LAW 839LEC - Bar Success: Essay Writing

Fifty percent of the score on the bar exam in NY and most other jurisdictions is attributable to the two essay portions: the Multistate Performance Test and the Multistate Essay Exam. These tests differ in significant but identifiable ways from much of the writing students undertake in law school. This course will provide ample guidance, practice, and feedback focusing on timed writing tasks to foster consistent and effective essay performance on the bar examination by honing students’ analytical and writing skills, by developing valuable familiarity with testing formats and with graders’ expectations, and by providing effective strategies for issue-spotting, rule application, time management, and subject-matter study. This course will also introduce students to fundamental testing and study strategies for effective performance on the Multistate Bar Exam, the multiple-choice portion of the bar exam, but the focus of time and attention will be on bar exam essays.

Credits: 3