7. Tips for Multistate Essay Examination (“MEE”)
What is MEE?
- MEE is a 3-hour, 6-question essay exam
- MEE carries 30% weight of the whole Bar Exam
- Examinable topics:-
- All the 7 MBE topics (see Post #6 for details)
- Secured Transactions
- Business Associations (Agency, Partnership & Corporation)
- Conflict of laws
- Family law
- Trusts and Estates
What type of questions appear in MEE?
- Each MEE question first provides you with a factual scenario similar to that appears in MBE
- In old days, MEE tends to be open-ended questions, but this is no longer the case now
- Nowadays, MEE breaks down into distinctive, specific sub-questions
- See following example questions for illustration (note that in actual MEE, the scenario will be much more lengthier):
“Smith has put a big and colorful “Beware of Dog with sharp teeth – it always bites cruelly!!!” sign clearly posted around a fenced-in yard where he keeps the dog. One summer day, John (Smith’s neighbor) entered Smith’s fenced-in yard to retrieve a snow shovel that Smith had borrowed earlier in winter. John was attacked by Smith’s dog and was severely injured.”
“John intends to sue Smith. Advise John.”
“Sub-question (a): In a strict liability action, is John likely to prevail?
Sub-question (b): In a negligence action, is John likely to prevail?”
Tip 1: “I – R – A – C” Structure
- Issue: mere restatement of the sub-question itself
- Rule: state the rule completely – IN ANY EVENT:
- No need to cite case law or legislation
- Instead of exact wording of the rule, you may rephrase the rule by your own language as long as it reflects the substance of the rule
- Analysis: apply the rule stated to the factual scenario and make argument
- Conclusion: answer the sub-question directly
Tip 2: Elaborate the complete rule statement
- Now, please expand “Sample answer to sub-question (a) / (b)” in the above for illustration
- Yellow parts are the most crucial portions to answer the question
- Green parts are relevant but less crucial portions of the rule statement
- Marks will be counted to both the yellow and green parts in the marking scheme
- The more you write, the more likely you will get some marks
Tip 3: Make assumption on the “missing facts”
- Orange part makes your answer a high-flyer because you:
- Identify what is missing but potentially relevant in the facts
- Make a logical assumption based on limited facts
- Proceed to legal reasoning based on your assumption
- NCBE examiners intentionally create grey areas in the question, in order to test your ability to argue for both sides
- Remember: there may not be a necessarily right or wrong answer – what matters the most is if you are able to argue logically
Final tips:
- “Everything Bar Exam Value Pack” from NCBEX study aids (https://www.ncbex.org/study-aids/) provides all MEE past paper questions and marking scheme, so definitely please consider purchase it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- If you insist on free resources, New York Board of Examiners does upload essay questions with sample candidate answers (https://www.nybarexam.org/examquestions/examquestions.htm)
- But I must emphasize again – NCBEX study aids really worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
