Yea I passed. I actually passed by a lot (173 MBE--top couple percent combined overall score). Not really sure how I did so well, but not complaining. It actually probably makes sense. I know very very few people who failed, and I know lots of not so great students. I think all of the seemingly impossible questions were experimental, and the curve was even greater than normal.

Like I said a while back--most people pass. It's definitely a hard exam though. No one walks out feeling confident because you're just guessing a lot. The curve is just very very generous. I did indeed think I probably passed but barely. I guess I was worried for nothing.

I also think just being able to write clearly and coherently helps a lot, even if everything you're saying makes no sense legally. The essay graders read so many incoherent essays from foreign educated students that I think they're just ready to throw you some points as long as they can understand what you're saying. Of course, this is not all that different from regular law school exams, just on a much larger level.

Congrats man! 173 loooool.

Fwiw, I walked out feeling confident. I’ll lay 20:1 if you want to bet (CA results aren’t out yet). But that confidence was from thinking about the broad landscape and then considering essay subject matter outcomes.

Thanks!

Nah not betting againt you. I actually took 5-1 against myself as a hedge with my friend who's a lawyer and felt dumb handing over free money to him when I passed.

I know Cali is harder than NY but I have no doubt at all that you passed. You're smarter than I am and it sounds like you knew the material well.

Congrats to all the bros who passed the bar! Never have to think about it again now.


Quick update on that truck situation: So, CL emails me yesterday a copy of the trial summary...so they had the hearing date, never sent out a trial notice to my client, and adjudicated him guilty bc he didn't show up. But, again, they didn't send out a trial notice, so we were never served.

We have 30 days to appeal it de novo, so the damage is minimal, but now CL has to put up the full fee as collateral instead of just the $50.00 token fee. It's not earth-shattering, like $800.00, but its alot for my typical client base. I explained to court why he shouldn't have to put it up, was never served, unfairly prejudiced, but they pretty much just said, tough **** counselor.

Games rigged yo

Had you filed a notice of appearance? Had you become counsel of record? If not, it might be a way to protect your clients from this sort of result.

No state I practiced in would adjudicate a criminal defendant (not even on a jaywalking ticket) in their absence unless the trial had begun with them present and they chose not to attend.

I had not put in appearance yet as I hadn't been paid yet. I didn't want to be on the hook for a court appearance and get stiffed, especially since CL is not from the area.

I'm in PA, fwiw. Talked to our magistrate, they said tough **** and I had to appeal, but I was able to get the fee for appeal waived at least, due to the circumstances. Magistrate was able to give me a printout showing they mailed it, but CL claims never received it, so who knows.

But yeah, magistrates don't gaf. They only care about cops and landowners in the area, i.e. people who vote. My CL can't vote in our county, since he's from North Carolina, and election day is literally 5 days away, so absolutely no chance I'm getting any help or sympathy on this one. They're bending over backwards helping these guys out to lock those votes up. Democracy in action!

edit: I should clarify. If I was granted a reconsideration hearing at the summary level, the citing officer would have to come out on his own time, unpaid, to do the hearing. If we appeal to common pleas, officer can claim it as work time, so he can be paid for showing up. Once I learned that, I realized we had no chance of getting reconsideration lol. Again, so 5 days before the election, magistrates definitely not going to force a cop to show up for unpaid work for a little citation like this.

They shouldn't earn the title "client" until they pay. Before they pay, they're someone who chatted with you, and (to protect yourself and generate more fees) you should send a letter confirming that status (not a client) and how they become a client.

Yeah, I did that. I always memorialize everything via letter to protect myself. I talked with the cop out of my own interest, as I hadn't done any criminal work in this area yet, and wanted to feel out how much I would have to prepare for come trial day.

I think it's resolved now though. Just have to show up for the summary hearing date.

I'll be working the polls tomorrow for a local judge candidate who is favored to win. If/when this candidate wins, I get their spot on the conflict counsel list for the criminal work in the county. Really hoping no upsets tomorrow and by Jan 1, I'm doing some decent volume of criminal work

FYP

For sure, just got my flat fee in the mail

had a fun midterm last week on same-sex wedding case:

"Mother and Daughter are sole shareholders of Caterco. They have strong religious beliefs and do not want to book same sex weddings at their catering hall. The retain your law firm to challenge the constitutionality of anti-discrimination law and as shareholders wish to attribute their beliefs to the corporation. Write a memo discussing corporate governance issues"

Apparently prof tells us after the exam that this is a piercing the corporate veil issue, lol.

Man, I almost got so much street credit in criminal defense this week.

We were retained to represent a CL for possible criminal charges stemming from allegedly stealing over 6 figures from CL's mother. CL had POA of mother bc mother is incapacitated.

First, we have a hearing in orphans court this week to remove CL as guardian of the person and estate. Obviously, CL won't be testifying as criminal charges are probably coming down the pipeline any day now. (Long story, but suffice to say we know they're coming).

So, obviously, we aren't testifying. Orphans court judge is not happy about it lol. I told him, your honor, all due respect, won't be testifying. He asks why not, I said, I don't feel it is in CL's best interest, blah blah. Judge says, "You have your last chance, I think you should testify"

CL looks at me and is confused, now thinks they should testify. I told the Judge, respectfully, but sternly, "Your honor, CL won't be testifying today. All due respect, 5th amendment protects CL's rights and nobody is above the 5th amendment"

I'll admit, I could have possibly chosen my words better, but I was incredibly respectful and calm entire time....but this guy is literally trying to get my CL to testify with charges pending which will hold felony ramifications. Insanity, imo, that Judge tried to do this lol.

Judge, still not amused, looks at me and says, "Counsel, you take that tone with me again, I'll have you in contempt"

I replied, 'Your honor, I apologize if you believe I was taking a certain tone. I didn't mean any disrespect to you or this courtroom. However, I can't allow my CL to testify against CL's own best interest. So if you're going to force testimony today, regardless of CL's constitutional rights, you'll have to take me out of here in handcuffs"

It went silent lol.

Then, judge says, "Fine, moving on" and just ignored it. Everything else went pretty boring.

But, a small part of me was thinking, imagine if I got taken out in handcuffs for protecting my CL's rights lol. Like, the street credit that would get in the criminal law field would have been amazing. I would have blasted that everywhere and hoped like, the ACLU, or somebody picks it up because it's so egregious. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, it didn't happen.

CL was really happy though. Other attorney, who was technically OC? since he's guardian for the mother, actually told me afterwards that I did the right thing in his opinion.

Thoughts thread? Still a tad bit in shock, but I think I was fine. I think this Judge wayyyy overstepped boundaries imo. I kept composure and was extremely respectful throughout the process, but had to channel my inner jimmy mcgill for a second there.



edit: I should add, this is not my usual county of practice. This was my first time in this county fwiw. I tend to practice all over the place right now, maybe 5 or 6 different counties. I'm pretty sure this Judge's time on the bench is ending on Jan 1, too. If any of that info has any weight for anyone

<———— minnesotasam, esq

Congrats! That's awesome!

Nit picky, but I'm curious: graduation + bar passage = esq.? Or is it technically not until you're admitted in a state?

No clue, that will be the last time I ever use it haha.

Deuces,
Your post hasn't drawn a response, but it was a pretty great story. Thanks for posting it.

Yeah I love all of those stories.

Good job standing up to the court. But couldn't you have avoided the controversy by letting the client take the stand but then answer every untoward question with an invocation of the 5th amendment?

Also, I bet the court took the "no one is above the 5th amendment" personally.

Hi, I used to post in this thread went it was Noah's.

I'm putting together a LSAT prep book consisting primarily of stories and prep strategies from top scorers. Basically, I'm looking for 500 to 2000 word narrative essays from top scorers explaining their approach to preparation, what they did that was good, what they did that was bad, what they'd do differently if they had to prepare again, et cetera. I'm also looking for anecdotes from LSAT tutors.

Biographical and contact information from the contributors will be included in the book. Obviously this will help the contributors find LSAT takers to tutor.

If you are interested in this contributing, let me know. Thanks, Nick

Thanks everyone. Just like bouncing war stories and stuff itt, see how other people would respond. Sounds like I did okay in this spot.

Also, congrats Sam!!



Thanks Win. Yeah, I told the Court that if CL was forced to stand, CL would just invoke 5th to every question. Judge responded, "that's a waste of the courts time", which tbf, it is....which is why I brought it up ahead of time so we could avoid the whole situation entirely.

Yeah, I think Judge definitely took it personally. If this was my home county, I would be slightly more concerned, but this Judge has like 40 days left on bench until retirement.

Sidebar: Glad some folks in here like the stories. I think of them as line checks essentially. Being so green + young + no mentor is challenging. I'm glad I did it this way, but you don't have anyone to bounce quick spots/talk about things all the time. Appreciate more experienced guys in here weighing in on situations.

The criminal defense attorneys can chime in, but no this is the preferred line, to not take the stand at all. The right to not self incriminate is absolute. Once defendant takes the stand, he can be cross examined, even if he takes the fifth on every question. He opens the door, and there's at least one specific supreme court case on this, that he can't just leave after he's done.

Also, you never really know what the client will do when he gets up there. He may go rogue, or get manipulated into answering questions by the other side.

Missed my first holiday flight because of work. It’s official, I’m in biglaw.

(I caught another one 2 hours later, really not a big deal.)

Any lawyers here that have some time to answer a few sensitive questions please pm me

its nothing bad

It occurs to me, with us out of Student Life, that it might draw more interest to the thread (from other lawyers around 2p2, or whoever else I guess) to change the title to reflect this as more than just a law school thread. Seems like over half of the posts anymore are about actual post-graduation legal practice.

I dunno; just an idea.

Great idea, thread is 70-80% practicing lawyers at this point.