MEE Essay Exam Tips on Strategies and Grading

By: Justin D. Goodman

Bar Strategies Seminar

DON’T FREAK OUT!!!

Approach seriously. Take care of yourselves. Make time for yourself. Create a routine. Avoid being influenced by another’s

routine. You can pass!

BAR EXAM COMPONENTS

MBE MEE MPT …UBE

Multistate Bar Exam (MBE)

The purpose of the MBE is to assess the extent to which an examinee can apply fundamental legal principles and legal reasoning to analyze a given fact pattern.

Multistate Essay Exam (MEE)

The purpose of the MEE is to assess examinee ability to (1) identify legal issues raised by a hypothetical factual situation; (2) separate material which is relevant from that which is not; (3) present a reasoned analysis of the relevant issues in a clear, concise, and well organized composition; and (4) demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental legal principles relevant to the probable solution of the issues raised by the factual situation.

Multistate Performance Test (MPT)

The purpose of the MPT is to assess fundamental lawyering skills in realistic situations by asking the candidate to complete a task which a beginning lawyer should be able to accomplish.

Uniform Bar Exam (UBE)

UBE examinees are told to answer according to generally accepted fundamental legal principles, not local case or statutory law.

Weighting of UBE

50% MBE 30% MEE 20% MPT

New Approach to Grading

• Holistic Scoring: Graders evaluate examinee answers for their overall quality while considering content and writing ability. Graders do not assign a score for each criterion in holistic scoring.

• Analytic Scoring: Graders break down examinee answers into component parts and each part is scored independently. Each answer might have its own scale based on the number of answer parts to be graded.

Analytic

Example 20 points available 5 points awarded for 1st issue – right

answer and analysis 0-1 points awarded for 2nd issue – 1

point for trying 3 points awarded for part of the issue

and analysis

Holistic

1-6 Scale 0 Typical reserved for no answer 1 Among the Worst 2 Below Average 3 Somewhat Below Average 4 Average 5 Above Average 6 Very Good

Example

Inverse condemnation theories available.

Total Regulatory Taking Partial Regulatory Taking Land-Use Exaction Substantial Advancement

Calibrating Exams

Under UBE – the holistic grading approach requires calibration of 1-6 scale.

Examinees are reviewed in relation to other examinees

Articulation of an Answer

A few general tips Typing v. Handwritten

Essays Always answer the call

of the question. Yes or No. Maybe Answers

Stay in the box!

Always write something.

Never write your name.

Manage your time wisely.

Practice sitting. Identify weaknesses. Make it easy for a

grader. Grammar/Spelling Outlining

Questions?

Justin D. GoodmanO’Brien and Padilla, P.C.

6000 Indian School Rd. NE, Suite 200Albuquerque, NM 87110

jgoodman@obrienlawoffice.com505.883.8181 (work)505.264.7176 (cell)