California Bar Examination
Essay Questions and Selected Answers February 2002
FEBRUARY 2002 CALIFORNIA BAR EXAMINATION EXAMINATION ESSAY QUESTIONS AND SELECTED ANSWERS Published by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California
This document contains the six Essay Questions from the February 2002 California Bar Examination and two selected answers to each question. The answers received good grades and were written by the applicants who passed the examination. The answers were prepared by their authors, and were transcribed as submitted, except that minor corrections in spelling and punctuation were made for ease in reading. The answers are reproduced here the consent of their authors and may not be reprinted.
ESSAY EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS Your answer should demonstrate your ability to analyze the facts in the question, to tell the difference between material facts and immaterial facts, and to discern the points of law and fact upon which the case turns. Your answer should show that you know and understand the pertinent principles and theories of law, their qualifications and limitations, and their relationships to each other. Your answer should evidence your ability to apply the law to the given facts and to reason in a logical, lawyer-like manner from the premises you adopt to a sound conclusion. Do not merely show that you remember legal principles. Instead, try to demonstrate your proficiency in using and applying them. If your answer contains only a statement of your conclusions, you will receive little credit. State fully the reasons that support your conclusions, and discuss all points thoroughly. Your answer should be complete, but you should not volunteer information or discuss legal doctrines which are not pertinent to the solution of the problem. Unless a question expressly asks you to use California law, you should answer according to legal theories and principles of general application.
Question 1
Pam, a resident of...