Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Bar Exam Numbers Dip Again in February

From the June 2016 California Bar Journal (http://www.calbarjournal.com/June2016/TopHeadlines/TH4.aspx) ...

"February’s bar exam pass rate slid again for the second year, ending an upward swing that reached its peak in 2014."

The percentage of candidates who pass in February has always been lower than the July exam but this is one of the lowest - "According to the State Bar’s Committee of Bar Examiners, 1,700 of the 4,758 people who took the general bar exam in February passed, or 35.7 percent. The results mark one of the lowest pass rates since February 2009, when only 33.5 percent passed the exam. Only two years ago, February bar exam results peaked with a pass rate of 45.3 percent."

All the more reason to sign up with OneTimers.com.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Poobah - About the take the bar exam next week and looking at your blog (very inspiring ... but who / what is this Big Cat?). Any advice you have for a first time taker about a week away from the exam? Thanks again for sharing your story!

Anonymous said...

Geesh. Thanks for the quick response ....

I guess I am on my own.

Anonymous said...

Anon...
My best advice is to stop studing and use this time to rest up and get your face on for next week.
Cramming will only hurt you at this point .
You need a clear mind and cramming will only clutter your mind.
So rest up and conserve your energy . You're going to need every ounce of it. It's going to be a long week and you will be doing mental gymnastics next week .
It's a marathon ... So pace yourself .
Come Tuesday, take one thing at a time.
One essay at a time, one call of the question at a time.
The bar exam is all about reading carefully and following instructions .
So slow down ! Read that call and fact pattern 5 times and answer the call of the question to a T.
The examiners are not impressed with your ability to memorize rules of law or your conclusions ...they want to see if you think like a lawyer .
You MUST discuss the facts .
I cannot stress this enough !
Discuss discuss discuss!!!
The facts are your friends .. so use them!!!!
After day 1, put it behind you and focus on day 2!
Stay focused !!!!
Start strong and end strong . Make sure you finish and manage your time. At 55 minutes... Start wrapping it up!
Other than that...
Have CONFIDENCE! Believe in yourself !
Your confidence or lackthereof comes through in your writing !
And if you must memorize something ... Memorize this admonition by the State Bar.
Know it. Follow it.
Good luck this week ! Go get that bar card!

"Your answer should demonstrate your ability to analyze the facts in the question, to tell the difference between material facts and immaterial facts, and to discern the points of law and fact upon which the case turns. Your answer should show that you know and understand the pertinent principles and theories of law, their qualifications and limitations, and their relationships to each other.
Your answer should evidence your ability to apply the law to the given facts and to reason in a logical, lawyer-like manner from the premises you adopt to a sound conclusion. Do not merely show that you remember legal principles. Instead, try to demonstrate your proficiency in using and applying them.
If your answer contains only a statement of your conclusions, you will receive little credit. State fully the reasons that support your conclusions, and discuss all points thoroughly.
Your answer should be complete, but you should not volunteer information or discuss legal doctrines that are not pertinent to the solution of the problem.
Unless a question expressly asks you to use California law, you should answer according to legal theories and principles of general application."

Anonymous said...

Thank you! At least some one (NOT Poobah) is willing to help.

Anonymous said...

Anon.
I replied to your query above.
If you would like to contact me and discuss further,
I may be reached at LMHlegal@gmail.com.
If I don't hear from you, I wish you the best of luck this week !

The Grand Poobah said...

Hi Folks,

The advice above is very similar to the advice I would have given, and have given, to people in the week leading up to the bar exam, most of which is contained in the posts and comments below.

Frankly, your efforts in the immediately preceding few months have more to do with whether or not you pass than what you do in the last week, or few days.

But if it's not too late, I would suggest reviewing your weaker subjects before each portion of the exam. I did that a lot when I passed and, who knows, it might have even helped!

GP

Anonymous said...

Great advice Poobah Cat! Miss you my friend and hope that you are doing well!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Miss the Big Cat and all he contributed to this blog, the legal community and society at large. While I admire and respect Grand Poobah, this blog has not been the same since the "Fabled (Large) Feline" has left. Viva la revolution Big Cat! Viva indeed my friend.

Imagine how furry this blog would have been with Big Cat's musings about Bernie-cat and mean Trump Doggy?

The Grand Poobah said...

Yes, I do miss the feline's contributions to the blog. But since I rarely contribute anymore, it might have become the Big Cat blog by default.

And, no, I've seen too many "good natured" political discussions go terribly, horribly, awfully, wrong over the past couple of months to wish that fate on anyone (or any blog!)

Sometimes I think I should shut this thing down because of inexcusable neglect. But then I think that someone, somewhere, might yet find something useful in all the pages of postings and comments, so I decide to continue to neglect it.

I wish I had the time to post regularly. I'm too busy though with my lawyering stuff to think of something worthwhile to post. My apologies for that. Part of that is from trying to pay the bills, the other part is because I'm so removed from the bar prep world that I no longer know what's relevant.

And so the world turns.

Anonymous said...

Miss you Poobah! How are things? Hope life is going well as a lawyer.

Miss the Big Cat as well. I wonder if the feline is in California anymore? Did his outline business ever take off? Can you remind me of that website again?

Anonymous said...

Man, life was better when my most furry friend Grand Poobah was blogging. Miss you Poobah Cat!!! Hope that mean Trump doggie isn't upsetting you too much!!!

Big Cat's Assistant said...

GP -

Some changes perhaps coming to how the California Bar Exam is graded / scored. Any thoughts there? I found the response by the Cal Supreme Court interesting.

Hope all is well with you Poobah Cat!!!

-BC

DICTATED, BUT NOT READ

The Grand Poobah said...

Hey BC,

Yeah, interesting stuff to be sure - and very important for some people. I took some time and read up on the issue. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that the people involved in that process have too much time on their hands.

(sigh ...)

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