Most of our students use laptops constantly. They take notes (and surf and IM) on their laptops. And they most certainly take final exams on computers. But when it comes time to take their bar examinations, they'll discover that not every state is as tech-friendly as their law schools. In New York and Pennsylvania, it appears that anyone can write their exam on a computer. But in Illinois, it's a first-come, first-served scrum for the limited number of laptop seats. And in New Jersey, they hold a lottery for the limited number of laptop slots. (Viva, Las Vegas Atlantic City!) I haven't seen a state-by-state schedule, but I'm guessing that states are all over the map on bar exam laptop policies.
This is important information for both law students and faculty. Students need to know that they may be forced to flex unfamiliar muscles (literally and figuratively) on the bar exam. And faculty may want to consider this fact in developing their overall teaching and assessment strategy. ("Welcome to Advanced Issues In ERISA, everyone. I consider this a bar prep course because you must handwrite your final!")
My own experience is that students who type their answers produce significantly more content in the allocated time. On issue-laden final exams, this has the potential to assist typers, relative to their pen-bound colleagues. And I assume that some laptop exam writers self-select because they know that their handwriting is unreadable. I certainly hope bar examiners take into account both the differential writing speeds and the risk that people who write poorly – and have therefore never handwritten a law school final – may now be forced to do so, for the first time, on the bar.
Perhaps some savvy bar examination committee has already started the empirical study…
In Texas, I think there were six exam sites (Arlington, Lubbock, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, Houston). Laptops could only be used at the Arlington (i.e., Dallas-Fort Worth), Houston, and Austin locations. As far as I know, everyone that wanted to use a laptop could. I preferred to take the exam in my non-laptop locale for a variety of reasons, and I wish the examiners offered a laptop option at all exam sites.
Having written the exam, I think there is a definite advantage to typing, especially on the Multistate performance test where you have 90 minutes to write a legal research memo. When you spend 45 minutes reviewing the cases, etc. that they give you, it is hard to write a complete memo in the 45 remaining minutes. It would be much easier if you could take notes on the computer as you read and use the copy/paste function as you write. Other parts of the exam (short answer and essay) were more manageable.
When typing, you can definitely churn out more information, and Barbri claims that the bar examiners take this into account.
Classes started for us this week at STCL, and I was surprised at the number of students who did not have a laptop in class. This was true for both day and night divisions, and across the age spectrum.
Perhaps students are begining to measure both the pros and cons of technology generally, but I'm hoping it reflects an even deeper awareness that students need to identify their own learning style and then determine whether or not they will benefit from using a laptop.
I took both Georgia and Tennessee. Georgia allowed laptops. You must register for this ahead of time. Tennessee, at the time, did not. I understand they have begun pilot programs for this, however.
As for law schools and professors taking this into account in their classes — unnecessary.
If a student is unable to determine (1) whether the jurisdiction allows laptops on bar exams and (2) the process requried for laptop use then they should not be a lawyer.
It is not that hard to figure these things out. All you need are the same skills you will need for dealing with courts and court clerks.
After all, if a student is unable to file a form for using a laptop on an exam, then what happens when they need to file an actual case?
As for laptops in classrooms, as a recent law student I saw the beginning of this trending downward. Grades are a big reason for this.
The reality is that you take in more when you have to handwrite your notes. You pay more attention.
You also have fewer distractions. No more solitaire or minesweeper. With more schools installing wireless networks, no instant message or online shopping distractions.
Most of the top students in my class used handwritten notes. More students are being advised by people hired to help students do well in law school to ditch the computer in class.
I can say that for my friends and myself, there was a direct correlation between grades and whether handwritten or typed notes were used. We also tended to have more handwritten notes than typed ones.
Just some thoughts from a recent grad (2008, 2009 LLM) who has far too much time as a result of just finishing his dissertation and entering a cold job market.
Take care and have fun.
– John
it appears that anyone can write their exam on a computer.
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I think this is not fair for those students who don't get the chance to give exams on laptop and they also lose the opportunity to write more content than they write it with pen my suggestion is that tech friendly institutes should have laptops for every one if they go for this way! for cheap computers log on to http://www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com
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This is important information for both law students and faculty.
This is important information for both law students and faculty. Students need to know that they may be forced to flex unfamiliar muscles (literally and figuratively) on the bar exam.
Well I think that institutes should give out some more benefits to the students.
And that is possible with only one thing and that is providing more and more laptops.
See as technology is getting changed and advanced day by day the time has arrived when every student should be getting a laptop to write down the papers.
Many of the students are using laptops but not all. So it is very necessary to provide equal opportunity to every student.
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I think it's good to use laptops but if you are thinking regarding cheating and all then you should block some of the websites which are really helpful in getting your required answers.
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