July 2016 Texas Bar Exam Forum

[washed out]

Thank you, all. I think the potential for burnout and low retention of vast amounts of information were good arguments made.

[AllDangle]

When do we hear about the results of C&F? And how do we hear about them? Basically, when do we know that we can be admitted (assuming we passed this thing)?

[TXforeignlawyer]

I'm trying to decide which bar prep course to take for the February 2017 bar exam. I read some bad reviews on here after the July exam on Barbri. That was the course I had planned to go with. Those of you who went with Themis or others, what were your thoughts?

Also, do most people use a laptop in the exam?

[fly_lawy3r]

Also, do most people use a laptop in the exam?

Yes. Unless you write freakishly fast, you'd almost certainly be at a disadvantage on the essays by not using a laptop.

[TXforeignlawyer]

Thanks. Hmm i ticked the write box on my online application. I'll figure out if I can change it. I'd be nervous about having laptop/connection problems. But you're write, it seems like I would be at a disadvantage hand writing my answers.

[BigZuck]

I thought Themis was great (as far as these things go at least) but I haven't been told I passed yet so maybe I'll revise that opinion at a later date.

[TXforeignlawyer]

Thanks, I'll take a look at Themis too. Due to the fact I'm a foreign qualified attorney (UK), I think it makes sense for me to study a little earlier than when the bar prep course begins. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can access online to begin studying? I came across Adaptibar, maybe I can sign up to that in a couple of months.

[FloridaBoy]

When do we hear about the results of C&F? And how do we hear about them? Basically, when do we know that we can be admitted (assuming we passed this thing)?

For out of state applicants, they have 150 days from the date you applied to notify you of a c & f hearing. They told me that no news is good news. If you made it this far, you're past the 150 days.

[fly_lawy3r]

Does anyone else get infuriated every time they see another state rolling out bar exam results, knowing that we still have 2+ months to go? DAMN IT, TEXAS.

[jcsmith]

Does anyone else get infuriated every time they see another state rolling out bar exam results, knowing that we still have 2+ months to go? DAMN IT, TEXAS.

YES! I feel like we are the last ones to get it, but we aren't. California has to wait until around Thanksgiving to get theirs. I would literally be dead by then.

[slayerhn]

I'm practically positive I failed. I say that because of health reasons over the past year and not because I'm nervous, so I'm realistically planning around passing it in February of next year.

What is the timeline like on signing up for the February bar? Do I need to sign up blindly and just cancel if I happen to get lucky and pass?

Also any opinion on if I just use the same Barbri books from July 2016? Surely the amount of material that could possibly become outdated isn't too relevant?

It seems that the late deadline is Sunday, October 30, 2016, which will be a few days before the bar results come out. Does that mean I have to pay the application fee + the late fee before I even find out if I passed? Seems harsh.

[BVest]

I'm practically positive I failed. I say that because of health reasons over the past year and not because I'm nervous, so I'm realistically planning around passing it in February of next year.

What is the timeline like on signing up for the February bar? Do I need to sign up blindly and just cancel if I happen to get lucky and pass?

Also any opinion on if I just use the same Barbri books from July 2016? Surely the amount of material that could possibly become outdated isn't too relevant?

It seems that the late deadline is Sunday, October 30, 2016, which will be a few days before the bar results come out. Does that mean I have to pay the application fee + the late fee before I even find out if I passed? Seems harsh.

There is a retake application period after results are released.

[TXforeignlawyer]

Can anyone recommend where to start with study material ahead of signing up for the bar prep course? I'm going to read the past questions that are on the board's website but looking for some other ideas too. I think the early barbri course starts this month.

[ultravires4life]

So the absolute deadline to apply for the Feb. 2017 bar is Oct. 30th. I can't find anything on the BLE website stating a different deadline for re-takers. Hoping to have passed the July 2016 exam, but trying to plan ahead in the event I don't pass. Does anyone know if there is for sure and alternative deadline for retakers to apply since we don't get results until early November?

[Estecontre]

So the absolute deadline to apply for the Feb. 2017 bar is Oct. 30th. I can't find anything on the BLE website stating a different deadline for re-takers. Hoping to have passed the July 2016 exam, but trying to plan ahead in the event I don't pass. Does anyone know if there is for sure and alternative deadline for retakers to apply since we don't get results until early November?

From the BLE website: "If I do not pass the exam, how can I re-apply for the next exam?
Complete and submit a Bar Exam Application through ATLAS. If you do not submit your re-application by 11:59 p.m. on the Special Filing Deadline, you will not be eligible to take the upcoming exam."

[viz-luv]

https://ble.texas.gov/rule09
at the end it gives the dates

[ultravires4life]

https://ble.texas.gov/rule09
at the end it gives the dates

So the absolute deadline to apply for the Feb. 2017 bar is Oct. 30th. I can't find anything on the BLE website stating a different deadline for re-takers. Hoping to have passed the July 2016 exam, but trying to plan ahead in the event I don't pass. Does anyone know if there is for sure and alternative deadline for retakers to apply since we don't get results until early November?

From the BLE website: "If I do not pass the exam, how can I re-apply for the next exam?
Complete and submit a Bar Exam Application through ATLAS. If you do not submit your re-application by 11:59 p.m. on the Special Filing Deadline, you will not be eligible to take the upcoming exam."

Thank you both. They hid that really well on the website. lol I appreciate it. Hope everyone is doing well during this awful waiting period.

[jcsmith]

I got the email today. November 4th, everyone!!

[LittleJohnBull]

Not to scare anyone, but isn't the Friday, Nov. 4 release a bit of a misnomer? I thought that the results were published online the Thursday beforehand (Nov. 3) and then would be released by mail on Friday. In fact, I thought Justice Willett's Twitter page gave a heads up on when it was to be released... anyone else remember?

[BigZuck]

What's a Justice Willett? And how does it know about bar exam?

[LittleJohnBull]

lol... Justice Don Willett has a Twitter. I seem to remember him posting something like "results are out in 10 min... THIS IS NOT A DRILL!" on the day results were released. I can't scroll that far back on his feed though. Hoping someone can confirm this. I would hate to take off of work Friday when the results are released Thursday lol

[BigZuck]

I don't know who that is but judges tweet and people read those tweets?

What a time to be alive

[Estecontre]

lol... Justice Don Willett has a Twitter. I seem to remember him posting something like "results are out in 10 min... THIS IS NOT A DRILL!" on the day results were released. I can't scroll that far back on his feed though. Hoping someone can confirm this. I would hate to take off of work Friday when the results are released Thursday lol

I'm too lazy to Google, but I remember seeing the tweet. It exists, or at least it did at some point, and it was in fact a couple of minutes before results were released.

[BVest]

lol... Justice Don Willett has a Twitter. I seem to remember him posting something like "results are out in 10 min... THIS IS NOT A DRILL!" on the day results were released. I can't scroll that far back on his feed though. Hoping someone can confirm this. I would hate to take off of work Friday when the results are released Thursday lol

I'm too lazy to Google, but I remember seeing the tweet. It exists, or at least it did at some point, and it was in fact a couple of minutes before results were released.

Yes, Justice Willett will have results about 5-10 minutes before they go online, and he'll know they're coming about 5 minutes before that. It goes like this:

BLE Exec Director calls Willett to see if he's ready. (He always is). He then tweets while she comes downstairs to bring results (and other reports of some sort -- not sure what) to him and the other Justices. Shrieks erupt up and down the Court's chambers as clerks check the paper lists. Then the list gets posted online.

[LittleJohnBull]

Whelp... guess I'll take Thursday/Friday off just in case. No use in worrying about it until then!