Bar Advisor

July 2015 California Bar Essay Predictions

2015-07-22T17:18:00.003-07:00

Here are those famous prediction videos:

Just remember, guessing is no substitute for studying.

If you would like more help with the California bar exam, check out:

February 2015 California Bar Predictions

2015-01-22T13:09:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure how much weight you should give to predictions like these, but here you go:

If you would like more help with the California bar exam, check out:

Bar Exam Essays Book Now Available

2014-11-04T06:41:00.002-08:00

A lot of people preparing for the bar exam have difficulty writing bar exam essays.

It is time to change that.

I’ve spent that last couple months writing my new book, How to Write Bar Exam Essays: Strategies and Tactics to Help You Pass the Bar Exam.

To celebrate the launch of the new book, it will be available at the discounted price of $0.99 (or the equivalent price if you live outside the U.S.A.) until the end of Monday, November 10, 2014. [Sorry, this offer has expired.]

How to Write Bar Exam Essays gives you a systematic and uncomplicated approach to learn how to write passing bar exam essays. The book explains the four pillars of bar exam essay writing and provides salient examples of each. An essay practice schedule and checklist are also included.

How to Write Bar Exam Essays: Strategies and Tactics to Help You Pass the Bar Exam is available on Amazon, BN, Audible and iTunes.

Let me know what you think of the book by leaving a comment below or a review on the website where you bought it.

Review of BarIssues + $10 Discount

2014-09-16T20:17:00.000-07:00

Are you wondering if BarIssues.com is any good for California bar prep?

Well, check out this video review to help you make your decision.

If you think BarIssues might work for you, you can save $10 off either plan you select when you use my special discount code. The good folks at BarIssues don’t want me sharing this code publicly, so send an email to barissues@barexammind.com, and my digital elves will send you the secret code and the sign-up link. (Note: This email is an autoresponder, so I do not read any emails sent to this account. If you have trouble getting the code, contact me here.)

And, don't forget BarEssays.com for some extra help with your California bar exam prep.

BarEssays for California Bar Exam + $15 Discount

2014-05-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

If you are taking the California bar exam, be sure to check out my video review of BarEssays.com.

And, if you think it could work for you, you can get $15 off the regular price by sending an email to discount@barexammind.com, and my digital elves will send you the discount code within seconds. (Note: This email is an autoresponder, so I do not read any emails sent to this account. If you have trouble getting the code, contact me here.)

California settles disability lawsuit against LSAC

2014-05-20T09:15:00.001-07:00

This is great news for people with disabilities who want to practice law! The settlement applies nationwide.

Here is the press release:

MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR SETTLEMENT LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

ELK GROVE - The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) announced today a multimillion-dollar settlement that prohibits the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) from discriminating against people with disabilities who take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). (HTML | PDF) Requiring reasonable accommodations for test takers with disabilities, the more than $8 million agreement was a successful collaboration between state and federal civil rights agencies and the private bar.

“This settlement ensures fairness and levels the playing field for persons with disabilities to enter the legal profession,” said Anna Caballero, Secretary of the Business Consumer Services and Housing Agency. “The Department of Fair Employment and Housing continues to take steps to ensure that the underrepresented are helped.”

The settlement, filed Tuesday in federal court for approval by United States District Judge Edward M. Chen, includes an $8.73 million payment, of which $6.73 million will be equally distributed to an estimated 6,300 individuals nationwide who applied for testing accommodations on the LSAT from January 1, 2009 through May 20, 2014. This total includes attorney’s fees and costs to DFEH.

“DEFH took down a longstanding barrier to entering the legal profession for people with disabilities,” said Phyllis W. Cheng, DFEH Director. “California once more leads the way in opening doors for all who strive to become future attorneys regardless of disability.”

The complaint arose from DFEH’s two-year investigation which began after the Department received complaints of discrimination from individuals who had requested testing accommodations on the LSAT, the examination required for admission to most law schools.

In July 2010, Cheng issued a Director’s complaint alleging that LSAC denied reasonable accommodations to prospective test takers with disabilities, and that whenever a test-taker received testing accommodations, LSAC sent a letter which informed law schools that 1) the applicant was an individual with a disability; 2) the applicant’s LSAT scores “did not have the same meaning” as other applicant’s test scores; and 3) that the applicant’s test scores had to be viewed “with great sensitivity and flexibility.” (HTML | PDF) The US Department of Justice joined in the federal court case, expanding it to encompass nationwide claims. (HTML | PDF)

"This nationwide settlement illustrates the important role that government enforcement agencies can play in helping to secure relief for students with disabilities,” said Jocelyn Larkin, Executive Director of The Impact Fund a nationally recognized expert in civil rights and systemic litigation. “Given the difficulties that private plaintiffs can sometimes face in obtaining class certification in disability rights cases, DFEH’s ability to pursue systemic litigation can help protect our significant civil rights principles for all Californians."

The mission of the DFEH is to protect the people of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations and from hate violence. For more information, visit the Department’s Web site at www.dfeh.ca.gov.

How to Sit Properly

2014-05-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

When you study for the bar exam, chances are you will be sitting down most of the time.

This video shows you how to sit properly.

How to Write a Journal

2014-04-03T22:16:00.000-07:00

This slide deck gives you nine tips for how to write great journal entries.

9 Essential Journal Writing Tips from BarExamMind

Free Bar Exam Outlines

2014-03-02T18:01:00.000-08:00

Here is a quick video about why it can be helpful to review bar exam outlines prepared by past bar exam passers.

Below the video are links to free MBE, New York, California, and Oregon bar exam outlines.

MBE outlines: http://www.barexammind.com/mbeoutlines/

California outlines: http://www.barexammind.com/outlines/california-bar-exam-outlines/

New York outlines: http://www.barexammind.com/outlines/free-new-york-bar-exam-outlines/

Oregon outlines: http://www.barexammind.com/outlines/oregon-bar-exam-outlines/

Bar Exam In a Couple Days

2014-02-22T15:05:00.000-08:00

A quick post to let you know I am sending positive thoughts your way as you wrap up your preparations for the February 2014 bar exam.

Here are a couple of posts that might be of interest to you:

You have worked hard, now go in there and show the bar exam who's boss.

Bar Exam Advice from the NFL

2014-01-31T16:17:00.000-08:00

I just found an interesting article discussing football intelligence.

But, it is a quote from former NFLer Oliver Luck -- dad to Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts -- that is relevant here.

Oliver Luck took the Texas bar exam. He recalls his bar exam experience this way:

“I remember distinctly sitting for the Texas bar exam after I finished law school,” he recalled. “There were maybe five hundred people in there. People were sighing and groaning. A guy one table away from me suddenly lost it. I wanted to tell him, ‘Suck it up! You can do it!’ The way I would in the huddle. I was focused. I knew how to work through that test.”

Make of that what you will.

[Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hdport/6993241322/sizes/m/]

2014 California Bar Exam Predictions

2013-12-11T15:49:00.000-08:00

If you are into bar exam predictions, these are good videos to watch.

I always like to post these from Dr. Saccuzzo when they come out.

Part 1:

Part 2:

MBE Bar Exam Advice

2013-10-29T12:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a collection of links to blogs, books and other resources to help you prepare for the MBE and to answer any questions you might have about the MBE portion of the bar exam.

Study Advice
MBE Study Strategy
How to Memorize
Retrieval Practice and Memorization
10 MBE Tips
Preparing for the MBE
Sean Silverman's Blog

MBE Books & Study Aids
Strategies and Tactics for the MBE (Read this book review to learn more.)
Finz Multistate Method
Critical Pass Flashcards
Dominate the Bar Flashcards
How to Make Your Own Flashcards

Outlines
NCBE Skeleton Outlines can be found in the MBE Exam Info booklet available here
Free MBE Outlines

Bar Exam Pass Video

2013-10-10T11:30:00.000-07:00

I think these videos people make of themselves checking bar exam results are pretty cool.

The excitement is so genuine. Plus, you can use these types of videos to help with positive visualization too.

Funny Bar Exam Video

2013-10-07T12:24:00.000-07:00

Is this the best bar exam humor video ever? Yeah, I think it is.

(Hat-tip to The Desertion.)

Esquire Pie

2013-10-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

Passing the bar exam never tasted so good!

I have to say, though, that I prefered Esquire Beer as a reward for passing the bar.

What to do if you fail the bar exam

2013-09-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

If you got bad bar exam results, check out this presentation for some ideas about how to respond to the results and how to move forward with re-taking the exam.

What to do if you fail the bar

If you would like to read more about failing the bar exam, here are some posts to look at:

Special delivery

2013-09-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

The huge BarBri box.

It can be super-overwhelming when you first get all these materials.

Don't worry.

You can do this.

The Bar Exam Baggie!

2013-09-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

The dreaded bar exam baggie.

I never took a picture of mine, but someone did and shared it on Flickr.

(PS -- Not sure what jurisdiction this is for. NY?)

Bar Exam Essay Class -- Call of the Question

2013-09-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

Here is a slideshare presentation to help you analyze the call of the question on bar exam essays.

Bar Exam Essay Class: Call of the Question from BarExamMind

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If you would like more help with writing bar exam essays, be sure to get my book, How to Write Bar Exam Essays: Strategies and Tactics to Help You Pass the Bar Exam, available on Amazon, BN, Audible and iTunes.

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MBE Cheat Sheet from Smarter Review

2013-08-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

I recently received a review copy of The MBE Cheat Sheet from Smarter Review.

The Cheat Sheet is billed as a collection of concise outlines that only include the most tested areas of law so that you can know enough to pass without becoming overwhelmed.

In fact, the introduction to the book says "Whenever you find yourself inundated with too much law to learn, simply skip your assigned lectures or reading and study the Cheat Sheet instead."

The Cheat Sheet says that it omits the subpoints of law that are rarely, if ever tested, and gives you only the points you need to pass.

I have not surveyed the MBE questions over the past decade, so do not know if the assertion made by the Cheat Sheet authors is correct. However, I have reviewed the outlines, and I agree that they cover the major points of law for the bar exam. Any subpoints should be easy to learn by reading the answer explanations to practice MBEs and by practicing essays.

The outlines themselves are well-written and concise. They are not outlines in the traditional sense, but are written as paragraphs, typically providing a few sentences explaining the law (e.g., the elements of a tort) followed by a brief example applying the law to a set of facts.

It seems to me that the ideal user of the Cheat Sheet is someone who only has a few weeks to study or who has taken and passed a bar exam before and does not need a full-blown review course. It could also act as a supplement to a substantive review course. If you find the materials provided by your bar review to be difficult to understand, the Cheat Sheet might be what you need to help you make sense of it.

I did wish that each chapter's table of contents had page numbers associated with each heading to allow me to find topics more quickly, but other than that, the book was easy to read and use.

You can get the Cheat Sheet at Amazon.com or for a much lower price at SmarterReview.com. And, if you use my code "BarAdvisorInsider" when you order at SmarterReview.com, you will get 15% off your purchase price.

Free Beer

2013-08-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

Where was this guy when I took the bar exam?

Best Bar Exam Flashcards

2013-07-13T15:22:00.005-07:00

Seems like most people like using flashcards to study for the bar exam.

I used them and thought they were very helpful, especially for reviewing points of law that I had difficulty memorizing. (Here is my other post about flashcards.)

I recently received an email recommending two flashcard resources, so I thought I would pass it along to you in case it helps.

The first is an online flashcard program called Anki. You can make the flashcards on your computer and/or you can download an app for iOS and Android that lets you take your flashcards on the go. (The iOS app is a bit pricey at $24.99.)

The good thing about using online flashcards is that you can't lose them or destroy them by spilling water or coffee on them.

The second recommendation was for Critical Pass flashcards. You can get these in paper format or as a smartphone or iPad app. I have heard good things about these cards from others.

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Do you have any recommendations for bar exam study aids?

If so, please leave a comment below or send me an email using the CONTACT button at the top of this site. I'll be sure to share the recommendations with everyone.

Studying and the Brain

2013-07-09T11:20:00.000-07:00

While not directly discussing the bar exam, this interesting infographic showing ways to tailor studying to achieve better test results. Note that it verifies that frequent practice testing, such as retrieval practice, is very important for mastering topics.

Source: BestEducationDegrees.com

MBE Study Approach

2013-05-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

Check out this video to learn Dennis Saccuzzo's advice for how to approach MBE problems:

Also, if you are concerned about your MBE scores as you begin your bar exam prep, be sure to check out this post for some reassurance.