MLER Tutor Program Overview
MLER (Minority Legal Education Resources) offers a comprehensive tutor certification program aimed at increasing minority attorneys in Illinois. With a history dating back to 1977, the program provides structured summer and winter sessions covering writing instruction, practice exams, and mentorship. The program structure includes small and large group sessions, individualized tutor communication, and a focus on student success. Winter 2020 bar process management coordinators are listed, along with important upcoming dates for the MLER program. Tutor responsibilities include weekly sessions, effective communication, adherence to the MLER curriculum, and providing valuable feedback to students.
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MLER Tutor Certification
MISSION MLER s purpose is to increase the number of minority attorneys in Illinois. MLER services, support to minority bar candidates through a supplemental bar preparation concomitant endeavors. is committed professional to guidance, providing educational emotional and program and MLER professional training and integrity. and expect the same from all participants. employs the highest standards We encourage of
MLER HISTORY Professor Ronald Kennedy began MLER as a supplemental writing program to increase the bar passage rates of minority candidates. The Honorable Ann Claire Williams incorporated Judge Kennedy s program, thus creating MLER, in 1977. MLER is currently operated by a Board of Directors. Be a part of history! Consider joining the Board!
MLER PROGRAM STRUCTURE The summer program is 7 weeks; the winter program is 6 weeks. Small group sessions provide focused and specific writing instruction, camaraderie, and encouragement. Large group sessions provide practice exams, inspirational speakers, and encouragement. Each week s exam consists of a combination of MBE questions, essays, and MPTs. Tutors communicate with students on a weekly basis outside of small group sessions.
WINTER 2020 MLER BAR PROCESS MANAGEMENT COORDINATORS Candice Smith- Program Coordinator Anita Morris-Tutor Coordinator Jasmine Morton-Assistant Tutor Coordinator
IMPORTANT DATES MLER Program Dates January 9, 2020 February 13, 2020 Writing and Study Skills Clinic- Sunday, January 12, 2020 All Day Exam Sunday, February 2, 2020 Simulates the 1stday of the Bar Exam Tutor Dinner Thursday, January 23, 2020 from 7:00pm 9:00pm: Small Groups Check-in/Discussion of Student Challenges Debrief, Next steps to help our students be successful Boot Camp- Thursday, February 6, 2020 following small group session.
TUTOR RESPONSIBILITIES Attend weekly small group sessions. Communicate with students weekly. Inform Group Leader and Tutor Coordinator of any absences. Understand DIRAC and how to communicate its principles Follow MLER curriculum: DIRAC, Scheduling, Active Reading & Time Management. Minimize personal examples that are unique to you and your talent Plan weekly sessions BEFORE the group (based upon the MLER Curriculum) Provide valuable (specific, concrete) feedback when grading exams. Return all exams in a timely manner. Do not allow high need students to monopolize the group Follow weekly tutor agenda (provided in folder): wellbeing check, weekly topic, exam review, DIRAC, etc. Release students on time!
GROUP LEADER RESPONSIBILITIES Ensure student attendance sheets are completed and returned to the Tutor Coordinator each week. Communicate with group tutors on a weekly basis. Mentor fellow tutors. Handle any unforeseen circumstances with your group. Contact your students following the bar exam: bar results, encouragement, celebration.
WEEKLY AGENDA Weekly Topics Sample Weekly Schedule 6:00pm 6:01pm : Run Law 1. Schedules: Creating and maintaining an effective schedule 6:10 6:20 : Wellness Check 6:20 6:35: Weekly Topic 2. Obligation and Life Management: Getting the important matters completed 6:35 6:55- Exam review Exam Review 3. Active procrastination and Fears: Wasting time and facing the fear of Failure Review common challenges and provide solutions 4. GUT CHECK!: What are you doing? Students need to discuss the first four weeks and whether they are completing their obligations Discuss model answer and why it is right 5. Return of the schedule: Editing the study schedule to reflect outcomes and real work Review DIRAC methods 6. Shifting for the final laps: Discuss how students must intensify their studying and focus with he final weeks of preparation 7. ENCOURAGEMENT: Create a positive Atmosphere for the final week
STUDY SCHEDULES Time management helps to maximize your accomplishments of the day Minimize active procrastination Create a weekly and monthly snapshot of your studying Students should include a minimum of 8-9 hours of studying per day, 10-12 hours in the last two weeks before the bar exam Encourage three (3) hour study blocks with locations, subjects, and activities Must reflect all of the student s obligations and real life commitments (Jobs, Children, Significant Other, other Family Members etc )
GRADING Essays are graded on a 6-point scale, which follows the IL bar examiners grading rubric. Effective grading (valuable feedback) takes time. Read the model answers Read the student s answer and provide feedback about the structure and DIRAC Calculate the score Grading MPT answers and essay answers follows the same format. Encourage students to create and follow DIRAC outlines. Emphasize the importance of adhering to time constraints. Weekly Exams/Answers will be uploaded to the tutor portal on the MLER website. Password: tutor2020
GRADING Essays: Truth and Compassion Provide comments for the responses Do not just read and write comments only based on the model answer! Give tips for improvement on writing essays MBE Tally the right answers and provide score based on total questions asked MPTs Give comments on organization, following directions, DIRAC, and clarity The DIRAC structure should be very clear in the document Make sure the student answers the question(s) asked in the instructions Accommodations Students with extra time will submit their exams on an adjusted schedule All graded exams are due on Thursday at the following week s session
UBE: Uniform Bar Examination 1stadministration was July 2019 in Illinois!!! What Is the UBE? It is a uniformly administered, graded, and scored bar examination that results in a portable score, not a portable status. Applicants who take the UBE may transfer their scores to seek admission in other UBE jurisdictions within a certain amount of time after the scores were earned
UBE: Uniform Bar Examination Purpose of the UBE The UBE tests knowledge of general principles of law, legal analysis and reasoning, factual analysis, and communication skills to determine readiness to enter legal practice in any jurisdiction. New Format 2 MPTs Old Format 20% 3 Illinois essays 13.3% 1 MPT 10% 6 MEE 200 MBE 6 MEE 200 MBE 50% 50% 30% 26.7% No Character limits- typers Can get extra booklets- hand writers
ILLINOIS BAR EXAM: GOAL 266 Exam Components Essay Subjects MBE Topics Day 1 Civil Procedure Business Associations Evidence Session one: Two (2) ninety (90) minute Multi State Performance Tests Family Law Constitutional Law Civil Procedure Real Property Contracts Session two: Six (6) thirty (30) minute essays Conflict of Laws Torts Criminal Law and Procedure Day 2 Constitutiona l Law Trusts and Estates Session one: One hundred (100) Multistate Bar exam questions Evidence Contracts Article 9 (Secured Transactions) of the Uniform Commercial Code Real Property Criminal Law and Procedure Session two: One hundred (100) Multistate Bar exam questions Torts
MLER Student Program Guidelines Create and follow a study schedule Create your own outline for each subject Attend MLER every week and take ALL PRACTICE EXAMS Complete weekly homework assignments Always outline your answer BEFORE you start to write DIRAC!!! DIRAC!!! DIRAC!!! DIRAC!!! DO NOT abbreviate terms in your answer!!! Use proper legal buzzwords in the proper legal context Be mindful of your typing Review model answers!!!!!! Come back and tutor
Student Studying Tips Outlining: MLER does not recommend one mode of studying i.e. outlines vs. flash cards. However, learning the verbatim black letter law is required for each subject Testing Students must implement practice testing for all portions of the bar exam to understand the legal content in the way they will be assessed by bar examiners. Reviewing assessments Please stress the review of ALL exams and revision of outlines Review content Students will want to spend too much time in this area. They need a balanced schedule going over each topic that will be tested on the bar
DIRAC Decision, Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion Students should use DIRAC to outline every essay answer. Each issue receives a separate DIRAC outline. DIRAC outlines and mandated formats are compatible! Draft the Decision, Determine the Issue, Identify the Rule(s), Perform the Analysis, Arrive at the Conclusion.
DECISION A single sentence answering the call of the question. The decision statement should be direct no equivocation. Yes or No Decision statement restates the conclusion.
ISSUE Single sentence explaining the legal issue to be resolved in order to answer the call of the question. Issue statements should be clear enough that a paralegal could research the issue. Issue statements answer the call of the question and refer to an element of the rule. Should not restate the call of the question, but is usually the legal question causing the controversy. It usually involves a particular element of the applicable law At issue is whether The issue is whether Avoid including facts in the issue statement. REMEMBER- points are not awarded on the IL Bar for issue statements, however, encouraging your students to write an issue statement will help them with knowing the rules of law and the applicable facts to apply to their answers.
ISSUE SUGGESTED COMMENTS Draft a DIRAC outline for each issue. Issue Statement Too Broad / Too Narrow Do not include facts in issue statement. Wrong subject. (Provide subject at issue.) Wrong issue. (Identify correct issue.)
RULE Should explain the applicable rule of law Should be verbatim exact legal language Should start with a broad general statement of the law Should then be narrowed defining important terms Should include relevant exceptions Should clearly answer the legal issue presented based on the fact pattern and that you identified in the DIRAC Rule statement(s) should use legal buzzwords. Generally However
RULE SUGGESTED COMMENTS Wrong subject. (Provide subject at issue.) Wrong rule. (Identify correct rule(s).) Use subject-specific buzzwords! Include relevant exceptions.
APPLICATION Apply each rule statement to the RELEVANT facts at issue. No fact should be discussed that is not impacted by the rule statement(s). Facts should not be assumed. Facts + Rule(s)= Application Here In this case
APPLICATION SUGGESTED COMMENTS Only discuss rules and exceptions you have mentioned in your RULE statement(s). Do not discuss immaterial facts. Do not assume facts. Analysis too short / too long.
CONCLUSION Conclusion statements should provide a definitive answer to the call of the question. Conclusion statements should match the decision statements. Each issue will receive its own DIRAC, so each issue should have a conclusion statement. Conclusion statements should include a brief explanation of how the conclusion was reached. Conclusion= the decision statement + why In conclusion In summary Thus
CONCLUSION / DECISION SUGGETED COMMENTS Do not equivocate. Be direct. Be confident. Conclusion and Decision statements do not match. Answer the question presented.
SELF-ASSESSMENT ESSAY ASSESSMENT
SELF-ASSESSMENT MBE ASSESSMENT
MULTISTATE PERFORMANCE TEST (MPT) 2 MPTs comprise the Morning Portion of the Bar Exam on Day 1. 90 Minutes for each MPT Emphasize that this is the Point Grabbing Section All the information that you need to complete the task is given. Do not need to memorize rules of law; the relevant law is given Test the students on the practical legal skills they need as attorneys.
MULTISTATE PERFORMANCE TEST (MPT) 90 minutes 45 minutes to read and organize 45 minutes to write and proofread 35 minutes to write 10 minutes to proofread Encourage your students to complete as many different MPTs as possible. Additional Practice MPTs are uploaded to the student portal for the students to access throughout the program for additional practice and self-assessment.
The Four Block Outline TASK MEMO FILE LIBRARY OUTLINE
CONGRATULATIONS! You are now certified / recertified. Go forth and share your knowledge and enthusiasm with your students! Thank you for tutoring. MLER would be NOTHING without all of you!
