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woozle wuzzle posted:
Looking at past essay exams & model answer outlines from VBBE (available on a few school's websites for those taking VA, like William & Mary), I've encountered maybe 2 questions that would take 30 minutes to write out an answer. Most of the questions are straight-forward and require simple answers. It doesn't take long to explain the Anti-Lapse statute and apply it to a fact, or explain the intestate succession order and apply it to the survivors, or explain that the second will and first will overlap in some areas but not others, etc. The questions are WAY more shallow than typical law school exams, at least the ones I took. Also I am a fast test-taker. I was always the 1st or 2nd out of the room in every class. I've never finished an exam with less than an hour left. Finished (BARELY) in the Top 1/3 of my class, so it's not like I was just throwing slop on paper to get a passing grade. I made decent grades, usually B+ or A-. My REAL worry is how well I actually learned everything doing self-study instead of a bar-prep course. If I fail it will be because my outlines were missing something or because I run across questions testing concepts that haven't appeared on past essay questions over the last decade. I really hope I'm not in here whining about having to study again and retake in February after results get released. Ugh.
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Jul 21, 2012 15:37
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Oh boy... Dude... Duuuuuuuude... I'm a fast test-taker too. So that meant I was out like 30 minutes before my friends (I was in like top 5% fastest out of the room). That means I was still taking the exam for over 5 hours. So yeah, let's assume 30 minutes per question. Times 9. So you're writing for 4.5 hours straight (plus short answer). But if you only have 4.5 hours of writing stamina, it means you're crapping out on the last question. Did you handwrite your law school exams? Did they last 5 hours? START WRITING NOW. DON'T STOP!
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Jul 21, 2012 16:08
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woozle wuzzle posted:Oh boy... Dude... Duuuuuuuude... Don't know if the format was different when you took it, but you only take 5 questions, then a 1.5 hour lunch break, then 4 questions and 10 short answer. Also I hand-wrote exams whenever the option was available and always took notes by hand. Only ever used laptop on exams that required it. I'll be fine with writing. It's knowing everything I need to know that concerns me.
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Jul 21, 2012 16:14
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I was literally first person done with the VA bar my year.
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Jul 21, 2012 16:25
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I seriously cannot stand Commercial Paper, Creditor's Rights, and Secured Transactions. GOOD THING THE LAST TWO HAVEN'T BEEN ON THE EXAM SINCE 2009 AND WILL PROBABLY SHOW UP. Also between posting here I just did an essay exam (Qs #1-5) from 2007 in 1 hour. I'LL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO CONTEMPLATE SUICIDE WHILE STARING BLANKLY AT THOSE SECURED TRANSACTION AND CREDITOR'S RIGHTS QUESTIONS. Kill Me. Boosted_C5 fucked around with this message at 16:47 on Jul 21, 2012 |
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Jul 21, 2012 16:45
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Secured transactions is easy, just go with whoever perfected first, or, if there's any confusion as to who is perfected, go with whichever disposition is least equitable or satisfying to the parties involved.
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Jul 21, 2012 17:37
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HolySwissCheese posted:Secured transactions is easy, just go with whoever perfected first, or, if there's any confusion as to who is perfected, go with whichever disposition is least equitable or satisfying to the parties involved. Perfection by (1) Filing Financing Statement w/ VA SCC, (2) Possession/Control Requirements of Security Agreement --> (1) Creditor gives Value, (2) Debtor has rights in collateral, (3) Debtor signs/authenticates written security agreement. If I can at least regurgitate this crap maybe I'll get enough points to pass. EDIT --- I don't know why I'm getting nervous now. The 25-30% who fail have to include a lot of people who didn't study, have poor memorization skills, went to garbage schools because they're poor test takers, etc. My odds have to be better than 70%, right??? Plus I am a freaking stay-at-home dad. Whether or not I pass I'll just be playing Mr. Mom for the foreseeable future. It will all be OK. It will all be OK. It will all be OK. Boosted_C5 fucked around with this message at 17:46 on Jul 21, 2012 |
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Jul 21, 2012 17:44
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Boosted_C5 posted:Perfection by (1) Filing Financing Statement w/ VA SCC, (2) Possession/Control At least in Texas, you just have to write "files statement with appropriate recording office" A big gotcha on our exam is that someone will have an interest in real property (e.g. fixtures) but records it with the Sec of State will have inferior claim re someone who files at the local county real estate office.
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Jul 21, 2012 17:49
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HolySwissCheese posted:At least in Texas, you just have to write "files statement with appropriate recording office" Yeah in Virginia you're supposed to file a UCC-1 Financing Statement with the State Corporations Commission. At least I think that's right based on my outlines. For all I know it's wrong and all the BarBri people will have the right answer and I won't because I got rejected for a Bar study loan since my credit sucks thanks to law school and I couldn't pay out of pocket because the Virginia Bar extorted my last ~$800 out of me for the privilege of being miserable for 3 months before killing myself in front of 1500 people in a hot, dingy arena on Tuesday.
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Jul 21, 2012 17:56
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BREATHE, man. I know people who have been drunk since graduation who are still going to pass. We'll be fine. Man, this thread is going to be a hot mess this week.
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Jul 21, 2012 17:56
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Woozle Wuzzle, aren't you the Solo VA Bankruptcy guy I talked to in here a while back?
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Jul 21, 2012 18:08
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prolly  That fits my desription. That's the same format. If you're used to writing that much you'll be OK I guess. Just a lot of my friends came out of the writing sessions with their arm hanging limply by their side and grimaces of horror.
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Jul 21, 2012 19:57
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Boosted_C5 posted:I seriously cannot stand Commercial Paper, Creditor's Rights, and Secured Transactions. I remember have all 3 (as well as a bunch of order vs bearer check/note questions) when I took the Regulation part of the CPA exam (for the 20% legal portion) - there really aren't too many variations on the legal concepts from what I recall.
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Jul 21, 2012 20:03
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Baruch Obamawitz posted:I was literally first person done with the VA bar my year.
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Jul 21, 2012 20:16
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Zarkov Cortez posted:I was making the Crown fly their toxicologist from half way across the country to a rural town for a drive impaired by drug so that I could ask them one question to point out that there are no quantities listed in their report. They ended up arranging a teleconference thing though. I also made their DRE evaluator testify in person rather than allow his report to go in, but that produced some good evidence on cross for their lack of experience or training dealing with people who were extremely tired.
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Jul 21, 2012 20:46
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I hand-wrote my essays on the NC bar and it was fine. No worries bro
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Jul 21, 2012 21:11
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Linguica posted:And then everyone stood up and clapped as you moonwalked out of the hall, right I think they were busy taking the test...
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Jul 22, 2012 00:22
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Baruch Obamawitz posted:I think they were busy taking the test... Liar! We know you exited to "Ain't no stopping us now", now be forthright with us. 
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Jul 22, 2012 00:46
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ThirdPartyView posted:Liar! We know you exited to "Ain't no stopping us now", now be forthright with us. No, he left to the whole hall thinking, "Look at that idiot, he's giving up."
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Jul 22, 2012 00:59
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I was the first one done at my testing place (all 3 days) too. I passed by the skin of my teeth so I should have spent more time on it. NM, I got those looks too. "aww come on buddy hang in there". Roger_Mudd fucked around with this message at 01:28 on Jul 22, 2012 |
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Jul 22, 2012 01:26
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Zarkov Cortez posted:I was making the Crown fly their toxicologist from half way across the country to a rural town for a drive impaired by drug so that I could ask them one question to point out that there are no quantities listed in their report. They ended up arranging a teleconference thing though. I also made their DRE evaluator testify in person rather than allow his report to go in, but that produced some good evidence on cross for their lack of experience or training dealing with people who were extremely tired. So you actually did something, rather than have them brought in to court just so you can go, "oh well it seems like you got them in, we're ready to plead/stipulate now". Although, you could of course just stipulate to the fact that no quantities were listed, but whatever, maybe you wanted some dramatic scene to take place in court. At any rate, the author of the letter I was quoting didn't deserve any sympathy. EDIT: If some moron defence attorney wrote me a letter saying "gently caress you", I'd probably just stick it up on the wall next to my massive american flag for everyone to chuckle at Agesilaus fucked around with this message at 01:57 on Jul 22, 2012 |
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Jul 22, 2012 01:52
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I hand wrote my bar exam, no biggie. I recommend handwriting, actually.
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Jul 22, 2012 02:03
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We have to in Michigan. Anybody else taken the NCBEX practice exams? J Miracle indicated they might actually predict success okay. If they do, I'm gonna be totally and completely fine cause them things is super easy, it turns out
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Jul 22, 2012 03:23
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Oh, Kaplan essay graders. You pricks. Florida requires a 136 on Part A (Florida) and a 136 on Part B (MBE). If you fall short on one of the exams, an average score of Parts A & B may qualify you to pass both parts. Does anybody have any idea approximately how many right answers are required on the MBE to get 136? (roughly, like a rule of thumb). I cannot find any reliable information on this. So I am asking goons.
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Jul 22, 2012 04:03
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buzzsaw.gif posted:Oh, Kaplan essay graders. You pricks. quote:Average scores
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Jul 22, 2012 04:31
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Feces Starship posted:Anybody else taken the NCBEX practice exams? J Miracle indicated they might actually predict success okay. If they do, I'm gonna be totally and completely fine cause them things is super easy, it turns out Yeah. Before even studying anything in May I was averaging 126 Raw Scores on old MBE questions. Kaplan and BarBri are brutal compared to actual questions. When I moved to PMBR Early Bird Questions I was only averaging 50% correct. Every question missed = writing down the rule in a word file called "MBE Trouble Areas", and writing down each question number on a piece of paper to re-test a month later. When I went back to do questions I missed 2 weeks ago, I average 140 Raw, although I think I did a bit better than I should have due to memory and familiarity. I saved my 2010 BarBri Simulated Final book I bough on E-Bay for the last week. A lot of people found the Simulated Final to be absurd, so I wanted something hard for last. 47 correct out of 80 so far, 20 questions to go. So on pace for a 118 Raw. On the actual MBE you only need about 62% correct or a raw 124 to get 140 scaled. I'm mostly just studying for the essay exam now and planning on doing MBE cramming for 3-4 hours Tuesday night after the essay day is over.
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Jul 22, 2012 13:06
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The actual exam is tough, sure. But the months of agonizing about whether you failed are way, WAY worse. But I'm sure everyone here will pass! Hahaha!
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Jul 22, 2012 13:50
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buzzsaw.gif posted:Oh, Kaplan essay graders. You pricks.
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Jul 22, 2012 15:47
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Feces Starship posted:We have to in Michigan. Yep. I took them and they reflected how I did on the actual MBE way closer than Barbri's simulation did. Never forget that Barbri's job is to scare the poo poo out of you Phil Moscowitz posted:The actual exam is tough, sure. But the months of agonizing about whether you failed are way, WAY worse. So so true
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Jul 22, 2012 18:05
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Phil Moscowitz posted:The actual exam is tough, sure. But the months of agonizing about whether you failed are way, WAY worse. Statistically, some of the posters here are doomed to fail. It's only a matter of time before they receive notice of that failure, and then they'll have a lifetime to deal with the fall-out: jobless, humiliated, and crushed under the burden of an unpayable student loan debt...
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Jul 22, 2012 20:01
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Agesilaus posted:Statistically, some of the posters here are doomed to fail. It's only a matter of time before they receive notice of that failure, and then they'll have a lifetime to deal with the fall-out: jobless, humiliated, and crushed under the burden of an unpayable student loan debt... Until February 
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Jul 22, 2012 20:06
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Phil Moscowitz posted:The actual exam is tough, sure. But the months of agonizing about whether you failed are way, WAY worse.
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Jul 22, 2012 20:20
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I'm not going to worry about it. Gonna play with my son, play video games while he naps, and stay up late watching TV. If I fail the test is B.S. Now is the time for worry and panic. Also can anyone good at math explain how Virginia grades exams for me? They (VBBE) state the following 4 things: 1. Passing = Combined Scaled Score of 140 2. MBE weighted 40%, State Essays/Short Answer weighted 60% 3. 9 State Essays @ 10 points each, 10 Short Answer @ 1 point each. 4. Essay Exam Scores scaled to match MBE, average Essay Exam score = average MBE score. http://www.vbbe.state.va.us/faq/faqscall.html If 140 is needed to pass, and the average MBE score is right around that apparently, then wouldn't you need to score average on both to pass? But the pass rate isn't 50%, it's 75% or so. I am not good with numbers.
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Jul 22, 2012 20:47
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Current final year engineering student here. Now I read the OP and I understand that I would probably have a better career in engineering (starting at about 50k and moving to a ceiling of maybe 80k if lucky) but I'm not really interested in the money per se. I believe that if I wanted to I could go to law school: I have a 90% average in engineering and I'm Black. I'd be going with the end goal of becoming a superior court judge and probably applying to U of T or McGill. Is this as stupid of an idea as it sounds? I don't have "connections" (here, anyway) and I went to public school. What does it take to get to that level in Canada?
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Jul 22, 2012 21:47
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You're going to need to pinpoint the specific tier of appellate court before you set your career goals prior to beginning law school, sorry buddy.
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Jul 22, 2012 23:03
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Isentropy posted:Current final year engineering student here. Don't know about Canada, but here going to law school just to be a judge is like joining little league to become an MLB player, but paying $100k for the chance. Even more so if you want to be a federal judge. It is probably a requirement, but you better have a backup plan. Note also that with with exception of specialty courts, you pretty much need to do litigation (ideally criminal prosecution  ) if you want to be on the bench, so engineering isn't going to be a help.
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Jul 22, 2012 23:12
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mutism posted:You're going to need to pinpoint the specific tier of appellate court before you set your career goals prior to beginning law school, sorry buddy. Provincial superior court (think Ontario Supreme Court of Justice). I'm starting to get the idea that planning for a specific tier of court before I started law school might be a bad idea? nm posted:Don't know about Canada, but here going to law school just to be a judge is like joining little league to become an MLB player, but paying $100k for the chance. Even more so if you want to be a federal judge. e: That is a pretty good way of looking at it. I wouldn't have to worry about the cost per se and I would have a career I could fall back on. doesn't seem horrible but I doubt it would pay well. Being a Crown Attorney seems like it would pay well in Ontario but the criminal litigation part sort of worries me. A close family member of mine is a superior court judge in another country but in their later years (and after things started getting a bit personal) they avoid it like the plague now. Isentropy fucked around with this message at 23:25 on Jul 22, 2012 |
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Jul 22, 2012 23:15
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Boosted_C5 posted:If 140 is needed to pass, and the average MBE score is right around that apparently, then wouldn't you need to score average on both to pass? But the pass rate isn't 50%, it's 75% or so. I am not good with numbers. My understanding was the VA supreme court determines the pass line with magic voodoo. It's weighted towards a mystery rate adjusted each test depending on whatever the judges feel like. At least that's how it worked under chief justice Hassell. I dunno how it works with the new lady. The formulas and weighting are not public record. The end result was around 70% pass rate under Hassell, but each test would vary a little. (I'm guessing they looked at the score spread, gauging whether a test was easy or hard, and basing the rate on that)
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Jul 22, 2012 23:17
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Agesilaus posted:Statistically, some of the posters here are doomed to fail. It's only a matter of time before they receive notice of that failure, and then they'll have a lifetime to deal with the fall-out: jobless, humiliated, and crushed under the burden of an unpayable student loan debt... Nah, that one goon's husband failed like five times so nobody else has to worry about it. That's just how statistics work.
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Jul 23, 2012 00:05
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| # ? May 17, 2024 14:48 |
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woozle wuzzle posted:My understanding was the VA supreme court determines the pass line with magic voodoo. It's weighted towards a mystery rate adjusted each test depending on whatever the judges feel like. At least that's how it worked under chief justice Hassell. I dunno how it works with the new lady. The formulas and weighting are not public record. The end result was around 70% pass rate under Hassell, but each test would vary a little. (I'm guessing they looked at the score spread, gauging whether a test was easy or hard, and basing the rate on that) Ah. Ok. So it's just b.s. on the VBBE website. Not surprising. I'm guessing Hassell was replaced with the new lady in late 2007 or 2008, because the pass rate was between 69-71% until then. Over the last few years it's been 79, 75, 75, 76. Thank God for that at least. My school's pass rate recently has been awesome (95%). Looked at the LSAC study on bar pass rates. 95% for my sex/ethnicity/above mean LSAT. LSAT and LGPA = Highest correlation with passing. Ugh. Please don't let me be that 5%.
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Jul 23, 2012 00:13
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