Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we're discussing the specific things bar graders are looking for as they are going through stacks of student answers in a limited amount of time.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Making each important issue stand out so it's easy to spot since the bar grader is reading your answer quickly
• Using the facts given in the question precisely
• Not focusing on extra law that you know, since it won't bring you more points
• The pitfall of circular reasoning
• Using IRAC and CRAC where appropriate, as well as headers and clear paragraphs to give structure to your writing
• How bar graders can tell if you were panicking, running out of time, or planning as you wrote
• Practicing and getting feedback so you can get used to how the exam is graded

Resources:

• Writing of the Week (WOW) Bar Essay Workshop (https://barexamtoolbox.com/writing-of-the-week-wow-bar-essay-workshop/)
• SmartBarPrep (https://smartbarprep.com/)
• Lean Sheets (http://www.leansheets.com/)
• BarEssays.com (https://www.baressays.com/)
• Law School Toolbox blog: Legal Writing Tip: Imagine You're Talking to Your Grandma (https://lawschooltoolbox.com/legal-writing-tip-imagine-youre-talking-to-your-grandma/)
• Podcast Episode 10: Top 5 Bar Exam Essay Writing Tips (w/Ariel Salzer) (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-10-top-5-bar-exam-essay-writing-tips-w-ariel-salzer/)
• Podcast Episode 20: How to Read the Facts on an Essay (w/Mihal Ansik) (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-20-how-to-read-the-facts-on-an-essay-w-mihal-ansik/)
• Podcast Episode 28: Balancing Law and Analysis on a Bar Exam Essay (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-28-balancing-law-and-analysis-on-a-bar-exam-essay/)
• Podcast Episode 24: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Professional Responsibility and Evidence (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-24-tackling-a-california-bar-exam-essay-professional-responsibility-and-evidence/)
• Podcast Episode 32: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Wills and Community Property (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-32-tackling-a-california-bar-exam-essay-wills-and-community-property/)
• Podcast Episode 35: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Corporations (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-35-tackling-a-california-bar-exam-essay-corporations/)
• Podcast Episode 44: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Constitutional Law (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-44-tackling-a-california-bar-exam-essay-constitutional-law/)
• Podcast Episode 49: Tackling a California Bar Exam Essay: Tort Law (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-49-tackling-a-california-bar-exam-essay-tort-law/)
• Podcast Episode 37: Tackling an MEE Secured Transactions Essay Question (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-37-tackling-an-mee-secured-transactions-essay-question/)
• Podcast Episode 41: Tackling an MEE Family Law and Conflicts of Law Essay Question (https://barexamtoolbox.com/podcast-episode-41-tackling-an-mee-family-law-and-conflicts-of-law-essay-question/)

Download the Transcript (https://barexamtoolbox.com/episode-56-what-are-the-bar-graders-looking-for/)

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Thanks for listening!

Alison & Lee