February 2017 Texas Bar Exam Forum

[favrefire4]

Well, I know I'll be there in July.

[Mckay]

Someone help me get this off my mind. On the partnership question, was there a mistake? The parties were John, Mary and Tom. They asked about Tom when I think it should have been John. Did anyone else catch that?

[favrefire4]

I missed it for a different reason but I'm fairly certain it was correct. John and Mary were the original partners and Tom was Mary's son.

[Mckay]

I missed it for a different reason but I'm fairly certain it was correct. John and Mary were the original partners and Tom was Mary's son.

Thanks for answering. I was quite tired at that point so maybe I just confused the parties....

[favrefire4]

I have no idea how much detail we are allowed to go into with respect to the state essays, but, I missed the first part of that question. But, and here's my question, if answered correctly, it seems like it would imply the answers to parts 2 and 3 to be very short and simple.

[Mckay]

I have no idea how much detail we are allowed to go into with respect to the state essays, but, I missed the first part of that question. But, and here's my question, if answered correctly, it seems like it would imply the answers to parts 2 and 3 to be very short and simple.

You are right. We cannot go into detail. That is why I tried to just discuss whether there was a mistake. I understand your answer and really appreciate you answering because I was going to obsess over it!

I hope everyone has a good rest tonight free of bar exam dreams!!!

[TXforeignlawyer]

Answered a few with rather short answers on the afternoon round.

[maztastic247]

Well I can say with almost absolute certainty I will be taking the bar in july.... again. Ugh I feel like I only knew half of every essay, and there were only a couple essays where I knew what the issues where for each part, and I blanked on the commercial paper essay completely. I hope everyone else faired better than I did! At least it is over.

[dtjustice]

I feel like I finished first in the afternoon session.....this was a practice test for me, my third attempt but it's been 10 years since I last took a July bar so I needed to be reminded 1) it's not a huge monster like I have created it to be over the years and 2) what my new strengths/weaknesses are after my recent studying.

I am so glad I'm not the only one who feels some of the essays were like tiny responses. I seriously felt like I could just say "yep/nope" and have it covered LOL..

I liked the test site, I'm just not sure if 1) I want to attempt the computer in July and 2) I want to change venues since July will be made up of local/surrounding area graduates....that intimidates me when I look around and see no alumni....Houston is at the NRG Center instead of where I tested in 2002. I wonder if that would be a similar environment as Palmer. So many thoughts to ponder I'm excited to tackle July though and finally get this bar exam in my past!

Congrats to everyone....I only saw where a couple of people didn't return for day 3 so it looks like most of us survived the entire exam!! I'm certain most of you passed

[vandyclark]

When I took the Feb bar in 2016, there were a couple people who had police (maybe just security- I couldn't tell) come & escort them out, & a woman hid outlines in the baby changing station of the bathroom. I didn't notice anything much this time.

I wish everyone so much luck & good things! It won't be the end of the world if any of use have to take it again. I know I felt awful after I took it last year but this time I feel OK. I think it's a close call though & I may be back for the July forum. I've been trying to gauge my numbers & comparing to my last results. I hope they score us easy on that criminal P&E- that was terrible.

I know I got some essays wrong (wrong rule applied or I confused something) but I think I argued them well- Do they give you credit for that kind of thing? I had a few very brief answers as well on parts & went back & tried to fluff them up... I guess now we just wait & wait...

[BVest]

I know I got some essays wrong (wrong rule applied or I confused something) but I think I argued them well- Do they give you credit for that kind of thing? I had a few very brief answers as well on parts & went back & tried to fluff them up... I guess now we just wait & wait...

Yes. Very much so.

[TXforeignlawyer]

Yeah I didn't see any funny going ons either. My goodness though, I can't believe someone would risk stashing notes

[Leprechaun]

Yeah I didn't see any funny going ons either. My goodness though, I can't believe someone would risk stashing notes

A person sitting one row in front of me but toward the other end got accused of pulling up notes on his laptop after the Procedure & Evidence session according to some of the other people sitting close to me. Don't know what happened or will happen to him but he was back for day 2 and day 3. The kid sitting beside him turned him in supposedly. I was in section 3 row 2.

[dtjustice]

I noticed a security guard or some law enforcement officer going in just before we were about to enter for one of the sessions...they all started running together for me so I'm not sure exactly which one. I can't imagine taking that kind of risk for something this important. The girl behind me didn't return for day 3...makes me curious...if she knew she was doing terrible, I needed her score to help the curve LOL.

I think I was most surprised that people were allowed to still come in all the way up until almost seconds before beginning....instructions were almost completely given and they were still arriving. I hated the no little girls' room until 15 minutes into the test...nerves had killllled my tummy on day 3 because those essays are what keep me from passing this time and that was the longest 15 minutes of my life LOL.

[nats001]

Hi guys

How did the Feb 2017 exam go ? I am writing in July and would love some feedback.

[maztastic247]

Hi guys

How did the Feb 2017 exam go ? I am writing in July and would love some feedback.

Well it was nothing like any of the exams in the recent (5-7 years) past. It looks like the new examiner finally got her footing and decided to shake things up. The crim P&E section was vastly different than the past... The MBE was different because for the first time there were 25 experimental question, tested new subjects in property, also there was some new formatting of some of the questions. The essays this time were interesting ( not sure what word to use ) and some were unexpected... it's all a blur now but I remember a few questions not really having an "issue" per se, you were basically just asked to list rules for a particular subject topic. I.e. 1. What is an urban homestead? 2. What is a rural homestead? Will leasing out a homestead change is characterization as a homestead?

Anyways I'm not sure this is helpful in terms of how or what to study. Good luck in July, I hope by some miracle I don't see you there !

[dtjustice]

Yikes! We signed a pledge and were instructed repeatedly NOT to discuss the exact contents of the bar exam.

[jcsmith]

Yikes! We signed a pledge and were instructed repeatedly NOT to discuss the exact contents of the bar exam.

I believe that pertains mostly to the mbe. They will release the essay questions online in a couple days. The mbe questions do not get released unless a company buys them in a couple years.

[maztastic247]

Yikes! We signed a pledge and were instructed repeatedly NOT to discuss the exact contents of the bar exam.

Did you read the Pledge? It says nothing about discussing the exam.. it is about receiving help, or knowing of people relieving help and reporting it... furthermore we were admonished not to discuss the MBE because those are copyrighted and reused. The Essays are released not too long after the exam that's why we're weren't told several times we can't discuss the essays as we were the MBE. No exact contents were released about the MBE just generalizations... I'm not worried about what I said becuase it is with in the confines of the rules, so you shouldn't worry either!

[BVest]

Yikes! We signed a pledge and were instructed repeatedly NOT to discuss the exact contents of the bar exam.

There has been nothing remotely resembling the exact contents of the exam posted ITT. And the other summaries have it right. No discussing details of MBE questions. And you're not supposed to discuss Texas contents until you're released (which, just 18 months ago, they did at the end of each essay section (in that they let you take the essay books with you out of the exam). Now they post them online within a few days. I assume the reasons they're not already online are (1) it's not their highest priority, and (2) they probably all took a long weekend.

[DueProcessDoWheelies]

Texas essay questions have been released. I just took a look at them.

Damn, those look rough. I don't know if this is because I haven't studied them in a while, but I didn't know the answers to lots of them.

[jdub tn]

Texas essay questions have been released. I just took a look at them.

Damn, those look rough. I don't know if this is because I haven't studied them in a while, but I didn't know the answers to lots of them.

Do they release the essays on the BLE website? I am taking the July exam (TN attorney, licensed in 2010). Not only is TX much different, the exam is much different itself. Lots different also trying to relearn and study with a full time law practice!

[BVest]

Yes:

https://ble.texas.gov/past-exams
https://ble.texas.gov/selected-answers

e: But have you been practicing since 2010? If so, you may be eligible to waive in.

[TXforeignlawyer]

Is it usual practice to take the MPRE straight after the bar? I understand it's next week - I think I read somewhere it's next Friday but sorry if that's incorrect.

I wasn't planning on sitting it until I find out my exam results.

[BVest]

It's more usual practice to take MPRE sometime before you take the bar (often when you're taking PR in law school). But yeah, there are a number of folks who will take it right after the bar.