Well, the worst is over. I went to Charleston last Monday. Tuesday morning was the MPT, 2 questions, 3 hours. They give you some statutes, some cases, and other legal info (called your library) and they give you a fact pattern (ie., what happened) and then they ask you to write something. (Write a memo to the senior partner about the strengths and weaknesses of suing for libel in State Yellow, or something like that.) I feel pretty good about those two questions--I think I nailed it.

The afternoon was 6 essay questions, answered according to the law of West Virginia. I have no idea how I did on these. I could say something I knew was right about each one, but I couldn't fully answer any of them. The good news is that others were complaining about the same thing, so if that's why I take it again in February, I probably won't be alone...

The second day was the 200 multiple choice. I don't know how to explain just how different these questions are from typical multiple choice questions. The questions are usually self contradictory, the questioner will throw in problems and information that are irrelevant, sometimes there is no right answer, you have to choose the answer which sucks the least or sucks the worst... They're horrible. Even if you know a topic inside and out, there are questions you *will* get wrong. At any rate, it was just like the practice questions I had been doing all along, and maybe even a touch easier than those practice questions. That doesn't mean I did well, but I was pleasantly surprised.

So I expected to come back knowing I failed. Instead, I think they're gonna have to grade it, and in my mind it's a toss-up. Oddly, that makes me feel really good.

On Friday I take the professional responsibility exam (ethics test). It's part of the bar, but you get to take it separately. I think it will be much easier on me than the rest of this has been.

And then I really am done, until I find out my results, probably in September. Whee!