Munching Through the Meadow

Three weeks left of bar review classes and what we have learned, as expressed to us this week, is that we are to be "sheep, munching our way through the meadow, into the corral", trying to do nothing in our bar exam to awake the exam grader from his stupor. In other words, give them what they want, in the format they want it, and don't try to be creative or clever, as there is no way to grade creativity.

I understand that, but at the same time, it seems ridiculous to test potential lawyers on how well they "fit into a box" when the profession requires people to think of solutions outside of the box. Whatever. I suppose the bar exam has as much to do with practicing in the legal profession as the LSAT does with going to law school.

Anyway, the beginning of this week was spent on Performance Exams. If there is any part of the bar exam I think I can actually pass, it would be this. Why? Because the majority of it is just following directions and being organized. I can do that with my eyes closed. (Well, almost.) It's nice to feel like passing isn't so impossible, and the lecturer for this topic was an encouragement.

I also feel good that I scored well on my last 2 sets of MBE questions- 75 and 78%. The whole grading system of the bar exam is very indeterminable, as every year the scores are adjusted by some unknown formula, so it is hard to know what exactly you need to get to pass. However, generally, 70-75 seems to be the golden spot, so if you are getting above that, you should pass.

Of course, our lecturer earlier this week also showed us how you can get failing grades on each essay and then still pass the overall test. Like I said, you can't really figure it out and it doesn't really make much sense.

At least I'm starting to feel somewhat optimistic now. I definitely am not saying that I know I will pass, but at least I don't think that failing is inevitable now. Passing does seem within the realm of possibility.