The Last Supper

So today was my last day studying in Alabama before flying up to Illinois. It was not as productive as I had hoped, because I had some other errands to handle. First, I had to call a headhunter back about a potential job, and second, um yeah... packing.

I'm still not finished packing. It's incredibly difficult to pack for 10 days of craziness. We're talking Chicago, bar exam, Miami, Melbourne, wedding, and back. That is, back for four days before flying out to Seattle. It's different climates, and events, and then all the side items - ID, bar ticket, wedding gift, etc.

Oh, and a little TMI for the internet, I got my period. Yes! The afternoon before a day stuck on an airplane - love it! I suppose it could be worse, I could have gotten it Tuesday during the exam. Sigh... I can't wait for Tuesday night! Party in my hotel room! :)

Feeling Pumped

God I'm a rollercoaster. Confidence is back.

I covered suretyship, I'm sure I've got tax down, and at least I had admin law back in law school (besides, tax law is largely admin law, right?). I also finished real property and torts (two of those MBE surprises). Then did practice essays for contracts, real property, and torts. That leaves only con law, crim pro & law, and evidence untouched. I think I'll skip evidence, because it doesn't make for a meaty essay. Con law has always been the hardest subject for me to grasp, so I'm better of skipping it, and concentrating on the hot topics: commercial paper, secured transactions, Illinois civil procedure, and equity. So that's precisely what I'm going to do. Hit the crim law elements, rely on my memory of procedure, and then go firmly plant the big boys.

In the mean time, it's lunch!

"2 weeks to study for the Illinois bar"

That's a search term of someone who found their way to my site. Looks like I'm not the only one! To whoever you are... WE CAN DO IT!

The Problem With NOT Using Commercial Bar Review

*Sigh* So I finally realized that MBE subjects can be tested on the MEE. Then today, I pulled out another source that says admin law, tax, and suretyship can be on the MEE or Illinois Essays, one. Three more subjects?!?! Nooooo!!!

Admin Law - I took the class in law school. All I remember is that it felt like con law. I'm going to play the odds on this one and skip it.

Tax - I thought for sure, since I had an LL.M. in tax that this wouldn't be an issue. I skimmed the outline of the text and realized that I know nothing about super basic income tax. I can't point out an above-the-line from below-the-line deduction, because I normally just pick up a 1040. Regardless, I'm not going to bother with this one either.

Suretyship - This one I think I should take a stab at. I only know two things about this subject: (1) Statute of Frauds applies, and (2) the difference between a guarantor and a surety is that sureties are primarily liable and guarantors are only liable once you've made a demand on the primary person. Yeah... that's it.

Hopefully this post will be a calming influence for the rest of you sitting for the IL bar. If you even sat through a lecture on one of these subjects, you're ahead of the game (or at least ahead of me)!

Wills & Trusts

I covered wills and trusts today. That marks the official coverage of every non-MBE subject. I think the MBE subjects can be on the MEE, so I suppose I'll review those too if I have time. However, tomorrow is being devoted to practice. I'm going to do two essays on every subject I've covered and make note of any trouble subjects.

A classmate of mine is sitting for the California bar this summer. He took Florida in February, and New York and Connecticut last July. Considering that his circumstances are similar to mine (i.e. he just finished exams two weeks ago), I gotta wonder how he has the energy!! I want some of what he's taking! I'm only taking two exams within the year, and I'm burned to the core.

Anyhow - it's almost time for a dinner break.
Keep Chugging!

One Week Crunch

Federal Jurisdiction & Procedure and Personal Property... check and check!

Starting to get a little nervous. I fly to Chicago a week from today, and although I've read several subjects, I've not done much practical work and all my subjects seem to be blurring together. This whole bar exam in two weeks may not have been the smartest $2,000 investment I ever made.

At least I don't have to deal with the MBE, and the MPT seems like a joke from an outside view (and worth only 7% of the score). C'mon motivation - don't make me wish I took that $2,000 and went on vacation!

Goodbye Florida Fleas; Hello Alabama Mosquitoes

Civ Pro today - what a yawn. Apparently it's highly tested, so it got a whole day to itself.

I got my seat assignment - not bad - only half a mile from my hotel. They're crazy about sunglasses, pens, and pencils. I mean, they must have said that they were prohibited at least 15 times. I mean - how is someone going to cheat by bringing in a pencil? Have the FRE carved into the side of one?

Anyhow, as a break I took a swim. Someone must be cracking the whip on me, because a hoard of mosquitoes came and got me - 3 bites on my face/neck (the only part out of the water). Jeez bugs - I deserve a LITTLE break.

I'm getting excited about visiting Chicago. It's been so long since I've been up there! 8 or 9 years at least. I'm not stressed about this exam (yet), so I'm hoping this trip is an exam/vacation. I've not put the books down in what seems like years now. I finished exams a week ago and hopped right into this.

The Beginning

I started studying today. I read the outline for commercial paper and half of the agency outline. This afternoon I'm going to finish agency and work on essays & model answers for those two subjects. I'm beginning to think this is totally doable.

Keep the positive energy coming!

11 days and counting

It's official

I haven't started studying yet.

I've got my last law school exam on Monday, and I'm going to turn my paper in that same day. That gives me two full weeks to study.

Miracles are possible, right?