11 Weeks Until the February 2011 New York Bar Exam

Dear New York Bar Exam Applicants,

Welcome to the latest installment of our NY bar exam newsletter. In this issue, we consider:

• Important Upcoming New York Bar Exam Dates
• New York Bar Exam Study Strategy: The Spacing Effect
• New York Bar Exam Essays In-Depth: Issue Analysis, Part 2 of 3
• New York Bar Exam Newsletter-Only Discounts
• Next Issue Preview

Important Upcoming New York Bar Exam Dates

• New York Bar Exam administered, February 22-23, 2011

New York Bar Exam Study Strategy: The Spacing Effect

The "spacing effect" is a cognitive science concept that helps explain how humans learn and remember information (e.g., the law tested on the New York bar exam). A simplified explanation of the spacing effect is that humans more easily remember or learn information when they study the information a few times over a long period of time rather than studied repeatedly in a short period of time. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacing_effect.

How You Can Use The Spacing Effect to Better Prepare for the New York Bar Exam

In terms of preparing for the NY bar exam, you can take advantage of the spacing effect by integrating spaced review and practice in your exam preparation. For example, if you review a subject like Torts, in week 1 of a planned 8 week review schedule, then you should integrate regular, scheduled reviews of Torts in the remaining 7 weeks of your study. This will enable you to regularly review the subject throughout the duration of your exam preparation instead of waiting to review the subject again immediately before the exam. Likewise, you can apply the spacing effect to both practice essays and practice multiple choice. At a minimum, weekly practice essays will better enable you to learn and remember proper essay technique and presentation.

By taking advantage of the spacing effect, you can make your NY bar exam review more effective and efficient. Our NY bar exam sample study schedules integrate these principles with suggestions for weekly reviews and regular practice essays and multiple choice questions.

New York Bar Exam Essays In-Depth: Issue Analysis, Part 2 of 3

Our Essays In-Depth feature is an excerpt from our New York Bar Exam Essay Solution On-Demand Workshop. This week we continue our 3-part series on Issue Analysis.

Recall the Nature of Issue Analysis on NY Bar Exam Essays

Last week we explained Issue Analysis consists of analyzing a given set of facts in light of the applicable law and reasoning to a sound conclusion. In part 2, we continue to identify and highlight common mistakes individuals commit when presenting Issue Analysis on their NY bar exam essays.

Common Issue Analysis Mistake: Incomplete Analysis

Another common Issue Analysis mistake is Incomplete Analysis. Incomplete Analysis occurs when a portion of the legal standard is omitted entirely from the analysis of the issue. As explained in previous issues, your Issue discussion should include an issue statement, statement of the law, analysis, and conclusion. Generally, the statement of the law for an issue will identify the various elements of the pertinent legal standard. Incomplete Analysis occurs when an individual omits one or more of the stated elements from the analysis of the issue.

For example, consider the elements of common law burglary: a) the breaking and b) entering the c) dwelling house of another d) at nighttime e) to commit a felony therein. Notice how there are 5 distinct, individual elements that must be proven in order for a charge of common law burglary to be upheld. Incomplete Analysis occurs when one or more of these 5 elements is omitted in the subsequent burglary analysis. Incomplete Analysis occurs because individuals will tend to concentrate their analysis only on those elements that are the most contentious, as determined by the facts of the question, while simply forgetting to address the less contentious elements. However, a complete treatment of an Issue requires that you address the entire legal standard in your analysis, not just a portion of the legal standard. Of course, you should concentrate your Analysis on those elements that are contentious but not at the expense of complete omission of the remaining elements of the law.

The Incomplete Analysis Solution: Verify Your Analysis

To avoid the common mistake of Incomplete Analysis, actively remind yourself to verify and double-check that each element of the pertinent legal standard is evaluated in your analysis for an issue. Ideally, a thorough, complete essay outline will enable you to parse the legal standard into its constituent elements. Then, this verification can be as simple as crossing off each element of the legal standard from your outline as you address each one in your full, written answer.

New York Bar Exam Newsletter-Only Discounts

As a reminder, you can receive $50 off our Ultimate tutorial program until December 15, 2010. To obtain the discount, simply enter the code NYBAR50 at checkout.

Next Issue Preview

In our next issue, our Essays In-Depth feature will finish our 3-part series on Issue Analysis and the common mistakes individuals commit when trying to apply the law to the facts on their NY bar exam essays.

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Study smart,

-The BarReviewSolutions.com Team