OT- Anyone else taking the Bar tomorrow?

Submitted by BiSB on

I know there are many lawyer-types on the board, but I don't know how many are true freshman who will be taking the Bar Exam tomorrow and Wednesday.

Anyone else out there preparing to dine in hell?

Cock D

July 25th, 2011 at 9:46 AM ^

It'll be over soon and you'll do well if you stayed on schedule with whatever prep program you were using.

Just remember, you dont need to have the best score, just better than ~30% of the takers.

Good luck!

James Burrill Angell

July 25th, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^

Every last Tuesday and Wednesday of July and February. I still get a little sick to the stomach when someone reminds me even though its been a lot of years. I had to take two different state bar exams because the second state I took didn't have reciprocity with the first state I took.

Good luck to any of you. Just suck it up and get through it. Its the only test you'll ever take where a D is acceptable. All you need to do is pass.

Maize_in_Spartyland

July 25th, 2011 at 9:53 AM ^

Good luck, will be taking the bar, too, except in Ohio.  Its one thing to take it in Lansing, its quite another to take it in Columbus.  Here's to hoping its my only ever compelled trip to Columbus.

Maize_in_Spartyland

July 25th, 2011 at 10:00 AM ^

6 Essays on Tuesday morning- 30 minutes for each.  Two Multistate Performance Tests in the afternoon, 90 minutes each.  Wednesday - MBE.  Thursday AM - 6 Essays 30 minutes each.

1:00 PM on Thursday - Getting the hell out of Columbus.

4:00 PM on Thursday - Crackin' open a brew.

PeterKlima

July 25th, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^

..years ago.  It was in the convention center or someplace.  Lot's of red shirts all around.  I had just moved to Ohio, so it was off-putting, but motivating at the same time.

I have taken other bar exams since that one. But, Ohio's is pretty long.

The most difficult thing BY FAR is not worrying about it.  As a timed test, it is those who "freak out" that do poorly.  In talking with people, it is those who miss the point of a question completely and then can't stop thinking about it the rest of the exam that do poorly.  Just keep moving and put it behind you.  Keep moving, you are not going to get them all right.

I, mean, you still have to do some preparation, but you know a lot of it already.  And, if it makes you feel any better, Capital Law School in C-Bus usually contributes a big portion of those that fail.  (Unless you go to Capital...then ignore that last sentence.)

Smurfette

July 25th, 2011 at 9:58 AM ^

Good Luck!  I'm taking it in IL!  That old Rilo Kiley video is actually working wonders on my frazzled self-confidence.  T-60 hours until drinking commences.

Yinka Double Dare

July 25th, 2011 at 2:21 PM ^

I hope you didn't go for the hotels where they're actually giving the exams, it sounds convenient (which is why a lot of people do it) but it's not recommended if you ask me.  I stayed in one that seemingly few bar exam takers were in, and it was great to get away from them.  I talked to classmates who stayed in the hotel where I actually took the exam and they said you could feel the stress and tension and freakouts in the air.

I didn't think the exam was that bad, but I take tests very quickly so the time crunch wasn't going to be an issue.  Multiple people on either side of me in the exam room must have failed, but no one I actually know failed the exam.

ypsituckyboy

July 25th, 2011 at 10:02 AM ^

Headed up to East Lansing, and it's kinda weird because I think they make you take it in the Breslin Center. Given how little I know, I'll essentially be dropping a whole bunch of shit on the Breslin Center floor.

EGD

July 25th, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^

It's been a while since I took it, so I don't know if they still do this, but when I took the bar at the Breslin Center they opened up one of the concessions stands for lunch.  I hadn't brought my own lunch, so the concession stand was really the only practical option given the distances on State's campus--yet the only food they had to choose from was nachos, brats, and various other indigestion-producing fare, which is not exactly what you need in order to tackle essays on secured transactions.  So, the best piece of advice I can give anyone taking the bar at Breslin is to bring your own lunch (or, at least, a full roll of Tums).

Njia

July 25th, 2011 at 10:06 AM ^

I'm sure you're getting lots of words of encouragement, but here are mine:

I don't just think you're going to pass, I think you're going to do well. Of all the MGoBlog contributors, the words that wend their way from your fingers to the keyboard are some of the wittiest I've read. Your power of recall and ability to synthesize an entertaining turn of phrase have seldom failed you here. They reveal a great mind for detail and insight that will serve you well tomorrow.

Best wishes. Or, as they say in the theatre business, "Break a leg".

Go Blue!

BiSB

July 25th, 2011 at 10:33 AM ^

Thanks, Njia.  Apparently I should have had you write one of my letter of recommendation to the Bar association's Character and Fitness investigators.

Njia

July 25th, 2011 at 10:47 AM ^

And it would have been my pleasure. I've had to do references for friends as they've been investigated for security clearances.

Of one of my friends, I told the investigator after a lengthy list of questions, "Look, ma'am, I've known this guy for 20 years. If you can't trust him, the U.S. Government should just give up on the idea of 'security' altogether, because it can't trust anyone."

BlueByTheAlamo

July 25th, 2011 at 10:28 AM ^

I took the Texas Bar exactly one year ago this week, so having sympathy flashbacks. Good luck, you know far more than you think you do and the biggest key is not letting stress block your recall!

Erik_in_Dayton

July 25th, 2011 at 10:38 AM ^

First, I second the sentiments of Njia. 

My remedial advice, which should of course be taken or left as you see fit:  Try as best you can to get enough sleep each night.  Make sure you bring food that will give you energy but not put you into a food coma.  Get up half-way during the MBE, if you feel like you have the time, and go to the bathroom even you don't have to.  It's an excuse to stretch and get the blood pumping.   The bar exam is a physical test of your ability to sit in a crappy, stuffy room in a $10 chair with a bunch of stressed-out people as it is a mental test.   Do whatever you can to make yourself comfortable. 

Sven_Da_M

July 25th, 2011 at 10:41 AM ^

It's as much time management as it is legal knowledge.  Stay away from nervous complainers before, and ESPECIALLY the night between days one and two.

And when you get the future interest question, laugh (to yourself)...

James Burrill Angell

July 25th, 2011 at 11:05 AM ^

I hate to admit that all the times I sat in Real Property and bar review saying "I'll never deal with this future interests crap again just came crashing down on me. I just had a super sticky case that was all about future interests and valuation of a particularly complex set of deeds and the value of the property of each of the many family members who had a piece.

Where I went to law school we had a party after the bar results came out where we started a bonfire on the beach and after people passed they came down to burn their bar review books. I kinda wish I had those handy as I tried to navigate the basics of this last case. Would have made it a little easier.

Waters Demos

July 25th, 2011 at 10:47 AM ^

Been reading past tests/essays for the past 3 days.

I'm glad the written component is first; seems like the MBE will be physically easier to deal with.

But man there's some narrow stuff tested in the essays.  On a few occasions, I've wondered how they expect anyone to answer it (unless you've delved heavily into old exams; even with that I wonder what other very narrow things they're willing to test that hasn't been in the past exams).

08mms

July 25th, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^

Yup, taking in IL.  Taking the day off other than browsing some of the tests for the essays since the next two days will be exhausting enough.  Plus, can finally start brewing a batch of something delicious for the start of football season!

BiSB

July 25th, 2011 at 12:01 PM ^

When I think "Ohio," I think "higher standards." It reminds me of that time that... hey, Terrelle, what are you doing? No, those are MY cleats. Give them back. And no, you can't use my computer to log onto eBay... Anyway, where was I? Ah, yes, that time that... DAMNIT, TERRELLE, stop trying to sign my dog.

I gotta go.  Terrelle is at it again.

jg2112

July 25th, 2011 at 11:45 AM ^

My advice:

Do not, under any circumstances, get caught during breaks talking about exam questions you just finished. That doesn't matter anymore, and people are just looking for comfort at that point. Just get away from everyone, have a drink of water or a snack, and clear your mind for the next section.

Also.....go see a movie tonight. You're not learning anything new.

Just take an outline with you in your car and look at it briefly each morning, and get ready to write.

Do well.

sandiego

July 25th, 2011 at 11:55 AM ^

+1 to above advice.  During lunch break, eat a light lunch quickly, spend 20-30 minutes relaxing, then get fired up for the afternoon (i have no idea your exam format).  Don't talk about the exam with other people taking the exam b/c they'll either tell you how they aced question #2 and make you feel bad OR they'll tell you how panicked they were after question #2 and make you feel bad.  In CA its 3 straight days, 6 hrs per day.  After I was done for the day, I ate a large dinner, sat in a hot tub/pool for a bit, drank 2-3 shots of tequila and a beer and went to bed by 7-8pm.  Got up at 4-5am next day and spend 2 hours refreshing before the exam. 

You can trust me, b/c I passed on only the 2nd try!

michfan4borw

July 25th, 2011 at 11:51 AM ^

I took MI's bar last year this time, and unfortunately, again this past February (I passed the second time).  Both times were in EL, but the second time was NOT at the Breslin. 

I suggest using the lunch break if you haven't covered all the essay topics sufficiently.  Figure out which ones have already been tested in the morning, and try to use the lunch break to cover the topics not yet tested that you also are not familiar with. 

The essays are all about getting as many points as you can (i.e. by writing as though you know the topic well--like in law school), so using the lunch to enable yourself to make broad, but correct, statements of law or policy can get you some extra points you may not have gotten had you not refreshed your knowledge over the break. 

This strategy assumes however that you're not sufficiently prepared on essays.  If you are well prepared, then just use your break to rest your mind for the afternoon essays. 

Good luck!  I realized, after the first time I got tested, that much of the stress comes from the unknown--just like before your first exam ever during your first semester of law school.  Just like back then, you can pass.  Be confident.