Putting It All Together Plan to Succeed on the Bar Exam

Hard Questions oHow much time and effort should I expend on studying for bar exam? oShould I wait and take it next time? oShould I take a commercial bar preparation course? 2

The Bar Exam is Hard Why?Stakes Time pressure Amount of material covered 3

Statistics There is a higher statistical likelihood of first time bar failure if you fall into either of these categories:   First-year GPA below 2.7   LSAT score below 150 4

Considerations Have you taken all of the bar exam courses?  The more courses you’ve taken, the better your chances are of success. Will you be working during bar exam prep time? (mid-May through mid-July)  Students who are able to devote those 8-9 weeks solely to bar review are more likely to succeed. Are you taking a commercial bar review course?  Students who take a bar prep course are more likely to pass than students who study on their own. Are there time management/life skill/personal issues that may affect your likelihood of success?  E.g., don’t plan a June wedding if you’re taking the July bar! 5

How seriously should I prepare? 6

The Good News Most people who take the bar exam, pass it Minnesota passage rate 90% (July 2012, 771 examinees) HUSL passage rate 87.6% (July 2012) 7

Goals for Today Bar application Bar exam Strategies for preparing for Bar exam Resources Creating a study plan 8

Requirements to Pass State Bar   Bar application - March 15 filing deadline and May 1 late filing deadline ($150)  Character and Fitness Certification  MPRE Exam  Bar Exam 9

MPRE  Multiple choice, 60 questions, 2 hour test of attorney and judicial standards of conduct  Given 3 times per year  Resources:  BARBRI course  10

Character and Fitness Burden on applicant to show current good character Past misconduct requires evidence of rehabilitation Reasons for denial  Lack of candor in application process  Lack of rehabilitation  Lack of cooperation during investigation 11

Revisit your law school application Lack of candor – failure to disclose, false statements, or underdisclosing Includes law school application – full and accurate disclosure to the questions, update Bar Examiners powerpoint 12

Bar Exam Format Multistate Performance Test (MPT) Essays Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) 13

MPT 2 – 90 minute questions Tests ability to: perform perform a lawyering task using legal and factual materials; read and interpret cases and statutes; identify and synthesize rules; identify key relevant facts; follow a prescribed format 14

Essays 6 – 30 minute essays Can be from any of the 13 topics Tests ability to issue spot, identify applicable law, and provide analysis Shorter and more definitive than law school exams IRAC 15

MBE 6 hour exam Multiple choice, 200 questions 1.8 minutes per question Covers 6 subjects Accurate and deep knowledge of rules of law 16

Bar Exam-Subjects 13 areas of law tested Bar Courses taken in law school Focus on subjects tested on both MBE & Essay portions (6 topics) Focus on sub-areas of subjects that are tested most often (40% of MBE questions from 6 subareas) 17

What should I concentrate on? Identify Rules Apply to Facts MBE Identify Rules Apply to Facts Essay Identify Rules Apply to Facts MPT 18

Study Strategies for MPT Practice or review different formats (memo, brief, closing statement, discovery, will, etc) Review model answers Build up endurance 19

Test-taking Strategies for MPT Follow directions Split time evenly and use it wisely Start with the statute: organize according to the structure of the law Show your ability to synthesize law and facts (i.e. mention cases, statutes, key facts) Use as many relevant facts as possible 20

Study Strategies for Essay Start writing answers before you even know the law – practice issue spotting Lots of practice questions available 21

Test-Taking Strategies for Essay Yes, use IRAC Start practice writing with outline in front of you Use the facts as guides Use clear headings and structure – remember the reader 22

Study Strategies for MBE Memorization of key legal concepts + finer distinctions of law Concentrate on areas of law most tested Build endurance for 6 hours of high intensity Study your wrong answers and look for patterns Practice, practice, practice 23

MBE Test Taking Strategies Determine what rule of law they are testing in the question Pay attention to the facts It is not about picking the right answer, but figuring out why one choice is right and the others obviously wrong Don’t try to outsmart the test – if you hit a hard question, just pick an answer and move on 24

Study Strategies Daily Study Schedule – include down time Variety of strategies (outline, quiz on law, note cards, audio, mapping, study groups) Outline material Don’t go backwards – stick with the plan Practice 25

Sample Study Schedule 9 – 12p Class 2-5p Study MBE – take and review 33 MBE questions (2 sets); Review law, OR Take MPT (2); review law, OR Write essays (2); review law 7-10p Create short outline; read substantive material for next day’s lecture 26

Outlining the Law Start outline on day 1 of each topic Write or type your own outline Start with full rule statements – then shorten Continuous review, editing, and annotation Use key “trigger” words – brain can memorize 6-7 items in a series Be systematic in using your outline to analyze problems 27

Resources – Commercial Bar Review Programs What should I look for  Online vs. live lecture  Don’t overpromise  Graded essays/MPTs  Use of licensed NCBE material  Substantive materials  Adaptive learning Programs – BarBri, Kaplan, Rigos, Aspen, Adaptibar (online MBE) 28

Resources - HUSL ASP Program – Bar tutoring during school year and summer MPT Course ASP library Library website – Course Reserves Study groups 29

Resources - Online Bar Examiners site (Resource link) - bar exam essay and MPT questions and model answers ( NCBE ( – free and purchased MBE and MPT questions Outlining – watch video on om 30

Resources – Personal Plan for success Make back-up plans (for kids, illness, etc) Minimize other commitments during bar review period (work, volunteer, childcare, social) 31

Resources - Financial Tuition or scholarships for bar review courses Bar study loans Can you meet living expenses without working 32

Monthly Plan-April APRIL Complete Application Financial Check Academic Check Attitude Check 33

Academic Check Review your law school performance, especially in multistate topics Do you need to begin remedial work now? Start reviewing property and contracts Take one MPT Spend 15 minutes each day studying common MBE topics 34

Attitude Check  Ready for serious effort  Ready to deal with stress Make a commitment for serious effort Develop plan to deal with anxiety now (exercise, living situation, notify friends/family) Deal with any special logistical concerns (travel, special needs) 35

Monthly Plan - May MAY Select commercial bar prep program – begin Schedule coverage of topics Take one MPT per week Take two essays in each topic studied Take 34 MBE questions and study answers daily 36

Monthly Plan - June JUNE Continue outlining law – begin to condense and memorize Take one MPT per week through mid month Take two MPT per week (timed) rest of month Take two timed essays in each topic studied Take 34 MBE questions and study answers daily (timed) 37

Monthly Plan – July JULY Condense and memorize outlines Take two MPT per week (timed), try to practice one of each format Take additional timed essays in challenging topics Take MBE questions daily (several 180 minutes at a time) Focus on memorization last 2 wks Daily schedule mimic bar exam schedule 38

Last words of advice Don’t stop any bad habits and don’t start any good habits 39

Contact Information  Janell Bentz – Academic Support Program tutor -  Alice Silkey, ASP Director  HUSL Academic Success Program – Academic_Success_Prog ram.html 40