The countdown to the bar exam has begun for most 2010 law
grads. They have had a chance to
celebrate their graduation, visit with loved ones and hopefully relax a
little. However, with the bar exam
looming, it proves challenging to fully feel finished with their academic legal
career until the bar exam is behind them.
Naturally bar review is the next step. Therefore, my next postings will
provide bar support ideas for the distinct needs of students through each phase
of bar review. I have divided bar
review into three parts based on my observations of how students’ mood/attitude
changes during the process. Since
every student is unique, use this merely as a strategic guide and alter as
needed based upon their individual needs.
The three phases of bar review can be analogized to the
three basic parts of a story.
Simply put: the beginning, middle and end. Or equated to the more complicated romance novel: the
romance, the break-up and then finally the reunion or happily ever after ending. Or better yet to a grand epic: a mighty
cause or purpose, a struggle or challenge and then ending with triumph and
utter transformation from the journey.
In the Beginning… The
Romance, Quest and Journey to Passing the Bar
Typically, the first part of a story or novel sets the stage
and introduces the characters and the plot. This is the hook. It is what draws in the reader and forces
them to continue reading. For bar
review, this is the lead up to the first class and the introduction or
orientation session. Students
receive packets of information in the mail or via email in the days or weeks
leading up to the start of their bar review. Some tear open the brown card board boxes as if it was their
8th birthday all over again; while others, leave them in a corner
collecting dust until the final moment.
But all of them begin thinking about what lies ahead.
During this beginning phase of their bar prep, many students
eagerly anticipate their start date. Recently a few students confided in me that they are “excited”
to get started with their bar prep classes and that it seems like bar review
might even be “fun”. (This was not
the norm when I took the bar 10 years ago and may not be long lived for them
either.) Thus, the romance or epic
quest has begun.
Although difficult to imagine anything about the bar exam
being romantic, in a very real sense students have been bewitched by the bar
for years. They are giddy with
anticipation to see what bar review is like, they have sweaty palms and heart
palpitations when they think about the test itself and they likely devote more
time and attention to studying for the bar than they have anything else in
their lifetime- including courting their true love.
That said, it is important to encourage students to make the
most of this starry eyed and idealistic phase. Additionally, they have more energy and time now than they
will later in the summer. Based
upon my experience working with students during this tumultuous period, I have
compiled ten guiding principles to help usher them into the early phase of bar
review.
With these ten action points and guiding principles students
should begin bar review on the right footing. On this quest for success on the bar exam, romance quickly turns
to heartache and challenge.
However, if students know what to expect and plan accordingly, passing
the bar exam will be more easily achieved. I hope that in passing these strategies and pieces of advice
on to your students this summer will alleviate some of their stress and improve
their chances of success on the bar exam.
In the Beginning of Bar Prep:
1.
Calendar everything! Efficient time management is crucial to being successful on the bar exam. Create a master calendar that records
your lectures, essay and/or MPT and/or MBE practice time and what you will do
with the limited free time that is left over. Be as detailed as possible with your calendar in order to
beneficially use your time and realistically plan for your summer.
2.
Delegate non-essential tasks! Hire a babysitter, dog walker and enlist another member of your household to assist with household chores. Delegate in order to
free up more time in your day or week.
Prioritize your responsibilities and let go of all unnecessary duties or
chores. They will be there when
the bar is over.
3.
Discuss your desire to pass the bar with your family
and friends. Letting your
loved ones know how important passing the bar exam is to you and why you will
not see much of them this coming summer will help you stay on track with your
studying and garner more support from them when you need it most.
4.
Arrange your travel plans and/or hotel stay. No, I do not mean booking your tickets
to Cabo for a long weekend in July!
Instead, make sure you book your hotel and/or flight so that you are
near the bar exam testing location in your state. Hotels fill quickly and you do not want to be stuck
commuting for your bar exam.
(Also, ask for a fridge in your room. It will allow you to eat in and avoid the extra expense and
potential tummy trouble of eating out for every meal.)
5.
Review your state bar policies and rules. Review the security policies, bar
association requirements and testing location rules so that you do not need to make
last minute arrangements. Will you
be able to use a laptop or must you handwrite? Can you use a MAC or do you need a PC? Are there restrictions on what you are
allowed to wear or bring into the testing room? Find out!
6.
Get healthy! Avoid late nights, bar hopping and poor food choices. It is time to eat smart so that you can
think smart. Again, advance
planning will help you stick to a more balanced and healthy lifestyle. Incorporate exercise into your
day. Reward yourself with a brisk
walk, bike ride or yoga class. Countless
studies show, not only that exercise boosts brain function, but exercise also
promotes better sleep, improves mood and increases energy. These are all things you will need
during your bar prep!
7.
Apply for an accommodation If you are applying for a testing accommodation, make sure
you know the requisite materials/documentation needed and the submission
deadlines. Get started early since
this can be a time consuming process.
8.
Know thyself. Follow your bar review provider’s program, listen during
your orientation to absorb the many nuggets of useful information and do your
best to adhere to their schedule.
HOWEVER, above all, listen to yourself! You know your strengths and weaknesses. You must learn the law and put it into
practice but you may need to adapt your schedule to how you learn best. Be flexible and trust your instincts.
9.
Seek additional help early! Everyone is stressed during bar
review. However, you need to
differentiate between stress and your need for academic/bar support. If you are missing a key piece of
information, a strategy for the MBE or a critical essay writing technique, it
is best to recognize this early in your bar prep and remedy it before you
become overwhelmed in your review.
First, approach your bar review provider. You paid a considerable amount of money for their expertise
and individualized assistance is part of that fee. If they are unable to assist you, do not stop seeking
help. Go to your Academic Support,
Bar Support, or Dean of Students at your law school to see how they can
assist. Last but not least, ask a
friend or Law Professor.
10.
Adopt a mantra: “I will pass the bar exam!” Remaining positive during your bar
review will yield positive results.
Use “post it” notes to wallpaper your life with encouraging
affirmations, distance yourself from negativity or overly stressed out peers
and feel confident that your commitment and hard work will pay off.
(Lisa Young)
