056: What Are the Bar Graders Looking For?

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we're discussing the specific things bar graders are looking for as they are going through stacks of student answers in a limited amount of time.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Making each important issue stand out so it's easy to spot since the bar grader is reading your answer quickly
• Using the facts given in the question precisely
• Not focusing on extra law that you know, since it won't bring you more points
• The pitfall of circular reasoning
• Using IRAC and CRAC where appropriate, as well as headers and clear paragraphs to give structure to your writing
• How bar graders can tell if you were panicking, running out of time, or planning as you wrote
• Practicing and getting feedback so you can get used to how the exam is graded

Resources:

• Writing of the Week (WOW) Bar Essay Workshop (https://barexamtoolbox.com/writing-of-the-week-wow-bar-essay-workshop/)
• SmartBarPrep (https://smartbarprep.com/)
• Lean Sheets (http://www.leansheets.com/)
• BarEssays.com (https://www.baressays.com/)
• Law School Toolbox blog: Legal Writing Tip: Imagine You're Talking to Your Grandma (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/legal-writing-tip-imagine-youre-talking-to-your-grandma/)
• Podcast Episode 10: Top 5 Bar Exam Essay Writing Tips (w/Ariel Salzer) (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-10-top-5-bar-exam-essay-writing-tips-w-ariel-salzer/)
• Podcast Episode 20: How to Read the Facts on an Essay (w/Mihal Ansik) (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-20-how-to-read-the-facts-on-an-essay-w-mihal-ansik/)
• Podcast Episode 28: Balancing Law and Analysis on a Bar Exam Essay (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-28-balancing-law-and-analysis-on-a-bar-exam-essay/)
• Podcast Episode 24: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Professional Responsibility and Evidence (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-24-tackling-a-california-bar-exam-essay-professional-responsibility-and-evidence/)
• Podcast Episode 32: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Wills and Community Property (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-32-tackling-a-california-bar-exam-essay-wills-and-community-property/)
• Podcast Episode 35: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Corporations (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-35-tackling-a-california-bar-exam-essay-corporations/)
• Podcast Episode 44: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Constitutional Law (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-44-tackling-a-california-bar-exam-essay-constitutional-law/)
• Podcast Episode 49: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Tort Law (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-49-tackling-a-california-bar-exam-essay-tort-law/)
• Podcast Episode 37: Tackling an MEE Secured Transactions Essay Question (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-37-tackling-an-mee-secured-transactions-essay-question/)
• Podcast Episode 41: Tackling an MEE Family Law and Conflicts of Law Essay Question (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-41-tackling-an-mee-family-law-and-conflicts-of-law-essay-question/)

Download the Transcript (https://barexamtoolbox.com/episode-56-what-are-the-bar-graders-looking-for/)

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Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee