Cells Phones and the First Amendment

and police arrests.  Interesting article published by the ABA.  See link below:

http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/good_cop_bad_citizen_as_cellphone_recording_increases_officers_are_uneasy?utm_source=maestro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tech_monthly

DAY ONE IS DONE

Yes, it's over!  And, again, I had to smile. 
When my student sent me a SMILE  -- :)  ---, I knew that she was A.O.K.

Remember one thing -- treat Day 2 as if it were a "fresh start."  Go in with CONFIDENCE and do the absolute best that you can.  GO OUT TO WIN THE GAME and if you get tired, or if you get stuck - LET IT GO!  Get your second wind, and MOVE ON.

PLAY THE GAME TO WIN!

GOOD LUCK on the Feb. 2012 Bar Exam!

My student and I met on Saturday to issue spot essay exams and cover off on her weakest areas.  While I was exhausted by end of day, she was pumped!  And, I mean really pumped! 

I, on the otherhand,awakened the next morning with bar exam anxiety and I'm not taking the exam!  (I guess that exam anxiety is something a bit hard to shake ever after you have your license!)

On Sunday, we reviewed the commerce clause, dormant commerce clause, privileges and immunities, first amendment, ordinances, etc.

After checking Bar Exam Guru's final predictions, we couldn't help but smile.  Exhausted after reviewing products liability in torts, we had hit every issue and every rule that we anticipated and our expectations were pretty consistent with BEG's predictions.

But, then, I have good intuitive feel about the exam AND I've developed an essay grid that goes back to 1983.  But, because predictions are like the weather, the objective is to prepare for anything that the bar examiners can throw at you, and to go into the game well-prepared. 

So, to my student, to my friends, and to my fellow bar examinees - GO FORTH AND ROCK THIS EXAM!

P.S. I'd love to hear the news when you pass!

Issue Spotting Before the Bar Exam

If you need a new batch of essays and model answers, I discovered another resource.  all4jds has a repository center on the Bar Exam, and under that, a page on the California Bar Exam where they house essay exams and model answers back to the 1990's!  Essay exams are also divided by subject so that you can zero in on Torts or Con Law or. . .

Now's the time to review essays, remember the rules, and wind down for the wind up on Tuesday.

Feb. 2012 Bar Exam Predictions - Part II

It appears that Bar Exam Guru is predicting:

• Evidence
• Constitutional Law
• Criminal Procedure/Criminal Law x-over (Murder)
• Professional Responsibility

with the last two essays up for grabs.

Corporations?  Short-swing profits?  10b?
California Civil Procedure?
Wills/Trusts with CP x-over?

Who knows?  My "student" and I will be doing a marathon essay review session this weekend.  Issue spotting and outlining on a white board all the sub-subjects of each area which hasn't yet reviewed or she's weak in.  I did this with my bar study partner the weekend before the July 2011 bar exam and hit joinder in Civil Procedure.  When we sat down at the actual exam, I had to smile.  Joinder was on the exam and  I was well prepared!

Objections to Make at a Deposition

Good to review when boning up on Evidence!  In fact, I recall that the July 2011 civil procedure essay began with a deposition - a little twist along with joinder.

http://blog.ceb.com/2012/02/22/i-object-know-what-objections-to-make-at-a-deposition/

Bar Exam Predictions - Feb. 2012

I'm been prepping my one "student" to expect certain essay subjects and sub-subjects, and scouring the Net for predictions.  See Bar Exam guru for more.

http://barexamguru.com/2012/02/20/california-bar-exam-predictions-on-the-way/

Winning the Feb. 2012 Bar Exam Game

I went to a party Saturday evening and when I was asked "What do you do?," I said, "I'm a lawyer."

Gosh, I'm a lawyer!  The reality of it hasn't quite set in.

"You're a lawyer?"

"Yes, newly minted, and this is the first group I've said that to!"

In 5 days, my first tutored student sits down to take the bar exam.  I have confidence in her and believe that she has all that it takes to rock this exam.

When YOU go into the exam, calm your nerves, and keep all distractions (including your self-talk) at bay.  Write down your timing on scratch paper and quickly skim each essay exam.  Strategize.  For example, I wrote the 2nd most difficult essay first to get my mind humming.  I saved the easiest essay for last so that I could dedicate a little more time to the most challenging "assignment."

Keep your eye on the clock.

And, if you see an issue but can't remember a rule, make up a rule statement, and analyze the facts against this made up rule.  You'll still receive points.

But, most of all, BELIEVE in you.  YOU CAN DO THIS!  YOU CAN ROCK THIS EXAM!

An Historic Day in California for Same Sex Couples

Proposition 8 overturned in California.  An historic day!  For more about the ruling, read the opinion.  (Good fodder for the bar exam, too!)