Day 1 February 27, 2007
Posted by j in The Exam.add a comment
The first part multiple choice was kinda ok, but they hit on all the hardest stuff in the questions (fed jurisdiction, conflicts of laws, ny practice and basically hit up all the NY distinctions as well). I felt like I knew nothing… then, after lunch they hit on the hard stuff again (little point on arrest warrant in notes and lectures stretched out to 1/2 a question, & evidence, then real property incl a point on eminent domain 5th amendment.. only I forgot the term ‘eminent domain’… ‘ and also a small point about remedies when the whole of the marketable title is unable to be conveyed… ) The MPT – well I covered off all the points presented by supporting files so i hope it’s ok. It was in the form of a letter, which is not too bad.
I don’t have a good feeling about this. It was the hardest set of questions I have come across in the entire collection of past papers that i have (past 10 years) – the MC was easier than barbri but the questions were definitely the hardest.
This sums it up February 18, 2007
Posted by j in Burnout.add a comment
As Erica Fine (Wills lecturer said) – “You feel good, then you feel crappy”
Yeah, how about, I feel crappy every day and every question I look at I blank out and wonder what the f**k is going on. I really hope I memorise the essential rules for the essays.
Not long to go February 16, 2007
Posted by j in General.add a comment
And I still don’t remember anything!
Barbri was right – should really condense the notes down to a few pages (but with more details). I am frantically reducing my notes further and further.
Barbri’s Post course time table recommends studying 12 hours a day!! I am flying out to NY in a week so it’s all hands on deck. If they don’t collapse from typing and writing. My brain is going to explode. 
Studying ahead February 9, 2007
Posted by j in Lectures.add a comment
In the Bar Exam Survival Kit, Adachi recommends going over some materials before you start the course (stuff that you’ve been doing in law school that is relevant). Hmm at least that is what I remembered. Anyway, I am glad that I went through notes that were emailed to me ages ago from Jeremy Blachman (writer of Anonymous Lawyer.) [I have a massive backlog of AL to read after the bar exam!].
Anyway, heaps of the lectures are still the same. The notes were really useful so now if I start zoning out it’s already there in front of me and I jot down my own notes next to whatever is there already. Saves the typing on the initial set of notes.
I still think Barbri’s idea to go home and condense notes down is important though. It takes ages and it’s been the bain of my existence but if I don’t do I dont’ think any of it absorbs. Take Constitutional Law. Sure, i get it, it’s not like HARD, but because I didn’t go and reduce it I keep muddling up stuff in my head. So now I’m going back and summarising the notes and it’s more clear to me.
If you are interested, check out Seperac. I wish I read his method ages ago and started on it. This guy is pretty hardcore – I am struggling just to get as much work as this guy done! Anyway, his notes (joe’s notes) are really spot on from the lectures for most of the subjects so if you wanted to get ahead, go check it out.
But I think also the most important thing is if you can get your hands on questions (eg PMBR books) it would be a pretty cool idea to just try and do some questions. I mean, it’s hard to look at the notes and think you’re going to remember it a couple of weeks/ months down the line when you’re bombared with loads of work and stress during the Barbri course.
PMBR v Barbri February 7, 2007
Posted by j in General.add a comment
PMBR is being reimbursed as a course for us as well now. I think it’s because people are right in saying those questions are those questions are more like the MBE. This is probably because PMBR were found to have infringed the NCBEX copyright in the questions.
But Eastern Distsrict of Pennsylvania Judge John P. Fullam disagreed and said the evidence showed MLSI had copied both the detailed facts in the questions as well as the correct and incorrect answers.
“I conclude that nearly all of the 113 challenged questions are substantially similar to copyrighted MBE questions,” Fullam wrote. “In many instances, evidence of copying practically leaps from the page.”
I admit that I dont’ like the Barbri questions anymore because I am grumpy at my miserable score in the MBE. But I would rather do questions ‘more like the real thing’ – PMBR questions are shorter (apparently closer to the exam.. and as a bonus it doesn’t consume your concentration) and the explanations are clearer than the Barbri ones
Soul crushing MBE practice February 7, 2007
Posted by j in Burnout.add a comment
Oh dear. I did the practice MBE, got the worse mark ever. Should I even put it up? Ok, I got less than 50%. It is totally soul destroying and I now fear that I will not pass at all.
But, I do recommend doing it, at least I know my weak points.
On another note Barbri were delayed in sending me the answer sheet and I made this poor girl at the phone read out the whole instruction sheet. I think maybe my big firm experience is coming out now in a ‘i’m mean and why can’t you do things for me’ kind of BS that I HATE having to do but man, I am stressed, the course costs heaps and you can’t even help me on a little thing? Is it because you have a virtual monopoly over the bar study prep courses in the USA? Ok. I was extra grumpy because I had to stay up late so I could actually ring. [I am on the otherside of the world from the USA]
A week behind on summaries February 3, 2007
Posted by j in Lectures.1 comment so far
I was so tired this week I didn’t get around to summarizing Trusts, Evidence and NY Prof responsibility. I was still looking at RP and Torts. Yes, bad. And now the 1/2 day NY practice is coming up and the Multistate Exam Workshop simulated exam. I am surely going to be stuffed. I think that is the bad thing about the lectures is although you can do it in anytime that you do want, you can always walk away/ take a break and then next thing you know you are behind. At least if you go to the class in person then you gotta go, whether you are tired or whatever!
On another note, why do the lecturers talk so fast?! I get this impending doom feeling that there are a lot more in the lectures than what it appears but they are now squashing a few things into as little time as possible and it all flies over your head.
