Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Nine-Plus Days, and More Sample/Model Answers

Vivian Dempsey has provided answers to the July '09 exam questions.

There's just over 9 days left until results are released. I've been pretty successful in putting that date out of my mind, and I've already started studying for the February 2010 exam.

It's getting harder by the day/month/year to write anything on this blog. Or, rather, it's getting tougher to write anything meaningful. On one hand, I have a lot to say, but on the other hand, I've said it all before. But, on the other, ... foot, most everyone who's read the stuff I wrote before has already passed the darn exam and isn't reading this thing anymore. Blah.

So I guess I should start again from the beginning. I'll just have to do things better this time around.

And away we go ...

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey-

I took the July 07 exam with you (passed) and I still check in here to see how you're doing...wishing you the best of luck.

Anonymous said...

i've been checking for updates. we're still reading!

Anonymous said...

ME TOO!

legis said...

I'm still working on the NY bar exam although I have finally passed an exam in another jurisdiction. I know exactly how demoralized and tired you must feel. But it's possible for the both of us, I really believe that. Of all the people who started blogging or who were already blogging about the bar exam when I started (about 2005) I am the last one to pass anything. I don't feel done because NY isn't done, but it feels good to have succeeded at something. I think I read once you are not in the situation to take another state's bar exam, so all I can say is keep at it and try not to let the mindset swallow you whole. Trust me, I am well acquainted with that mindset. What worked for me with the other jurisdiction was a combination of a very well run class (Barwrite, run by the woman who writes Scoring High on Bar Exam Essays) and the idea that I was just going to keep going, keep memorizing and practicing, no matter how much or how little i accomplished on a given day, week or month.

I'm still working out what I'm going to do for NY in Feb 2010 but I'll be sure to incorporate what I learned in the exam for that other jurisdiction.

Anonymous said...

you're not the last,

(sat out CA this summer)
here's hopin'
GP makes it before me, who's been checkin' in since '06

cheers:)

Anonymous said...

well even if you are last know, but remember what the bible says:
"those who were last will be first, and those who were first will be last."

Blessed are those who are last now, b/c soon they will be first.

Don't start studying for Feb now. Just wait -- what's another 7 days.

Anonymous said...

I've been following your blog since I took the exam in July/07. You better f'ing pass this time, or I'm done.

Anonymous said...

I have my fingers crossed!

Anonymous said...

I passed in Feb 09 and I have been checking in with you and seeing how you are doing. I wish you only good news come November 20th. I still think about you and all those who have yet to pass because I believe that you will soon be on the other side. Hang in there!

Anonymous said...

Your blog is a safe heaven from the insanity of waiting for results. Reading your blog makes me feel that Im not alone...and neither are you. There are alot of readers out in the cyber world that are rooting for you.

kris said...

as above, GP!

I unsuccesfully took the NYB 3xs. I passed in my home jurisdiction as a barrister and, because they never make it easier, I cross qualified as a solicitor.

A friend rang the other day asking if I fancy having a go at NY again. I said no - as now I am qualified here, I can take CBX....(I am dual US/UK citizen)

Hey, if I'm going to torture myself, I'd rather do it in the sunshine!

All the best to you CP. You inspire people not to give up and that is an admirable quality!

Anonymous said...

I am an English lawyer awaiting, with dread, Friday's results (or early sat morning local time). I share your torment and wish you the very best of luck.

Anonymous said...

I hope after you get your Esq next weekend you'll keep writing here...I've been following you for some time now. I'm a 9 time loser in another jurisdiction. Sat out 2009, but I'm trying again in Feb2010, so will need your continuing wisdom!

Anonymous said...

I am so nervous about the bar! I cannot believe that the results are coming out in five days! I feel as if I am constantly living on "borrowed" time until I pass.

If I don't pass I will have another horid Thanksgiving. I will spend the holidays again studying.

I need to pass. This weeks is so hard for me. The thought of not passing again leaves me anxious.

Anonymous said...

I know this cliched advice, but the die has been cast, my friends. While almost impossible to do, remind yourselves that there is literally nothing you can do to change the results at this point.

Good luck to you all.

Anonymous said...

You are right, there is nothing that can be done. somewhere out there, My scores are ready to be mailed to me.

But I am still sick to my stomach.

Anyone waiting for the mail or checking on line? What is the first thing you plan to do GP if you pass or don't pass?

The Grand Poobah said...

Thanks again, folks, for your kind words of support. I can count on one hand the number of things that are going right in my life at this moment, while the list of things going south is innumerable. But it truly warms my heart to know that I'm not alone in this mess, and that I have friends out there who are rooting for me. Most of us have never met and its unfortunate, but likely, that we won't, but I feel your positive vibes, and for that I can't thank you enough.

What's the first thing that I'm going to do on Friday at 6:05 p.m.? I'll probably make a quick post here, then ... God only knows. If you've taken this thing before, you know what I'll be doing. Pass or fail, you know what comes after. If this is your first shot, I have no comment or advice. I'm sure the experience is subtly different for everyone.

However, if I fail again, Saturday is going to be much like today. And if I pass, I haven't a clue.

The road goes ever on and on ... and what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

Cheers, everyone!

Anonymous said...

I notice that as the days draw closer to the results the more nervous I become. I start to panic and second guess myself as to what I wrote. I can't even remember what I wrote!

I just know that I don't want to not pass again. I do not want another miserable Thanksgiving weekend.

In 4 days, 20 hours and 14 minutes, the bar results will be handed out. I feel as if I should have used my time wisely and started studying 50 days ago. I guess it is too late now.

What is everyone else doing to survive the next 4 days, 20 hours and 13 minutes?

I was told to wait for the results by mail because there has been people who passed but was not on the past list. Sunday the entire lists comes out on calbar.org.

Does anyone know whether July bar pass rates are higher or lower?

Anonymous said...

Wow...took the July 09 bar and this waiting is just killing me. Its expecially bad at the office with everyone asking every day if I have gotten results yet. It would seem like attorneys would remember about when results come out and just not ask anymore.

This is my second time taking it. I graduated from law school in 92, took it once, barely missed the mark, and then waited 17 years to try again. I guess work and family got in the way....lol

I hope all of us that took it on here pass. Best wishes to the rest of you.

Jonathan L. Kramer, Esq. said...

All:

DO NOT PUT STOCK INTO THE SAMPLE ANSWERS PROVIDED BY VARIOUS BAR TUTORS.

They have the luxury of prep time; lots of exam experience; access to previous tests, etc.

The only stock answer you should consider will be one or both of the answers to be released by the Bar for each question. And then, give that read (or those) a grain of salt.

In a few days you'll know...then your life will go on one way or another. Mine did...several times...before, well, it went on.

Jonathan Kramer, Esq.

Kathryn DeRossitt said...

Amen to Jonathan Kramer. It's hard to quantify or qualify exactly the feeling he and I both have, but I think there is some merit to it.

I am someone who read no blogs, and did no "online" research for the bar exam - ALL I concentrated on was my bar prep. It's another world getting online and seeing . . . wow, you guys have been REALLY talking about this. Maybe I could have learned a thing or two from the word on the street. I was so wrapped up in my bar prep that to check blogs and message boards frankly only crossed my mind a couple of months after the bar exam - I took it July '09 in northern CA - Sacramento.

I sort of jokingly want to beat up the people/tutors who wrote model answers to our exam- notice the bar exam doesn't use "model" answers -- it uses examples of the BEST that were written ON THAT DAY in the state of CA - - NOT what a tutor wrote with ample time, ability to research, reflect, with no time crunch. Playa, please! If you looked at old essays, they provide 2 examples - and often, the approaches/analysis is quite different! It's astounding, TWO "best" essays that mention a few things in common, but mention many things that ARE NOT in common!

So Mr. Kramer is right on -- who KNOWS what will pass muster or what they are looking for. Looking at those model answers is a sure fire straight path to mental torture. Can YOU even REMEMBER what your answer was? You'll drive yourself freaking insane. To all of you who are waiting for July 20 at 6pm - we are ALL in hell right now, scared shitless. You are not alone.

The Grand Poobah said...

Hey Jonathan. Good points, all. Still, some people are interested. And while it's true that I haven't read any of the sample answers, I might do so if I get bad news tomorrow.

I'll be in touch.

The Author said...

Wishing you all the BEST, GP. Greetings.....