New York Bar Exams

A14

They actually use the video lectures used by the American barbri course , the only programme that actually have live lectures are independant colleges in Dublin . I was thinking of doin the friary course as well until I heard that ..

bcdccm

Thanks A14. It's amazing how they can charge that amount of money for video lectures!!! I seen the independant college prospectus, it looked alright, and (at the time) was cheaper than FriaryLaw.

Anybody done this or got any info about it? Is it a couple of days a week too? Any idea on pass rates?

A14

It's Monday to Wednesday 6-9 every night , their pass rate for last feb was 100% .. pretty impressive ! You can do it by distance learning too, it defo sounds like the best one if your going to pay that much money.

FreudianSlippers

I've had good experience with Independent in their King's Inns prep course and I will be doing the California bar prep with them in the next year. It's my understanding that Griffith does these prep courses too, but I'd stay well away from that place.

CantGetNoSleep

Anyone have any links to buy the materials? Or even anywhere with extra info on doing the exam?

FreudianSlippers

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

Anyone have any links to buy the materials? Or even anywhere with extra info on doing the exam?

[URL="http://www.independentcolleges.ie/opencms/opencms/handle404?exporturi=/export/sites/default/faculties_and_courses/law/NYB_Oct_09_Brochure.pdf&]"]Independent Colleges (they use micromash + tutoring in class and online)[/URL]

Official NY Bar Exam Page & Foreign Legal Education Page

Micromash

Friarylaw

Griffith Dublin (would not be my personal first suggestion, but for comparative value)

For our Western brethren: UCC

CantGetNoSleep

Cheers for that, what do people reckon is the minimum time you would need to cram for this?

dats_right

Interesting article on the very limited value of having the NY Bar qualification on this side of the Atlantic.

Beeinmybonnet

Arsenal1986 wrote: »

On this, I heard recently that the Law Society gave verbal assurances to the Friary Chambers/Independent Colleges NY Bar prep courses that students enrolled and currently sitting the Feb exam will be exempt from this requirement. I was just wondering does anyone know whether this is accurate?

Going to be alot of angry people if its not. There were 50ish on the Friary course for February and you would imagine the majority of them would have intended t sit the QLTT at some stage.

I wasn't aware of that, I'm shocked. That's some blow to anyone thinking about doing them.

2ndtimer

markIreland24 wrote: »

I passed the Bar in 2008 and used materials for that year. I also used previously years books as extra support, I dont think there is any real difference, I am currently selling my complete set of books, if you are interested please contact me

mark

Hi Mark,

Was wondering do you feel starting studying now and sitting the exam in July is time enough. I can devote all my time to as have just finished fe-1s and am only part time employed.

Am buying micromash as like their software. Did you read a general book on american law?

prinz

guerito wrote: »

The Law Society confirmed to me that the PQE must be in a (New York) law firm. I checked the relevant SI (available on the LS website), and while it doesn't state that outright, it does seem to give the LS enough discretion that they can demand it. Just a heads-up.

Does the PQE have to be physically in New York/America does anyone know? Or is it more about experience in working with the law you have studied. Was hoping to sit for the NY Bar at some stage but would only be interested in employment with an international/US firm based in Europe, as opposed to the States.

NYBAR

I've heard theya re SUPER tough and you need BARBRI to do them I don't think it's possible to do them while working full time [unless you have a US JD]

It's all US law so presumably you have not taken any US law before in which case you have to start from scratch. FYI all the US JD's take barbri or another course after their 3yrs at law school and they have about a 90% pass rate. I am sitting them in July I can let you know, I am doing barbri, it's intense but if it will make me pass... It's supposed to be the best although I hear from a friend who sat them in Feb that it costs around €4k, I have just paid over 3kUSD I'm taking it in Canada and going down for the exams in July

Best of luck. Althou I hear from everyone The situation in NY jobwise is dire - at least once u pass you can go back when the market picks up...

NYBAR

Beeinmybonnet wrote: »

I wasn't aware of that, I'm shocked. That's some blow to anyone thinking about doing them.

What is QLTT? Does this apply if you have an Irish degree?

2ndtimer

gabhain7 wrote: »

Passed in case anyone was wondering.

Quite relieved, thought my trip to New York in February might be for nothing. I think it's a very doable exam if one is good at cramming. Go to New York 3 or 4 days before the exam and do nothing but cram in a hotel room. Get the Bar Bri books off ebay, dont bother with the course.

Hi,

Reading your thoughts and wanted to ask you a few questions, If you could find the time to answer then I would be very grateful.

I am accustomed to self-disciplined study having come from a QUB LLB degree programme and taught myself through the Fe-1's. I am purchasing Micromash, having trialed their software and read excerpts from their books.

(i) Do you feel from now to end of July is sufficient preparation? Bearing in mind I can devote all my time to study. I have already commenced learning the basics of the american legal system.

(ii) The MPT part can require preparing opening and closing statements, cross examination preparations, statements to disagree with motions etc; advocacy skills not taught on an LLB programme or learnt through FE-1 study, though taught in US Law schools.

I have friends who have recently been called to the bar and was thinking of asking them the guidelines regarding the tasks mentioned. Do you feel this to be worthwhile?

I am aware of the difficulty of these exams, I do however enjoy a challenge and do not view the hours of study and sacrifice to be a negative experience.

Thank-you for your time.

sarahchristinem

I'm also considering sitting the NY Bar exams in Feb 2011 if anyone else is selling books or interested in (online) / study group? I've just finished PPC1, i'm an american citizen and i've always wanted to practice in ny so think it would be a good option to have if things havnt improved here by the time i qualify. Whats the average price of the books? I had a look on ebay - is 450/500 the norm? and would it be advisable to purchase (full review) micromash on top of the books? Thanks.

Skip1984

I have a set of the micromash books brand new up to date versions they cost 1650 dollars, i'm prepared to accept reasonable offers and post whereever send me a private message or post here if you want.

markIreland24

cfarrell1980 wrote: »

That sounds good. I am still in 'negotiations' with an ex-college-colleague to buy his bar exam materials - if that falls through (which it currently looks like doing), I will get back to you about the materials.

With respect to advice on preparing etc, I'd be glad to hear any tips you have. Currently, I'm looking at doing February 2011. I'm working full-time, so I intend putting in maybe 1 - 2 hours a day until Christmas. After Christmas, I'm going to try to take January and February off work to put in as much time as I possible can.

If you have preparation tips, I'd love to hear them

Ciaran,

Did you buy the NY bar preparation materials off your college in the end?
Mine are still for sale, if you would like to do a deal

Mark

2ndtimer

Just got the Micromash materials and software, bought them direct rather than from Griffith plus only had to pay $450 now then the balance of $1200 one month after I sit the exam in July.

To anyone thinking of doing it by themselves it seems pretty doable if you can devote alot of time to it. Im scoring 60% on average in torts and contract MBE, just over the past two days, although this is no indication of how one will do in the exams.

Micromash software is very good, and the law isnt very different from ours. If you are used to the slog of FE-1's and apply the same work ethic I think that it there should be a possibility of passing.

All very hypothetical, but so far not as horrific as I imagined.

Anyone else sitting it in July?

osullivem

Hi 2ndtimer,

Im hoping to take the exams in July. I also got the micromash course.
Problem is I originally intended to sit the exams in Feb, however due to a multitude of reasons I decided to take them in July. Im trying to get motivated to start study for them now and am finding it extremely difficult! I've secured a good job starting in Sept in the UK and don't need to have the exams but I would like to have them.
What kind of study plan are you doing? Im also working only part time...
Any words of wisdom or motivation would be much appreciated!!

Thanks.

2ndtimer

osullivem wrote: »

Hi 2ndtimer,

Im hoping to take the exams in July. I also got the micromash course.
Problem is I originally intended to sit the exams in Feb, however due to a multitude of reasons I decided to take them in July. Im trying to get motivated to start study for them now and am finding it extremely difficult! I've secured a good job starting in Sept in the UK and don't need to have the exams but I would like to have them.
What kind of study plan are you doing? Im also working only part time...
Any words of wisdom or motivation would be much appreciated!!

Thanks.

Hi,

Good to hear from another doing it by themselves!

Study plan wise Im going to treat this as full time job from now to July, then up the workload just like you usually do come exam time.

Cant really give you anu words of wisdom, but a friend of mine done it and said the MPT and state essay are not terribly difficult, However the MBE is challenging ( as if we didnt know!)

Studywise so far Im doing atleast three of the 17 question tests from the software per day, and keeping to studying a specific subject each day, e.g monday: Contract.

Also Im keeping a journal of difficult questions or strange nuances of questions that I have taken, which I answered; either right or wrong.

Have tried the NY state software questions but am scoring very low as Im yet to receive my books in the post. At present Im just using the MBE software, though am pleased that Im mostly scoring 60%, even without having the books.

Sorry cant be of more help but as I progress Ill be able to offer more information about how Im getting on. Do the same, as it seems that these are quite a challenge!

osullivem

Thanks for the info 2ndtimer!

You sound really disciplined! - Im jealous! :-) So time wise would you be doing approx 7(ish) hours a day then?
I will take a leaf out of your book and start with the view that this is a job! Its great to hear from someone who is doing it themselves - feeling more positive about the whole situation now!

Cheers!

2ndtimer

osullivem wrote: »

Thanks for the info 2ndtimer!

You sound really disciplined! - Im jealous! :-) So time wise would you be doing approx 7(ish) hours a day then?
I will take a leaf out of your book and start with the view that this is a job! Its great to hear from someone who is doing it themselves - feeling more positive about the whole situation now!

Cheers!

No worries,

I think there is plenty of time to prepare so although these are perceived to be very difficult, anything can be done if you put in the work. The Independent college course started April 5th, so this is the right time to start.

7 hours a day is what Im doing, but find your own rythm and what works for you. Aslong as the hours you are putting in are productive you're on a good track. Think if you treat it like a job it actually becomes more managable and the resentment that one usually has for study is not as prevelant!

Glad the motivation has been raised!

kimphilby

Sitting the exam in Feb 2011. Will be taking the Celebration Bar Review course. Possibly going to NY for a 3 day "bootcamp" course.

DermotRed

NYBAR wrote: »

I've heard theya re SUPER tough and you need BARBRI to do them I don't think it's possible to do them while working full time [unless you have a US JD]

It's all US law so presumably you have not taken any US law before in which case you have to start from scratch. FYI all the US JD's take barbri or another course after their 3yrs at law school and they have about a 90% pass rate. I am sitting them in July I can let you know, I am doing barbri, it's intense but if it will make me pass... It's supposed to be the best although I hear from a friend who sat them in Feb that it costs around €4k, I have just paid over 3kUSD I'm taking it in Canada and going down for the exams in July

Best of luck. Althou I hear from everyone The situation in NY jobwise is dire - at least once u pass you can go back when the market picks up...

Hi there,
I'm thinking of studying for the NY Bar (Feb '11) in Vancouver. I see that you're taking the Barbri course. Are you doing it privately or are you attending classes?

osullivem

2ndtimer wrote: »

No worries,

I think there is plenty of time to prepare so although these are perceived to be very difficult, anything can be done if you put in the work. The Independent college course started April 5th, so this is the right time to start.

7 hours a day is what Im doing, but find your own rythm and what works for you. Aslong as the hours you are putting in are productive you're on a good track. Think if you treat it like a job it actually becomes more managable and the resentment that one usually has for study is not as prevelant!

Glad the motivation has been raised!

Hey 2ndtimer,

Hows the study going for you this week?

Ive started now and am feeling quite positive about the whole thing. Have you registered online for the exam?

Snowy86

Hi

Hopefully you guys can help..
Does a business degree ( with law specialism) coupled with all 8 completed FE1s satisfy eligibility rules for New York Bar?

Thanks

2ndtimer

osullivem wrote: »

Hey 2ndtimer,

Hows the study going for you this week?

Ive started now and am feeling quite positive about the whole thing. Have you registered online for the exam?

Hi,

Yeah, registered and paid today, just have to send away my transcript and think im going to get a letter from law society to confirm my degree recognised etc etc.

Have neglected sudyingt a bit..was on an internship last week in Dublin and had to work 12 hour days from monday to weds this week in anotherjob.

Back at it today..must really start on constitutional. I find it challenging as never really seen it before.

Are you doing the MPRE aswell? im going to stay out there and sit it August 10th I believe

osullivem

Hey!

Im not sure yet about the MPRE, I've put down that I'll sit it in August but i'll have to see how my money situation is then, you can take it in any state in the US so could travel around for a bit!:)
Regarding the documents- I just got a letter off the head of our Law Faculty saying that my degree is recognized by the Law Society, she did the NY Bar herself and said that will do, don't forget that everything has to be signed off by a notary. I think the deadline for everything to be in is the 15th June so plenty of time...
Yeah Constitution looks like a dose... I started on that when I first got my micromash package.. not the best one to boost the morale! lol! At the moment I've been concentrating on Contracts and Criminal, pretty doable so far..

Getting_Steads

Hey 2ndtimer and osullivem. Glad to hear there's more people out there using Micromash. Only after I got it did I start hearing of BarBri, which is apparently quite popular state side.

How are your scores looking so far on the practice MCQs? I'm hovering around the 50% mark at the moment on the MBE subjects. But I haven't looked at the NY portion yet.

I must admit I'm finding it hard to get motivated to study given we're just under 13 weeks away.

Anyway just thought I'd pop into this thread. Hopefully as it gets closer we can share ideas/tips! Here's a good site I found for Bar advice: http://www.seperac.com/bar/

UL_LLB

Hey Guys,

I have the latest set of BarBri manuals along with study schedules, mock exams etc etc. They helped me pass the bar first time...not an easy task. Will accept reasonable offers.

Cheers!