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How to beat the bar exam: A July bar passer’s way

By Stefan Borst-Censullo, Esq.

To begin off I want to apologize to you, the good reader, for my contribution to this over stuffed cannon of “hey so you’re about to take the bar, here’s some tips.” However you have obviously decided to read this post, so you are either very bored or beyond desperate. In any case I hope this will help you realize either that ALL HOPE IS NOT LOST or alternatively assist in further procrastination before you dive headfirst into the eight hours of MBE’s.

The main lesson that I, an underemployed, heavily indebted, but FULLY LICENSED ATTORNEY can impart on you (the poor idiot who went through law school and is now in the midst of studying for the bar) is to remember what the bar is really testing. The bar is not measuring your intelligence, your commitment to the pursuit of justice, or the goodness of your soul. Rather the bar is a relentless and frankly unnecessary hazing ritual that any decent society would have dispatched at the same time we figured out that sacrificing virgins had no affect on our corn crop. Plenty of great advocates have failed the bar multiple times while undeserving morons (like yours truly) somehow managed to sneak past the graders.

The bar is nothing more than a ritual that our esteemed elders in the legal community (who need to retire so we can take their jobs) insist that we need to endure simply because they too went through it. The way to pass this awful exam involves the time old method of “embracing the suck.” Translated from its original grunt, that your best bet is to focus on improving your chances of survival through trying your best to put in 8-10 good hours of studying a day in some sort of organized methodology of covering as many subjects as possible.

That’s really it.

Put in your time (especially on pacing for performance tests). Practice as much as you can (‘cause the MBE’s are only testing regurgitation). And hope that you lived a clean and decent life (good karma will guarantee that the essays cover subjects that came natural to you throughout the last few years in school).

However given razor-thin edge between passing (which feels like this) and failing (seen here), it’s understandably unnerving to think about how little of your fate is out of your control. Luckily there are a few things (other than studying) that help improve your odds.

  • Don’t take chances with your computer. I bit the bullet and replaced my five-year-old Mac once it started showing its age. The “hey I’m going to turn off without warning” thing was annoying enough while I was streaming Bobs Burgers, and it would have been panic inducing during the test.
  • Spend good money on a quiet hotel. With all the understandably massive levels of stress you’ll have during the actual testing days, there’s no guarantee you’ll have a good nights sleep. But a place with thick walls and dark curtains is a nice place to decompress.
  • Don’t skimp on exercising and eating right. Look I have no clue whether my habits of long distance running and healthy snaking contributed to me passing or not. HOWEVER I can tell you that I maintained my focus during both my period studying, and the extent of those grueling three without a blood sugar drop or an emergency run to the toilet during the MBE’s. So do your best to get 45 minutes to an hour a day of some sort of movement (walking the dogs would suffice), and eat whole grains, fruits, veggies, and lean proteins like your mom told you to do years ago.
  • dogImbibe some mood-elevating media. Inevitably during the course of your studies you are going to have moments/days full of self-doubt. Furthermore walking into a room of a few thousand stressed out type-A personalities undergoing the most important test of their lives is a bit intimidating. Therefore do you best to take the occasional break from studying to look at a cute animal (your friends who went to med school even approve). On the way to the test listen to family friendly inspirational music, or really anything from friend of the legal community Freddie Gibbs. When things got especially bad I (reflexively) turned to this preview of “Elysium,” because repeatedly seeing Matt Damon murder rich people in space somehow reminded me why I was taking the bar in the first place.

Finally I have to say that the best advice BARBRI gave me during the extent of this test was remembering that taking the bar is a privilege. Plenty of people (not me) would trade places with you in a second. In addition, YES, becoming a lawyer (even in this job market) is worth this pain. So seriously, I wish a sincere “best of luck” to all of y’all. This is an experience you will justifiably hate, but the reward is sweet.

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Should I join a study group in law school?

By Emily Karpinec, Esq., BARBRI Manager of Legal Education

Every law school student learns differently, prepares differently and definitely studies differently. So how do you know if you should join a study group or not? Will it help or harm your possibilities of success?

BENEFIT #1

First of all, a study group can provide support and calm fears. Law school is a terrifying and stressful time, and spending time with your peers enduring the same experiences makes you not feel alone.

BENEFIT #2

Second, if you are totally lost on a concept, think you have got something down but are dead wrong or are just talking yourself in circles, a study group is a great place to bounce ideas off colleagues. Many times, law students think they have a concept down and spend valuable time studying incorrect information, only to go to class and find out they are wrong. Communication in a study group is a checks and balances – if you are incorrect, not expanding enough on a concept or are expanding too much.

BENEFIT #3

Third, having a set study group meet time helps the natural tendency of procrastination. Who wants to study Future Interests at 9 a.m. on Saturday? No one! Having study group colleagues wait on you on that Saturday morning, for example, helps make you accountable and more likely to show and put the time in needed to be successful in law school.

DRAWBACK #1

First, Most of us disliked group projects because we felt like we ended up doing all the work. This is how many students see study groups. Many times it can become a social event. It is so important to choose members/colleagues who are disciplined and will help keep the group on track. It is easy to get “off topic,” so you want to surround yourself with dedicated students.

DRAWBACK #2

Second, it’s possible you might spend all your time helping your group mates and not concentrating on your own work. You may understand Torts as well as your professor and end up teaching it to your group. Make sure there are limits on helping and that you concentrate on your own studies, too.

DRAWBACK #3

The third drawback has to do with your need for complete quiet to study your best. Study groups are typically filled with questions and comments being blurted out on the spot. If you need complete quiet, this will be too distracting and disrupt your studying.

In the end study groups are a great idea if you are the type of person that will actually benefit from them. You know how you study the best (you did make it into law school). Be honest with yourself if you think you will benefit. If not, try and make a few close friends in your section so that you can grab notes if you miss class or are stuck on a concept here and there. Though law school is highly competitive, many students are more than happy to help one another out. Just think, in three years this will all be a distant memory!

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How to take control when it comes to bar exam fees.

By Hadley Leonard, BARBRI Legal Education Advisor

Many law school students won’t begin thinking about the bar exam until their last year. (I did the same.) It is only then they come to realize all the expenses: the fees for sitting for the exam, the balance on their BARBRI account and the living expenses during bar studying. Then the panic begins to set in – where is all this money going to come from?

HERE ARE A FEW “ANXIETY-REDUCING” TIPS

Create a budget. Simple enough, right? But so many students create unneeded stress by neglecting to create a basic budget. Instead, we just spend money until it runs out. If you create some guidelines, then you will be in control of where your money is going. A good rule of thumb is 90/10. Specifically allocate 90% of your monthly income (or, loans) to needed expenses and keep 10% as a reserve or buffer.

Find areas to cut back. After looking at your budget, try to find where you can eliminate spending. I know we all feel like we can’t possibly do this, but really you can. The easiest areas are eating out and entertainment expenses. A good strategy for cutting back: plan to eat out one meal per week. And skip the specialty coffee pit-stops a few days a week. It all adds up.

Save. Make sure you start saving now. It’s never too late. Whatever your income, save a little each week. If you were to save only $25 a week, over the course of three years of law school, you would have accumulated almost $4,000. You won’t even notice having $25 less a week, but I bet $4,000 will grab your attention. Plus that will definitely help you with your BARBRI balance when the time comes and those bar exam fees that suddenly come to reality.

BY BUDGETING, YOU ARE IN CONTROL

I know money is a touchy subject and many let their money control their actions. I promise this will alleviate much of the stress associated with money. The less stress you have regarding money translates to less stress during law school and during the bar exam.

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Make it a point to get to to know your professors

By Dyann Margolis Paskan, Esq., BARBRI Director of Strategic Accounts

It may sound a bit crazy to be told you need to get to know your law school professor outside of class. You may be thinking, “Really? I just got raked across hot coals for half of class, over a footnote in Hadley v. Baxendale, and you want me to go ‘get to know’ this person?” Yes. All of your professors have office hours for the sole purpose of helping their students.

THE REASONS YOU WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS ARE SIMPLE:
  • These are the people that write and grade your final exam. They can help you narrow down what they are looking for on your answers.
  • They are experts on the law. There is absolutely no substitute (no matter how great you think that supplement is) for talking to your professor about what you don’t understand.
  • Someday you will need a letter of recommendation. Your professor has to know you on a personal level to write that letter.
GET INTEL ON HOW EXAMS WILL BE GRADED.

Law school finals are unlike any you have taking before. Generally, they are cumulative. They will cover everything you have done in a class from day one. Also, if you are lucky and got a midterm, they will represent your entire grade for a class. Let me repeat: everything you have done in a class is distilled into a 3-4 hour exam. Take the time to talk to your professor and find out what they think an “A” answer looks like. Ask if they have any past exams that you can complete and review w unless you arith them. The more past exams you take, the more familiar you will be with your professor’s testing style and the easier it will be to succeed on the exam.

PICK THE BRAIN OF AN EXPERT IN LAW.

Your professor is teaching you Contracts, for example, because that is their area of expertise. While supplemental materials are helpful to understand the black letter law, there is no better source for information and explanation than from your professor.It is only your professor who can help steer you to what they feel is the operative fact or most important rule of law from the case. And don’t forget, the professor is the one that evaluates your final. You want their interpretation of the cases to be front and center.

BUILD A RELATIONSHIP THAT’S WORTHWHILE.

In the very near future, you will need legal references for prospective employers. Professors make great references.However, to be able to provide a strong reference, your professor has to see you as more than the student in the back row who avoids eye contact. Take the time to get to know at least one professor on a more personal level. If you are really interested in a Prosecutor’s or Public Defender’s office, your Criminal Law professor is ideal. This way, not only do you have a great reference, you have a reference in the specific field that interests you. Also, many times, professors will have great contacts in their field of practice.

OVERCOME THE INTIMIDATION AND OVERACHIEVE.

While it may seem intimidating at first, you have nothing but positives to be gained by getting to know your professors. Take advantage of office hours. Ask questions you may not ask in class. Make that personal connection.It will be time well spent.

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Why early 2L year is the ideal time to check bar exam requirements.

By Dyann Margolis Paskan, Esq., BARBRI Director of Strategic Accounts

Congratulations, you have made it to your second year of law school. Believe it or now, now is the time to start researching the requirements for the bar exam you want to take. An early start will help you position yourself for success and avoid those potential pitfalls you don’t know about.

QUITE A FEW STATES REQUIRE MORE THAN ONE STEP.

The earlier you get started on the bar admission process, the less it will cost you. For example:

  • In Ohio, your Application to Register as a Candidate for Admission to the Practice of Law (fondly known as Character and Fitness) is due by November 15th of your second year of law school. That second year requirement applies regardless if you are on a three-, four- or five-year plan. Don’t procrastinate. It is an over 30-page application that wants to know everywhere you have lived since 18. Seriously.
  • In Florida, there’s an even earlier deadline. It allows (and encourages) you to sign up your first year of law school. In fact, the earlier you sign up for the Florida bar exam, the lower your overall fee.
BAR EXAM APPLICATIONS ARE NOT QUICK AND EASY.

Even if you are going to a state where you don’t have to file until your third year of law school, it is important to remember that applications for the Bar Exam are not quick and easy. Many times, they require you to do significant digging. Remember that traffic ticket you got in the middle of nowhere driving home from college your second year? You are going to have to hunt down the docket for it to include with your application.

AND SOME STATES DON’T GIVE YOU MUCH TIME.

The other issue you can run into is some states will have a limited timeline to submit your application. For example, in California and New York you only have one month to fill out and submit your application. Late applications are not accepted. The last thing you want is to have to wait six months to take your exam because you missed a deadline.

bar_exam_digest_coverKNOW THE DEADLINES – AND TOPICS TESTED. BONUS!

One other benefit you garner when you check bar exam requirements: you can see what is tested on that exam. By doing this early, at the beginning of your second year, you are able to plan ahead for the classes you want to take. If you are in a state that tests Commercial Law and Secured Transactions, make sure you take those classes in law school. Remember, the bar exam is graded on a curve so give yourself every advantage you can, early and often.

As with so many things related to law school, taking time to make sure you are informed has its rewards. To see what your state (or states if you are still undecided) bar exam requires, stop by the BARBRI table on campus. Pick up the BARBRI Bar Exam Digest, which has information for every state from deadlines to topics tested all in one place for your convenience. These digests will be available after September 23, 2013.

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