I start my BarBri class next Wednesday. We have been informed that there are not enough outlets to go around, and if we want to, we can bring our laptops, but they need to have enough battery power to last through the whole class (mine likely can do it, but may fall a bit short).

Question -- should I bring my laptop? What kind of note-taking will I want to do? Will I want to catch every single word the lecturer says? Should I do my best with hand-written notes, to get my hand in practice for writing essays on the actual test?

Please, those who have gone before me, impart wisdom.

Labels: bar exam

posted by Zuska @ 11:22 PM

3 Comments:

At Thursday, May 24, 2007 12:08:00 AM, Anonymous said…

My bar bri gave us huge in class workbooks to fill in as the lecturer talks, so you don't need a computer. I took notes on computer all through school so I was worried I wouldn't be able to focus without it, but it is actually kind of nice & free from distractions. (and nicer to my back not to have to carry the computer)
-Sarah
At Thursday, May 24, 2007 8:02:00 AM, She says said…

Ditto above about handouts. Also, I had to write all of my essays by hand for the bar, and it almost killed me because I hadn't handwritten anything in so long. I'm surprised I didn't fail the bar because they couldn't read my essays. Seriously, by the end of the essay section, my writing was practically illegible. I used BARBRI as training for stamina in handwriting. It wasn't enough though.

So, I would recommend no computer. I think you'll tend to focus more on the lectures because you'll have to process it rather than just type everything you hear. Plus, the handouts don't work with a computer. Plus the whole exercising your hand thing. And the space may be cramped.
At Friday, May 25, 2007 11:25:00 PM, Zuska said…

I think it's decided, then --- no computer!

Which means I get to go school supply shopping! One of my favorite activities. Pens ... notebooks ... mmmm.