BAR EXAM takers! Good luck!

[Mz Pip]

Good luck to everyone who is taking the BAR exam this week. May the 3 days of hell pay off.

Mz Pip

[mentalsolstice]

1. I did it twice, never again!

Took it for 2 different states, one lasted 2 days, the other 3 days (2 days for the state essays). Thankfully, I passed both! Good luck, and may the answers come easily!

[depakid]

2. Was the 3 day exam California?

1/3 of that was a gimme.

[mentalsolstice]

6. Alabama

At the time it was one of the harder states to pass in 55/45%. The 2 day exam was in KY.

[depakid]

9. Good on Alabama

Maybe

[ZombieHorde]

3. 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name. nt

[mentalsolstice]

7. 99% seems a bit high!

The number seems to be more like 98.5% :evilgrin:

[Lasher]

4. Why are there so many lawyers in the U.S.?

Because St. Patrick chased the snakes out of Ireland.

[Blackhatjack]

5. Remember this before you begin ....

Look around at everyone else and realize you are at least as prepared as the top 2/3 of those taking Bar Exam, and that 2/3 or more will pass. Bar Examiners are looking to see if you have a firm grip of fundamentals, can write in complete sentences, and sound like a lawyer.

One of the smartest guys I know missed the first time by 1 point because he was too nervous. Stop studying the night before, get your confidence up and knock it out.

At least in most states you can try again in 6 mos, unlike the annual wait we had to endure if we missed the first time.

Good luck!

[Mz Pip]

8. Good advice

My son took the NY Bar 3 1/2 years ago and passed. He took a Bar class and noticed that the guys in the seats in front of him were surfing internet porn. It was at that point that he knew he would pass.

Tomorrow he will do the CA Bar. He flew out from NY on Thursday and was studying his ass off.

Today we went to the Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park and just enjoyed the day. He's as ready as he'll ever be.

[Blackhatjack]

10. Some of the past bar examiners gave these nuggets regarding essay questions ....

You don't have to prove you know everything about a problem to receive credit. You do have to write in clear complete sentences, and you have to be logical in your approach to the problem.

You have to manage your time. Do not write an extended essay on a question which addresses an area you know well, and then superficially address questions which cover areas you do not know well.

There is a reason that each state gives its own Bar Exam. Be familiar with matters that are unique to that state in which you are testing as you are likely to see them again on the exam.

Stay calm and be awake when the exam begins. Don't set the alarm to the last possible moment to try and get more sleep before beginning. We all do better if we have a little while to 'warm up' before tackling a big job.

Good luck!

[Romulox]

11. I don't think anywhere near 2/3 of February test takers pass.

Sorry to rain on anyone's parade.

[Blackhatjack]

12. I don't follow passing rates that closely but that has been the historical pass rate here in NC

that 2/3 or more pass each Bar Exam given.

Are you alluding to the possibility that more of those taking the Feb exam failed the first time?

[Romulox]

13. Yes. At least in my state, most Feb. test takers are taking it for the second time

I believe the pass rate is about 30% for such test-takers.

[Blackhatjack]

15. That raises a couple of questions ....

Either everyone who was reasonably capable passed in June -- leaving only those seriously deficient who did not pass to take the Feb exam. Which would explain the 30% pass rate.

OR

The State Bar Exam in your state is incredibly hard and keeps others from deciding to come there to practice.

Of course the multistate portion of the exam is the same everywhere.

[Romulox]

16. It's mostly the former. The pass rate for July is about 75%. nt

[Mz Pip]

17. If I remember correctly

the pass rate for the CA Bar is about 40% and is the lowest in the country,but I don't know if that is just for 1st time test takers. My son told me the pass rate is so low in CA because anybody can take it. There are several non acredited law schools in CA as well as the people in prison who study on their own and people who just study on their own.

He took the NY Bar in July 2005 but really wants to get out of NY and move back to CA and this Feb Bar seemed as good as any to take.

[AZ Criminal JD]

18. Your son is wrong and is repeating an urban legend.

If you go to the CA bar exam site http://www.calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/Statistics/JULY2008STATS.pdf, you will find there was only 145 applicants from unaccredited law schools taking the July, 2008 test out of a total of 6257. That is 2.3%. That is hardly enough to affect the pass rate. First time takers passed at the rate of 74.7%.

[Lex]

14. Good lord, there's something I'm glad I don't ever have to do again.

The stress was worse than the actual exam.