San Francisco

San Francisco, a city in western California is coextensive with San
Francisco County.  Famous for its beautiful setting, San Francisco is
primarily located on the northern tip of a peninsula at the entrance
to San Francisco Bay.  It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the
west, the strait known as Golden Gate on the north, San Francisco
Bay on the east, and San Bruno Mountain on the south.  Alcatraz,
Angel, Farallon, Treasure, and Yerba Buena islands are part of the
city.

POPULATION

The population of San Francisco increased from 678,974 in 1980 to
723,959 in 1990; the population was 735,315 in 1996.  According
to the 1990 census, whites constitute 53.6 percent of San
Francisco's population; Asians and Pacific Islanders, 29.1 percent;
blacks, 10.9 percent; and Native Americans, 0.5 percent. 

Hispanics, who may be of any race, represent 13.3 percent of the
population.  San Francisco is part of a major metropolitan region
that also includes Oakland and San Jose.  The region's population
increased from 5,368,000 in 1980 to 6,253,000 in 1990, reaching
an estimated 6,940,000 in 2004.

ECONOMY

San Francisco is a leading financial and international trade center
for the western United States.  The downtown financial district
contains the Pacific Coast Stock Exchange; the headquarters of the
12th Federal Reserve District; and numerous banks and corporate
office buildings, including the home office of the Bank of America,
one of the largest banks in the world.  Tourism is also important to
the city's economy.  The San Francisco region is also home to many
companies developing computer software and hardware.  Several
national apparel manufacturers also have headquarters in the city.

EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

The main institutions of higher education in San Francisco are San
Francisco State University (1899), the University of San Francisco
(1855), Golden Gate University (1853), the University of California-
San Francisco (1864), the New College of California (1971), the
University of California Hastings College of Law (1878), the San
Francisco Art Institute (1871), the Academy of Art College (1929),
the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (1917), and a large
community college.  San Francisco has many performing-arts
organizations.  Among the best known are the San Francisco
Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Ballet, the San Francisco
Opera, and the American Conservatory Theater.

California Information

The “Golden State” of California has long been one of the most famous settlement spots in the United States.  After the gold rush of 1848, countless people from all over the world came rushing to this geographically diverse land in search of opportunity and prosperity, seldom went away disappointed.

    With almost 100 million acres of land, California is the third largest state in the U.S., next only to Alaska and Texas.  It is nestled along the Pacific Ocean with a coastline of 1,264 miles stretching from the Oregon border in the north to the Mexican border in the south.  It is one of the most culturally diverse states in the country, with its citizens having varied ethnic backgrounds like Native American, African American, Hispanic, European, and Asian.  California climate is also one of the most diverse in the whole United States.  With four different climate zones, one could always find a region in California suitable for their taste. 

    Although mountains and deserts dominate the state’s landscape, real estate lands is not hard to come by.  In fact, one could even find an upscale resort community within the Colorado Desert – Palm Springs.  It has become famous for its warm winter sunshine and its star-studded population.  Other upscale communities can be found in the Bay Area, Central Valley, and the coastal strip between Los Angeles and San Diego.  Low to medium scale real estate, on the other hand, could be found on the outlying communities and upland areas.

    For business and employment considerations, one could always find opportunities a few hours drive away from their home. Employment and business opportunities in the state are among the highest in the nation due to its continually booming industries. 

Tourism remains as California’s leading industry.  Some of the well-known tourist destinations within the state are Disneyland, Hollywood, Golden Gate Bridge, and Sea World.  There are many more similarly famous theme parks, national parks, and landmarks all throughout the state.

    Foreign trade has also been a major industry.  Among the leaders in this industry is the City of Los Angeles, whose ports have continually been one of the most busiest in the country for decades.  In 1994, the city overtook New York as the country’s premier gateway for foreign trade.

    Sports fans would never be disappointed as the state hosts a number of professional teams in different sports.  Among the famous California professional sports teams are: the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), Los Angeles Clippers (NBA), Sacramento Kings (NBA), Golden State Warriors (NBA), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), San Diego Padres (MLB), San Francisco Giants (MLB), Los Angeles Angels (MLB), Oakland Athletics (MLB), San Francisco 49ers (NFL), San Diego Chargers (NFL), Oakland Raiders (NFL), Anaheim Mighty Ducks (NHL), and the Los Angeles Kings (NHL).

    National Security matters is not an issue in the State of California.  Seized by the United States Marines at the height of the Mexican-American war (1846 – 1848), San Diego Bay houses the largest concentration of military personnel in any city in the United States.

    With its natural beauty, coupled with teeming opportunities, living in the state of California promises a future worth spending in.

The California Bar Exam Study Techniques

by Andy Semotiuk

 No bar exam is easy. The California bar exam is no exception. More so than in any other jurisdiction in North America, however, the California exam is not only a test of mental stamina, but a test of physical and emotional endurance as well. Some applicants pass on their first attempt. Others take the exam several times before their names finally appear in the Daily Journal as successful applicants. If your name is on the list this time, congratulations! But if not, or if you are about to write the exam for the first time, read on.

This article is written for you. This article will set out some study techniques that will help you do your best.

Study Techniques

1. Study Answers to Previous Essay Exam Questions
By far the most important tip for preparing for the California state bar exam is to study the model answers to previous exam questions. If you are taking a bar review course like BAR/BRI for example, focus on the essay workbook. By reading an essay question from past exams, for example, outlining what you think the answer should be, and then comparing your answer to the BAR/BRI materials - you get an excellent picture of what you know, and what you still need to learn. By writing out your answer, at least in point form, before referring to the BAR/BRI answer, you clarify where your memory of the law is still hazy and needs sharpening. You can use the summary answers as review notes. Highlight key words. These highlighted notes will be invaluable study aids the night before the exam.

2. Read the Materials, Attend Lectures and Do Assignments
Your study patterns should follow a set formula. As best as you can, read the materials assigned before classes. Attend all the lectures or at least listen to the tapes of the ones you miss. Do the assignments. And write practice exams. Some of my wealthier friends signed up for extra bar preparation classes. This was a good idea and I benefited by listening to borrowed audio cassette tapes while driving to and from classes.

3. Employ Memory Devices Such as Acronyms
In preparing for the California bar exam you are confronted by an overwhelming niagra of legal materials. It is impossible to digest such an intimidating amount of knowledge without employing some memory devices to keep information as organized as possible. As often as possible, therefore, use pneumonias and acronyms to help your memory recall important concepts. For example, in real property law I used the acronym TIP to recall the four unities of title in joint possessory estates: Time, Title, Interest and Possession. (I just remembered that the T in TIP stood for the two unities of Time and Title). With a little creativity you can summarize entire courses into one or two word acronyms!

4. Use Funny or Exotic Images to Remember Concepts
Use a funny or exotic image technique to recall important concepts. For example, to remember the test for obscenity in constitutional law I imagined General Patton, pure naked, running laps around a track. This vision would help me recall that obscene material must appeal to the prurient interest, be patently offensive, and have no laps, that is no literary, 2rtistically, politically or socially redeeming feature. Making up rhymes, jingles and ridiculous exaggerated action stories with the materials helps to imbed the knowledge into the brain.

5. Check Off Correct Answers in the Answer Section of Multi State
Material when working on the multi state multiple-choice questions, make it a point to mark the correct answers to test questions in the answer section as opposed to the question section of your materials. This way later on you can review wrong answers again to brush up on weak areas without having to match up the answers to the questions.

6. Keep a Disciplined Daily Schedule
As far as possible try to keep balance in your daily schedule. That requires good nutrition, exercise and sleep. Studies indicate that the average person's peak attention span is 45 minutes - make use of this fact. Take cat naps when you are tired and breaks every hour.



Andy J. Semotiuk is an immigration attorney lawyer who has successfully written the California, New York, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia bar exams. A former United Nations correspondent, Mr. Semotiuk has been in private practice for over 25 years. He is an associate of the law firm of Hansma and Bristow in Edmonton, Alberta. He can be reached by email at andy@myworkvisa.com or through his website at http://www.myworkvisa.com.

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