How to Get 10 Extra Points on the Michigan Bar Exam

How to Get 10 Extra Points on the Michigan Bar Exam

The Michigan bar exam is almost here! Here are a few ways to score higher on the Michigan bar exam essays.

Your score on the essay portion of the Michigan bar exam will mostly be determined by how well you know the law and how well you are able to apply it. But to make sure that you are applying the right law and discussing the right issues (and getting the maximum amount of points!) when you write an essay answer, keep on reading.  After all, you can know all of the law in the world, but you will not be earning yourself any points if you do not address the specific issues that the Board of Law Examiners wants you to address, and discuss the law the Board of Law Examiners wants you to discuss.  Thus, here are some ways to score higher on the Michigan bar exam essays: 

How to Get 10 Extra Points on the Michigan Bar Exam

• Read the Call of the Question carefully: Read the call of the question first (before you even read the essay) and make sure that you structure your answer around the call of the question.  This will make you precise and focused in your analysis. The call of the question also generally reveals the law that the essay fact pattern is testing.

• Underline key facts, language, and arguments in the fact pattern as you are reading it.

o   Pay very close attention to specific facts such as dollar amounts, dates (Statute of Frauds issues), locations (Jurisdiction issues,  Conflicts issues, etc), government agents like police officers and mayors (governmental immunity issues in Torts) and other key details that the fact pattern alerts you to.

o   Pay very careful attention to language in quotes!  (Quoted language is always important, but you see it come up the most in Contracts and Sales questions). You will likely be expected to address the specific issues that arise from the quoted language.

o   Carefully look at the arguments each side is making and address those arguments.  If one party says “She can’t testify because she is biased” you have to address that argument, even if it’s a dumb one. This is a good way to spot issues in questions where it is not so easy to spot them.

• Label each issue and address it individually.  When you begin addressing the issues, make sure to separate issues into separate paragraphs. Make it easy for the grader to see you’ve addressed all the issues. Don’t make them search for the issues.

• Emphasize Key Words and Law. First of all, make sure you use as many keywords and legal terminology as you can. After you use keywords, draw attention to them! Make it easy for the grader to know you know what you’re talking about and award you points. Use bolded font or underline the buzz words.

• Review: Leave a few minutes to review the fact pattern after you are done writing your essay.  Are there any facts you did not address?  If so, address them now! You will be surprised at how many facts you miss. A last-minute review can earn you extra points.

To remember this strategy on the Michigan bar exam, remember the mnemonic “RULER”  which is spelled out by the bullet points.  Utilizing this strategy will not only help you be precise in your legal analysis and help to ensure you address all of the issues raised by the fact pattern, it will also make it as easy as possible for the grader to give you points!

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