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The King Hall USENET FAQ [ASCII/Multipart] (Version 1.1) Part 5
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      The King Hall USENET FAQ [ASCII/Multipart] (Version 1.1) Part 5 of 6
      Frequently Asked Questions at and About King Hall (c) Copyright 1995

                                       by

                             David F. Prenatt, Jr.
                            King Hall, 1995 Alumnus
                            U.C. Davis School of Law
                            University of California
                              Davis, CA 95616-5210

                             dfprenatt@ucdavis.edu


The King Hall USENET FAQ may be comprised of more than one part.  If it is,
please see the TABLE OF CONTENTS in Part One for a complete list of the
questions I have attempted to answer and for other important legal
information.  Caveat emptor:  I assume no obligation for anyone through the
publication of the King Hall USENET FAQ.  Furthermore, all versions of the
King Hall USENET FAQ are my personal property and are protected by
applicable copyright laws.  All rights are reserved except the following:
I hereby give my permission to anyone who has access to this version of the
King Hall USENET FAQ to reproduce the information contained herein for non-
profit purposes, provided that proper credit is given to me as the author
of this FAQ and that I am notified of any use other than personal use.
Permission to reproduce any version of this FAQ may be revoked by me at any
time.

- - - - -

      The King Hall USENET FAQ [ASCII/Multipart] (Version 1.1) Part 5 of 6
      Frequently Asked Questions at and About King Hall (c) Copyright 1995
                                       by
                             David F. Prenatt, Jr.


5)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFE AT U.C. DAVIS.

     I have included general information abouts life at U.C. Davis that is
     of special interest to members of the King Hall community in this
     section.  For more information on U.C. Davis, see the U.C. Davis
     USENET FAQ.  It should be available in one of the *.general newsgroups
     where you obtained this FAQ.  See section 1.5 for more information on
     how to obtain the U.C. Davis USENET FAQ.

5.1)  Where can I get something to eat on or near the U.C. Davis campus?

     There are two places to eat on campus that are within walking distance
     of the law school:  The Silo and the Coffee House (the Silo is a
     little closer to the law school than the Coffee House).

5.1.1)  What kind of food can I get at the Silo?

     There are several fast food restaurants at the Silo, and the Silo Pub
     serves a good sit-down lunch.

5.1.2)  What kind of food can I get at the Coffee House?

     The Coffee House has quite a variety of foods prepared the way you
     like them.

5.2)  What sort of activities are there on the U.C. Davis campus?

     Movies, plays, concerts, sporting events, etc.  See the U.C. Davis
     USENET FAQ for more information.  It should be available in one of the
     *.general USENET newsgroups where you obtained this FAQ.  See section
     1.5 for more information on how to obtain the U.C. Davis USENET FAQ.

5.3)  SPECIAL EVENTS ON THE U.C. DAVIS CAMPUS.

5.3.1)  Picnic Day.

     Picnic Day is an annual day long festival that takes place at U.C.
     Davis on a Saturday during April.  Every department of the university
     participates and sponsors special events.  King Hall sponsors the
     Neumiller competition on Picnic Day which features oral arguments
     between the top two Moot Court teams from the year long Appellate
     Advocacy program.

5.3.2)  The Whole Earth Festival.

     The Whole Earth Festival, described by one Internet commentator as the
     "U.C. Davis Freak Show," is a week long event sponsored by the
     Experimental College.  It can best be described as a celebration of
     alternate lifestyles that centers around environmental awareness (for
     better or for worse).

6)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFE IN DAVIS FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE
    KING HALL COMMUNITY.

     I have included general information about life in Davis that is of
     special interest to members of the King Hall community.  For more
     complete information about life in Davis, see the Davis USENET FAQ
     [currently under construction].

6.1)  How can I find a place to live in Davis?

     There is no shortage of housing in Davis whatsoever.  Just pick up a
     newspaper.

6.2)  Where can I get something to eat in Davis?

     It depends upon what kind of food you want.  Davis has a few zillion
     pizza restaurants, quite a few Chinese restaurants, a handful of fast
     food restaurants, and a smattering of just about any type of cuisine
     you might want to sample.

6.3)  What sort of entertainment is there in Davis?

     Quite a bit for such a small town.  Everything from pool halls/night
     clubs to live theatre.  See the Davis USENET FAQ [currently under
     construction] for more information.

6.4)  What sort of transportation services are available in Davis?

     The most popular form of transportation in Davis is the bicycle.
     There are also two public bus services with several routes in Davis
     (one of the bus services is provided by U.C. Davis); the few taxi
     services that do exist are almost always unavailable when you need
     them.  If you are going out of town, you can take your own car (or
     rent one) or use Greyhound, Amtrak, or the nearby airport.

6.4.1)  How far is the airport from Davis and how do I get there?

     The Sacramento Metropolitan Airport is about 20 miles from downtown
     Davis.  From Davis, head north until you reach I-5.  Take I-5 towards
     Sacramento.  You can't miss the airport.

6.4.1.1)  Where should I park at the Sacramento Metropolitan Airport?

     Short term parking is usually available near the terminal of your
     airline for a reasonable price.  Circle around the airport once before
     parking to make sure that you know where you are going once you find a
     place to park.

6.4.1.2)  Is there a shuttle service from Davis to the Sacramento
          Metropolitan Airport?

     Yes.  The Davis Airporter provides 24 hour service to the Sacramento
     Airport (reservations are required) at a discount for U.C. Davis
     students (proof of registration is required).  Check with the Davis
     Airporter at (916)756-6715 for more information.

6.5)  LOCAL DAVIS BUSINESSES.

6.5.1)  Is there an honest mechanic in Davis?

     No comment.

6.5.2)  What banks serve the Davis area?

     In alphabetical order:  Bank of America, Business & Professional Bank,
     First Northern Bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Sacramento Savings Bank,
     University & State Employees Credit Union, Union Bank, U.S. Bank,
     Wells Fargo Bank, and World Savings and Loan Association.

6.5.3)  Where can I find a bike shop in Davis?

     It is hard to avoid a bike shop in Davis.  There are over 2.1 bikes
     per person in Davis, and a corresponding number of bike shops.

6.6)  LOCAL POLITICS.

6.6.1)  Davis, California = No smoking zone.

     There is no smoking in Davis by city ordinance.  Not in any business
     establishment or within 50 feet of any business establishment.  The
     only place you can smoke is in your own home.

6.6.2)  Davis, California = No snoring zone.

     There is no noise pollution in Davis by city ordinance.  This law was
     meant to prevent people from having a loud party, but the Davis Police
     department also enforced it against a woman whose neighbor complained
     that she snored too loud.  The case made national headlines.

6.6.3)  Davis, California = No malling zone.

     For years, citizens of Davis have resisted efforts by developers to
     build a shopping mall.  As a result, most people must travel to
     Woodland, Dixon, or Sacramento to find a department store.

6.7)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SMALL COMMUNITIES NEIGHBORING
      DAVIS FROM MEMBERS OF THE KING HALL COMMUNITY.

6.7.1)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT DIXON FROM MEMBERS OF THE KING
        HALL COMMUNITY.

6.7.1.1)  What reasons would a member of the King Hall community have to
          visit Dixon?

     Many members of the King Hall community live in Dixon (which is about
     five miles west of Davis) and/or patronize the restaurants and
     shopping centers there.

6.7.1.2)  How do I reach Dixon from Davis?

     Take Interstate 80 West towards San Franciso.  You can't miss Dixon,
     but get directions or use a map to find your destination.

6.7.2)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WOODLAND FROM MEMBERS OF THE KING
        HALL COMMUNITY.

6.7.2.1)  What reasons would a member of the King Hall community have to
          visit Woodland?

     Some members of the King Hall comunity live in Woodland, which is
     about eight miles North of Davis.  In addition, since Davis has no
     department stores, people go to the shopping centers in Woodland,
     which are much closer and more convenient than any other shopping
     centers.

6.7.2.2)  How do I reach Woodland from Davis?

     Take the 113 North.  You can't miss Woodland, but get directions or
     use a map to find your destination.

7)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GREATER SACRAMENTO AREA FROM
    MEMBERS OF THE KING HALL COMMUNITY.

     I have provided general information in this section about the Greater
     Sacramento Area that is of special interest to the members of the King
     Hall community in the section below.  For more complete information,
     see the Sacramento USENET FAQ [currently under construction].

7.1)  What reasons would a member of the King Hall community have to visit
      the Greater Sacramento Area?

     Many members of the King Hall community live, work, shop, and play in
     Sacramento, the state capital, which is approximately 20 miles East of
     Davis on Interstate 80 (I-80).

7.2)  How do I get to Sacramento from U.C. Davis?

     Take I-80 East.  You will see the Sacramento skyline from miles away,
     but the freeway interchanges are somewhat confusing.  If you are going
     to downtown Sacramento, take Route 50/Business 80.  There will be a
     long transition road that goes over the Sacramento drawbridge into
     downtown Sacramento.

8)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FROM MEMBERS OF
    THE KING HALL COMMUNITY.

     I have included general information in this section about Northern
     California that is of special interest to members of the King Hall
     community.  For more complete information about Northern California,
     please see the California USENET FAQ [currently under construction] or
     one of the FAQs mentioned in the subsections below.

8.1)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WINE COUNTRY FROM MEMBERS OF THE
      KING HALL COMMUNITY.

8.1.1)  What reasons would a member of the King Hall community have to
        visit Wine Country?

     At least one member of the King Hall community lives in Wine Country,
     which is approximately 30 miles west of Davis.  It is a popular
     destination for weekend excursions (i.e., for shopping, wine tasting,
     etc.) because of its worldwide reputation as the most fertile ground
     for viticulture (i.e., the cultivation of grapes).

8.1.2)  How do I get to Wine Country from Davis?

     Go West on I-80; exit at Route 12 West.

8.2)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO AND THE BAY AREA FROM
      MEMBERS OF THE KING HALL COMMUNITY.

     I have provided information about San Francisco and the Bay Area that
     is of special interest to the members of the King Hall community in
     this section.  For more complete information on San Francisco and the
     Bay Area, see the Bay Area USENET FAQ [currently under construction].

8.2.1)  What reasons would a member of the King Hall community have to vist
        San Francisco and the Bay Area?

     A large cross-section of the King Hall community lives and works in
     San Francisco and the Bay Area, which is approximately 80 miles
     southwest of Davis.  Unlike the small town of Davis, San Francisco and
     the Bay Area are the most well established metropolitan area on the
     West Coast.  Smaller in size and population to the Los Angeles
     metropolitan area and Southern California, San Francisco and the Bay
     Area have a worldwide reputation in fine arts and culture.

8.2.2)  How do I get to San Francisco and the Bay Area from U.C. Davis?

     Take I-80 West.  It will take you to downtown San Francisco. Be sure
     to bring along a few dollars to pay for tolls, and get good directions
     on how to reach your ultimate destination in San Francisco or the Bay
     Area.

8.3)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LAKE TAHOE FROM MEMBERS OF THE KING
      HALL COMMUNITY.

8.3.1)  What reasons would a member of the King Hall community have for
        visiting Lake Tahoe?

     Lake Tahoe, which is situated on the border of California and Nevada
     about 100 miles east of Davis, is one of the most popular recreational
     spots for King Hall students.

8.3.2)  How do I get to Lake Tahoe from U.C. Davis?

     Take I-80 East.  You can't miss it.

8.4)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MISCELLANEOUS LOCATIONS IN THE
      NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA BY MEMBERS OF THE KING HALL COMMUNITY.

8.4.1)  Are there any other places of interest in Northern California
        besided the ones you have listed?

     Yes.  Northern California has many educational, commercial, and
     recreational centers that members of the King Hall community
     frequently visit.  For instance, California State University, Chico to
     the North and the Redwood Coast to the East.

8.4.2)  How can I get more information on these other places of interest?

     See the California USENET FAQ [currently under construction].

9)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFE IN CALIFORNIA BY MEMBERS OF THE
    KING HALL COMMUNITY.

     I have included general information in this section about California
     that is of special interest to the members of the King Hall community.
     For more complete information, please see the California USENET FAQ
     [currently under construction].

9.1)  How do I become a California resident?

     See the current U.C. Davis General Catalog for information on
     California residency.  California residents enjoy a cheaper education
     at U.C. Davis than out of state residents, and most of the students at
     Davis are California residents.

9.2)  What places of interest are there in California?

     See the California USENET FAQ [currently under construction] for more
     information on places of interest in California.

10)  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFE AFTER KING HALL.

     Hard on the heels of the King Hall graduation ceremony is the
     beginning of the various bar review courses.  But before that time,
     students must make preparations for admission to the California State
     Bar or other post-graduation plans.

10.1)  ADMISSION TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE BAR.

     Admission to the California State Bar for King Hall graduates requires
     a positive moral character evaluation from the California Committee of
     Bar Examiners, a passing grade on the Multistate Professional
     Responsibility Exam (MPRE), and a passing grade on the California Bar
     Exam.

10.1.1)  THE CALIFORNIA BAR EXAM.

     The California Bar Exam (Bar Exam) is a three day exam.  The first and
     third days are essay exams in the morning, and "performance tests" in
     the afternoon.  The second day is comprised entirely of the multiple
     choice Multistate Bar Examination (MBE).
          The MBE is the key to passing the Bar Exam, but I won't go into
     the details.  Suffice it to say that the scores on the rest of the
     exam are unpredictable except in that they gravitate towards the mean,
     regardless of the quality of individual essays/performance tests.  In
     striking contrast, the answers to MBE questions are either right or
     wrong, and you receive full credit or none at all.  In addition, MBE
     questions tend to focus on obscure rules of law that mislead even the
     best and brightest law students.
          More often than not, a good MBE score will make up for mediocre
     performances on Bar Exam essay questions and a mediocre MBE score will
     prevent otherwise qualified students from passing the Bar Exam.  Many
     law students do not even complete the MBE portion of the Bar Exam.

10.1.1.1)  Qualifying for the Bar Exam.

     Graduates of King Hall are qualified to take the Bar Exam based on
     their graduation from King Hall, an ABA approved law school.

10.1.1.2)  Submitting an Application to Take the Bar Exam.

     You must submit an application towards the end of your last semester
     of law school to take the Bar Exam.  The application is very easy to
     complete, but their is a very small window for when you can apply.
     Obtain a passport photo in advance and keep it on hand.

10.1.1.3)  Preparing for the Bar Exam.

     Preparing for the Bar Exam is much like taking another semester of law
     school, only you have tests every single day.  After about the first
     week of preparing for the Bar Exam, I stopped attending the
     substantive lectures altogether.  I did this because of general apathy
     and my past experience with test preparation.  I felt that the best
     way to prepare for tests was to practice taking tests.  Thus, I
     practiced essay questions from previous years and MBE questions until
     they were both coming out my ears.
          Contrary to popular belief, your law school alma mater has no
     statistical relevance to whether you pass the Bar Exam.  Because of
     the weight given to the MBE, your ability to pass the Bar Exam Your
     ability to pass the Bar Exam was determined by the time you applied to
     law school.  depends primarily upon your ability to perform well on
     standardized tests.  The good news is that this ability can be
     acquired through rigorous study if you do not come by it naturally.
     Even if you do come by this skill naturally, the substance and format
     of the MBE questions is sui generis, so even the best test taker
     should practice thousands of MBE questions.

10.1.1.4)  Taking the Bar Exam.

     I've yet to take the Bar Exam, but it has blown away every person whom
     I've ever known who has taken it.  Some of the brightest people whom I
     know have had to take it more than once.  Contrary to popular belief,
     your chances of passing the Bar actually go up on your second attempt.
     Many people (including me) do not know what to expect from the actual
     exam.  However, after taking the actual exam, people know what to
     expect and how to prepare for it; if you fail the Bar Exam twice, you
     are quite likely to keep failing it.

10.1.1.5)  Waiting for Your Results from the Bar Exam.

     The worst part about passing the Bar Exam has got to be waiting for
     the results.  Even if you could be sure that you had passed, your
     career is on hold for several months.  If you already have a job lined
     up, this is not as much of a problem, but at least one person whom I
     know has lost his or her job as an attorney when he or she failed the
     Bar Exam.  Prepare yourself for a long wait after you take the Bar
     Exam and make plans for what you will do if you do not pass it the
     first time that you take it.
          If you fail the California Bar Exam, your colleagues will most
     certainly find out.  A small group of unemployed individuals will
     cross reference the published list of those people who passed the exam
     with those who were known to have taken it.  They will also use this
     information to determine your class ranking.  If you pass the exam,
     you will simply become a face in the crowd.

10.1.2)  THE MULTISTATE PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY EXAM (MPRE).

     The MPRE is a multiple choice exam, and the course offered at King
     Hall in Professional Responsibility (PR) should cover the substance of
     the MPRE.  The King Hall PR course (as opposed to the MPRE) is a
     requirement for graduation.  It is usually a good idea to take both
     the King Hall PR course and the MPRE at about the same time so that
     you can use the PR course to help you prepare for the MPRE.

10.1.2.1)  Submitting an Application for the MPRE.

     Submit your application on time.  There are very stiff fees for late
     applications.

10.1.2.2)  Preparing for the MPRE.

     If you spend more than 40 hours preparing for the MPRE, you will be
     overprepared.  Review your materials for the King Hall PR course and
     practice multiple choice questions for the MPRE.

10.1.2.3)  Taking the MPRE.

     The MPRE is just like any other standardized multiple choice exam, and
     a mediocre performance is still a passing grade.  If you don't pass
     the MPRE, you can take it over again as many times as you like.

10.1.3)  THE MORAL CHARACTER EVALUATION.

     The Moral Character Evaluation is the most invasive experience you
     will probably ever have, barring an application for a top secret
     security clearance, but very little will prevent you from becoming a
     member of the bar, certainly nothing of which you are unaware.  If you
     are behind in child support or alimony, you cannot qualify, but most
     other people without felony criminal records do qualify.  Just make
     sure that you fully disclose all of the blemishes that appear on your
     record.

10.2)  EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AFTER LAW SCHOOL.

     The nice thing about being an attorney is that you can always find
     work.  However, you can't always find a job with a law firm, or a job
     that you want, or a job that pays you what you are worth.  In many
     instances, an attorney must work for him or herself.  Don't be afraid
     to contact your local bar association for referral business.

10.3)  LIFE AS AN ATTORNEY.

     Lawyers are hated and feared because most people associate lawyers
     with the problems of divorce and personal injury.  Indeed, this is how
     most people first encounter lawyers.  But most lawyers have nothing to
     do with divorce or personal injury.  They work for rich people who pay
     well for advice on matters such as wills, contracts, and other legal
     instruments.  When a lawyer does his or her job well, it's simply not
     newsworthy.
          However, when a lawyer does his or her job well, he or she will
     usually get paid well.  Many law school graduates are instanteously
     transformed from being poor to being upper middle class.  These people
     will often make more money after law school than they or anyone else
     in their families has ever made in their entire lives.
          I often hear stories about the disappearing middle class (i.e.,
     the rich get richer and the poor get poorer).  Higher education
     explains this statistical anomaly, particularly with professional
     programs like law school.  Along with the money, law school graduates
     obtain respect and personal prestige.  However, a legal education does
     not make you a better person.  In some instances, it does exactly the
     opposite.  But that's a topic that is beyond the scope of this FAQ.

- - - - -

End of document:

      The King Hall USENET FAQ [ASCII/Multipart] (Version 1.1) Part 5 of 6
      Frequently Asked Questions at and About King Hall (c) Copyright 1995

                                       by

                             David F. Prenatt, Jr.
                            King Hall, 1995 Alumnus
                            U.C. Davis School of Law
                            University of California
                              Davis, CA 95616-5210

                             dfprenatt@ucdavis.edu

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