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Mastering the New York Multistate Performance Test

The New York Multistate Performance Test (MPT), developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), is a 90-minute section that tests a NY bar candidate’s analysis of laws and facts, his problem solving, communication, and resolution of ethical dilemmas, and his organization and management of realistic lawyer tasks. - The materials for each MPT consist of a File and a Library. When asked to draft a document, look at the File instructions or the Library for instructions and examples of what the document should look like. Everything necessary for performing the tasks is in the test...

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How to Read a Bar Exam Essay Question

Understanding how to read an essay question can be the difference between passing and failing the essay portion of the bar exam.  When reading an essay question, apply the mnemonic SPOIL:  Subject, Parties, Organization, Issues and Law. - Read the facts to determine the SUBJECT being tested by the essay question (e.g. understand the difference between crimes and torts). - Example:  Under what theory or theories, if any, might Patron bring an action for damages against Homeowner, Burglar, or Cinema? Discuss. - This question asks you to discuss the causes of action for damages that an...

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The 5 Patterns of Rules on Bar Exam Essays

When preparing for the essay portion of the bar exam, make sure you are aware of the five different patterns of rules that will appear.  According to Michael Hunter Schwartz, the author of Expert Learning for Law Students (2nd ed., Carolina Academic Press 2008), there are five types of legal rules: - (1)   Simple (2)   Elemental (aka Elementizing) (3)   Factor (4)   Alternative (5)   Rules with Exceptions - Understanding the five patterns of rules will help you distinguish between rules that require you to debate the facts and rules that should only be applied to the facts. - An...

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