Planning for bar admission

Current as of Jan. 2010

1. The bar exam

2. Studying for the exam

3. Applying for admission

4. Planning for study

5. Paying for bar related costs

6. Helpful courses

1. Bar exam

• Last Tues and Wed of Feb and July– Feb. 23-24, 2010– July 27-28, 2010

• Two days– Essay day– Multiple choice day

• Three days in some states

Essay day-1

• Morning – IL – 3 essays – IL civ pro

• Personal property, remedies/equity, any of topics next slide

• 30 minutes each

– MO – 4 essays – MO civ pro; MO Admin law?• Any of topics next slide

– Performance test • 90 minutes

Essay day - 2

• Afternoon – 6 MEE essays

• 3: contracts, torts, constitutional law, property

evidence, criminal law/crim procedure

• 3: agency & partnership, commercial paper, conflicts of law, corporations, decedent’s estates, family, federal civil procedure, sales, secured transactions, trusts and future interests

– 30 minutes each

Multiple choice day

• MBE – 200 multiple choice questions– 100 in morning; 100 in afternoon– Six hours

• Approx. 1.8 minutes per question

MPRE – ethics exam

• Ethics exam – 60 questions– Two hours– Given March, August, November

• In IL, must have two thirds of the hours needed for graduation before taking exam– See ibaby.org for rule

Exam tips

• For outline of topics to be tested for each portion, go to www.ncbex.org– Also get free guide

• Contains past sample questions

2. Preparing for exam

• Commercial bar review courses– Offered by private vendors– BarBri– Kaplan’s PMBR– Themis– Others– See student representatives

• Tables• Mailbox stuffings• Bulletin boards

Review courses

• BarBri – long history, good track record– Taped lectures, 9-12 daily, 6 weeks– Daily readings– Practice questions– BarBri critiques two essays for you

• Expensive, does not work for everyone

Review courses

• Kaplan PMBR – – Daily taped and live lectures, posted online for

review– Daily readings– Practice questions– Critiques unlimited number of essays

• Less expensive, new in IL – no track record in IL – see record elsewhere, good online features

Review courses

• Themis– Online course– Daily short lectures combined with practice

questions– Daily readings– Practice questions– Critiques 6 essay questions

• Least expensive, totally online, new in IL– See track record in other states

Other sources of help

• National Conference of Bar Examiners– They write the exam– www.ncbex.org– Subject matter outlines– Free guides– Free sample questions– Online annotated m-c questions

• $26 – 100 questions for six months

One more source of help

• We highly recommend:– Stay on campus– Use our help

• Workshops to supplement the bar course• Daily in person assistance• Critique of unlimited essays• Simulated essay day one week prior• SIU Law Bar Pass Blawg

3. Applying for admission

• Being admitted means– Passing character and fitness– Passing the exam

• You must:– Complete character and fitness form or

update the one you completed as 1L– Check due dates– Check payment methods – no personal

checks

Character and fitness form

• Completing character and fitness form– Time-consuming– Requires careful attention– Be complete and honest– Allow time to gather past traffic tickets, child

support documents, divorce records, employment info, etc.

Character and fitness forms

• If you completed form as 1L, you must now apply to take the exam

• You will pay a fee but less than if you waited to 3L year

More on character and fitness

• Every 3L should get free credit report

• www.ftc.gov links to how to get one

• Grads are running into problems when forgotten past due debts appear

• Work on paying down debt now

• Examiners want 3-4 month record of paying down debt

Final on character and fitness

Questions, ask the examiners

IL examiners prefer e-mail to calls

See contact list on bar bulletin board in lounge

Every state has its requirements

IL examiners will be here Jan. 26, 12 noon

MO examiners will be here Feb. 11, 12 noon

Type the exam?

• Want to type rather than hand write the exam

• See how to register to type on your state’s website

• Extra fee required

• Exam soft version used

4. Bar review time

• Bar review– M-F, 8-10 hours in the first month– Some time on weekends– S-S, 12-14 hours the last month

• Arrange housing, finances, family care, other responsibilities NOW

• Do not work

• Explain commitment to family and friends

5. Financing bar costs

• Bar related costs: $10,000– Bar course: $1700-3300– State fees: $250-750; 1500 if late– Travel to exam site: $600-1000– Housing, utilities, car payment and insurance,

food, gas, spending money, health insurance

Financing

• Extend third year federal loan budget– For fees to state– See Pat Caparole for details

• Most students use commercial loans– Sallie mae --Wells Fargo– Between you and lender

• Apply early to save money

• Lock in rates with review courses

Financing

• If financing is an issue, see Schmitz now to develop a strategy

• Money never just works itself out

6. Courses

• Bar review courses are just that – review

• Few students will take every course

• Plan carefully

• Most students will find it very hard to learn these topics without the course –– Corporations– Intro to commercial law (UCC)– Wills and trusts

Plan now, pass later

• Planning now helps to ensure passing later

• Best wishes