1. Bar Strategies Seminar
MEE Essay Exam Tips on Strategies and Grading
By: Justin D. Goodman

2. DON’T FREAK OUT!!! Approach seriously. Take care of yourselves.
Make time for yourself.
Create a routine.
Avoid being influenced by another’s routine.
You can pass!

4. BAR EXAM COMPONENTS
MBE
MEE
MPT
…UBE

5. Multistate Bar Exam (MBE)
The purpose of the MBE is to assess the extent to which an examinee can apply fundamental legal principles and legal reasoning to analyze a given fact pattern.

6. Multistate Essay Exam (MEE)
The purpose of the MEE is to assess examinee ability to (1) identify legal issues raised by a hypothetical factual situation; (2) separate material which is relevant from that which is not; (3) present a reasoned analysis of the relevant issues in a clear, concise, and well organized composition; and (4) demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental legal principles relevant to the probable solution of the issues raised by the factual situation.

7. Multistate Performance Test (MPT)
The purpose of the MPT is to assess fundamental lawyering skills in realistic situations by asking the candidate to complete a task which a beginning lawyer should be able to accomplish.

8. Uniform Bar Exam (UBE)
UBE examinees are told to answer according to generally accepted fundamental legal principles, not local case or statutory law.

9. Weighting of UBE
50% MBE
30% MEE
20% MPT

10. New Approach to Grading
Holistic Scoring: Graders evaluate examinee answers for their overall quality while considering content and writing ability. Graders do not assign a score for each criterion in holistic scoring.
Analytic Scoring: Graders break down examinee answers into component parts and each part is scored independently. Each answer might have its own scale based on the number of answer parts to be graded.

11. Analytic Example 20 points available
5 points awarded for 1st issue – right answer and analysis
0-1 points awarded for 2nd issue – 1 point for trying
3 points awarded for part of the issue and analysis

12. Holistic 1-6 Scale 0 Typical reserved for no answer 1 Among the Worst
2 Below Average
3 Somewhat Below Average
4 Average
5 Above Average
6 Very Good

13. Example Inverse condemnation theories available.
Total Regulatory Taking
Partial Regulatory Taking
Land-Use Exaction
Substantial Advancement

14. Calibrating Exams
Under UBE – the holistic grading approach requires calibration of 1-6 scale.
Examinees are reviewed in relation to other examinees
Articulation of an Answer

16. A few general tips Typing v. Handwritten Essays
Always answer the call of the question.
Yes or No.
Maybe Answers
Stay in the box!
Always write something.
Never write your name.
Manage your time wisely.
Practice sitting.
Identify weaknesses.
Make it easy for a grader.
Grammar/Spelling
Outlining

17. Questions?
Justin D. Goodman O’Brien and Padilla, P.C Indian School Rd. NE, Suite 200 Albuquerque, NM (work) (cell)