Intellectual Life

What Exactly is the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam?

/ Sangeeta Kishore / Leave a comment

This past week, like many of my 2L peers, I took the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam or the MPRE. This exam is a vital prerequisite or co-requisite to the bar exam for admission in most U.S. jurisdictions. So why have many people never heard of it before? 

What is the MPRE? 

The MPRE is a 2-hr, 60-question, multiple-choice exam, administered three times a year (March, August, and November), designed to test knowledge of the rules related to a lawyer’s professional conduct. There are two important things to note. There is no negative scoring so it doesn’t hurt to guess. And while you answer 60 questions, only 50 questions are graded. The remaining 10 are used for testing purposes and are indistinguishable from the graded questions on the test. In other words, answer every question. As for the material tested, while each state has its own set of ethical standards, the MPRE tests on the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct so only worry about that. 

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Bar for the Course: Comparing Different Bar Prep Options

/ Eddie Godino / Leave a comment

With my 3L year rapidly coming to a close, one of the biggest questions on my mind for the past few months has been what bar prep course I should use. We’ve all gotten the emails and seen the representatives sitting outside the library, but what is the difference between all the different options? Although I have yet to actually go through any bar prep course myself, here is what I’ve learned from my many hours questioning reps and otherwise scouring the internet.

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‘Being’ a Law Student and the Freedom of Choice

/ BC Law Impact Guest Posts / 1 Comment

This guest post was written by second-year law student Staniel Brutis.

I. INTRODUCTION

“The cornerstone on which all things are based is man’s concept of himself. He acts as he does and has the experiences that he does, because his concept of himself is what it is, and for no other reason. Had he a different concept of self, he would act differently.” – Neville Goddard

Coming into my 1L year, I wanted to understand what it meant to be a law student. Specifically, I looked to become the “ideal” law student. In search of an answer to this question, I interviewed several of Boston College Law School’s professors and members of staff. In that moment, I figured that they were individuals who had accomplished the goals I set for myself, and it would be best to learn from their experiences. Each person was asked the same question,“ What is one word to describe the ideal trait of a student?” Here are their responses:

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Why Professors’ Office Hours are Essential to Staying Sane

/ Alexandra Staller / Leave a comment

Everyone knows the saying “It’s the people that make the place.” That idea has held true in every phase of my life, from middle school on Long Island to college in Gainesville, Florida,  and now law school in Boston. Law school – especially the first year – is stressful. It is demanding and can take a huge mental toll. While you’re navigating this new and challenging first year of law school, the people you surround yourself with become one of the most important aspects of your life that is within your control. Thankfully, BC Law already makes it easy for us to surround ourselves with good and supportive people, particularly the faculty.

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Four Things to Know for Those Considering Clerking

/ Alex Mostaghimi / Leave a comment

A judicial law clerk assists a judge in their most important duties: preparing to supervise an oral argument, drafting opinions, and preparing jury instructions. With direct contact from the arbiters of the law, the value of a judicial clerkship cannot be matched. Not only will a judicial clerk’s writing, reading, and analytical skills vastly improve, their network among members of the Bar, other clerks, and judges will also expand.

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During 2L, They Work You to Death . . .?

/ Haley Cole / Leave a comment

“They” really do. Maybe it’s the adrenaline rush of 1L that shields you from the 2L crash– but crash you may, come 2L.

Heading into your 2L year, the freedom to choose your schedule is both initially exciting and slightly intimidating. But an abundance of choice in your academic calendar may lead you to oversubscribe to all the offerings of law school after a rigid 1L year hand-picked for optimal doctrinal standardization. Now, there is the expectation that you remember everything you learned during 1L because you are allegedly fluent in legalese, right?

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Done is Good: Six Practical Tips for 1L Finals Season

/ Catherine Beveridge / Leave a comment

We are almost at the end of classes! I hope everyone has some sort of plan for the holiday to take time off before we get back to campus for our reading period. Personally I have been fantasizing about my mom’s butternut squash soup along with nine straight hours of Thanksgiving football. However, I know that will be a fleeting moment before I roll over and get back to my outlines. 

As we gear up for the last push, I am going to take a crack at some tips that have kept me sane and some advice from 2Ls and 3Ls.

Tip #1: Plan ahead.

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Chasing Perfection: A Rating of On-Campus Finals Study Spots

/ Samantha Torre / Leave a comment

This is part two of a study spot series. Catch part one on off-campus options here.

It’s that time of the semester — the realization that oh, we’re actually going to be tested on this, has set in and the feeling that there are simply not enough hours of the day to get everything done is well-worn and familiar. To alleviate my own stress, through a thorough research and judging process (read as: my own vibe checks), I have rated possible on-campus study spots for when the finals-week anxiety really hits.

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The Study Spot Guide (NOT the BC Law Library)

/ Haley Cole / 1 Comment

This is part one of a two part study spot series. Catch part two covering on-campus options on 11/20.

Happy finals season! We are in the homestretch of the fall semester, which means BC Law students find themselves with their heads in their books and spending far more time inside. As we are all preparing for finals, I would like to offer some alternative study spots in the Newton-Boston area that are NOT the BC Law Library we are all very (too) familiar with. Happy studying, you’re almost there!

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The Art of Letting Go: From Division 1 Gymnastics to LP Memos

/ Malcolm Baytop / Leave a comment

As a former collegiate gymnast, I am no stranger to the discipline and intensity of mastering a technical craft. Excellent performance in the sport requires grueling hours dedicated to conditioning your mind and body for precise alignment. For example, when flying over the high bar, stretching your arms just a bit more after you let go of the bar could be the difference between catching it and falling flat on your face. 

Even at its most foundational level, like holding a handstand, gymnastics requires an extremely detail-oriented and analytical approach. When I decided to become a lawyer, I knew that years of painstakingly paying attention to detail in gymnastics would come in handy for the high standards of diligence in the legal profession. However, I did not expect the personal insights I gained from years of striving towards perfection in the sport to apply in my 1L law practice course.

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