Bar Info
3Ls--this link is to a document that has most of the info regarding deadlines, fees, forms, etc. that you need for the July Bar. Don't take everything on there as gospel--you still need to check everything out for yourself, but this should be a pretty good guide to what you need to do over the next few months.
BTW, I got this from my friend at USF, who is in charge of making sure all the 3Ls at USF know what they need to do to take the exam (they have meetings and everything). Why, why does Boa--Berkeley Law not have this same position??? Last year I suggested having a Bar Czar, and I really don't understand why it hasn't been done yet. Hell, the work has already been done, the Bar Czar (also known as the 3L Rep) just needs to email out that document, and maybe talk to BarBri one time about their fees/deadlines.
This is the kind of extremely simple thing that students really appreciate. We shouldn't need USF to do it for us.
[Nothing against's Patrick's post below, but I feel this is too important to stay hidden away. -- Armen]
BTW, I got this from my friend at USF, who is in charge of making sure all the 3Ls at USF know what they need to do to take the exam (they have meetings and everything). Why, why does Boa--Berkeley Law not have this same position??? Last year I suggested having a Bar Czar, and I really don't understand why it hasn't been done yet. Hell, the work has already been done, the Bar Czar (also known as the 3L Rep) just needs to email out that document, and maybe talk to BarBri one time about their fees/deadlines.
This is the kind of extremely simple thing that students really appreciate. We shouldn't need USF to do it for us.
[Nothing against's Patrick's post below, but I feel this is too important to stay hidden away. -- Armen]
Labels: Bar Exams
posted by Max Power at 11:00 PM
36 Comments:
then there's the MPRE, then the Moral Character App Fee, then the Bar Reg fee + laptop fee, then the membership dues. Got all that? Good.
At least we don't take the baby bar. That's good for something.
Umm. . . The dates and fees weren't exactly that hard to keep track of. All that was required was one trip to the State bar website. If somebody isn't responsible enough to make sure they send things in on time after countless reminders in the BBB, then they have more seriously problems to think about.
With all due respect, something as critical as admission to the State Bar shouldn't be relegated to page 14 of a weekly newsletter that includes such lovely announcements as "Come hear the latest on Google's latest attempt to conquer the world. Lunch will be provided."
I can go on and list the million and one ways that we are outright mediocre when it comes to student services. In fact, I've done that for the past 3 years. There's always the few who stand up and crow "Suck it up, you don't need to be pampered, cry baby, be self-reliant" blah blah blah. Hogwash. I draw the line at bar admission. I can live with a CDO that practices social Darwinism. I can live with a registrar that makes the Spanish Inquisition look like a Mel Brooks musical. I'm genuinely pleased that the process of petitioning for in-state residency makes the former INS seem like a model of bureaucratic efficiency. But damn it, I don't need to wander the halls with hat in hand begging for information about the best time to take the MPRE or the deadline to sign up for the actual exam. If you want to know about the dangers of missing said deadline, just ask a certain Boalt 'O6.
I understand the whole "self-reliant" argument, but for me these types of services aren't about getting someone else to do it for you, it's about efficiency. Why have 300 people repeating each other's research when you can have 1 person do it quickly? Plus, when you repeat the process 300 times, the likelihood of a mistake is a lot higher.
Plus, 10:19, I don't know if you've taken the Bar and signed up for Barbri and done all this stuff yet. But it isn't nearly as easy as you say, and the information isn't necessarily provided in the most user-friendly manner. I think we all had a small bit of fear that we'd show up at the exam and our name wouldn't be on the list, because it turned out there was some form or deadline we forgot. As Armen loves to remind us, this happened just two years ago to a Boaltie. Why take that risk?
Anyway, 10:19, you're right that Boalt doesn't have to do this, and that law students will find a way to manage if they don't. But is that a good approach to take to student services? When there is something easy that will help people, and that people will appreciate, why wouldn't you do it?
I think one person in the student services office should be in charge of creating a one page handout that has all the dates and details we need for taking the MPRE and the bar. This one page sheet should then be put in the lockers of each 3L and be made available in the student services office. Do that, and I might consider donating to the class campaign this year.
Yes. There's already this on the website http://www.law.berkeley.edu/students/registrar/jd_require/barinfo.html ... but it lacks specific dates, fees and other details.
Speaking of donating to the class campaign, is anyone else like me, and tempted to not do it simply because they put so much pressure on us to give?
I'm not going to donate. In a world of limited resources, there are a lot of good charitable organizations that are much more likely to do more good for the world than a law school.
Armen's salute to the residency petition is something I appreciate.
I'm still waiting for them to get back to me for the FALL tuition I owe.
I'm glad others are aboard the "stop pestering me about the goddamn class campaign" boat. We're of very limited resources right now, and for them to ask us for money before we've even made any is ridiculous. The tuition and fees here are so high anyway, I don't think my symbolic $5 donation matters. All they're accomplishing by pestering and shaming students into donating is getting a symbolic donation of a couple bucks and leaving a bad taste in everyone's mouth.
I disagree about the class donation. I think all the 3L's should be required to donate. In fact, if all the 3L's were to promise to donate, say, their first year's salary, Edley would have no need to raise tuition.
Better yet, they could just tack on the donation to the class fees. With the amount they're charging, we won't really notice the addition of a few thousand dollars... will we?
I did donate -- over $90,000 to the school by the time I graduate.
is someone posing as Bekki as a joke? or did she just reach a new level of ridiculous?
Bekki is like Ann Coulter. She says this crazy crap all the time, knowing that if anyone calls her on it she can say it was satire. Bekki, don't be like Skeletor.
WTF? It's impossible to tell when you're serious or full of $&%t! Try this:
[sarcasm] Bekki is the greatest blogger ever! [/sarcasm]
Just so we can all be clear.
Donate? I have a list of grievances:
1) Pathetic support for clerkship applicants
2) No good con law offerings
3) No S. Ct. clinic -- and no real opportunity for clinics unless you're interested in one of the micro-areas
4) 8:30 finals
5) Registrar
When I see some or any of these issues being addressed, I'll write a check. But I'm going to give money so Edley can go hire some Yale '05 to write about the role of racism and ethnocentrism in the 16th century English chancery courts? Give me a fucking break.
9:49 - you can give or not give, i have no opinion on that. but i don't see how our clinics only fall into "micro areas." the death penalty, human rights, technology, and legal services cover a pretty broad spectrum. within legal services, there is housing, community economic development, clean slate clinic (helping poor people expunge minor criminal records), hiv/aids, etc. the death penalty and human rights clinic have frequently filed briefs in the supreme court. i am always in favor of more clinics, but not because we only cover micro areas.
also my courses in con law at boalt were all fantastic.
also, i had no problem getting clerkship interviews despite the "pathetic" support.
also, the fact that you mention 8:30 finals makes me think you are just a whiner so i probably shouldn't have bothered responding to you more specifically. it just makes me angry for people to take for granted the fabulous experience that boalt offers, and to complain because they have to get up early in the morning.
oh, lastly - my experiences with the registrar employees have been uniformly wonderful. they were always smiling and happy to help me out.
maybe having a positive outlook helped me have a better experience at boalt? maybe you should try it?
While donations shouldn't be withheld simply because the school isn't run exactly as we want it run, there are some major problems with how funds are allocated at Boalt that make me hesitant to donate.
Also, the clerkship support here -- and the alumni and career network in general -- is very pathetic here.
despite all of the criticism of CDO, i have to say that the mock interviewing program was the single most valuable experience i've had as a boalt student. especially when the interviewer said, "gosh, i hate these fake interviews...they're really pretty useless, don't you think?"
1:04: the reason our alumni network is so "pathetic" is it is made out of people who do not care to participate in their law school after they leave.
You know, people who wouldn't give $5 on their way out the door.
People like *gasp* you.
If you do not want to give to the class campaign, fine. But spare us the, "why aren't they holding my hand?" brand of self-entitled bitching.
Please.
All of this whining and complaining is the thing I hate most about my choice to come to law school. Can't people just try to be happy or at least content.
We have it pretty good here at boalt, even with the loans, and the hard time getting into classes. I know a lot of people who were rejected by boalt who would love to trade places with you right now.
And there are a lot of Boalties who would love to have the student services of another school. What's your point? Oh, I got an admission letter. I should sacrifice my first-born.
2:45 p.m.: Maybe alums would be more willing to help the school out if they didn't keep pestering us for $5 now. Building a strong network of alums is a very inexpensive way to help Boalt grads, and will probably result in more alums donating to the school.
The administration has treated the students so badly in this moving fiasco, that we had to organize, union style, to keep from being kicked out of Boalt Hall and moved down on Telegraph Avenue. And now I'm supposed to give a token amount so that Dean E can tell alums how much we support the school and his plans? No - I refuse. I saw what happened last year, all the arm twisting. It's time to say no to this pressure. NO WAY IN HELL I'm giving (at least not until I pay my 100K+ debt off).
I second the commenter above, and would also point out the school's crap communications methods - e.g. getting to learn about fee hikes from the Chron and getting an explanation from DE two-three months later, getting three different stories from two different people on office space moves.
As for the pro-donators: I paid my $26,896.50. I got a year of law school. If the school wants something more from me, now or in the future, I need a reason better than "shut up and be happy with what you get" or "be grateful, we admitted you."
I was a little put off by the suggested donations in the class campaign materials. So high! I think I'll be in a better position to give AFTER I have paid off my loans and, cross my fingers, actually purchase a place to live.
As for the bar stuff, thanks for posting it. I hadn't thought about it too much. Now I realize it will be quite a bit of work pulling together phone numbers and addresses.
On a slightly different note, why has the registrar's office stopped sending us the actual BBB and instead are now telling us that it will be available by the following Monday. Duh. It's always available on Monday. Please stop filling our inboxes with useless emails.
Max Powers, didn't somebody appoint you Bar Czar last year when you were complaining about how there wasn't one?
I'm glad you're getting started. Props.
However, you're a little behind schedule. And the information you have provided is a little skimpy and a little unorganized.
On the other hand, I have no doubt with the analytic skills and creativity you have demonstrated time and time again on this blog that by the end you will have done a wonderful job.
Sorry for the sarcasm. But, seriously, just do it. Be a leader. Appoint yourself. Do a knockout job. Keep documentation of how and when you did stuff. And then pass the torch to a rising 3L.
You will be surprised about how much more respect you gain by doing things, than by complaining about how others are not doing things.
Need compensation? I'm sure more than one classmate will buy you a beer or two for your efforts.
You can do it. May the Power of Grayskull Be With You.
I've been told that at Whittier Law School they have a banner at the entrance that says, "Congratulations Class of 2006 on 49% bar passage rate" or something to that effect. At Boalt we have sarcastic assholes like 7:53 (and myself, I suppose).
MP has in fact generously provided valuable information about the byzantine hurdles before anyone can join the bar. But the comments above speak volumes about how appreciative the readers are.
If Whittier Law School (wherever that is) actually has a banner like that, then that is f*ing awesome.
I'm just going to note that at least one anonymous poster took bekki seriously when she suggested that we donate a full year of salary.
yeah guys, she is just SO weird.
Why do people keep mentioning a $5 symbolic donation? I heard the suggested amount was $1600. It's totally preposterous! And the whole point of a "gift" is that it's supposed to voluntary. Doesn't public shaming undermine the concept of a gift? The person who suggested that the donation be included in tuition obviously flunked contracts.
It's especially annoying how people that never made time to so much as say hi to you the past two years all of a sudden are very smiley and chatty with you about how you should be donating.
11:01, I totally agree with you. But I'm surprised they've already started to ambush you about donating. I wasn't expecting that until next semester! These people are two-faced and tactless. Is there some kind of Boalt do-not-call registry we can join?
This discussion about donating reminds me of a story of a Harvard alumnus who allegedly faked his own death to evade class gift solicitations. It's pretty funny: http://www.crabwalk.com/misc/harvard.php
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