The State Bar of California is expected to announce this week that it will ban the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar from use for its February 2017 bar exam.

Other states have already announced their ban, which is reportedly owing to security issues the Touch Bar poses to ExamSoft's software.

Thank you for your patience. The first part of Dr. Saccuzzo's predictions for the specific issues on the essays for the February 2017 California Bar Exam is now available. The other subjects will be added to this playlist soon. To see the other videos in the playlist, click the playlist icon in the video frame.

With the deadline for registering for the February 2017 California Bar Exam rapidly approaching, a lot of people have asked us whether they should wait until July or go ahead and sign up for February's exam. The answer is that unless you perform really well on multiple choice tests, go ahead and take the February 2017 bar exam. Don't wait. This is because the weight of the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) in California will be increased beginning with the July 2017 exam—with a corresponding decrease in the weight for the written portion.

"The answer is that unless you perform really well on multiple choice tests, go ahead and take the February 2017 bar exam. Don't wait."

The impact of the changes will be negative for women as a whole and positive for men. This is because the current 35/65 weight (for the MBE and written portion, respectively) actually slightly favored women. The change in weight will result in a lower percentage of women passing under the new July...

Thank you for your patience.  Dr. Saccuzzo's predictions are now available.  As we always say, remember that these are just predictions.  You should be prepared for anything the examiners throw at you, and we know that if you study properly, you will be.  Best of luck to you, and stay tuned for more.

Finally.  The State Bar of California posted the fact patterns, and we have been busy producing our biannual debriefs of the previous bar administration's essays. Remember, these are not, of course, affiliated with or endorsed by the State Bar of California. The examiners' Selected Answers for these essays will not be posted for at least a month or two, but we know you're all anxious to get a rundown before then, so we always like to release our own interpretation of the questions first.

NOTE: The embedded video is part of a playlist. If you're on a mobile device, simply click the symbol that looks like a play symbol next to a list menu icon. You can select the other essays from there.

Mistake #5: Failing to have a framework or overview of the subject

This is probably the biggest mistake. Most students are afraid of "spoiling" the subject by looking ahead. But if you lack a basic understanding of how the concept you are learning today fits with the concept you will be learning tomorrow and next week and so on, you are hindering your ability to better learn the subject. Don't be afraid of spoilers when it comes to studying the law.

"Don't be afraid of spoilers when it comes to studying the law."

The fix: Start studying the subject by first getting an overview of the subject, or by reviewing a simple framework that outlines the general structure of the subject. Some professors' syllabi are detailed enough to do the trick, but you may find the need to consult a secondary source or study guide instead. Bar Secrets' PowerLaw gives you the basic framework in just about every subject tested in most law schools. You could start with that program...

Mistake #4: Failing to consolidate before the exam

The outline is finished. And now it's time to study and memorize as the exam gets closer. Most law students simply try to memorize their whole outline, or a condensed version of it, over and over.  What most do not do, though, is consolidate it.

"Most law students simply try to memorize their whole outline, or a condensed version of it, over and over. What most do not do, though, is consolidate it."

The fix: First, you have to know what consolidation is, in order to put it into action and start seeing the results. Consolidation is a final phase of exam preparation, in which you have already encoded the information you want to have memorized—that is, you have written out the entire outline (in chunks, of course) perfectly from memory at least one time. Having done this, you have stored the information into your brain, and now you need to make it readily accessible for the exam. Consolidation, or fishing back, does...

Mistake #3: Getting distracted too early

Technology has most of us moving from pillar to post, from our books or our work or whatever it is we should be focused on, to our phones, our computers, or our tablets. Too often we see students (and we can be guilty of this ourselves) sit down for a planned study session, and as soon as they hit a tough concept, or one that isn't so particularly exciting, their focus wanes and they turn to their device of choice or to some other distraction. This could be as quick as five minutes even. Constantly switching from task to diversion not only hinders your ability to learn (think multitasking), but it also robs you of "getting stronger" at focusing.

"Constantly switching from task to diversion not only hinders your ability to learn (think multitasking), but it also robs you of 'getting stronger' at focusing."

The fix: Put the phone away. If you need your computer to study, turn off the Wi-Fi, or otherwise close any applications that might...

Mistake #2: Taking too many notes

Yes, you read that right. When you're in class, you want to channel your inner absorber—not your inner stenographer. If you're focused so much on taking down every word your professor is saying, you're likely not processing the information in the optimal way. You aren't "thinking" about how what your professor just said connects to what they said last class and so on.

"When you're in class, you want to channel your inner absorber—not your inner stenographer."

The fix: Think of your notes as cues. In class you should be writing down cues that will help you unlock the more detailed substance of what your professor is saying. How will you remember this more detailed substance? You'll be listening now, instead of writing. Better yet, you want to be attending to what your professor is saying. Write down key words and phrases, and pay attention to the rest thinking about how the concepts fit together, and if you can tie it to a...

As a 1L, you enter law school with the best of intentions. You're full of excitement and drive, and you may even be bringing with you some study habits from undergrad. Some may help, others may not. Follow along over the next few days as we roll out a short and sweet, yet infintely helpful, series on identifying the top 5 mistakes 1Ls make, and, of course, how to fix or avoid them.

Mistake #1: Taking on too much too soon

You're finally in law school, which for some of you is the start of your lifelong dream of becoming an attorney. So your excitement and ambition is completely justified and understandable. But there's a reason most law schools rein-in your extracurricular and work schedules. Even though most first-semester 1Ls cannot work, intern, or join competition teams, they can still run for student government positions or even assume volunteer roles. Or they devote a lot of time to networking.

"You need to develop a sterling work product worthy of your network's...