
will all have to get used to not having you around.

Make a study plan & send it to all of them..Tell them
that you will come up for air after the Bar Exam...
NOT one second before that...

Jaybad said...

Ouch! Sorry to hear the news. Rooting for you - good luck!

Anonymous said...

Multimultifailer here...follower of GP. Sorry to read the news.

One or two of the above posts hit me right on the head though...I waste the little time I actually attempt to devote to studying by doing anything else. If there's a web-connected device in my vicinity, I loaf and surf. If the dishes need done, I do them. If I feel like I should exercise, I do. I honestly do not deserve to pass, but I keep beating my head against this wall once every couple of years.

And the black cloud of failure will remain above me because I have no self-discipline nor sense of urgency. I suck.

GP, however, you cannot suck based on your MBE scores. You are way too close to ever even think of bailing.

We'll see your Esq around May 2010.

Thanks for writing!

Anonymous said...

GP, I have the pre-July 2007 Convisers so they wouldn't help you. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

I have been reading your blog from nearly the beginning, and I'm very sorry to hear it did not work out for you this time. I know you want to keep taking it until you pass, but have you considered giving it one last strong push for July, and then letting go if you don't pass? I don't mean to be critical at all, I have a lot of respect for your willingness to stick with it. But I know that if I took the bar this many times, I would be stressed out, and it would be taking a huge toll on my work, relationships, etc. Knowing that you will only be taking it one more time may motivate you to study harder as well, because you'll want to give it your absolute best shot (not saying you haven't been studying hard before). Just a thought.

Anonymous said...

What a rotten thought.
GP it doesn't matter if it takes 20 times. Just do it.

Anonymous said...

GP, so sorry you didn't clear the hurdle this round. Followed your site for the last two plus years and we exchanged a couple of words at one of the seatings in Ontario. After my fourth try, I decided to take a break, skipped the Feb 2009 session and succeeded on my 5th attempt in this July session. For me, the break was extremely helpful in clearing my very muddled brain and starting fresh again.

As you well know by now, it takes perserverance, determination and a bit of luck to pass the Calbar. Wishing you that little bit of luck to haul you over to the passing side in Feb 2010.

God Bless!

Anonymous said...

What a rotten thought.
GP it doesn't matter if it takes 20 times. Just do it.

Anonymous said...

As someone who's been following this blog for a while, someone who took it 6 times before passing and put his wife through hell in the process (and vice versa), I'm curious what GP's wife has to say about all this. I think I read a post a while back indicating he was married.

I also would like him to answer the person who wants to know how many hours he studies a day for this exam. Personally, I can't believe he's been using a 2007 conviser when the new areas have been tested since summer 2007. That says a lot to me about how seriously he takes this exam. (along with time wasted maintaining this blog).

Anonymous said...

Dear GP: I passed the CA Bar on this my 4th attempt. This is my advice to you and all: Just stick to IRAC. Don't even dare experiment with other styles. For the performance tests, cite as much as possible from the cases and laws in the library. Quote them word for word to state the rule. Then apply to the case. Then close with your conclusion. For the "A" in IRAC, for both essays and PT's, always start with the word "Here..." when you do your analysis/application. All my essays were very short this time. I was actually worried they were too short that I might not pass. Lo and behold! I passed. I know you will, too, GP. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Three people were invited to take a math quiz to see if they could qualify to take the California Bar. The only question on the test was how much is 3 times 3. The first person answered 3 times 3 is 10000 and was disqualified. The second person answered 3 times 3 is Arizona and was disqualified. The third person answered 3 times 3is 9 and was admitted to the Bar Exam. When asked later how he came up with the correct answer he said it was simple. I multiplied 10000 by Arizona.

Anonymous said...

Just to respond to
Anonymous said...
WELL DID YOU PASS ANON 11:16?

November 22, 2009 11:36 AM

Yes, I passed on my second try. I could not take any time off my work until the last week for my first try, except the time to attend Babri classes in the morning. I got a second read on my first try. So my point is that it is realy all about the preparation skills. We all can do it, I believe.

Unknown said...

I just passed on this my 3rd attempt and like you, my MBE scores have been very high in the past. My method for this time was to print out every question and sample answer published by the bar and read them over and over again until I'd hit a wall. The other thing I did was to do between 100-200 MBEs a day. I reasoned that it might be better to get great at something I was already good at, rather than try learn a new system for something I was not. Keep your head up.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Sorry man! I'm shocked! I read your answers and I put almost everything you put. When I read I passed, I thought for sure you did too! You MUST have been very close!

Cobra Kai said...

Just found this blog.

Thankfully, I passed this exam on my fifth try (still scared to pinch myself). If I can recommend one thing... right before you start every study session and even right before you turn the very first page of the booklet on the actual Bar visualize your name on the pass list. This motivated me and kept me calm in the process. Sports psychologists do it with athletes, such as basketball players visualizing the ball going through the hoop before a big shot.

Obviously, it all starts with studying, but our outlook controls more than we realize sometimes.

Best of luck.

Anonymous said...

Seriously GB, I came out on the issues on my essays very similar to what you posted and I passed my first time. I followed IRAC and Barbri exactly and used the book the Bar Code to format my essay headings - the formats differ as to subject type particularly Evidence, Con Law, Contracts, Crim, Wills/Trusts, Comm Property. Memorize the format and I think you will pass. I read the model answers you posted the link for and there wasn't one question I came out the same way on. I firmly believe, its not how you come out on an essay, its how it looks, the headings, organization and showing them you can reason (even if you get the rule wrong). Good Luck next time! (Particularly with PT's, they have to look pretty - you don't ever want to get to a second read, looks like they usually score lower. If it looks neat, the grader will spend 5 minutes on it, skim through it and pass you!)

Supposedly, the Bar Code simulates the grading sheets the graders use when reading the essay.