THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
COLUMBUS SCHOOL OF LAW
VA Bar Preparation & Procedure
Spring Term 2013
Prof. Flinn  crflinn@gmail.com
Assignment for Week 1
INSTRUCTIONS: This short assignment is intended to familiarize you with your state’s
bar exam. Submit this assignment via our course’s TWEN site before our first class.
Name:
Day or Evening division:
Which bar exam do you intend to take?
□ Virginia
□ Pennsylvania
□ Maryland
□ Other (specify)
□ New York
□ Undecided
APPLYING TO TAKE THE BAR EXAM

When and where do you plan to take the bar exam?

When are your application and Character & Fitness questionnaire due?
ABOUT YOUR BAR EXAM – GENERAL INFORMATION

How many times can you take the bar exam in your state?

Which components does your state’s bar exam include, and how much does each
component count toward the total combined score?

□ MPRE / ___%
□ MPT / ___%
□ MBE / ___%
□ Essay / ___%
What is the minimum passing score in your state?
© 2012 by C. Reid Flinn
1
MPRE (MULTISTATE PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY EXAM)

Have you already passed the MPRE? (If so, go to the next section)

When will you take the MPRE?

When must you apply to take the MPRE on your preferred date?

How many hours does the MPRE last?

How many questions are there?

What MPRE score does your state require?
MBE (MULTISTATE BAR EXAM)

How many hours does the MBE last:
In the morning?

In the afternoon?
How many MBE questions are there:
In the morning?
In the afternoon?

How many of the MBE questions count toward your score?

On average, how many minutes per MBE question do you have?

How many answer choices does each MBE question have?

Which subjects are tested on the MBE, and how many questions are there per
subject?
1. ______________ / ____Q’s
2. ______________ / ____Q’s
3. ______________ / ____Q’s
4. ______________ / ____Q’s
5. ______________ / ____Q’s
6. ______________ / ____Q’s
© 2012 by C. Reid Flinn
2
ESSAY EXAM

How many hours does your state’s essay exam last:
In the morning?

In the afternoon?
How many essay questions does your state test:
In the morning?
In the afternoon?

On average, how long do you have to answer each essay question?

Does your state use the MPT (Multistate Performance Test)? If so:
How many MPT questions are on your bar exam?
How long do you have to answer each MPT question?

List the essay subjects tested in your state:

Does your state release sample or model essay answers?

Does your state allow laptops for the essay exam?
KNOWLEDGE AUDIT
Estimate your knowledge of the following selected Virginia Essay Exam subjects.
Subjects
Corresponding
CUA classes
Virginia Civil Procedure
Wills
Criminal Law/Procedure
Federal Civil Procedure
Sales (UCC 2)
Real Property
Equity
Personal Property
Domestic Relations
Comm. Paper (UCC 3/4)
Secured Trans. (UCC 9)
Corporations
Partnerships/LLC’s
Creditors’ Rights
VA Bar Prep
Trusts & Estates
Crim Law, ~ Pro
Civ Pro
Sales & Leases
Property
Remedies
Property
Family Law
Comm Trans
Comm Trans
Corporations
UBO
Creditor’s and
Debtor’s Rights
© 2012 by C. Reid Flinn
Strong
Moderate
Weak/
None
Taken
already?
Taking
now?
3
RESOURCE BUDGET – TIME
Calculate the maximum time you have available to prepare for the bar exam.
Day
Hrs./day x Weeks = Total hrs.
Before summer (now till 5/12/13)
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
17
17
17
17
17
17
17
Subtotal
During summer (5/13/13 till exam)
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
Subtotal
TOTAL
RESOURCE BUDGET – MONEY
Calculate your out-of-pocket expenses related to the Bar Exam.
Est. cost
Less employer
reimbursement
= Net out of
pocket
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Hotel
Food
Transportation
Other
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
TOTAL
$
$
$
Expense item
Application costs
Fees (state app., C&F, MPRE, laptop)
Bar Review costs
Courses, books, tutoring, etc.
Living expenses (housing, phone,
utilities, food, healthcare, clothing,
transportation, insurance, etc.)
Bar Exam costs
© 2012 by C. Reid Flinn
4