I'm a little nervous about the essay portion of the Bar Exam (I'm studying for Michigan Bar). What do people recommend for essay prep? Any feedback on the various prep course essay portions (BarBri, The Study Group, MicroMash)? Thanks!
Category: Bar Exam - General
I've done BarBri twice (in different states) and it is the standard. Should be adequate for nearly everyone, unless you have some serious essay issues.
I think it is similar everywhere to some extent: you do some practice essays, they get graded and are usually rather low scores. This makes you a bit crazy and you work harder to make sure you know your stuff (content and form) and you do fine.
While barbri is the standard, if you are working full time or are in need of serious help, I think hiring a tutor wouldn't be too bad either. Don't you think?
From what I've seen, tutors are quite expensive. Unless you have some identified testing issues, I don't see the need in going with that kind of firepower/cost (unless you are a repeater).
According to the ncbex folks (http://www.ncbex.org/fileadmin/media.../2007stats.pdf) Michigan's ten year first-time exam takers averages range between 77-87%. That is pretty good.
Of course, the fact that someone is already studying for the bar exam in late August/early July could be the sign...
Just stick with one of the big courses. Do some research. Talk to people from your law school (assuming that you went to a Michigan school or a school with people that take the MI bar). Otherwise, do some asking around.
With ~80% passing MI on the first try, the standard methods should work for most people.
For the bar, doing as many essays as possible is the best strategy. After many essays for each topic, you begin to see how the bar examiners want you to answer the questions. There's a formula. When you're taking practice essay exams, don't look for a formula (it won't necessarily jump out at you), but after you do 10+ for each subject, you'll start seeing a trend in the way the facts are analyzed in each answer. In fact, you'll notice, after you do many practice essays, that the formula will become automatic and you'll instinctively apply the formula in your essays during the actual exam. Replicate this formula during the bar exam.
Knowing the black letter law is 50%. Literally, it may just get you 50% credit. Knowing the formula for answering essay questions will get you over the 50% hump to a passing score.
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