Bar Exam Info
Bar Exam information for the July 2007 test is available here. Here's what you need to know:
Deadline: April 2 (after this, there are progressively stiffer late fees)
Cost: $529
Laptop fee: $119
Bay Area testing sites: Oakland (writers); San Francisco (laptops); San Mateo (laptops).
No laptops in Oakland is a serious pain in my ass, because I would really prefer to stay at my own house, rather than a hotel. It is also in Fort Mason (?), which is not particularly easy to get to (see map here).
And $119 to use a computer!?!? Because it's MORE difficult for them when we use computers?
But what can you do? As mad j.d. and a certain roommate of mine love to say: It is what it is.
Deadline: April 2 (after this, there are progressively stiffer late fees)
Cost: $529
Laptop fee: $119
Bay Area testing sites: Oakland (writers); San Francisco (laptops); San Mateo (laptops).
No laptops in Oakland is a serious pain in my ass, because I would really prefer to stay at my own house, rather than a hotel. It is also in Fort Mason (?), which is not particularly easy to get to (see map here).
And $119 to use a computer!?!? Because it's MORE difficult for them when we use computers?
But what can you do? As mad j.d. and a certain roommate of mine love to say: It is what it is.
Labels: Bar Exams
posted by Anonymous at 11:38 AM
15 Comments:
My stubborn old-hasioned handwriting is finally going to pay off!
Who's going to join me in Oaktown???
I know that they require us to use examsoft with laptops. And I think Phil Carter quoted the Army mantre regarding this when he said, "Embrace the suck." But putting the horrors of examsoft aside, I just want to know if the locations are 100% guaranteed to have electrical outlets.
Good question Armen. How do we find that out? Think we can just call Fort Mason?
Since the Cal bar uses ExamSoft (and you thought you were rid of it for good...) so I'm sure part of the laptop fee accounts for the licensing costs, not to mention having to pay for the infrastructure to deal with the electronic answers (flash keys, website for uploading answers, etc.). You guys complain so much.
Max, Max, Max...I was going to defend my honor from having the world's most meaningless statement attributed to me, but I don't really feel the need after seeing the evisceration you have just suffered at the hands of EW.
Cheers.
But Max looks so damn cute in those sweater vests...
Dean O might have covered this, but does anyone know how likely those of us who signed up today are to get our first choice location?
Also, when do we find out our test center location? If we get kicked down to a second or third location, it might involve making serious travel arrangments. How much notice will we get?
5:12, just a guess, but if you signed up today, I don't think you have anything to worry about.
Also, to answer Armen's question, an alum tells me that the Bar ensures outlets for every student, and that they were all over the place last year.
And Stave, you are totally right...what is there to complain about when you're shelling out over $4,000 for a test?
F ExamSoft. DS is sick of major institutions like Boalt and the Cal Bar discriminating against the mac users of the world.
Just because one takes the exam at Fort Mason, doesn't mean they have to have a computer, right?
DS--I was wondering that too. My thought was what happens if you get there and your computer stops working--will they make you hightail it to Oakland to write? But no, you can write at Fort Mason. So I guess if you want to write there, pay the $119 and pretend your laptop stopped working. Or something. The pamphlet on laptops is rather detailed.
God I wish I could type in Oakland. What hotels are near Fort Mason?
Assuming it's like last summer at Oakland:
1. There will be plenty of outlets. That's not a problem.
2. If your computer will not boot up ExamSoft or stops, you will have to write the exam. I saw it happen to people last year, so don't forget to bring pens just in case.
3. I don't think that writers can show up to a computer designated spot because they want to ensure that they have enough places for laptop people. But I am not sure on that one.
4. I don't know anyone who didn't get into the test center they wanted. If you sign up on the first day, you are likely to be very close to the front of the room--which is good if you don't want to see other people freaking out.
5. Since there are assigned seats, if you want to sit around a bunch of your friends, sign up all at the same time. I ended up in a row with all Boalties almost and it was nice to see some friendly and noncompetitive faces.
Relax. Don't start freaking out about it now. There's plenty of time for that later.
Thanks to 8:15 for the valuable info. So that leads to this question, who's taking it in LA? Huh? Anybody?
Regarding the less than ideal Fort Mason location, I am seriously thinking of taking the Bar in Sacramento. You can stay at the Sheraton Grand, just two blocks walking distance from the Convention Center where the exam is. Lots of good room service and restaurants near by. Both laptop and writing options at the Convention center. Sounds easy to me.
For those of you afraid to drive over early in the AM, Fort Mason is really close to a ton of motels on Lombard Street and a short cab ride away from hotels in the Fisherman's Warf area. There won't be a problem finding food either as you are close to two yuppie food centers: chestnut street and union street.
My two cents on Sacramento: I used to live there. When I did, I found that most places tended to over do it with the airconditioner. I would be afraid that the convention center would be too cold during the exam. If I am going to be cold for an exam, I would rather it be from the natural air conditioner, i.e., fog, outside. Also, the downtown area of Sac is really not a nice place to be at night. It is usually deserted and I never found it to feel that safe.
On an unrelated note, does anyone know who the graduation speaker is going to be?
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