Washington DC (UBE) & Virginia Bar Exam Tutoring & Self-Study

Category: MBE

  • July 2016 Bar Exams are over – DC, VA and MBE discussion

    The July 2016 Bar Exam is over! This was definitely one of the harder exams on the books, with both the MBE and MEEs being more difficult/different than in the recent past. Virginia’s essays were, as usual, fair yet challenging as expected.

    In DC we saw about twice the number of test takers due to this being the first time DC has tested as a UBE jurisdiction. Many folks opted against going up to New York or other jurisdictions and decided to stay local and take the exam here. I think yet others opted for DC instead of VA this time as well due to DC being a UBE jurisdiction. As far as the usual chaos that is the administration of the DC bar exam, they did not disappoint, although it was not the worst it has ever been. The main problem this time was delays in starting, which in the grand scheme of things is annoying but not as bad as what we’ve seen before. The morning MPTs were pretty straightforward, with a memo and a brief, but a couple of the MEEs were tricky this year. We had the following MEE subjects: (more…)

  • Strategies and Tactics for the MBE Sixth (6th) Edition Review

    The newest edition of the Strategies and Tactics for the MBE book by Steven Emanuel was released a few weeks ago. I have looked over the book and compared it with the 5th edition and there are several major changes, most of them for the better. This is, in my opinion, the best MBE study guide there is, and my primary book when preparing for the MBE. It is great to see it continuously updated and the roughly $80 price is really a steal for such a good resource that contains around 600 practice questions with excellent explanations of the answer choices.

    The major change to the book is the addition of Civil Procedure, both (more…)

  • Public Service Announcement – Strategies and Tactics 6th edition now available – Tips of the day on twitter

    PSA – The new edition of Emmanuel’s Strategies and Tactics for the MBE is now shipping. Expect a full review from me shortly. The main change is the addition of a Civil Procedure section (both questions and a substantive review) plus an additional 100 or so questions from the NCBE OPE-4. If you have the 5th edition, email the publisher as they can give you online access to the Civil Procedure questions.

    Also, I have started posting my daily Tips of the Day (#totd) on twitter. Check for the #totd hashtag to get MBE and Virginia bar exam tips each day.

  • Virginia, DC, Maryland and NY February 2016 bar exams are over

    And with that, the February 2016 bar exam is over in this area for DC, Maryland, NY and Virginia. With this, NY and DC will be joining the growing number of jurisdictions to adopt the UBE starting with the July 2016 exam this summer (keep your eye open for an upcoming post on this topic soon). The exams were brutal and the weather pretty miserable but that’s about what you have to expect when it comes to the bar exam. DC didn’t disappoint with a dismal proctoring experience and near mutiny by the test takers over incorrect timing and other issues but everyone managed to survive more or less. Other jurisdictions were mostly smooth as usual. See below for the breakdown of subjects tested and some release date predictions: (more…)

  • July 2015 Washington DC Bar Exam Results Posted

    The bar exam results from the July 2015 DC Bar Exam have been posted at the Committee on Admissions website. The overall pass rate was 39.1%, with 53.8% of first time takers passing. These are right in line with the normal rates for DC’s summer exam. Congratulations to everyone who passed! It’s nice to see DC get their results out in a timely fashion as well, hopefully this is an indication of things to come. First laptops, now a speedy posting of results, keep up the good work DC Committee on Admissions.

  • July 2015 Bar Exam is over! DC and VA breakdown of subjects

    Exhausted, tired, relieved that the bar exam is over. It was a long, hot summer. I am so relieved to have the rest of the summer to relax and I hope everyone else is able to enjoy these next few months till results come out. I know that waiting for results is painful and stinks but make the best of it and enjoy the free time as a result of not having to study, I know I will.

    I thought the Virginia essays were fair and straightforward. They tested the following subjects: (more…)

  • Virginia and DC Bar exams are over for February 2015

    The DC and Virginia bar exam are now officially finished. In DC we had a solid exam with an objective memo and a persuasive letter to start the AM. The afternoon essays were as expected with Agency, torts, con law, civ pro, wills/trusts, and property and UCC 9. Trusts was a little tough, but otherwise manageable. The MBE was straightforward, with the civ pro questions being easier than expected and the rest of the exam being as expected with the usual focus areas.

    As for Virginia, we’re back to business as usual with a bunch of Fed and VA procedure questions, sales, partnership, agency, some equity and personal property, wills and everyone’s favorite creditors rights :-) Overall a very fair exam and nice to see the VA and federal jurisdiction back on the exam as those are critical subjects for any attorney to be tested on. Little bit surprised not to see the usual long Corporations, local govt, real property and criminal as I feel those are core subjects they should always test but overall, as usual, it was a very fair exam.

    Time to celebrate and enjoy the extra time that comes with not having to prepare for a bar exam! Results to be posted in late April for Virginia and late May for DC.

  • Proposed Amendment to allow MBE waiver for DC Bar February 2015

    UPDATE: Waivers are permitted, you may use your old MBE score for the February 2015 bar exam.

    The DC Court of Appeals has posted the formal order and notice proposing to amend Rule 46(b) to allow MBE waivers on the upcoming February 2015 bar exam even though Civil Procedure is being added as a 7th subject. Comments are being allowed until December 22, 2014, which means we should expect a formal yay or nay by the first week of January as originally anticipated. Remember, there is no guarantee they will accept previous MBE scores, but as of now that is the plan as the committee is trying to save everyone time and money to not have to deal with dozens and dozens of individual waiver requests but instead handle it through a single amendment change. But, until it’s a done deal, no promises.

  • DC Bar Exam for February 2015 MBE changes and waiving in your old MBE score

    UPDATE: Waivers are permitted, you may use your old MBE score for the February 2015 bar exam.

    There is a considerable amount of concern around the DC Bar Exam for this February as Federal Civil Procedure is being added to the MBE for the first time as a 7th subject. The primary area of concern is around test takers who have previously (within 2 years) taken a bar exam and scored a 133 or higher on the MBE. Normally, DC allows these folks to waive in their score and not take the MBE, allowing them to take only the essay day. However, the Committee on Admissions Rules state that if the subjects on the MBE change then this does not have to be permitted. The DC Committee on Admissions has previously stated that they are only observing the 2 year rule and waivers would be permitted for this February. However, after speaking in detail with the office (more…)

  • Pennsylvania bar exam results for February 2014 and MBE stats

    Results are out for PA here. Overall pass rate was just over 57% with just over 72% of first time takers passing the exam. Kudos to the UPenn crew for having a 100% first time taker pass rate!

    The national mean for the MBE was a 138 this February, which is right where we normally see it for February. The high/low were 187/70.

    Looking for Virginia, DC, Maryland and New York over the next few weeks and California in a month.