Monday, November 16, 2009

Time to plan!

Plan for what, you ask? It's time to plan for next Monday.

If your news is good, it's time to hit the streets looking for a job. You should, I believe, set your sights a little lower than you might have just five years ago. By that, I don't mean you should not expect to get hired right away or to plan on making less money, I mean that you should look for small firms that have too much work and a couple of spare offices. You might be working longer hours for less money at first, but the satisfaction level at a smaller firm (or even as a solo) is likely to be much greater than it would be at a large firm. Especially over the long term.

And if your news is not so good, it's time to reassess your study plan. If this is your first shot at the bar exam, you might not want or need to tweak much, especially if you came close to passing. But if, like me, this is not your first (or second, or third, ...) time taking the exam, you'll want to explore options on how you can improve your preparation. Like Bill Murray said in Groundhog Day, "Anything different is good!" If we want to get a different result next May, we have to do something different between now and the end of February. We want to wake up from our own personal Groundhog Bar Exam to something different. And anything different, like a passing score, will be good!

Uncomfortable routine is vastly overrated. Let's try something new, shall we?

Cheers, all! There's just four days left to something new!

68 comments:

Anonymous said...

One of the partners where I worked (rumor has it he took it 13 times before passing) used to tell me, "Once you pass, there's no looking back!"

I passed the February 2009 (not my first try) and I'm just now getting to the point where I'm not looking back. After structuring my life around the Bar, it's difficult to be on "this side" and look completely forward. I still have Bar dreams, or I'll hear a legal phrase on and PANIC because I can't remember the rule for it. But then I sigh and relax and realize that it doesn't friggin matter anymore and that I DON'T HAVE TO KNOW THE DAMN RULE! (I can always look it up in Rutter Guide!).

And it's then that I get what that partner said.

I wish everyone here good luck. I really do.

Anonymous said...

I passed after a half a dozen times. In the course of it, I had a few children, buried a loved one, had an affair and was very ill. I know that there are reasons that we don't pass. I finally passed last year and believe me it feels sooooo good to finally saw, "I am an attorney."

For those of you that don't pass get back on the horse again. Be grateful that you can take it again.

Even now, a year later, the weekend before Thanksgiving and Memorial Day is nerve racking. My prayers are with you GP that you pass. If not, there are many people on line that will lament with you.

Anonymous said...

I took the July 2009 and I feel that I did not pass. I could not remember the rule for malicious prosecution and I'm pretty sure my PR (essay 2) and Crim Pro (essay) 6 were crappy.

Coming from a school that had a 84 percent rate last July, I know that I will fill in that 16 this year. I am sooo depressed right now.

I don't know what to do. Maybe I should rob a bank so I can take barwinners.

Anonymous said...

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." ---Theodore Roosevelt

Anonymous said...

Wow those words really have lifted me, thank you...

Anonymous said...

GP: I'm reposting this because I'd like some commentary from you and others (delete if improper).

CA bars are now graded differently. I and everyone I know dropped 10 points on each essay and PT (from July 08 - Feb 09). Some reputable ex graders and tutors have discussed this. They've stated that the CA bar failed a large number of people (in Feb 09) that would have passed any other administration. One tutor who has been teaching for 30 years stated that he had a number of students scoring 75's on the essasys/PT's (in practice near the end of the tutorial) who then typically go on to pass the next bar (consistent w/30 in the business). All of these students averaged 60's in their writing in Feb 09 and failed. He read the returned answers and had them scoring in the 70's based on his 30years of experience. He was angry and stated that failing that many in Feb 08 was a CA Bar directive not a fluke. The economy and pressure from special interest lead to the bar's decision to lower the pass rate. Infact, he stated that all the traditional rules have gone out the window and that bar prep must change to reflect this shift. As such, since nothing has changed with the economy (in fact it appears to be worse for attorneys), the July 09 pass rate may follow suit and be one of the lowest July pass rates in history. The above tutor stated that the bar will probably use this economic climate to continue to keep the pass rate about 10% lower than ever before (for all administrations), even after the economy fully recovers. A precedent will have been set and the public will get used to this new (higher) bar. He predicts that the bar will forever be graded much harder. It makes sense. It is the perfect opportunity (during the economic crises) to lower the pass rate forever, which is what they have wanted to do for many years.

Anyone else notice this (not very subtle) shift?

Anonymous said...

SO basically the bar is trying to make money.

Anonymous said...

ARG! THE BAR RESULTS ARE COMING OUT IN 3 DAYS 5 HOURS AND 55 MINUTES!!

I AM FREAKING OUT!

Anonymous said...

I love the happy tone in your voice gp. I wish you good luck.

Anonymous said...

Feb '09 Bar Exam saw one of the lowest MBE scores in recent years... could this be the reason for the low pass rate? Did the tutor mentioned in post 4-5 above this consider the average MBE score in his commentary?

Anonymous said...

THREE DAYS
1 HOURS
30 MINUTE

Anonymous said...

To Anon 9:17 AM

It is hard to believe (yet not impossible) that the bar would consider the economy to be a factor in order to determine what the passing rate should be for any administration.

I took the July 08 and February 09 exams. Even though I had anticipated that I would get decent scores on my essays and PTs for the Feb 09, I was greatly disappointed when I got the results (I scored: 55, 60, 55, 60, 60, 55, PTA: 55, PTB: 65). I had them reviewed/re-graded by a former bar grader and learned that my scores should have been 60-65, 70, 60, 65, 70, 60, PTA: 60 and PTB: 70-75, respectively).

Since the grading process has some subjective elements, I don't know what, or who, to believe anymore. AGR!

It is really hard to believe but your commentary could be right.

Anonymous said...

Regarding the above comment,bar grading is completely subjective! I am in law school now and one of my profs(a bar grader) was just describing how incredibly subjective it is. They get paid very little to grade exams, they don't do it for money. They go over the exams quickly. If someone is in a good mood you may pass when maybe otherwise you would have flunked.

Anonymous said...

TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...

(you can cut the tension with a knife...I LOVE IT!!!)

Anonymous said...

I've read that the bar graders get an overall impression of your essay from the first moment they look at it, and from there it can get worse or better depending on what you write.

I know the bar exam has changed its grading structure for what is considered an automatic PASS to 1440 or above, whereas before this change the passing grade was higher.

For the poster above whose tutor, a former bar grader, says that their grades should have been higher... how long ago did this tutor grade for the bar exam? If things have changed since then, and the tutor was not a grader during the change in grading criteria, that would explain why the grades given by the ex-bar grader are higher. The old criteria may no longer apply.

The Grand Poobah said...

Tension? What tension? We don't need no stinkin' tension!

Seriously, I'm as calm as I've ever been before results are released. My life's not going to change much either way. My goals are going to be the same and my immediate situation is not going to change much for the foreseeable future. The only difference is that I'll have the Esq. to put behind my name (which, I admit, is quite a difference). But I've still got to earn a living and those three little letters are not going to make a huge difference in how I do that. Not right away, at least. The biggest change is that I might be able to stop studying for Feb '10.

So, tension? Stress? Not here! Anticipation, perhaps. But no stress. Been there, done that, got better things to do. I recommend that everyone try to find the equivalent mindset. It's much easier on the nerves, too! Not to mention the liver!

Anonymous said...

Grand Phoobah,

When do we get our individual scores for the essays, MBE, and PT? Monday?

And when do we get our writings back?

I am assuming I didn't pass. I'm Anon 6:34 from above.

The Grand Poobah said...

We get it all back at the same time, on Monday (Saturday if you live close to SF).

Anonymous said...

I quote some wise words for people in their moments of weakness:

"Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it?!"
-No sensei!

"Pain does not exist in this dojo, does it?!"
-No sensei!

"Defeat does not exist in this dojo, does it?!"
-No sensei!

I wonder if John Kreese is giving bar exam lessons for February?

- Strike first, strike hard, no mercy, sir!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oP2F5CM30k

Anonymous said...

you get your score sheet ONLY w/ score break down.
you get your actual answers, which do NOT contain any markings or comments 4-6 weeks AFTER that.

don't wait up for these, completly useless.

I am starting to get sooooooooooooo nervous now!

Anonymous said...

well,

a better explantion for the lower passage rate in feb is to get more fees b/c almost all of those who failed will retake again.
the bar is struggling just like any other business/org in Ca so by failing about 63% of people they made a load of money out of us.

Now feb 2010 fees have gone up 30 dollars to keep them a float b/c they have been having budget crisis.

so I guess it makes sense that as the poster above stated that the grading for the bar has changed to ensure a larger number of people fail.

luck for us!

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know when the bar posts model answers?

How long after the release of scores?

good luck to all.

JLB said...

GP, I was reading your blog when I was taking the Feb. 08 bar, my first bar (graduated late), which I passed (I thought I had failed for sure). You can do this.

I hope you have already done it, but if not I believe you can. There are much more interesting and pertinent problems you will have to solve when you are a lawyer; so, let's get this silly one solved already.

Best,
John

P.S. I'll be rooting for you on Friday so post your results right away!

Anonymous said...

1 day
20 hours
33 minutes
ARG!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

43 hrs
11 minutes

I don't want to see DAYS anymore ...

Anonymous said...

i am so nervous about friday's results, but i'm also excited. finally, we will not be in limbo any further. we'll know what to do next and not sit around thinking about those three days in july. good luck, gp! we're all behind you 100%. no matter what happens, i admire you.... and in time, you'll overcome this stumbling block. in time, we all will (tho' i hope friday will be the last time i ever worry about the dreadful b-a-r).

good luck everyone!

Anonymous said...

Nerves are normal, anxiety is common....but honestly pass or fail don't lose sight of the accomplishment required to even sit for the exam!

Best to everybody!!!

Anonymous said...

1 DAY
7 HOURS
44 MINUTES

Anonymous said...

30 hours
34 min

I visited the state bar's web several time just so that my eyes could enjoy seeing
" results will be posted in 1 day" :)

Anonymous said...

Take my advice - Guitar Hero and a case of Pabst. The time will fly by and you'll be stumbling to your computer to read "Your name appears on the Pass List" faster than you can imagine.

Anonymous said...

27 hours 27 minutes

Anonymous said...

I took the July exam, and rocked it. I knew all the issues and wrote essays that are going to be used as model answers. I answered all the multiple choice right as if I had the answer sheet in front of me. Then I hit my head on the exam desk, woke up, and realized I hadn't written anything for 2 hours. F... my life.

Anonymous said...

tension is just desire to see yourself succeed pullin' you awkwardly forward ahead of time and space, you'll all get there, trust yourselves and best lives to us all cheers:)

Anonymous said...

to the anon at 3:20

did you hit on the desk say about 12 pm b/c if you did then you did not miss out on anything ... they gave us 2 hrs break every day..

or maybe you are joking and I have just lost my sense of humar...

either way, just wait up ...
23 hrs and 57 min

Anonymous said...

I'm not going to bed until I'm good and drunk.

Anonymous said...

0 days
18 hours
32 minutes...
i am in panic mode

The Grand Poobah said...

No reason to panic. All the work, on both sides, has been done. All that's left is the singing and the crying. We have to just accept our result and move on to the next phase.

To quote, or paraphrase, someone, "Live and Let Die". Tomorrow at 6:00 pm. CalBar website. Be there.

Anonymous said...

Hey GPB, Good luck today. Ive been following you since 2007 when I took the Cali bar. Wish nothing but the best for you :)

Anonymous said...

ARG!
11 hours
42 minutes

I want to rewind time and take the July bar again!

Anonymous said...

No reason to panic. All the work, on both sides, has been done. All that's left is the singing and the crying. We have to just accept our result and move on to the next phase.

To quote, or paraphrase, someone, "Live and Let Die". Tomorrow at 6:00 pm. CalBar website. Be there.

GP,

Remember what we discussed at lenght, a positive frame of mind, is the only way to get through this phase of our lives. Therefore, let us be careful in selecting our words, when we post anything on this blog.

For example:

Let us say this instead: All that is left to do now is to sing. (No need to mention anything about crying/failure).

Let us say this instead: All that we have to do is to accept our license to practice law and use that license graciously. (No need to say that you have to accept whatever result you get and move on)

We can also change the saying from "live and let die" to "Live and let live".

Remember GP, words have an enormous power in the energy that they create inside and outside of you. What you think about and how you think about it, is what you are going to accomplish and how you are going to accomplish it.

The universe has a very profound way of rewarding those, that keep a very positive oulook on everything in life ALL OF THE TIME...

Good luck to you today.

Anonymous said...

I wish you all the luck in the world.

Anonymous said...

I love you all. I wish everyone the best, especially you GP. BTW: This is the best blog ever (IMHO).

I look forward to knowing whether I will get to try my living mesothelioma case in San Francisco the week of February 22, 2010, or... you know what the alternative is because I never quit. I could get a pro hac if it was any other week but we have been granted preference and my client needs resolution. If you die before you get a verdict in CA you lose your pain and suffering damages. They do not pass to the estate. Wicked.

--TX Lawyer

Anonymous said...

Eight more hours are y'all excited???GP, what made you decide to study law? Did you get tired of IT? Good luck :)

Anonymous said...

All these well wishing, word modifying people have forgot one thing: THE BAR EXAM IS ALL ABOUT HAZING. Before I passed I cried, just like all of you, "oh, it's not fair, oh it's so subjective." Shut up. Quit your whining. We all have to go through it, you're not special (Fght Club). Good Luck to the Poobah though, you do deserve to pass because you've fought it like a champion.

Aside: to the one who questioned my above story. The guy next to me fell asleep during the test with his head up. I decided not to wake him because I didn't want to get hit with any implication that I was cheating by talking to the guy next to me.
His head drifted down towards the end of the essays though, hit the table, and he woke up and started writing.

Lastly: you lost your "humar." What's that mean, like fumar, you lost your smokes. Stop crying.

Anonymous said...

I fell asleep taking the bar once. It was during the MBE's. Our bodies have a mehanisim to calm ourselves during stress. In my case, I fell asleep.

oh man..7 hours and 49 minutes

Anonymous said...

Hey GP. Good luck tonight. How come your bar clock is set for eastern standard time?

The Grand Poobah said...

I had the code in the timer set to display the time remaining based on the viewers local time. I suppose it might be more accurate to have it display based on PST (GMT - 8:00).

I just made that change, but I can't tell from here whether it displays differently in other time zones. Actually, I probably could, but I'm not that interested in doing so. (;-)>

The Grand Poobah said...

I also added a Seconds field to the countdown. Welcome, you are!

Anonymous said...

Thanks GP. Now when the Governor grants me clemency one minute before the execution I will be aware of the time.

Anonymous said...

6 hours
55 minutes
49 seconds...

anyone want to go to lunch?
I need a drink to calm down.

Anonymous said...

I want everyone on here to think and visualize this way, between now and 6:00pm tonight...

YOUR NAME, ESQ.

Focus on this only and believe with all your strenght, in the laws of attraction...

This is not a joke people, it works, for those who are willing to believe in it...

Good luck to all.

Anonymous said...

Ok I am envisioning S Choir. Hey its working.

Anonymous said...

Good luck Poohbah!

Anonymous said...

Dear God,

The CA Bar Exam results are about to be released. We know that you were with us during the days of the exam, and when we finished it, we knew that we had passed. But now we are suddenly afraid. Please bear with us. It is so important to us. Calm our fears, and guide the hearts of the graders to recognize our hard work, effort, and determination.

We are placing our fears about not passing the exam with you right now, dear God.

In the end, we know that whatever happens, it is part of the divine plan that you have for our lives, and we will accept it graciously. Whatever the result, please calm our spirit, so that we may accept it peacefully.

Your named be praised. Amen.

July 2009 applicants.

Anonymous said...

Amen

Anonymous said...

to anon 2:42 pm

thank you for this wonderful prayer.

May the lord be with all of us! AND may he has mercy on us.

Anonymous said...

Amen. Great prayer.

Anonymous said...

THIS IS GOD...YOU HAVE ALL FAILED!!! GO BACK AND DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!

Anonymous said...

Good luck everyone!!!!

Anonymous said...

OMG....

Anonymous said...

Hang in there everyone.

Anonymous said...

Anon November 20, 2009 3:09 PM
Ten bucks says you're a total loser, sitting in your underwear, trolling the net. Ha! Thanks for the laugh.

Anonymous said...

I can't find my admission ticket and my badge. Is there anyway to find out from the emails they sent me??? I am an idiot.

Anonymous said...

The greatest thing is that none know who has failed, nor passed.

Except GP, who has you know whats to bear it all online,

Regardless of the outcome GP,
you are heroic,
if only for the fact that nothing ever deters you dude

Now, no matter what, I expect to see you there next year,
whether grindin' it out

or up for fresh air above the fray
from us who have heretofore been less fortunate,

and I expect they'll be commenting about you from across the bar then 2,
because they'll say,
man he sure is tenacious
(exactly the kind of trait that any client would want in their counsel,
and exactly the opposite of what lesser sarcastic naysayers have pronounced on this site about you for lo the past couple of years)

So, best of success, cuz you've more than proven yourself to all of us- cynics, cheerleaders, and fellow brothers and sisters in arms against the Beast that dwells here in Cali!

Cheers GP,
and to the rest of you
see you next year!

Anonymous said...

Keep the faith going, we are almost there...


Brian Johnston, Esq. (Damn good one too!)

Anonymous said...

to anon 4:46

YES
go to the file upload confirmation email you recieved from sending your essay answers and it will tell you yoru application number.

As to your file number, it is the number you have been given ever since you registered as a law student -- it is your file number with the state bar.

Hope this helps


good luck!

Anonymous said...

Good luck everyone may the force be with you.

Anonymous said...

i failed again

how about you GP?