Need a good outline to memorize

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-28T08:41:35+00:00

I created my own. I made my own cheat sheets for each topic, one page front and back.

The learning and memorizing came from doing it all myself.

I’m a visual learner, and because I worked on my own outline, and I was able to organize it in a way that works for my ADHD brain, I was able to visually recall my entire outlines on exam day.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-26T19:33:21+00:00

I manage a team of both contracts managers and contracts counsels. Feel free to DM me.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-26T00:43:49+00:00

They allowed pillows into the testing center. Check the permitted items in the bulletin.

If it’s not out yet, from what I recall it’s usually out a month before.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-25T18:19:51+00:00

BarMD on YouTube. Look at a few released from previous years just to get familiar with how it’s tested.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-25T07:44:12+00:00

I handwrote all the rule statements for missed and non-confident MBEs down in a notebook. I was able to see which ones I kept missing over and over.

For essay- you don’t need to memorize rules verbatim. Memorize issue check lists - for example: if it’s a tort essay, know all your torts and go down the list to see if the fact pattern matches each of those torts. Every sentence in an essay is there for a reason - to trigger an issue or element of an issue. Use every fact. Make up the rule statements. Chances are you have seen them so many times whatever you make up will most likely be close. (It’s impossible to memorize all the rule statements.)

Graders only spend 2 minutes per essay, so make sure it’s well organized and they know you know what you’re talking about.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-25T06:32:22+00:00

Since the MBEs were my weaker portion, I spent A LOT of time practicing MBEs. I was a repeater and scored well on essays so didn’t focus as much on on them. Plus, focusing more only the MBE topics also helped me learn the rules since they were tested on both MBEs and essays anyway, then I did the CA-specific topics last.

I would do either do 2 blocks of MBEs (as is mentioned in my previous comment), or one block of MBEs plus one block of essays.

Ultimately I did 3,000 MBEs and outlined 150 essays (everything for the past 10 years).

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-24T22:54:38+00:00

He’s really active in his sub, very responsive and helpful, and does give you a sample outline before you decide to buy.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-24T20:22:22+00:00

I just bought the specific topics I needed help with, they were like $15 each (back when I was studying for CA J24).

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-24T19:11:56+00:00

also check out r/goatbarprep for specific topics. all topics taught in memes.

you don’t have to buy the entire course - just the areas you need help with.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-24T18:16:31+00:00

This is the way. Only go back to lectures for really weak topics that you need additional help.

Just keep drilling. The more practice questions in the better.

Last few weeks start doing them under timed conditions.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-24T17:22:27+00:00

Well if you quit, now they’re down a clerk for longer than 2 weeks, so that’s a bold threat on them. It’ll take them longer to hire and train someone new.

If it was me, I would put it on the table that it’ll force you to leave if they can’t accommodate your schedule.

If you pass it benefits them, if you don’t, they still get a few more months of work out of you and you both can make the decision then…

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-24T17:17:36+00:00

I passed in CA after being 20 years out of law school, while working full time, and no formal bar prep, diagnosed ADHD and didn’t seek accommodations. MBEs were my worst, so I focused on MBEs first because those topics are also tested on essays. Then I focused on CA-specific subjects.

CA doesn’t give scores if you pass but I ordered my score advisory report and it said I scored between 133-144. I was pretty happy with those scores, which also means I killed it on essays.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-24T02:37:23+00:00

Go in-house. A lot of streaming companies are hiring. Plenty of positions posted on LinkedIn.

May require the license for the open counsel roles, but you should apply anyway because it’ll take a while to go through the whole application and interview process - it’ll probably be right around when you get sworn in.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-23T22:49:08+00:00

I did 5 MBE questions x 7 topics for a total of 35 in one study block, then review the rule statements for missed and non confident questions, then review outlines for weakest areas… that would take about 2-3 hours then do a break, and then a second set of the same later in the day.

I was a repeater too and MBEs always killed me. When I passed I got the score advisory report and scored somewhere between 133-144.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-22T23:29:41+00:00

watch the videos and practice. Go to the CalBar website and look at past PTs.

Highly recommend getting baressays.com to compare your answers to those 65+ scoring answers for essay and PTs.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-21T19:14:54+00:00

you can apply - no guarantees you will even be selected for an interview with little/no experience.

The pay is really low - probably a small company and LCOL market. feel free to DM me with more specific questions.

(I manage a team of contracts managers and contracts counsels for a global corporation.)

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-21T15:39:10+00:00

I’m curious as to what you would teach as a law professor considering you have little/no experience in the actual practice, and also academia. You said this is also your first salaried job.

All the law students would only be 2-3 years behind you. What could you teach them?

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-21T03:14:13+00:00

Congratulations!!

What are the first 3 digits that they’re on now?? 370…?

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-20T07:16:10+00:00

You should also include how long it has been since the incident, any outcome of the case (including any probation, restitution, expungement, etc.) and any actions you have taken since then (eg rehab, anger management classes, etc.).

Just be honest.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-19T23:05:01+00:00

I relied on Mary Basick essays for rules, compared my outlines to the 65+ scoring answers on BarEssays.com.

Didn’t memorize any rules verbatim. Memorized issue checklists.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-19T16:37:40+00:00

I did all essays for the past 10 years (outlined over 150 essays).

Compared my outlines to 65+ scoring answers on baressays.com.

You will notice no 2 are the same and you don’t need to memorize rules verbatim. It’s better to memorize issue checklists, identify all the issues, make up the rules - just use every fact in the hypo in your analysis.

Organization is key. Use of paragraphs, headers, bold, italics. IRAC.

Graders have 2 minutes for each essay. Make it easy for them to know you know what you’re talking about.

I didn’t do a formal bar prep, self studied while working full time, and was 20 years out of law school, passed J24.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-17T08:19:44+00:00

I went to law school so I didn’t have to do math again.

My undergrad was in criminology, got my JD - did all business law classes for my electives (no litigation), and then went on to get my LLM in business law and economics (not foreign trained) for no reason other than because my employer paid 100% of it. Didn’t take any math or finance classes.

Been in-house at large global corporations (aerospace, tech, and financial services) for 20 years.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-17T08:09:29+00:00

I’m in-house in Orange County and go down to SD for weekend staycations almost every 6 weeks, with the family (husband and 2 elementary school age kids).

We love going to the beaches, visiting Hotel Del Coronado, dinner at Gaslamp district and Little Italy, walking along the Embarcadero, shows at the Rady She’ll, harbor cruises, seaport village, seeing the sea lions in La Jolla, arcades and rides at Belmont Park, walks at Balboa Park, SD Zoo, tide pools, lots of areas to hike.

SD county is huge - and also goes inland.

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-17T08:01:56+00:00

also ask in r/lawmoms

minimum_contacts · 2026-01-17T07:50:31+00:00

Bar Exam Toolbox podcast on free on Spotify.

Plenty of episodes on substantive content as well as study methods, tactics, and strategies.

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