Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re discussing the specific things bar graders are looking for as they are going through stacks of student answers in a limited amount of time.
In this episode we discuss:
- Making each important issue stand out so it’s easy to spot since the bar grader is reading your answer quickly
- Using the facts given in the question precisely
- Not focusing on extra law that you know, since it won’t bring you more points
- The pitfall of circular reasoning
- Using IRAC and CRAC where appropriate, as well as headers and clear paragraphs to give structure to your writing
- How bar graders can tell if you were panicking, running out of time, or planning as you wrote
- Practicing and getting feedback so you can get used to how the exam is graded
Thanks for listening!
Listen Now:
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Resources:
- Writing of the Week (WOW) Bar Essay Workshop
- SmartBarPrep
- Lean Sheets
- BarEssays.com
- Law School Toolbox blog: Legal Writing Tip: Imagine You’re Talking to Your Grandma
- Podcast Episode 10: Top 5 Bar Exam Essay Writing Tips (w/Ariel Salzer)
- Podcast Episode 20: How to Read the Facts on an Essay (w/Mihal Ansik)
- Podcast Episode 28: Balancing Law and Analysis on a Bar Exam Essay
- Podcast Episode 24: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Professional Responsibility and Evidence
- Podcast Episode 32: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Wills and Community Property
- Podcast Episode 35: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Corporations
- Podcast Episode 44: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Constitutional Law
- Podcast Episode 49: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Tort Law
- Podcast Episode 37: Tackling an MEE Secured Transactions Essay Question
- Podcast Episode 41: Tackling an MEE Family Law and Conflicts of Law Essay Question
Prefer to read? Download the Transcript
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