Three MEE Issue-Spotting Tips For Exam Day

Three MEE Issue-Spotting Tips For Exam Day

If you look at an MEE and ask, “what’s wrong with these facts?” or “where’s the concern here?” it’s likely an issue-spotting problem. On the MEE portion of the bar exam, quick thinking is important strong issue-spotting techniques can be a lifesaver. To help students facing issue spotting concerns, JD Advising has compiled some of our favorite MEE issue-spotting tips, which we discuss in more detail below.

Three MEE Issue-Spotting Tips For Exam Day

Know The Black Letter Law

Learning the black letter law is a surefire way to increase your issue-spotting on MEE questions. For many students, this may sound like an obvious piece of advice to point out, however, let us explain. Much of black letter law has its roots in caselaw. For students who skip assigned cases, and instead think they can learn the law without context, issue spotting skills can suffer. Why? They fail to understand the facts that surround the law! On the MEE, where students need to analyze fact patterns, the connection between law and fact may not be apparent. Knowledge of black letter law will allow you to realize how certain facts fit into your analysis!

Don’t Stray From The Call

Remaining focused on the call of the question is a great way help with issue spotting on MEE questions. The call of the question is at the end of the question and is the part of the hypothetical that actually presents a direct question to readers. For example, “Did X and Y have a valid and enforceable contract?” is an example of the call of the question. For students who experience difficulties issue-spotting, a common blunder often comes in straying from what the question actually asks! While some fact patterns may seem complex and convoluted, staying true to the call help your focus and narrow your response to the call of the question If you get lost in analysis and begin incorporating irrelevant facts, you’re likely not addressing the call of the question and missing out on points!

Familiarity With Hypotheticals

As you may have realized, there’s only so many ways to test certain subjects. Sooner or later, fact patterns start to look like….well…patterns! The more you see how certain issues are tested, the easier it becomes to issue-spot on MEE questions. A great way to do this is by reviewing previously released MEE questions and practicing bar prep MEE questions. You’ll start to think “this sounds familiar to that other question I did about…” as you develop your issue-spotting skills!

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