Themis Bar Review Hangout - July 2017 Forum

[Slytherpuff]

I'm sick today and am missing pretty much every question in my Contracts MBE set. I don't remember ANY of these rules. Yikes.

[CJames33]

Checking in. Started May 1. Keeping to the Directed Schedule strictly thus far. Have missed a couple days for a music festival, but I'm around 1/3 done.

Anyone doing open book essays? How long you think you'll keep it open book? I've done the first essay per subject open book. After that first essay, I outline without help and then check the notes/outline to see what I missed.

[bmmccb223]

Why did you start so early?

[CJames33]

Wanted to get an early start to make the daily load a little easier. Also, working part-time and have a vacation mid-June. So starting early made sense. It has worked out too. Not burned out. Meeting the goals on MBE practice questions. Thankful I chose Themis over Barbri or Kaplan.

[Slytherpuff]

I'm sick today and am missing pretty much every question in my Contracts MBE set. I don't remember ANY of these rules. Yikes.

Oh dang, just got my first check-in from Themis. Bob's voicemail said I was on target for my essays and MBE questions, which made me glad he called before I finished my latest Contracts question set because I'm currently at 33% right for my first 20 questions. I'm just going to blame the head cold and hope that I remember how to do Contracts again later in the week.

[cnk1220]

I'm sick today and am missing pretty much every question in my Contracts MBE set. I don't remember ANY of these rules. Yikes.

Oh dang, just got my first check-in from Themis. Bob's voicemail said I was on target for my essays and MBE questions, which made me glad he called before I finished my latest Contracts question set because I'm currently at 33% right for my first 20 questions. I'm just going to blame the head cold and hope that I remember how to do Contracts again later in the week.

Contracts is a toughy don't get down on yourself! I hated it, I ended up at like 55% on it right before the exam, and on the exam I remember some weird ass answer choices! It's important to remember these rules though because the answer choices sometimes present themselves in weird ways on the exam.

Example: I remember some weird Q about a mother-daughter contract and taking care of a sick grandfather and an answer choice about taking care of him could be done in less than a year so no writing required and the contract was enforceable- ie it was testing the SOF rule.

[robin600]

How did everyone do on the graded essays? I know they always grade harsh at the beginning to put a fire under our butts, but I nabbed almost all of the issues, my answer matched the statements of the sample answer, and had great comments (including great job) from my grader despite a score below 40. Hmmm....

On the other hand - These property MBE questions are kicking my a**. I don't know who owns Blackacre and I don't give AF.

[almaz]

How did everyone do on the graded essays? I know they always grade harsh at the beginning to put a fire under our butts, but I nabbed almost all of the issues, my answer matched the statements of the sample answer, and had great comments (including great job) from my grader despite a score below 40. Hmmm....

On the other hand - These property MBE questions are kicking my a**. I don't know who owns Blackacre and I don't give AF.

Michigan bar? I discussed all of the issues but had 2 issues grouped together and a loose rule statement-- I got 40%. I have the Michigan essay deconstruction book and my answer is not significantly worse than a student answer that got 8/10. I get that motivation is a factor, but they are being totally disingenuous. I wouldn't worry about it. Keep plugging along.

[CJames33]

How did everyone do on the graded essays? I know they always grade harsh at the beginning to put a fire under our butts, but I nabbed almost all of the issues, my answer matched the statements of the sample answer, and had great comments (including great job) from my grader despite a score below 40. Hmmm....

On the other hand - These property MBE questions are kicking my a**. I don't know who owns Blackacre and I don't give AF.

The property MBE questions are the hardest ones I've taken. Even Civ Pro is a breeze compared to those property questions.

[SeewhathappensLarry]

I'm sick today and am missing pretty much every question in my Contracts MBE set. I don't remember ANY of these rules. Yikes.

Oh dang, just got my first check-in from Themis. Bob's voicemail said I was on target for my essays and MBE questions, which made me glad he called before I finished my latest Contracts question set because I'm currently at 33% right for my first 20 questions. I'm just going to blame the head cold and hope that I remember how to do Contracts again later in the week.

Contracts is a toughy don't get down on yourself! I hated it, I ended up at like 55% on it right before the exam, and on the exam I remember some weird ass answer choices! It's important to remember these rules though because the answer choices sometimes present themselves in weird ways on the exam.

Example: I remember some weird Q about a mother-daughter contract and taking care of a sick grandfather and an answer choice about taking care of him could be done in less than a year so no writing required and the contract was enforceable- ie it was testing the SOF rule.

Oh the Contracts questions have kicked my ass so far. Plus I've noticed in the 4th set that some questions were being asked that were not discussed in the lectures. I assume those rules are in the long outline but I've been avoiding revisiting that terrible thing

[cnk1220]

How did everyone do on the graded essays? I know they always grade harsh at the beginning to put a fire under our butts, but I nabbed almost all of the issues, my answer matched the statements of the sample answer, and had great comments (including great job) from my grader despite a score below 40. Hmmm....

On the other hand - These property MBE questions are kicking my a**. I don't know who owns Blackacre and I don't give AF.

Don't focus too much on blackacre type future interest Qs you may get only 1-2 of these, the MBE focuses more on mortgage type Qs now (as if those are any better)- but take comfort in knowing almost everyone finds property hard. And don't bother too much with riparian rights lol I didn't see that on my exam in feb.

[Love With The Coco]

You will never be able to watch Lisa McElroy the same after you know this-

http://abovethelaw.com/2015/04/law-prof ... stigation/

[jennifer_42]

I've been following the schedule pretty rigidly but will pull an audible today. Let's see how that goes. I'm going to try to power through some lectures instead of working on essays I feel would be a fruitless endeavor.

Can we all please send a tech support question asking for a 1.25x option? 1.5x is just a bit to fast for me to follow the lecture notes while listening to the lecturers speak.

Download "Video Speed Controller." It is a google chrome extension that allows you to speed up videos in increments of .1

...Go Cavs

Thank you so much for this -- I was struggling with .5 increments!

[jennifer_42]

I am really liking the MBE Quiz Builder. Anybody know how many questions each topic bank has? The Themis marketing pages say thousands, but don't break it down.

[almaz]

I've been following the schedule pretty rigidly but will pull an audible today. Let's see how that goes. I'm going to try to power through some lectures instead of working on essays I feel would be a fruitless endeavor.

Can we all please send a tech support question asking for a 1.25x option? 1.5x is just a bit to fast for me to follow the lecture notes while listening to the lecturers speak.

Download "Video Speed Controller." It is a google chrome extension that allows you to speed up videos in increments of .1

...Go Cavs

Thank you so much for this -- I was struggling with .5 increments!

Haha no problem. I was watching torts at 2.2x today after my morning coffee. Sherman was driving me nuts with his long, intense pauses.

[almaz]

I am really liking the MBE Quiz Builder. Anybody know how many questions each topic bank has? The Themis marketing pages say thousands, but don't break it down.

I would like to know this too. I haven't used the Quizbuilder feature yet because I am afraid that I might use up all of the property and contracts questions. I want to be able to take quizzes later on with an equal distribution of all subjects to simulate the MBE.

[Spunkylawrue]

What do people think of skipping the outlines and doing the lectures/handouts + the critical pass flashcards for the MBE topics? The outlines are taking forever and putting me in a coma. I'm hoping CP will fill the gaps that the lectures leave out and help solidify the information in my head.

[jennifer_42]

I am really liking the MBE Quiz Builder. Anybody know how many questions each topic bank has? The Themis marketing pages say thousands, but don't break it down.

I would like to know this too. I haven't used the Quizbuilder feature yet because I am afraid that I might use up all of the property and contracts questions. I want to be able to take quizzes later on with an equal distribution of all subjects to simulate the MBE.

Okay, I just sent a message from the Themis message center asking this question. I've been very pleased with their response time so far, so let's hope they get back to me soon. I'll share the answer I get.

EDITED TO ADD: I also wanted to say you can re-take the quiz questions from the lectures on your app (only for "completed" subjects though).

[SeewhathappensLarry]

What do people think of skipping the outlines and doing the lectures/handouts + the critical pass flashcards for the MBE topics? The outlines are taking forever and putting me in a coma. I'm hoping CP will fill the gaps that the lectures leave out and help solidify the information in my head.

I ordered CP so I don't know how well that fills the gaps yet. But I highly recommend listening to the lectures before the outlines. It makes a world of difference

[SeewhathappensLarry]

You will never be able to watch Lisa McElroy the same after you know this-

http://abovethelaw.com/2015/04/law-prof ... stigation/

Thank you for connecting the article to her--I didn't make the connection! Omfg this is so funny

[Slytherpuff]

You will never be able to watch Lisa McElroy the same after you know this-

http://abovethelaw.com/2015/04/law-prof ... stigation/

Thank you for connecting the article to her--I didn't make the connection! Omfg this is so funny

Oh man, I didn't know that was her! Poor Professor McElroy!

[cnk1220]

You will never be able to watch Lisa McElroy the same after you know this-

http://abovethelaw.com/2015/04/law-prof ... stigation/

Thank you for connecting the article to her--I didn't make the connection! Omfg this is so funny

Oh man, I didn't know that was her! Poor Professor McElroy!

Omg I remember this- I went to a nearby Philly area law school, I feel bad for her but it was funny!

[Jon_Snow]

What do people think of skipping the outlines and doing the lectures/handouts + the critical pass flashcards for the MBE topics? The outlines are taking forever and putting me in a coma. I'm hoping CP will fill the gaps that the lectures leave out and help solidify the information in my head.

This is kind of my plan. I want to get the lectures over with, then start working on flash carding, while beginning actual MBE and essay practice.

[yeslekkkk]

I'm on Chapter 9 of California's Community Property Series. I want to gauge out my eyes.

I'm no where near meeting what Themis assigned for today. GAH.

[Slytherpuff]

I'm on Chapter 9 of California's Community Property Series. I want to gauge out my eyes.

I'm no where near meeting what Themis assigned for today. GAH.

I've had days like that. Hang in there! You can catch up tomorrow, and Themis will recalibrate its study schedule for you!