California Bar Exam: Two Day Bar Exam Cram Session Dates Added

Thank you to all who attended our June 1st and June 2nd Two Day Bar Exam Cram Session.

Additional dates and locations include:

June 29th and 30th – Two Day Cram Session – Orange County

July 13th and 14th – Two Day Cram Session – Los Angeles

July 18th and 19th – Two Day Cram Session – Sacramento

For more information on our Two Day Bar Exam Cram Sessions, click here

Good luck to all who are studying for the bar exam!

Here are recent testimonials:

Click on this image to see it in a larger view . . . This is why I love what I do so much!

(Click on the image to see the full text and a larger view)

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Professor Duncanson —

I wanted to drop you a quick note to express my heartfelt thanks for the great assistance you gave in your two-day California Bar Exam Cram Session for February 2013.  Having not taken a bar exam for two decades plus, and never studied for the California bar, I believe that your session and, in particular, the crucial guidance you gave for the last two weeks of study, made the difference and enabled me to pass on my first try.

I have recommended your course to a number of friends and colleagues and urge you to post this to your website if you wish. That you could teach this old(er) dog enough “tricks” to get through is a real testament to your methods.

All the best,

Bryan Cunningham, Esq.

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I want to extend my thanks to Professor Duncanson for her help in preparing me for the exam. Her insights and predictions were incredibly helpful and I wanted to express my gratitude to everyone at Bar None for your help throughout this process. Thank you!

Best,

Kapil

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To Bar None Review -

This was my fifth time to take the California bar exam and I finally passed it! The Cram Session is so amazing, Lisa puts all the topics, approaches and predictions together. It is very informative. I strongly recommend Bar None Review to anyone who wants to pass the examination. I am a foreigner who was born and raised in Shanghai, China. I did not go to the United States until I graduated from college in Shanghai. I got an LLM degree at USC. But, I never took any first year class. And I passed the California Bar Examination with Lisa’s help. If I can do it, everyone could do it. All you need to do is attend Bar None Review class and be a good student, pay attention and do what she says. Lisa will help you to achieve your dream. 

Yi (Annie) Shi,

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My friend told me about this class (she took it about three weeks before the February 2013 bar exam). I decided to go the next weekend and I am so grateful that I did. I not only passed the bar exam after multiple prior attempts, but, my MBE score improved so much that I was able to waive into DC (something that was really important to me – but something I did not think was going to be possible). The things that Professor Duncanson taught us (especially – for me – how to manage the last two weeks of study and the follow up that we received after the class – really kept me going). For the first time I was able to study without worry and to simply do my very best. I am so happy that I took this course. It is like no other program out there (and sadly, I have taken a few bar programs). This was actually affordable and well worth every penny. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Jennifer

California Bar Exam: Free “How To Pass The California Bar Exam” Workshop on May 29, 2013

Hello, we are offering another free, “How To Pass The California Bar Exam” Workshop next week on Wednesday, May 29th. If you would like to reserve a space in this workshop, complete the reservation request form below. Please understand that space is limited. Our last workshop filled up very quickly. Reservations will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, click here

Free “How To Pass The California Bar Exam” Workshop on May 22, 2013

Hello, if you would like to reserve a space in our upcoming free, “How to Pass the California Bar Exam” Workshop, complete the reservation request form below. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 22nd in Los Angeles. Please understand that space is limited. Reservations will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, see my earlier post: Free Score Review & Free Workshop

California Bar Exam Tips: Free Workshops and Free Score Review

Hello All,

If you failed the February 2013 bar exam, you should know that you are not alone. The complete statistics will be available on the California bar website soon. Each year, pass rates for the February bar exams are usually lower than the pass rates for July. Typically, the February bar exam pass rates range between 39% and 50%. So, if you did not pass, you know that you are among a significant number of people who are in the very same position.

What do I do now?

So what do you do now? Do you take another bar review course? Do you hire a private tutor? Do you study on your own? The answers to those questions will be different for everyone. First, you need to properly evaluate why it is that you failed. Second, consider attending one of our free bar exam workshops.

Free Bar Exam Workshops

Our next free “How To Pass The California Bar Exam Workshop” will be held on May 22nd. We will host additional workshops, but we always suggest that you attend as soon as possible to allow yourself the greatest opportunity to benefit from the strategies and techniques covered in our workshops. Here are the details for next week’s workshop:

Los Angeles County Workshop
“How to Pass the California Bar Exam”
Date: Wednesday, May 22nd from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Instructor: Professor Duncanson
Location: Los Angeles, California (adjacent to the 405 freeway, parking is free)

Workshop attendees will receive handouts (including free bar exam writing templates and MBE handouts), instruction on how to write for the California bar examiners, test taking strategies and techniques, how to simply make sense of failing and move forward as well has have an opportunity to meet with our course instructor. This workshop will be taught by Professor Duncanson (Bar None Review Bar Review course founder and author of The Bar Exam Guru Blog).

Space is limited. To make a reservation for this workshop, please contact us via email at: pass@barnonereview.com or you may call us at: (213) 529-0990 or (949) 891-8831.

Free Bar Exam Score Review

We provide, for a limited period of time (as our classes and private tutoring obligations begin and then we are just not available to provide this service) a free review of your past bar scores. In order to participate in this program, you will need to send your scores to pass@barnonereview.com. We only accept scanned in score sheets or faxed scores sheets at this time (we do not accept your typed in scores in an email). We have to be sure that we are dealing with you. In addition, provide a phone number where you can be reached (all score reviews and evaluations are conducted via phone). If you would like to send your score sheet to us via fax, simply send us an email and we will provide you our fax number.

Why should I have my scores reviewed?

As a repeat bar examinee, the first step to passing the next bar exam is to review your bar exam score sheet. This can be a very confusing piece of paper. Partly because it is simply just painful to look at. Here you are, you have just received the terrible news that you have failed the bar exam and now you have to make sense of the scores. In my experience, examinees very often do not understand how the scaling works or what equals a passing “raw” score. So hopefully, what follows below will be of help to you.

Because the scoring of the California Bar Exam is scaled, it is not easy to understand what a given raw score means nor is it clear where you will need to focus from numbers alone. For example, if an examinee scores consistently the same scores on their essays (i.e., all sixties or three fifty-fives and three sixties) it will indicate a different problem than an examinee whose scores have a greater range (i.e., one 45, one 75, two 65s and two 60s etc.).

What is a passing raw score for an essay or performance test?

First of all, the raw score that is passing for the essays, performance tests and the MBEs varies from bar exam to bar exam. Most examinees incorrectly believe that a 70 is always required to pass an essay. However, this is simply not the case. In the past several bar rounds, a passing raw score on the essay has been as low as a 61 and as high as a 63 – not a 70. Of course, a 70 is a much better score to receive and better yet, 80s are really what you should be shooting for – this is the score we do our best to teach our students to be able to achieve consistently.

What is a passing raw score for the MBE?

The passing raw score for the MBE in the past few years has gone down dramatically. Several years ago, to pass the MBE portion of the exam you really needed to achieve at least 70% correct (a raw score of 140). However, in the past couple of years, the raw passing score has been between 62% – 66% (a raw score of 124 to 133). However, your practice scores should be much, much higher to ensure that you will do well enough on the MBE portion on the actual exam day.

Once the California bar releases the full statistics, some of these numbers will become more clear. However, what is most important is where you are – how far away from passing were you really? Most examinees that I speak with are quite off base when they call in to discuss their scores. There is a lot of misinformation out there. I have been following message boards and I am shocked at how little examinees know about how the test is scored. This is the fault of both law schools and bar preparation courses. It can be incredibly helpful to have someone who is knowledgeable about it to help you interpret your scores. This is really the first step in figuring out what you need or don’t need.

Free Downloads & Further Assistance

Also, be sure to visit our bar review course website free downloads of some of our Bar Exam Writing Templates as well as advice for those who are repeating the bar exam. Click here for additional Repeat Taker Information and click here for free downloads of some of The Exam Writing Templates.

Good luck to you and do not give up, this exam is do-able!

Thank you for reading and please feel free to leave a comment here on my blog or to email me directly at: pass@barnonereview.com

Good luck in your studies!

Sincerely,

Lisa Duncanson
Program Director/Founder
Bar None Review
(213) 529-0990
barnonereview.com

California Bar Exam – This is why I do what I do . . .

First of all, thank you for following the blog. It is quite a humbling thing to hear from so many of you, I really appreciate it.

And, this email just came in from one of our students who took our Two Day Bar Exam Cram Session . . . this is why I do what I do (so rewarding):

Click on this image to see it in a larger view . . . This is why I love what I do so much!

(Click on the image to see the full text and a larger view)

Our next Bar Exam Cram Session for the July 2013 Bar Exam will be held on Saturday, June 1st and Sunday, June 2nd.

Stay tuned for more details on enrollment. Additional dates will be held in July.

Locations include: Los Angeles, Irvine and San Francisco.

California Bar Exam Delays Release of Exam Questions

Twice a year the Los Angeles Daily Journal publishes a Bar Exam Results Issue of their paper. This issue is specifically geared towards those who are about to take, and who have just taken, the bar exam. In each issue (it is published twice a year to coincide with the release of the California bar exam results) the Los Angeles Daily Journal publishes the California bar exam pass list (all of the names of those who successfully took the most recent bar exam). Everyone waiting for results from the February 2013 bar exam certainly hopes to be on that list. The paper comes out just a few days after examinees receive their bar results online.

Years ago, examinees did not get the news that they passed by going on the internet. Instead, we got letters. When I passed the bar exam in 1994, the California bar examiners did something new – they set up a staff to answer the phones and we were allowed to call in and get our results over the phone. It took me 45 minutes to get through . . . what seemed like forever. We still got a letter (a few days later) and we still had the Los Angeles Daily Journal (and even some other newspapers) that published the pass list. For some, before you could get your results online, the Los Angeles Daily Journal was the first place that an examinee would learn whether they passed the bar exam or not because the letters did not always arrive before the pass list came out in the paper.

So this year the Los Angeles Daily Journal will be publishing, as they always do, the pass list from the most recent bar exam. However, what you will not see this year, is the publication of the most recent bar exam questions. As some of you know, the past questions (all six essays and both performance tests) are published in The Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Bar Results issue along with “model” answers. The model answers are typically written by individuals who do bar exam prep. I write pretty much every year and have for I think a decade now. I enjoy it and it has been an honor to be chosen year after year to write for the Los Angeles Daily Journal.

But, this year, the California bar will not release the questions from the February 2013 bar exam until “sometime in July”. This is unusual. I do not know the reason. But, it is what I am told. And, as a result, The Los Angeles Daily Journal’s Bar Results Issue will not contain the questions or model answers to the most recent bar exam. Instead, they will publish the questions, along with model answers, from February 2012. I will be writing an answer to Question 2, the Constitutional Law essay.

It is an interesting turn of events. I know first hand from my work with repeat bar takers, that examinees who have failed will be very interested in seeing the test questions from their most recent exam. And, there is always a high degree of interest in seeing “model” answers so that a person can get a sense of where they might need to improve and gain insight as to what went wrong.

It is not impossible to do this without the actual test questions, but, it will be harder. The same skills are required to pass the bar exam each bar round. As a result, it is not a requirement to see the past set of essays and performance tests in order to succeed on the next exam. However, psychologically, I think that for examinees who find out they have just failed the February 2013 bar exam, I do think it will be harder not being able to see the actual questions until sometime in July.

*Note: I have not spoken directly to the California bar regarding the release of the exam questions. I learned this information the same day the Los Angeles Daily Journal learned that the questions would not be available in time for their Bar Results issue that comes out in May. The California bar may decide to release the questions earlier than July. However, at the moment, this is the information I have been told – that the questions will not be released until “sometime in July”.

Bar Exam: Coming Soon – Civil Procedure on the MBE!

Hello All,

In case you haven’t already heard, Civil Procedure will be added to the Multi-State Bar Exam in 2015. We have been preparing for this important change since it was announced by the NCBE. See the New York Law Journal’s coverage of this important change to the bar exam here.

And now, something completely different . . .Some favorite tweets from some of our followers . . . Makes me smile . . . :)

 

California Bar Exam: Day Three – Reaching the Finish Line!

Hello All,

By now you have taken essays 4, 5 and 6 and know that Essay number 4 was Product Liability, Essay number 5 was Civil Procedure crossed with Evidence and Essay number 6 was Business Organizations (Partnerships and Corporations) all appeared on today’s exam.

I would not be surprised if today’s PT involved Constitutional Law . . . but, of course, anything is possible  . . . including some Professional Responsibility.

I am anxious to hear what was on the Performance Test. So . . . when you have a chance . . . and if you are so inclined . . . please email me at: pass@barnonereview.com with any details.

Al the best to all who are taking the exam today!

Sincerely,

Lisa Duncanson

California Bar Exam Tips: Possible Cross-Over

Hello All,

I have received a number of emails asking for an example of how Professional Responsibility and Torts could show up  together on an essay.

Here is one example of  a possible scenarios of Torts and Professional Responsibility tested together as a cross-over:

Abuse of Process, Malicious Prosecution and Professional Responsibility: One past bar exam fact pattern tested Process Torts in the context of PR in this way: Attorney is hired by client to sue on their behalf for a Tort cause of action (past exams have included defamation or negligence). Attorney misses statute of limitations, but files cause of action on behalf of client despite knowledge that the underlying cause of action is time barred. Client then has a cause of action for negligence against attorney (watch for calls of question – the examiners may limit your discussion) for failing to file claim on time, but, to prevail in negligence cause of action against attorney, client would have to prove that he/she would have prevailed in the underlying claim. Attorney is liable for abuse of process and/or malicious prosecution (depending upon how the call of the question(s) is/are asked) to the party attorney has filed the time barred action against on behalf of his client. The PR issue comes up in a light way – and would generally be asked of you by the call of the question. Issues in PR that could arise from this fact pattern would include: duty of competence (breach of), duty of diligence (failure to complete matter in a timely fashion), duty to the tribunal (breach of this duty by filing a claim that is time barred).

I will do my best to provide an additional example for a Torts/PR cross-over or other cross-over scenarios – do not stay up for it – get some rest if you can and check in tomorrow morning. If I provide any more this evening . . . it will be a quick read.

Other obvious cross-over areas are:

Wills & Trusts, Corporations and PR, Trusts and PR

Whatever you see subject wise tomorrow, remember to focus on problem solving, use headings, force a visual structure on your exam.

All the best to you tomorrow!

Lisa Duncanson

California Bar Exam Tips: “Predictions” for Day Three’s Essays & Performance Test

Hello All,

Congratulations on being 2/3 of the way done with the California Bar Exam.

Hopefully by now you are resting, have had a healthy meal and may be doing a light review of topics for tomorrow.

We had an issue with the site crashing (more bandwidth next bar round – even the California bar exam’s website has crashed in past years due to heavy traffic – so I guess my site is not immune either).

So, the long awaited “predictions” for day three’s essays and some tips and suggestions regarding tomorrow’s performance test . . .

DAY THREE – ESSAY “PREDICTIONS”:

The caveat (I know you have read it in previous posts) again is that no one can predict this exam. So far Criminal Law, Professional Responsibility and Tort Remedies (possibly some other Remedies too) were tested on day one. PTA was an objective writing assignment that involved a restrictive covenant.

None of the above was a surprise subject wise. Everyone expected Criminal Law (but, many were expecting a murder essay). I certainly expected to see a full Professional Responsibility essay and Tort Remedies was also on our list. Since the subjects I was expecting have shown up, I am not varying my earlier “predictions” much.

So here is the short hand version:

I still think that Torts is a real possibility. Many examinees will presume that Torts is not going to be tested since there was an issue of conversion on yesterday’s exam. However, I still think that Torts is equally likely to show up. I also would think it would be highly likely to see a cross-over exam. Torts makes for a good cross-over with Professional Responsibility.
I have not changed my mind much about the “predicted” topics. Therefore, I would most definitely look over Constitutional Law (I feel this is quite likely – I have posted a Constitutional Law Essay here on the blog in an earlier post – I do recommend that you read or re-read my prior posts on Con Law – you will find the Constitutional Law Essay and an approach that may come in handy).
I also feel that Civil Procedure is possible. (Again, I am not changing my mind much about my earlier predictions. Due to yesterday’s PT that involved a non-compete clause (so I am told) I am a bit less inclined to think that a Property essay is as likely. However, ANYTHING is possible. Looking over what has NOT been tested within the area of Property in some time – Covenants, Equitable Servitudes and Easements are all areas within Property that have not shown up incredibly recently.
Essentially, you know that you need to be prepared for anything. That does not mean that you need to know every single rule statement perfectly. But, if you have any subject that you are particularly dreading seeing tomorrow – then regardless of my “predictions” that is where I would spend some of my time if I were you.
Many are predicting Corporations – it is certainly possible – but not my first pick right now.
Professional Responsibility OFTEN repeats as part of a question on day three – so be sure to review PR.
Evidence always makes for a good cross over and could repeat.
I will be writing more in the next 20 minutes or so . . . I just want to get these basic “predictions” up right now. For those of you who have been following the blog – there is nothing really all that new.
Please check back in for other possible suggested essay scenarios – these will only take a few minutes to read and will be worthwhile – especially if you actually see it on tomorrow’s exam.
PERFORMANCE TEST TIPS:
Most would predict a persuasive PT for tomorrow. While I would tend to agree, the most important thing is to simply follow instructions to a T. PT A (from what I have heard) seems to have been fairly straightforward and was an objective assignment.
I would expect that perhaps PTB would include more cases, and or statutes and could possibly require you to write multiple documents.
However, if I had to pick a particular type of PT for tomorrow, I would pick an appellate brief. This may or may not be what you get, of course. But, in the event that you do . . . pay close attention to which parts of the “brief” you are asked to write. For example, on past Performance Tests, examinees were asked to write an Appellate Brief (in the senior partner memo – or assigning memo) but were also instructed in that same memo (to you, the applicant) to only write certain sections of the brief. In these past exams, there was an internal/firm-wide/”to all associates” memo within the case file that provided instructions on how all appellate briefs should be written. Often, examinees will follow that second “firm wide” memo to all associates blindly, disregarding the instructions from the Senior Partner memo to “only write sections . . . ” etc.
Just be careful, read very carefully and remember, the PT is form over substance and you must, must, must, above all . . . FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS.
Keep your wits about you, you can do this!
All the best to all who are studying for the exam!
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