Welcome to the law school experience. Although you are still adjusting to the law school environment and its expectations, we need to discuss the bar exam. Bar preparation may seem premature for a new law student. However, depending on the jurisdiction where you plan to practice, acting now can save you money that your future self will appreciate.
A few jurisdictions allow you to register as a law student. Some require basic personal information, while others require you to complete portions of the character and fitness review. The process may seem daunting and time-consuming, but you are closer to the law school application process now than you will be as a third-year student, so you can invest the time now and save time later. Early registration also carries a financial benefit, you will pay a fee hundreds of dollars lower than the fee you would pay if you wait until your third year. You will still need to update your application and submit supplemental information later, but you will have completed the bulk of it. Keep in mind that you will still need to update your application in the future and submit supplemental information. Early registration also allows you to take full advantage of the bar-related programming and support your law school offers with minimal concern about the bar application.
So now that you have this information, where do you start? Here are a few steps to follow:
- Confirm your jurisdiction. Make sure you are certain where you plan to sit for the bar exam. If you anticipate changes or feel uncertain, gather information only, and plan your next steps once you are certain. You should not spend money on a process that will not benefit you.
- Consult your law school’s academic support and/or bar support office. Ask where to start and what you need to do. The office may have already contacted you, in which case you can ask follow-up questions. Based on its work with previous students, the office can provide specific and detailed guidance.
- Visit the board of law examiner’s website or supreme court website in the jurisdiction where you plan to sit for the bar exam. The site contains the information, instructions, forms, and/or requirements you need.
- Mark the deadline. Survey what you need to complete, estimate how long it will take, and decide when you will begin so that you meet the deadline.
- Hold yourself accountable. The most important step is to honor your commitment to yourself. As the deadline approaches, you may talk yourself out of completing the task. Do not do that. Finish it so you have no regrets.
If you miss your first-year deadline, you may still complete the process before or during your second year, so investigate that option as well. You may save less money but you will still gain some benefits described above. For some students, the opportunity may have passed. If you are a third-year student, identify all deadlines and gather all the information you need for your bar application now as you may have some deadlines this fall.
(Goldie Pritchard)
