Scoring High on Bar Exam Essays: In-depth Strategies and Essay-Writing That Bar Review Courses Don't Offer, With 80 Actual State Bar Exams Questions and Answers [Paperback]

J.D., Ph. D. Mary Campbell Gallagher (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0970608810 | ISBN-13: 978-0970608819 | Publication Date: September 1, 2005 | Edition: 3

Essay-writing can account for fifty per cent or more of your bar exam score, yet even the best bar review courses often don't teach how to write lawyer-like essays. Now, at last, you will find the step-by-step instruction you need in this unique reference. Packed with expert essay-writing systems and confidence-building practice, it features: Quick Key Outlining system for hitting the issues, focusing on the law, and scoring high with less writing Model Paragraph system for "writing like a lawyer"--even though you don't know your conclusion when you start writing 80 actual bar exam practice questions on the most frequently tested areas of law, including crucial state law subjects, with sample answers A review of how state bar examiners have graded actual essays--and real examples of the best and worst ways to respond to essay questions

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Provides a concrete approach that is easy to understand and easy to apply." -- Columbia Law School News

"The bar candidate is actually taught to write analytically. All 1Ls, as well as all 3Ls, should read it . . . ." -- Law Student Journal, November 2006

"This book may be the best [money] you can spend on bar exam preparation." -- St. John's University Law School Forum

Product Details

• Paperback: 284 pages
• Publisher: BarWrite Press; 3 edition (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970608810
• ISBN-13: 978-0970608819
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #81 in Books > Law > Philosophy

More About the Author

Mary Campbell Gallagher, J.D. (Harvard), Ph.D., president of BarWrite and BarWrite Press, is a nationally-recognized expert on the bar examination and a widely-published writer whose essays and reviews have appeared in The Nation, The Weekly Standard, Legal Times and elsewhere. She is a graduate of Barnard College (philosophy) and Harvard Law School. She holds the Ph.D. in theoretical linguistics from the University of Illinois. Her articles on legal writing have appeared in Student Lawyer and National Jurist. She is the author of the highly-acclaimed Scoring High on Bar Exam Essays, which has just come out in a Third Edition, the CD Companion to Scoring High on Bar Exam Essays, and the recently-launched Perform Your Best on the Bar Exam Performance Test (MPT). She has published many essays and technical papers. Her awards include a Fulbright Professorship (linguistics) to the University of Tampere, Finland, which she declined in order to enter Harvard Law School. She has passed the Bar Examinations of Massachusetts, California and New York. She is a member of the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bars. She is a member of the New York City Bar Association, the Harvard Club of New York City, and the New York City chapter of the National Speakers Association, whose highest honor she has received, and on whose board she served for nine years.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS is the book to use, March 9, 2006

By 

A. Dunning - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Scoring High on Bar Exam Essays: In-depth Strategies and Essay-Writing That Bar Review Courses Don't Offer, With 80 Actual State Bar Exams Questions and Answers (Paperback)

I recently used this book to prepare for New York's bar exam essays. This book gives you a viable succinct format for writing bar exam essays. I took the BarBri workshop and this book was far more useful. It has many practice questions and essays (includes most states). For those of us who do not have the luxury of time to spend in endless workshops, this book allows you to learn the methodology at your own pace, and practice, practice, practice. Definitely worth every penny of the price.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bar Candidates: This book & CD is a MUST HAVE!, May 15, 2007

By 

Barzam Product Reviewer (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scoring High on Bar Exam Essays: In-depth Strategies and Essay-Writing That Bar Review Courses Don't Offer, With 80 Actual State Bar Exams Questions and Answers (Paperback)

Dr. Gallagher uses a "unique" style to help us understand where our writing is going astray. The Bar Examiners can be your friends, if you practice writing like a lawyer. Her method is made easy to understand, unlike other techniques which must be read and practiced without any support. Her CD gives helpful advice in general and helps you through the writing process.

If you can afford to spend thousands of dollars on additional Bar Prep, consider an alternative. Otherwise, try Dr. Gallagher's techniques and you WILL become a better legal thinker and writer.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good ideas - not geared for CA law, July 19, 2008

By 

Jill Dinsmore (California) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Scoring High on Bar Exam Essays: In-depth Strategies and Essay-Writing That Bar Review Courses Don't Offer, With 80 Actual State Bar Exams Questions and Answers (Paperback)

This is a good product, and gave good insights into how to write bar essays. It is not specifically geared to CA, which is fine if you aren't in CA. I learned some techniques and strategies that I have applied and improved my essays. It does not provide a lot of samples that I found helpful, but the instruction part is good.