Amicus Partners

Your legal education consultants

recent posts

  • Some Expert Advice: Preparing for & passing the California Bar Exam

    When asked as to why they are keen on pursuing an LL.M. abroad, a large percentage of Indian law graduates mention foreign Bar qualification as one of the most pressing reasons. And within this group, as far as those attending US law schools are concerned, the two most popular Bar exams are those of New York and California. 

    Hrideja Shah is a 2017 graduate of Jindal Global Law School, and went on to pursue an LL.M. at Berkeley Law that very year. In 2019, she passed the California Bar Exam.
    Hrideja Shah

    While you can find information on the NY Bar here, this column authored by Hrideja Shah discusses the hows and whys of passing the California Bar Exam. Hrideja is a 2017 graduate of Jindal Global Law School, and went on to pursue an LL.M. at Berkeley Law right after her undergraduate course.  In 2019, she passed the California Bar Exam. In this column, Hrideja breaks down the preparation involved, stresses on the importance of practice, and also shares some words of advice on how to stay mentally strong.

    Taking the California Bar exam has been the most difficult aspects of my life. Since I wanted to work in California after graduating, I decided to register and apply for the California Bar exam. After graduating from UC Berkeley, I started my preparation for the bar exam.

    As per the State Bar of California, the California bar exam is taken twice each year, in February and July. The examination covers subjects such as Business Associations, Civil Procedure, Community Property, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Professional Responsibility, Real Property, Remedies, Torts, Trusts and Wills and Succession, Agency and Partnership. The total number of subjects including California law subjects and Federal subjects are overall 18.

     The exam is given over two days and consists of the following:

    1. The first day consists of answering five essay questions (hypotheticals) and a performance test [PT] (Writing a memo, legal brief etc.). The time allocated is one hour per essay and one & half hours for the performance test. The written portion of the examination (essay questions and Performance Test) is administered on the first day, with three essay questions given in the morning session and two essay questions plus the Performance Test given in the afternoon session.
    2. The second day is MBE’s (Multistate Bar Examination) For MBE’s, you have a total of six hours to answer 200 questions (100 questions in morning & 100 in afternoon).
    3. The performance test includes two files to be analyzed which were 1) the task file (task explained with any additional material required) 2) the library file (material to be read and analyzed before writing the memo).

    When I learned about the format, I thought to myself, this shouldn’t be as difficult as people say it to be.

    With this format in mind, I began my preparation for the exam. There are a lot of bar preparation providers in the market, however, I recommend using either Barbri, Themis or Kaplan. A total of 18 subjects to be learnt by heart within 1.5 months as the exam was closed book. Every two days, I was learning a new subject, attempting questions in both MBE and Essay along with practicing PT’s.

    It wasn’t an easy task even and I was studying for 10 to 12 hours a day. It just wasn’t enough. I fared well with essays and performance tests during preparation, however, despite constant practice, my MBE scores remained average. Each subject had multiple rules of law which had to learnt by heart and in order to pass each essay, you would be required to state the entire rule of law as it was or in a similar language with analysis.

    The bar prep courses equip you with video lectures as well as online practice material and give you a deadline for each course so that you are able to finish off your entire course on time. Apart from video lectures, you also receive a set of 5 to 7 books that include full & mini outlines on California subjects, federal subjects and a book for MBE’s.

    My one recommendation to anyone studying for the bar, do not look at the full outlines because they are bound to make you feel anxious & scared.

    After studying & practicing for 1.5 months, exam day arrived.  On the first day, we were required to be at the exam hall by 7 -7:30 am, since every student had to be admitted in the exam hall after proper checking and instructions. Before entering the exam hall, I couldn’t stop revising because it was just too much to remember and every subject that I didn’t go through, made me nervous.

    We received the first half of our exam, and with that the race began. I call it a race is because unless you knew how to type like Bruce Almighty (after he receives those powers from god), it was impossible to cover all the minor and major issues of the essay, and stating the exact rule of law within one hour.

    I was barely keeping up, but I managed to finish all portions of the exam on the first day. By the time we left the exam hall, it was around 6:15 pm. We had essentially been taking an exam for over 10 hours! Exhausted after giving the exam, I could barely manage to revise for the MBE portion to be given on second day.

    On the second day, I reached around 8 am. MBE’s are multiple choice questions that are based on analyzing the rule of law. The screenshot below gives a fair representation of the kind of questions asked, options and the answer expected.

    For each such question, you have approximately 1 to 1.5 minutes to respond which keeps you on your toes. Again, by the end of the day, all my energy had been drained off and I honestly did not want to go through that entire process again.

    The exam results came out a day or two before Thanksgiving and I was extremely nervous. When I looked at my result, I had failed in my first attempt and I remember just crying because I did not expect failing. I had never failed in my life before taking this exam. Throughout law school, I always held a place in the top 15.

    I spoke to my dad and he said, it’s one of the toughest bar exams in the world for a reason, and that I should give it another try and work harder. So, I embarked on the journey once again. In order to pass the California bar exam, I needed 1440 in Essays and PT and 1440 in MBE’s as well. The score would be added and divided by 2. If the average score turned to be 1440 overall, I would pass.

    So, for example, if I scored 1490 in my essays portion and 1350 in my MBE’s, I wouldn’t pass because the average of the two scores did not come up to 1440 overall.

    I decided to change the way I studied this time. Instead of studying for only 10-12 hours, I was studying for 16-18 hours a day. I knew my weak points. It wasn’t that I didn’t know my material. My problem was typing out the answers with every major and minor issue analyzed within that one hour and constantly analyzing every MBE question in a minute. I was taking too much time.

    For Essays, I recommend issue spotting as many essays as you can and outlining by writing down the exact rule of law. This would help in memorizing.

    My MBE scores were average as well. So, after studying nonstop the entire course in 3 weeks, I started practicing about 100 MBE questions a day along with 2 essays and 1 PT in every two days. As weeks went by, I started practicing 200 MBE questions a day along with revising every rule of law. I had practiced over 2,800 MBE questions and for every wrong MBE question, I wrote down the rule of law in my notes and how it can be interpreted based on the question. My recommendation for MBE’s is to keep a track of every wrong answer, write down the rule of law in your notes. Review all questions practiced over the weekend. Probably being Indian helped me because we have been taught how to memorize during school and those memories of mugging up helped me remember every rule for all 18 subjects.

    After that preparation, it was time to give the exam once again. I remember being extremely nervous because I had put in a lot of effort. The July 2019 exam was one of the lengthiest exams ever seen because each question had at least 6 to 10 issues to analyzed within one hour. However, due to constant practice, I had managed to learn how to think, write and analyze at the same time at a higher writing speed. I am surprised I didn’t break my laptop keyboard that day!

    Like clockwork, the result was released yet again a few days before Thanksgiving. I was nervous, had panic attacks and couldn’t get myself to open the exam result. I was terrified of finding out that I had failed once again. So, I asked my best friend to check my result. I gave him my log in details. While being on call with him, I was howling because I didn’t want to know my result. I didn’t want to go through taking the exam again, the preparation cause at the end, it mentally exhausts you. Luckily, my best friend started shouting on the phone, “You’ve passed the exam!”. I didn’t believe him and gathered courage to check myself. I couldn’t believe that all my hard work had paid off. I had finally passed the toughest bar exam in the world and was a dual qualified lawyer!

    For anyone taking the exam, take breaks and don’t let the exam fear get to you. I was too late to realize that. My mental health had definitely deteriorated. I had become a lot more anxious, started getting panic attacks and was afraid of failure,

    However, remember to give it your 10000%. At any given point, if you’re exhausted studying, take a break and watch your favorite TV show. It’s alright if you fail but you just have to give even more effort the next time. At times, it also depends on the grader you receive. Some graders are strict and do not give enough marks whereas some give marks if you have analyzed every major and minor issue in an outline manner as well.

    And finally, to avoid panic attacks like I did, remember that it’s just an exam and with the right approach and practice, you can pass it. Some require just 8 hours of prep while some require 16 hours, however that poses no questions on your ability to pass the exam.

    We need your help in keeping this blog alive. If you feel that the content on this blog has helped you, please consider making a donation here. 

  • Koç University’s School of Law is holding a webinar for Private Law, Public Law LLMs

    Koç University’s School of Law is holding a webinar for Private Law, Public Law LLMs

    Are you interested in pursuing an LL.M. degree with a strong focus on international and comparative studies of law in Istanbul, Turkey?

    If you want to set yourself apart from the pack, join the Koç University School of Law webinar on Friday, 15 May (8 pm to 9 pm IST). Find out from faculty members what makes this a unique LL.M. in Private Law and Public Law and the right choice for your international career plans.

    For registration visit: http://bit.ly/3dDux0H or email study@ku.edu.tr for more details.

    Download the LLM brochure.

  • The Amicus Interviews: Professor Petra Butler on International Commercial Arbitration, legal education & more

    The Amicus Interviews are meant for broader discussions on legal education, and the legal profession at the global level. Along with the LLM application itself, these interviews are meant to bring across a slightly macro perspective on things.

    Professor Petra Butler, Victoria University of Wellington
    Professor Petra Butler

    In this edition, I get Professor Petra Butler of the Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) to share a few thoughts on a broad range of topics including the value of an international LL.M., breaking into the field of international commercial arbitration, judging the finals of the Vis moot, and a whole lot more.

    I am sure you get asked this a lot, but what do you think are the benefits of an international LL.M. for today’s law graduates? 

    I think the benefits are fourfold:

    1. The obvious answer is that an LLM allows to gain additional knowledge. In particular pursuing an LLM in a foreign country will allow not only to gain insights into a different legal system but will also test one’s understanding of one’s own legal system. It is also an opportunity to specialise or to explore some new legal areas.
    2. In addition it allows to  gain new legal insights an LLM offers probably one of the last opportunities in a lawyer’s life to engage with and to be part of  the wider academic  community a daily basis.
    3. If one pursues an LLM in a foreign country the additional attraction is to immerse oneself in a different culture.
    4. Lastly, one extends one’s network.

    What are some of the aspects of VUW that you think make the LLM experience particularly valuable for the international law graduate? 

    Firstly, the Law School was ranked first in New Zealand’s research evaluation exercise.

    Secondly, VUW has a unique LLM environment with really small classes and very individual supervision. Our courses are responsive to the world around us, ie we offer courses that discuss cutting edge legal developments and we offer an internship as part of our LLM programme. The latter has been proven to be very popular among foreign LLM students since it allows the students to experience a practical legal environment.

    Thirdly, we are a capital city law school. Students have easy access to the courts and Parliament. Judges, government officials, and MPs are welcome and often visitors to the Law School.

    Are there any specific research fields for which you are looking to attract PhDs at VUW?

    No. I would encourage prospective PhD students to go to our website and see what my colleagues are researching. I think they will discover that my colleagues are involved in cutting edge issues in all areas of the law.

    As someone who has taught at universities across the world, how do you think law schools can build and foster a culture of research? 

    This is an interesting question and no short answer is possible. Research and writing are creative and the environment a researcher needs to flourish will be very individual. The best a university can do is to create an environment where there is space for each researcher to be creative.

    “The best a university can do is to create an environment where there is space for each researcher to be creative.”

    Furthermore, my view is that universities should do their most to foster an intellectually stimulating environment, including a network of international researchers and students.

    How was the experience of a completely online Vis moot?
     
    It worked really well. It was a huge leap of faith for the organisers. Nearly 300 teams from all parts of the globe meaning all time zones competed. From what I heard everyone was patient and showed some ingenuity to work around internet problems. The final worked well with the zoom meeting being streamed on Facebook.

    I know you recently had the chance to visit India, and present your findings on the Commonwealth Secretariat Study at NLU Jodhpur – what was your impression of the law students you interacted with?

    The students were fantastic. I had such a great time. They were incredible knowledgable not only about the law (smiles). I am really looking forward to coming back.

    Sticking with international commercial arbitration (ICA), what are some of the steps that India can take to build and encourage domestic dispute resolution through arbitration?

    One of the most important things that can be done is to educate small and medium sized enterprises about dispute resolution and the benefits of arbitration. This includes education around the benefits to have a written contract setting out the rights and duties of the parties and a robust dispute resolution clause.

    And for the Indian law graduate who is interested in working in the field of ICA – any words of advice on how she should approach international education, and degrees such as the LL.M.?

    That is a very interesting and probably a controversially debated question. There are a number of specialised International Arbitration Masters programmes around. The most established are the ones in Geneva, Queen Mary (London)  and Stockholm.

    And if a student wants to come back to their home country to help to establish an international arbitration practice these are very good choices.

    However, if  a students wants to work in international arbitration in London, New York, or Paris then it might be a better path to pursue an LLM at one of the top law schools, such as Harvard, Yale, Oxford or Cambridge.

    Lastly, the COVID crisis has revealed the deep schisms in society, and vulnerability of the poor. Do you think this will result in an increased focus on human rights protection through legislation? In other words, will countries now begin to examine the responsibilities of private corporations when it comes to human rights? 

    Very astute question- unfortunately what we are seeing at the moment is the opposite. We are seeing in a number of countries that the COVID 19 crisis is used for a power grab. We do see a lot of executive overreach.

    We need your help in keeping this blog alive. If you feel that the content on this blog has helped you, please consider making a donation here. 

  • #SurveyTime: Have you attended a summer school? We have some questions for you.

    Given the amount of interest generated by our recent article on summer schools for law students, we have decided to dig a bit deeper. Hence a survey on summer school programmes that law students (and lawyers) have undertaken over the years.

    We are trying to understand what makes these programs so sought after amongst Indian law students and whether they serve their purpose.

    We have designed a short survey that can be taken here.

    We hope that you can take some time out for this. The findings of the survey are intended to inform law students across India about the different summer programs they can opt for, while also offering a first-hand perspective on the value and utility of these courses.

    (In case you would like to share your summer school experience, do reach out to muskaan@amicuspartners.co.in)

  • First Person Accounts: Dr. Shashwat Bajpai on the BCL at the University of Oxford, legal education & more

    First Person Accounts (FPA’s) are meant to provide a first-hand account of Indian graduates who have pursued, or are pursuing, a post-graduate course (LL.M. or otherwise) from different universities across the world.

    Shashwat Bajpai completed an undergraduate law degree from Amity Law School, New Delhi in 2011. That very year, he enrolled for the BCL at the University of Oxford. Two years later, he enrolled for a PhD at the National Law University of Delhi, and completed the doctoral degree in 2017.

    Shashwat Bajpai completed an undergraduate law degree from Amity Law School, New Delhi in 2011. That very year, he enrolled for the BCL at the University of Oxford.
    Dr. Shashwat Bajpai

    In this FPA, he shares some advice on applying for the BCL, the reasons behind opting for a doctoral degree, the best practices that Indian law schools ought to replicate, and a whole lot more.

    The BCL is an interesting choice to make right after your undergrad – what attracted you to the course? And what were some of the other schools that you applied to?

    UK is where most of our laws were born, and to study those laws in the 12th century Oxford building can attract anyone having the slightest love for the law !

    I had always aspired to pursue Masters and was one of my primary objectives from the end of 1st year of undergrad itself. In fact, it is this early determination that assisted me towards a clearer understanding and making me realize the tedious spread out application procedure.

    Interestingly, for a novice, it is essential to understand that the application process itself commences a year prior to the actual homecoming and application deadlines hover around the end of 9th semester (before end of the final year itself), assuming one wishes to attend right after undergrad.

    Additionally, I applied to NYU & Harvard, but I was always driven towards Oxford, like a moth to a flame.

    Did you apply for/receive financial aid?

    NO, I am of personal opinion (no offence meant) that all scholarships should be need-based. The meritorious students who are able to pay should pave the way for those with similar merit but in need of the financial aid.

    Looking back, what do you think makes the BCL such a unique course? 

    That’s an easy one. Tutorials. In addition to the richness and grandeur of the course itself, Tutorials are the heart and soul of BCL. These are one-to-one sessions with the teaching faculty, which are apart from the usual lecture/seminar structure, but are instead positioned towards engaging sessions having a maximum of only 2-3 students per faculty per Tutorial.

    “In addition to the richness and grandeur of the course itself, Tutorials are the heart and soul of BCL.”

    The mind is like a parachute, it only works when its opened, and I would be failing in my duty if I don’t mention that the course reading lists are expansive and extensive and mould your thinking to how you want to appreciate and tackle the issues.

    The faculty is undoubtedly one of the best and your Oxford peers coming from all across the globe, bring along with them a vast array of knowledge, experience and culture to the table, unmatched in comparison to any other institution in the world.

    And sticking with the BCL, any advice for prospective applicants on how to go about the application process? More specifically, the written requirements and the recommendation letters?

    The process is, as I said, a tedious one requiring painstaking efforts spread over a few months. Contrary to the common misconception, marks alone do not get you to Oxford. Yes, the transcripts are an excellent start and you are required to be in the top 2-5% of your class, but that does not guarantee selection, not sans a meticulously drafted SOP and an equally stellar set of recommendation letters. Monitoring your word limit is imperative while drafting these. Your moots, publications, extra-curricular all come into play in this exercise.

    “Yes, the transcripts are an excellent start and you are required to be in the top 2-5% of your class, but that does not guarantee selection, not sans a meticulously drafted SOP and an equally stellar set of recommendation letters.”

    A word of advice to all aspirants qua the SOP – do not be flowery with your vocabulary, instead paint the simplest of pictures through words which express your undergrad journey and how you intend to proceed further, given your selection to the prestigious course.

    Additionally, one has to ensure getting the right set of LORs from your faculty.

    Two years after the BCL, you enrolled for a PhD at NLU Delhi – what got you to consider a PhD? And what were some of the more challenging aspects of the doctoral program?

    This I will respectfully dedicate to Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi Sir, who has been the source of my inspiration. Emulating one’s idol’s goals is a dream come true. His knowledge of law and eloquent equanimity of speech is unparalleled, and which propelled me towards the daunting task of acquiring the Doctorate qualification.

    The most challenging aspect during the program was time-management. Simultaneously coping up with classes, thesis writing and law work as well, was gruelling to say the least. I must respectfully give due credit to my guide, Professor Anil Rai who helped me cope with the same.

    As a practicing lawyer, how do you think your BCL and PhD have helped in your professional growth?

    Nothing compares or substitutes to having good theoretical knowledge so as to apply it practically in Court. Furthermore, better credentials do indeed positively affect client relationships too.

    I must say that there is no better institution in the world than Oxford (Yes ‘Harvard’, I said it !) and I say this especially for the BCL course in particular, since the course is moulded in ways to challenge your thought process every second which in turn broadens your horizon beyond the bookish theoretical knowledge.

    Also, curious to know what you think about legal education and the litigating lawyer – any suggestions on how Indian law schools can improve the legal education experience?

    The standard of the Indian Law Universities is without a shred of doubt, brilliant, in terms of both their studious ethos as well as their dogged determination and yearning to reach the top, and have thus been on upward graph since their set up having reached amazing new pinnacles.

    That having been said, the concept of ensuring the same zeal reaching everyone in the class, is still a non-starter.

    If we can somehow emulate, let’s say the ‘Tutorial’ concept from the BCL course into the Indian legal education system (it’s a long shout, I know!), then we can truly have the National Law Universities/Law Schools amongst the most prestigious in the world.

    Lastly, any advice for the Indian law graduate who is considering a master’s abroad?

    Start early and focus, that is the key to cracking Oxford. In fact, the same applies to any other Ivy League Colleges and Oxbridge.

    Needless to add, don’t weigh down under your own aspirations by over-working and stressing; Work smart and effectively and nothing can stop you from achieving your goal.

    We need your help in keeping this blog alive. If you feel that the content on this blog has helped you, please consider making a donation here.