Bar Exam Toolbox Blog

What I Learned From The Bar Exam (Besides The Law)

February 22, 2021 By Hillary Vaillancourt Leave a Comment

I think it’s probably safe to say that the bar exam in 2020 was a bit of a disaster. So many news stories, headlines, and examples of the bar exam gone wrong. In several lawyer groups I’m involved in, there have been frequent complaints, disparaging comments, and outright arguments about the bar exam and its usefulness. Comments like, “Just let students apprentice!” or “I never learned a thing from the bar” are all too common.

Love the bar or hate it, I can honestly say that I learned a great deal from the bar exam. [Read more…] about What I Learned From The Bar Exam (Besides The Law)

Podcast Episode 122: Listen and Learn — Easements (Real Property)

February 16, 2021 By Bar Exam Toolbox Leave a Comment

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, in an episode of our “Listen and Learn” series, we’re discussing easements, which is one of the more common Real Property topics on bar exam essays.

In this episode we discuss:

Easements – the rule statement
Three important questions to consider when thinking about easements
The different ways in which an easement can be created
The two main types of easements
How an easement could end
Analyzing two Real Property hypos, from the July 2016 and February 2007 California bar exams

Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 122: Listen and Learn — Easements (Real Property)

What To Do The Week Before The Bar Exam

February 15, 2021 By Hillary Vaillancourt Leave a Comment

For years I’ve run half marathons including the Philadelphia Half Marathon, Disneyworld Half Marathon, and Colonial Williamsburg Half Marathon. Each race has its unique challenges. Some have higher elevations. Some have flat courses, which surprisingly are challenging in a different way than hilly races. But, one part of running races remains the same no matter where the course is: tapering.

Tapering is a concept where a runner begins to reduce the intensity and length of their workouts before a big event. Generally, a twelve-week training plan will peak at about week eight or nine, meaning the longest run of the entire training plan will be at week eight or nine rather than week twelve or race-day.

The reasoning behind this race strategy is that the body needs time to recover after a strenuous training cycle in order to be in top shape come race day. The same can be said for studying for the bar.

Rest is a critical component to any quality bar-prep program. Even (and perhaps especially) the week before the bar exam.

Podcast Episode 121: Listen and Learn — Character Evidence

February 9, 2021 By Bar Exam Toolbox Leave a Comment

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re talking about the Federal Rules of Evidence, and how to apply the rules of character evidence to both civil and criminal case hypos.

In this episode we discuss:

In what cases character evidence may be admissible in court
The difference in the rules of character evidence for civil and criminal cases
How character evidence is presented in direct examination vs. cross examination
Going through two hypos, from the July 2010 and February 2016 California bar exams
Using a “Where, What, Why, Who, When, and How” framework to analyze fact patterns

Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 121: Listen and Learn — Character Evidence

Are You Ready for the Online Bar Exam? Ten Tips to Help You Prepare

February 8, 2021 By Christen Morgan Leave a Comment

If you are sitting for the bar exam in 2021, there is a very big chance that you will take this exam remotely online. The COVID-19 pandemic placed the bar exam in a frenzy. Jurisdictions had to quickly devise a plan for 2020 bar examinees who were uncertain what their bar prospects would be. Some examinees had to still sit the exam in person, some got to waive the bar requirement through diploma privilege, whereas the majority of others, had to complete a remote online exam.

Were people skeptical? Yes. Were there hiccups? Absolutely. However, with COVID-19 numbers continuing to remain high, it seems that online testing may be here to stay for some time. So, let’s make sure you’re prepared!

Here are ten tips to get you prepared for the remote online bar exam this year. [Read more…] about Are You Ready for the Online Bar Exam? Ten Tips to Help You Prepare

You Have Two Weeks of Bar Prep Remaining, Have You Completed This Checklist?

February 3, 2021 By Christen Morgan Leave a Comment

February 2021. The second month of the new year and thankfully two months after 2020. The month that we celebrate Black history, and also the month of the dreaded bar exam. After much back and forth about whether a bar exam would even be administered, it appears that all US jurisdictions that issue a February sitting of the exam have decided to follow through with the bar and for the most part to do so remotely.

As we inch closer and closer to February 23 and 24, the dates that the bar exam will be administered in most jurisdictions, examinees should begin getting to the end of their bar prep checklists. If you’re asking what exactly a bar prep checklist is or looking for ways to supplement your current checklist, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, I will be digging into some helpful checklist items that can assist you through your final two weeks of bar prep. [Read more…] about You Have Two Weeks of Bar Prep Remaining, Have You Completed This Checklist?

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