Hello Everyone,
The July 2012 Essay and Performance Test questions are now available on the California bar exam website, click here to download the questions.
I will start reviewing the essays today and provide my initial thoughts.
Good luck to all who are waiting for bar exam results!
Lisa Duncanson
Program Director/Founder
Bar None Review
barnonereview.com
Hello Everyone,
I have received a number of emails in the past couple of days as well as a few phone calls asking that I provide some type of “rehash” or “rundown” of day three’s essay exams.
Day three is always more difficult to assess because fewer people actually provide me with their take on what was on the exam on day three and I receive less detail from examinees about what was on day three. I believe the reason for this is simply because there are no more essays after day three and so there is no need to provide me detail from which to alter my “predictions” – since there are no more essays. On day one of the bar exam I receive hundreds of emails with great detail about what was tested in the hopes that this will enable me to make better predictions for day three. Also, in my opinion, it is much less important to review day three’s essays as it does not affect anything – you are done with the exam. But, I do realize (from recent emails and phone calls) that it is something that some of you would like me to do.
I am very grateful to those of you who follow my blog and I want to provide what you want. So, I will go through the emails that I did receive after day three’s essays and provide my thoughts. I am in the midst of preparing students for the Baby Bar Exam. But, I should be able to provide my thoughts on day three in the next few days. So that you do not have to keep checking this blog, consider subscribing to the blog and you will receive an update as soon as I post.
Thank you again for following my blog!
Lisa Duncanson
Program Director/Founder
Bar None Review
barnonereview.com
Hello All,
I have been blogging for several years, but have only recently joined twitter and facebook as the Bar Exam Guru. So, if you like this blog, please show your support by following me on twitter and liking my new face book page. There are follow and like buttons to the right of this post. 🙂
Best of luck to those who are awaiting bar results!
Hello All,
I hope, like me, you have been able to take a break and enjoy the rest of your summer. I also want to thank those of you again who read my story of my battle with cancer (here) and made a donation. A few have done so anonymously and I was unable to thank you personally. I am deeply humbled. Please know that it is so appreciated.
So, as promised, I am back to answer some of the most commonly asked questions that I receive from those who are awaiting bar results.
One of the most common questions examinees ask is whether or not they should study while they wait for their bar exam results. My answer depends upon two things: 1) whether you took the July bar exam or the February bar exam and 2) whether you are a worrier or not.
JULY vs. FEBRUARY: If you have taken the July bar exam and are currently waiting for bar results, then my answer to you would be that it is safe for you to put your books away and wait for bar results. Here is why: because of the timing of the July bar exam results (November 16th) those who find out they did not pass the July bar exam, will know enough in advance to still adequately prepare for the next bar exam (the February bar exam). Since results come out on November 16, 2012, examinees who find out they failed the July 2012 bar exam will have almost 3 months to study for the February 2013 bar exam.
However, if you were awaiting results from a February bar examination, then your results will come at the end of May – only about eight weeks before the next July bar exam. This does not leave a lot of time to study before the next exam. As a result, my advice to February examinees is generally to study some in advance of the results so that in the event you do not pass the February bar exam you have already hedged your bet for the next bar round by reviewing early.
WORRIERS: For those of you who tend to worry more than others (and don’t get me wrong, worrying about your bar results just comes naturally, but some of us worry a lot more about things in general than others do) then it will just make sense for you to study at least some while you are awaiting your results.
So, what did I do when I took the bar? Well, after I packed up my bar review materials, lugged them back home after I took the last day of the bar exam, I didn’t turn another page in those books again. BUT, the week before bar results I tortured myself over the fact that I didn’t continue studying after taking the bar exam . . . what if I failed?
Well, fortunately I passed. But, I look at it this way: if you are worried about it, then go ahead and review your outlines for the MBE topics and even take a few MBE practice questions. If you receive passing results in November, you won’t be angry with yourself because you wasted a few hours studying while you waited for bar results. On the other hand, if you find out in November that you did not pass the bar exam, then at least you have a jump start on your studies.
In any event, I wish you the very best of luck to those of you who are waiting for bar results!
Lisa Duncanson
Program Director/Founder
Bar None Review
barnonereview.com
