Goals:
Bar Exam prep class builds on the analytical, writing, and organizational skills that students have used during their law school years with the goal of enhancing students’ ability to prepare for the bar exam upon graduation. Although the most intensive preparation for the bar will occur in the six to eight weeks before the bar exam, this class will give students a foundational jump-start by introducing them to:
- The format and components of the bar exam;
- The scope of the bar exam taking task
- Test-specific strategies for the MPT, Essay Writing, and MBE
- Bar exam specific study and organizational skills.
This course is not intended to replace commercial bar preparation courses. It will complement such courses well and it will enhance critical reading, thinking, and writing skills to maximize the chances of success on the bar exam.
Information about Prep Class:
(click to expand)
Class meetings:
Class meets once a week for 1 hr. 45 minutes.
Class begins January 30 to March 30, 2012 (9 weeks).
Scope of Class:
This class will focus on 3 aspects of bar exams: the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), the essay writing on the bar, and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT). Focus will be devoted to components of each test so that students know what to expect and strategies to adopt for successful performance on each test. Students will:
Learn review methods for tested areas of law;
Complete practice essay, multiple-choice and performance test questions;
Engage in small-group learning during class, and
Receive individual feedback on written answers.
Brief Description of Each Test:
MPT: The Multistate Performance Test is a two 90-minute test. The MPT is designed to test an examinee’s ability to use fundamental lawyering skills in a realistic situation. Each test evaluates an examinee ’s ability to complete a task that a beginning lawyer should be able to accomplish.
State Essay or MEE: The purpose of either the essay tests by the states , or the MEE (which is developed by the NCBE)is to evaluate the examinee’s ability to (1) identify legal issues raised by a hypothetical factual situation; (2) separate material which is relevant from that which is not; (3) present a reasoned analysis of the relevant issues in a clear, concise, and well-organized composition; and (4) demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental legal principles relevant to the probable solution of the issues raised by the factual situation.
MBE: The purpose of the MBE is to assess the extent to which an examinee can apply fundamental legal principles and legal reasoning to analyze given fact patterns. The MBE contains 200 multiple-choice questions. The exam is divided into morning and afternoon testing sessions of three hours each, with 100 questions in each session. The 190 scored questions on the MBE are distributed as follows: Constitutional Law (31), Contracts (33), Criminal Law and Procedure (31), Evidence (31), Real Property (31), and Torts (33).
Register For Prep Class:
(click to expand)- Class meets once a week for 1 hr. 45 minutes
- Class begins January 30 to March 30, 2012 (9 weeks)
- Expectations:
- Commitment to regular attendance each week
- Commitment to class participation especially during small group exercises
- Commitment to completing homework assignments
- Commitment to helping to evaluate the class
- Register for one of the sessions by clicking on a link below:
- Registration is closed for the current semester. The course will be offered again in the Fall, 2012, and registration will open when course registration begins late Spring semester.
