Bar Exam 101

Welcome to the land of all things bar exam. Here, you’ll find some of our favorite posts in different topic areas, along with links to lots more content. From when to start studying to detailed tips for the bar exam essays, it’s all here.

For a full list of available topics, please visit the Bar Exam Toolbox Resource Hub. Enjoy!

We also offer a variety of courses and tutoring options, including:

• Writing of the Week (WOW) Workshops to improve your bar exam essays and performance test answers
• The Brainy Bar Bank to streamline your bar exam preparation
• The Bar Exam Self-Study Program, which provides motivated self-studiers with the tools they need to pass at an affordable price
• Private bar exam tutoring in a variety of jurisdictions

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

SELECTING A BAR REVIEW PROVIDER

• Comparing Tools for Bar Exam Essay Success Several internet tools have been created to help law students prepare for the essay portion of the bar exam. We compare your options.
• Can I Take a Bar Course Without Breaking the Bank? There’s no secret that there are now a variety of bar prep courses that offer deals that serve to benefit the diverse pockets of bar exam takers, but the idea of paying any additional cost to actually become a certified attorney is enough to agitate any law school graduate. If you’re frustrated, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a list of money saving ideas for choosing a bar study provider.
• Does Your Bar Prep Plan Fit You? 5 Questions to Consider When you are deciding how to prepare for the bar exam, you will be bombarded by programs, plans, and methods that will all claim to guarantee success. They probably all have some value, but your goal is to pick the approach that will give you the best chance at bar exam success. Here are five questions to consider when evaluating which approach to bar prep will best suit you.
• Why the End of Your 3L Year May Be Too Late (and 1L Year May Be Too Early) To Start Thinking of Bar Prep At the start of law school, there is a lot of pressure to commit to one of the various commercial bar-prep programs.. However, making a commitment too early has drawbacks, and once you sign that contract, you’re stuck. Is it likely you can know what you need in a bar prep course in your 1L year?
• Choosing Bar Prep Providers Securing your bar prep course is probably one of the best ways to prepare for the bar. So what are these courses and how do you choose from all of the choices? Here is a guide to help you decide on your bar prep provider.

• Click here to read more about selecting a bar review provider

SELECTING A BAR EXAM TUTOR

• Why Would Should Consider Hiring a Tutor For Your Bar Prep We look at some ways you can utilize a tutor to help with your bar prep.
• Why I Hired a Bar Exam Tutor In this post we welcome an attorney who shares his story about failing the California bar exam and his decision to hire a bar exam tutor for his second studying attempt. He offers some great advice about the benefits of working with a tutor and how it can help you pass the exam.
• Winning the Bar Exam Game: Should You Consider Getting a Tutor? For many law school graduates who are studying for the bar exam, navigating the study process throughout law school and beyond can feel like you’re playing a game for which you haven’t read the rules. It’s no wonder you start to feel overwhelmed! Can a bar tutor help you with this?
• Winning the Bar Exam Game: 5 More Reasons You Need a Tutor A bar exam tutor can be the difference between success and failure for may students. If you’r not sure whether to hire a tutor, here are five more reasons that may convince you to get some help with the bar exam.
• How Do You Pick a Bar Exam Tutor? As students around the country have been getting bad news about the bar exam, we have been getting more and more emails and phone calls wanting advice on how to pick a bar exam tutor. Here’s our advice for making this important decision!

SELF-STUDYING FOR THE BAR EXAM

• Do I Need to Make My Own Study Materials for the Bar Exam? Law school was all about making your own outlines and study guides, but students typically pay for outlines from a bar course when preparing for the bar exam. Read our thoughts on whether or not you should be making your own study materials for the bar exam.
• Self-Studying for the California Bar With “Be a Goat”! (Part I) Yes, you read that right: being a goat actually has something to do with self-studying for the California bar exam. We talk to Jessica Klein, attorney and author of “The Goat’s Guide: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide To Preparing for the California Bar Exam On Your Own,” for some expert advice.
• Self-Studying for the California Bar Exam With “Be a Goat” (Part II) As a follow up to our first post on the Goat’s guide to self-studying for the California bar exam, we continue our conversation with attorney and author, Jessica Klein. Read more of her expert advice!

REVIEWS OF BAR PREP OPTIONS

• Tools for Bar Exam Success: Smart Bar Prep The number of different bar prep programs, commercial outlines, and study aids available to test takers has grown considerably in recent years. If you’re weighing your bar prep options, here’s another resource to consider. Smart Bar Prep is an essay-focused set of study guides available in both UBE/MEE and California formats.
• How to Use the Brainy Bar Bank to Raise Your Essay Scores We’re hearing from one two time bar exam taker who used the Brainy Bar Bank to significantly raise her essay scores (and pass) the second time around.
• Tools for Bar Exam Success: AdaptiBar Struggling with the MBE? AdaptiBar might help. Check out our review of this useful tool (including a special discount code for our loyal readers).
• Tools for Bar Exam Success: Themis Bar Review Still haven’t decided on a bar review course? In this post we review Themis Bar Review, a commercial bar review course that you can take entirely online.
• Tools for Bar Exam Success: Lean Sheets Bar Exam Outlines Many bar studiers are overwhelmed with the amount of information they need to study for the bar exam. This is why Lean Sheets were developed — to help those of you studying for the bar exam pare down the information to what you need to know. Read our review of this helpful tool!

• Click here to read more reviews of bar prep options

SHOULD YOU STUDY EARLY?

• When Should You Take Bar Exam Electives in Law School? The bar exam is an inevitable box you must check off before earning the right to be called Esquire.  Recognizing this, many students often wonder whether they need take course covering subjects that may appear on the bar and, if so, when. Fortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the “When” and “Why” questions of taking Bar-elective courses.
• How Early is Too Early to Begin Bar Prep We think the important question is, how exactly do you go about early bar preparation?
• Bar Exam: Starting Early vs Starting Late – The Tale Of Two Law Students This is the tale of the two law students and what the difference is in preparing for the exam.
• Why the End of Your 3L Year May Be Too Late (and 1L Year May Be Too Early) To Start Thinking of Bar Prep At the start of law school, there is a lot of pressure to commit to one of the various commercial bar-prep programs.. However, making a commitment too early has drawbacks, and once you sign that contract, you’re stuck. Is it likely you can know what you need in a bar prep course in your 1L year?
• Can Studying Early Help You Pass The Bar Exam? Most people study for the bar exam for a couple of months, while others take much more time. Everyone, though, can benefit from some early review and practice. In this post we discuss why a little bit of front-loading now can really pay off later.

• Click here to read more about when and how it makes sense to study early for the bar exam

STUDY TIPS FOR DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES

• Creative Strategies to Help You Study For the Bar When it comes to studying for the bar exam, most tutors and bar prep companies will give you essentially the same advice – review your outlines, answer a ton of MBE questions, and complete practice essays and MPTs. These methods are effective, but they can also get a little tedious. If you’re needing to shake up your routine, try out these creative study strategies that will give you a change of pace while still helping you learn the law or improve your skills.
• Studying For the Bar as an Auditory Learner While there are no real tricks or shortcuts to preparing for the bar, you can and should study in a manner that will best help you obtain that passing score. One way of doing this is modifying your study habits to best align with your preferred learning style. If you’ve ever sat down to study and thought to yourself, “If only this material was presented in a way geared towards auditory learners, I could memorize these rules and become a better IRAC writer,” then this article is for you!
• Studying For the Bar as a Kinesthetic Learner While there are no real tricks or shortcuts to preparing for the bar, you can and should study in a manner that will best help you obtain that passing score. One way of doing this is modifying your study habits to best align with your preferred learning style. If you wished bar materials were presented in a way geared towards kinesthetic learners, then this article is for you!
• Studying For the Bar as a Visual Learner While there are no real tricks or shortcuts to preparing for the bar, you can and should study in a manner that will best help you obtain that passing score. One way of doing this is modifying your study habits to best align with your preferred learning style. If you wished bar materials were presented in a way geared towards visual learners, then this article is for you!
• Want To Set Yourself Up For Bar Exam Success? Take Control of Your Own Learning! No bar prep program can guarantee success, regardless of how many of the assignments you complete, if you are not actively engaged in the learning process. Consistently completing assignments is crucial, but it’s not always sufficient. To set yourself up for bar exam success, you not only have to put in a lot of study hours, you also have to take control of your own learning.

HOW TO MEMORIZE FOR THE BAR EXAM

• The Bar Exam is Coming! How to Memorize It All Memorizing all the materials you need to for the bar exam can be overwhelming. We’re looking at some tips to make it easier.
• Tricks to Memorizing Law for the Bar Exam A common complaint when studying for the bar exam is “I can’t memorize this much information.” While it’s true that memorization is tough for many people, there are several techniques that can be used to bolster your memory and that are extremely useful when studying a large amount of information (like for the bar exam)!
• Using Peg System Mnemonics to Remember Rule Elements If you’re studying for the bar exam, you’ve probably heard of mnemonics. They work great, but what if you have a lot of elements you need to remember, like on the bar exam, and mnemonics aren’t helping? In this post we talk about peg systems, variations on mnemonics that can help you memorize bar material!
• Memorization as Simple as 1, 2, 3 Memorization is the easiest and hardest thing about the bar exam. In this post we welcome back Brian Hahn, founder of Make This Your Last Time, to share a few memorization tips when it comes to the bar exam.
• Why Waiting to Memorize Until the Last Two Weeks is a Bad Idea It may seem reasonable to do a lot of memorization closer to the actual bar exam. While some of the big, commercial bar prep. companies take this approach, we would also strongly advise against it. Read why in this post.

WAYS TO PRACTICE EFFECTIVELY

• Your Dog As Your Study Buddy (And 4 Other Tips For Building Bar Prep Into Your Daily Routine) When you are studying for the bar exam full time, building a routine that makes the most of your bar prep period is vital. Keeping to your bar prep schedule and continually reinforcing your study through repetition takes discipline, especially as bar prep drags on. Here are five tips to build in some bar prep around your daily routine so you can keep yourself honest and make the most of your precious few bar prep days.
• Essay Feedback: Why It’s Important, Where To Get It, and How to Use it to Improve When you’re preparing for the bar exam, whether you’re a first-time taker or a repeater, you want to use every tool available to you to improve your chances of success. One of the most valuable tools that you can employ in preparing for the written portions of the exam is feedback from someone who is experienced at evaluating bar exam essays and MPTs.
• How to Become Great at Taking the Bar Exam with Deliberate Practice There is not much debate about practice when it comes to learning a new skill or getting better at something. I’m guessing that some of you have heard of Outliers by Malcom Gladwell and the idea of the 10,000 hour rule to achieve mastery in a field. Since none of us have 10,000 hours to study for the bar exam you may be interested in the concept of Deliberate Practice which was introduced by K. Anders Ericsson.
• How to Use MPT Points Sheets and Sample Answers to Prepare for the Bar Exam Practice exams are a crucial component of successful bar prep. While a bar review course may provide feedback on a limited number of practice essays and performance tests, you should do more and assess your own work. We’ve previously discussed how to do this using MEE Analyses. Here, we’ll explore how to use MPT Point Sheets and sample answers. The key is to distinguish form from substance. A Point Sheet will not be in the form required for your answer, but it will contain the required substance. A sample answer should be in the required form, but it may not be complete in terms of substance. Let’s take a closer look.
• Taking the Bar Exam? Start Practicing Now! In order to do well on the bar exam, you must devote significant time to practicing the material and skills tested on the exam. We go into the reasons this is and how you can have practice work for you.

• Click here for more strategies to ensure you’re practicing effectively

STUDY MATERIALS

• ESQYR Review: Resource for Past Bar and MPRE One of the most important strategies for passing a bar or MPRE exam (or any type of exam) is to take lots of practice exams.  In order to make taking practice exams effective, you need to make sure the practice exams be as genuine as possible, and you get specific, detailed feedback on your practice exam from a knowledgeable person. We talk to a new online service, Esqyr, which takes care of the first need.
• Podcast Episode 78: Advice for First-Time Bar Exam Takers Today we’re sharing advice for first-time bar exam takers, to ensure you can take the test once and pass. Even if you’re still in law school, and the bar exam is years away, it’s never too early to get informed and chart a course for success, so tune in.
• Memorize This! Five Memorization Techniques that Will Help you Succeed on the Bar Exam So I want you to think back to law school for a second. Do you remember spending countless hours reviewing a case brief, only to find yourself unable to recall anything the very next day during a cold call? Or perhaps you may remember that networking event you attended your 1L summer, where you met several attorneys who you desperately hoped would provide a lead to your 2L job. The bar exam will require memorization, so follow these 5 techniques to master this!
• Take It From the Examiners: Make the Most of the NCBEX.org Along with your jurisdiction’s bar, the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) is a key primary source of information.
• How to Use MPT Points Sheets and Sample Answers to Prepare for the Bar Exam Practice exams are a crucial component of successful bar prep. While a bar review course may provide feedback on a limited number of practice essays and performance tests, you should do more and assess your own work. We’ve previously discussed how to do this using MEE Analyses. Here, we’ll explore how to use MPT Point Sheets and sample answers. The key is to distinguish form from substance. A Point Sheet will not be in the form required for your answer, but it will contain the required substance. A sample answer should be in the required form, but it may not be complete in terms of substance. Let’s take a closer look.

STRATEGIES FOR BAR EXAM ESSAYS

• Organize Your Essays for Maximum Points It is absolutely essential that you make it as easy as possible for your bar grader to spot where you are earning points. We offer tips on how to get the maximum points on your bar essays.
• What Bar Graders See When They Read Your Essays You can’t turn in a bar essay of gibberish with nice headers and expect to pass. The graders do actually read your work, even if they do so quickly. We discuss what bar graders really see when reading your essays.
• Comparing Tools for Bar Exam Essay Success Several internet tools have been created to help law students prepare for the essay portion of the bar exam. We compare your options.
• Strategies for Resolving Problems on Your Bar Essays There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to the essay section of the bar exam. In addition to the sheer number of essays you have to complete, you never know what subjects or topics will be coming at you next. The good news is that there are strategies for resolving the common problems you may encounter on the bar essays. We offer some tips!
• How to Be a Bar Exam Essay Writing Machine Bar exam essays require you to draft an articulate answers to seemingly unpredictable fact patterns that test a wide range of legal subjects. A successful bar exam essay simply requires you to methodically spot the issues and analyze the key facts. A systematic approach to the essays, while perhaps a bit dry and repetitive, will help you tackle any fact pattern and produce an organized answer that consistently racks up points. In short, success on this portion of the bar exam requires you to be an essay writing machine.

• Click here for more tips on mastering the bar exam essays

STRATEGIES FOR THE BAR EXAM PERFORMANCE TEST

• Strategies for Common Performance Test Issues The performance test (PT) section of the bar exam is somewhat of an enigma. It is unique to study for in several ways. The tricky thing about the PT is that there is no material to study. So, what do you need to study? How can anything go wrong?
• Five Common Issues on the Performance Test and How to Fix Them Bar candidates are often intimidated by the performance test because the materials that present the question are so long they consume an entire packet!  However, success on the performance test does not depend on how fast you can read, but how well you can read and if you have mastered an approach for each section of the performance test.
• Managing the Clock on a 90 Minute Performance Test Most bar exams require applicants to complete one or two 90-minute performance tests as a component of the exams. A performance test asks you to complete a sample work assignment typically performed by a law firm associate. We discuss how to handle the clock on this part of the exam.
• The Key to the Performance Test: Find Your Approach What’s the key to success on the bar exam performance test? Having your approach dialed in beforehand, so you can work efficiently and effectively.
• Three Things to Do to Raise Your Performance Test Scores The performance test is the favorite part of the bar exam for many, given that you don’t need to have any law memorized. But some people still hate and fear the performance test. If you’re one of these people, here are three things you can do to raise those scores!

• Click here for more tips on mastering the performance test

STRATEGIES FOR THE MBE

• How to Approach Constitutional Law MBE Questions Constitutional Law questions can be tricky for bar exam takers because of the deep analysis involved in reaching the correct answer. We’re looking at the best way to study for these questions on the MBE.
• Tackling Torts MBE Questions In this post, we’ll talk about how you can approach Torts MBE questions to boost your score.
• 3 Simple Ways To Improve Your MBE Score If you’re enrolled in a bar review course or if you’re studying on your own, by this point you may have already completed a simulated or mock MBE exam. You may have already received the score for this exam and depending on what that score is, you’re probably freaking out and already plotting a career change. Well, if you’re currently experiencing this fear, we’re here to tell you, STOP WORRYING!
• 5 Reasons To Be a Confident Out-Of-State Applicant For the Bar Exam If the jurisdiction you want to take the bar exam in has state-specific sections, many questions will nag at you – Can I learn the state-specific subjects? How much different is that state’s law? Can I compete with in-state applicants? We have some tips for out of state applicants for the bar!
• An Approach to Answering MBE Questions We describe one approach to answering MBE questions.

• Click here for more tips on mastering the MBE

UBE BASICS

• Everything You Need to Know About the UBE In this post, we’ll explain what the UBE is and how portable it is.
• What is the Uniform Bar Exam? The Uniform Bar Exam – or UBE – has been in the news quite a bit recently with respect to bar exam requirements and whether it will replace existing state exams. Wondering about the UBE? In this post we discuss all things UBE and what the UBE means for you.
• Three Reasons You Should Support the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) has been sweeping across the country in recent years, and with the addition of New York, it now seems poised to become the dominant exam. This is a good thing for law students. Read three reasons why in this post.
• Deciding Whether to Take the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) or the California Bar Exam If you’re deciding whether to take the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) or the California Bar Exam, then you’ve come to the right place. Read our advice on what you should be considering!

• Click here for more strategies for UBE success

CALIFORNIA BAR EXAM BASICS

• What is the California Bar Exam, Anyway? Not sure exactly what’s covered on the California bar exam or how to approach the test? We’ve got you covered. Here are all the basics you need to know.
• Tips if You Just Found Out You Failed the California Bar Exam California bar results are being released, and the pass rates mean there will be thousands of disappointed bar takers out there. If you’re one of those people wondering what to do next, here are some steps for dealing with a bar exam failure.
• Failed the Bar Exam? How to Be the Ultimate Sore Loser (to Pass the Bar Exam Next Time) Methodical and deliberate – these are the keywords for any person retaking the bar exam. In this post we welcome Brian Hahn, founder of Make This Your Last Time and a second-time passer of the California bar exam, who gives his advice on how to pass the bar exam the next time around.
• Are You Kidding Me? The California Bar Exam Is Going to be Two Days in 2017 The California State Bar Board of Trustees recently voted to scale back the state’s three-day exam to just two days. In this post we discuss all the changes to the exam and what they mean for you!
• Should You Apply for Bar Exam Testing Accommodations? We are pleased to welcome back to the blog Dr. Jared Maloff, a clinical psychologist who specializes in helping students who need testing accommodations navigate the California bar exam. In this post he talks about when and why law students should consider applying for testing accommodations.

• Click here for more strategies for passing the California bar exam

STUDYING SMART

• Why Using IRAC Will Help You Pass the Bar Exam Since the first semester of law school, you likely learned that the key method of writing exams was to use IRAC. IRAC is a method of legal analysis and writing that you will carry with you and use throughout your entire legal career, which can only begin by you using it to pass the bar.
• Taking a Break: Can You Afford To Take a Full Day (Or More) Off During Your Bar Exam Studies? Anyone with even a passing familiarity with bar exam preparation knows that long hours and discipline are essential to success. Successful bar studiers do takes breaks throughout each day, but only for about 15 to 30 minutes at a time. Must bar studiers shun any notion of taking a full day off during their preparation, or – dare they even consider – a short weekend getaway? Would a break of that length necessarily be detrimental, or could it be neutral and even possibly beneficial?
• Advice from a Bar Grader: Tips to Maximize Your Essay Score Raw score, scaled score, what does it all mean? It means get all the points you can. We offer tips to maximize your essay score!
• Maintaining Good Study Habits Throughout Bar Prep Most students, temporarily overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information they have to learn, start bar prep concerned that there won’t be enough time to adequately prepare for the exam. While the compressed time frame can be intimidating, several weeks of preparation is usually adequate if you are sticking to an appropriate study schedule. Use these tips to help you stay motivated and maintain good study habits throughout bar prep.
• 3 Simple Ways to Stay Motivated During Bar Prep So how is it possible to stay motivated during this period of high stress? Here are three strategies that we use to increase motivation, especially in times when a bar studier feels burned out.

• Click here to ensure you’re studying smart for the bar exam

HOW TO MAKE A USEFUL STUDY SCHEDULE

• Getting Ready for Bar Prep? Do These 5 Tasks First To help simplify your life in the final days before the bar exam, and to ensure that you’re able to get the most out of the bar prep period, make sure you’ve completed the following five tasks before bar prep starts.
• 3 Simple Ways to Stay Motivated During Bar Prep So how is it possible to stay motivated during this period of high stress? Here are three strategies that we use to increase motivation, especially in times when a bar studier feels burned out.
• Making a Bar Exam Study Schedule – One Size Doesn’t Fit All Studying for the bar exam is probably nothing like what you’ve ever done before. It may be hard for you to figure out at first how to approach it. For me, the start of my bar exam prep course felt like a great unknown. All I knew was that I had a little over two months to cram everything into my brain that would allow me to be “minimally competent” to practice law in my jurisdictions. I had no idea how I would achieve it in such a short time, but what I knew is that many have done it before me and were successful.
• A Day in the Life of a Bar Studier: Tips for Structuring Your Day Creating a detailed daily schedule during bar exam prep can help you feel more in control of your studying and show you that the workload is manageable if you plan your time carefully.
• Checklist for Preparing for Bar Prep How can you get ready for bar prep? Below is a checklist to make sure you start your bar prep off on the right foot!

• Click here for more strategies for making a useful bar exam study schedule

WORKING AND STUDYING

• Adulting and Studying for the Bar Exam If you want and need to maintain your job, family, and yes, your sanity intact during bar study, follow these few tips.
• Working and Studying for the Bar: 5 Reasons to Be Confident The bar exam can intimidate anyone. The law is challenging, the scope is daunting, the prep time is short, and the stakes are high. If you are working while studying, it can be easy to feel sorry for yourself and to feel like you are trying to do the impossible. You have taken a tougher road to bar success than others to be sure, but you can’t let those feelings take too much of a psychological toll. You have to be confident going into the bar or you will not be at your best. Here are five reasons to be confident as you work and study and study and work and study some more
• Five Tips for Studying for the Bar Exam While Working Although it’s best to study for the bar exam full time, this just isn’t a possibility for many bar takers. If you’re considering studying while working, here are five things you should take into consideration, especially if you’re re-taking the bar exam after disappointing results.
• Working While Studying? “Play” Bar Prep Like You’re Playing Risk Working full time while studying for the bar: recommended? No. Possible? Yes. Sarah Eli Mattern, founder of “The Student Appeal” online law journal, gives her expert advice on this important topic.
• Warning: Working and Studying Can Cause Sleep Deprivation! It’s no secret that working while studying for the bar exam can be a challenge. Depriving yourself of sleep and studying while exhausted can lead to disastrous results. In this post, learn about the consequences of sleep deprivation and the importance of rest!

• Click here for more advice on studying for the bar exam while working

EXAM LOGISTICS

• Strategies and Tips for the Final Weeks of Bar Prep In less than three weeks now, the bar exam will be over. That thought likely brings a mix of relief and panic, but this is the perfect time to think about what you can do to maximize your efforts in these final days!
• A Productive Study Break: Prepping For Exam Day Here’s a productive study break you should put on your calendar at least a week before the bar exam: preparing for exam day.
• Bar Exam Day is Game Day An important part of preparing for the bar exam is developing a healthy mindset that will allow you to deal with the inevitable stress and perform your best on the exam. One good way to shape your approach to the bar exam is to treat it more like an athletic competition than an academic test. If you train like an athlete, shape your mindset for the bar exam as if exam day is game day.
• How to Get Past the Initial Panic on a Bar Essay This post is about how you can get past your panic on a bar essay by planning ahead exactly how you’re going to start any essay that comes your way.
• The Case for Dinner Out Between Bar Exam Days There are many things about the bar exam that you cannot control, but bar exam logistics are something you can and should give thought to in advance. One logistical aspect to think about is what you should do with your evening (or evenings) between bar exam days. We submit that the best use of your bar exam evening is to find a friend or family member and go out for a nice, sit-down dinner. It may sound foolhardy, but here are six reasons why it could help more than you think.

• Click here for more targeted advice on bar exam logistics

EXAM PEP TALKS

• Suggestions for Surviving the First Day of the Bar Exam The first day of the bar exam is daunting, to say the least. Students know that 2-3 long testing days are ahead of them and, although many are eager to get the process started after weeks of preparation, most still feel nervous, overwhelmed, or even unprepared. It’s important to start the bar exam marathon on a positive note, so take a deep a breath and use these suggestions to help you have a successful first day.
• I Don’t Know the Answer: Encountering Your Worst Subject as an Essay Topic So here’s the scenario, you didn’t take a certain subject in law school or maybe you went to a law school outside of California and it wasn’t an option. You reviewed that subject briefly as part of your bar exam prep, but it’s not your strongest subject. You are banking on that subject not showing up on your exam but then you open your exam to find your weak subject staring you in the face and your mind goes blank; you have no idea how to answer the question. What happens next?
• Some Perspective on a Disappointing First Day of the Bar Exam Few things in your life will have the same sort of buildup and anticipation as the bar exam. The tension is only increased by the high stakes: you may have a job offer contingent on bar passage, you definitely have years of work and weeks of preparation invested, and you likely have everyone you know waiting to hear if you passed or failed. We have some tips on how to handle a disappointing first day.
• How to Cope If You Forget a Rule on the Bar If you’re afraid of sitting down for the bar exam and blanking, we have advice! We’re talking about the top three steps to take if you forget a rule when taking the bar exam.
• It’s Almost the Week of the Bar Exam! But You Can Stay Sane! You have finally made it. It’s the week of the bar exam. There may not be a discrete set of things each of you can do to maintain sanity in those final days and hours before the bar, but what I can offer are some common-sense tips to keep you healthy and feeling…okay before the big day.

BAR EXAM ADVICE FOR LAW STUDENTS

• Thinking Ahead: Don’t Let the Bar Exam Catch You By Surprise As you move towards the end of law school, you may be wondering about what’s next. In this post, we wanted bring some clarity and give a run down on what you should be doing to get ready for the bar exam as a 3L.
• 8 Bar Exam Questions for 3Ls to Answer Now Right now, the July 2017 bar exam probably feels pretty far off. But there are a lot of logistics to get through before you ever start studying. Here are 8 questions you should get answers to this fall.
• Prepping for the Bar Exam through Law School and Beyond Think bar preparation begins after you receive your diploma? Think again. There are things you can do as early as your first year to ensure that you are successful at your first (and hopefully only) attempt at the bar exam.
• When Should You Take Bar Exam Electives in Law School? The bar exam is an inevitable box you must check off before earning the right to be called Esquire.  Recognizing this, many students often wonder whether they need take course covering subjects that may appear on the bar and, if so, when. Fortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the “When” and “Why” questions of taking Bar-elective courses.
• Why You Should Take Evidence During Law School and Why It’ll Be Important to Your Bar Study If you are at a law school that does not require Evidence and if you’re on the fence about whether or not to take an Evidence class, let me set you straight: take it.

• Click here for more advice for law students about the bar exam

GETTING ACCOMMODATIONS ON THE BAR EXAM

• Preparing for the Bar Exam with ADHD In this post we welcome back Dr. Jared Maloff to talk about studying for the bar exam with ADHD. Dr. Maloff is an expert on this topic given his work as a clinical psychologist helping students who need testing accommodations navigate the California bar exam.
• How to Proactively Develop Good Mental Health Habits During Bar Prep We will discuss in this section how mental health awareness can help you to maintain your sanity during the bar.
• Mental Health and the Bar: Tips To Maintain Good Mental Health Post Bar Exam and Beyond If you’ve just finished the bar exam, unfortunately, these factors can certainly bring up some mental health issues, regardless of a predisposition or an overall stable state of mind. Therefore, developing and maintaining good mental health practices is crucial, especially during this starting point of your career.
• Three Tips to Include More Self-Care Into Your Bar Prep During the bar exam in particular, it is very important to incorporate self-care into your daily routine. Below, I’ll outline a few ways to reduce your stress, combat exhaustion, and help boost your mood.
• Should You Apply for Bar Exam Testing Accommodations? We are pleased to welcome back to the blog Dr. Jared Maloff, a clinical psychologist who specializes in helping students who need testing accommodations navigate the California bar exam. In this post he talks about when and why law students should consider applying for testing accommodations.

WHICH EXAM AND WHEN?

• The Five Steps of Mourning a Disappointing Bar Exam Result There are few events in life that seem to carry as much pressure as the bar exam. In other words, the bar exam is a really, really big deal – both personally and professionally – to most students. We cover the five steps of mourning this difficult time.
• Top Five Reasons Why People Really Fail the Bar Exam It’s probably every law student’s worst fear: failing the bar exam. We break down the top five reasons why it really happens.
• Mentally Preparing to Study for the Bar Exam After a Failure (or Two) You sign onto your computer at 6:00 pm sharp. Your heart is racing. The internet traffic won’t let you log in. You try again. You type in your name. You wait. Your palms are sweaty, and your heart is racing faster. You finally get your results, but they are not at all what you expected. Your name is not on the pass list. You check again. Your name is really not on that list. Let’s face it. We all have failed (at least once or twice) since we were born. Most of us miserably. We repeatedly got up to stand and fell down before learning to walk. We got on a bike and could not balance at first. And the list continues. You also may know that some of the most successful people have failed repeatedly before succeeding. Henry Ford’s businesses failed 5 times before he successfully founded Ford Motor company, Stephen King’s first book received 30 rejections before he finally resubmitted it and succeeded in getting his story published. Finally, Michael Jordan, a man often referred to as one of the greatest basketball players of all time was cut from his high school basketball team, but Jordan didn’t let this stop him from playing and was quoted later as saying: “I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game-winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
• How to Handle a Bar Exam Failure The unbelievable happened – you failed the bar exam. Now what? While you are entitled to a little “pity me” time, how you move on from this set back will determine whether you can hope for a different result the next time around.
• Five Tips For Repeat Bar Takers If you’re taking the bar after a previous failure you need to adjust some things from how you did them last time. We’re looking at some advice for changes you can make if you’re taking the bar exam again.

• Cilck here to read more about which exam to take

BAR EXAM PREP + LIFE

• Adulting and Studying for the Bar Exam If you want and need to maintain your job, family, and yes, your sanity intact during bar study, follow these few tips.
• Don’t Be a Grinch! Enjoy the Holidays While Studying for the Bar Exam Studying for the bar is difficult and having to study during the holidays can make it even more of a challenge. You want to spend time with your family and partake in all of the holiday traditions without falling behind in your studies. So, how do you find the balance? Here are some tips to help you enjoy the holidays while studying for the bar exam!
• How To Juggle Bar Prep and Job Hunting During bar prep, the last thing you want to think about is being unemployed and the fact that you have no prospect of employment after the exam. If you’re going through bar prep without a job offer in hand, I know it’s unrealistic to ask you to ignore this issue. We want to assure you that you can manage this burden and that you can successfully find a job and also pass the bar. But you have to carefully juggle these two major priorities if you want to be successful. Here are our top tips!
• Tips For Your Post-Bar Job Hunt There aren’t many things that will compare to the sense of accomplishment, elation, and relief that you feel when see your name on the bar exam pass list. But that excitement can quickly fade to feelings of frustration, disillusionment, and even embarrassment if you haven’t landed a legal job. If you’ve passed the bar, taken the oath of attorney, and picked up your bar card but are still searching for a position, make sure you keep these suggestions in mind.
• Dealing with Outside Responsibilities While Studying For the Bar There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with outside responsibilities during the bar exam, but you ought to plan ahead for how to deal with professional and personal obligations before you begin studying for the bar exam.

• Click here for more on handling “life stuff” while studying for the bar exam

STORIES ABOUT FAILING THE BAR EXAM (AND SURVIVING)

• The Day I Failed the New York Bar Exam What do you do if you fail the bar exam? Well the first thing you need to realize is that you’re not alone. Jeena Cho, a successful San Francisco attorney, shares her very personal story about failing the bar exam and offers great advice to those facing the same predicament.
• The Day I Failed the California Bar Exam We are pleased to welcome Jeff Curl, apprentice grader for the California bar exam and practicing attorney, to the Bar Exam Toolbox blog to talk about his experience when he learned he failed the California bar exam.
• The Question I’ve Never Been Asked About the Bar Exam In this post we welcome an attorney who shares her very personal story about failing the California bar exam and what she learned from the experience. She offers some great advice for those of you grappling with the same emotions!
• Why I Hired a Bar Exam Tutor In this post we welcome an attorney who shares his story about failing the California bar exam and his decision to hire a bar exam tutor for his second studying attempt. He offers some great advice about the benefits of working with a tutor and how it can help you pass the exam.
• If at First You Don’t Succeed…Cry, Whine, and Then TRY AGAIN! Bar exam failure is common! In this post we welcome Ciara Vesey of Confessions of a Law School Nobody Online to share what she learned while re-studying for the bar exam.

• Click here for more about rebounding from a bar exam failure

DEALING WITH BAR EXAM STRESS

• Still Thinking About the Bar Exam? 5 Tips to Help You Decompress For better or worse, the bar exam is finally over! It’s normal to have a little anxiety about how it all went, but after spending so much time and focus preparing for the test, you may find it difficult to get your mind off of the bar exam. Now that the test is over and there’s nothing you can do to change your answers, it’s important to live in the present so that you aren’t constantly worrying about what you could have done differently or whether your name will be on the pass list. Use the following strategies to help you decompress and control your anxiety about the results.
• Make Stress Your Friend During Bar Study Studying hard and building an attack plan is a great strategy, but be ready to let go of concrete plans. Your perfect bar plan may no longer be a perfect fit. But you just need to trust yourself.
• 8 Ways to De-Stress During Bar Prep We lay out eight things you can do to eliminate your bar prep stress.
• How to Handle Burnout for the Bar Exam Studying for the bar exam may only last a few weeks, but it can sure send you on a roller coaster of emotions. Bar prep will likely subject you to a slew of emotions that will feel particularly intense given the pressure, workload, and shortened time frame. To avoid getting derailed during your study sessions, use these strategies to help you handle the various feelings, moods, and mindsets you might encounter as you prepare to take the bar exam.
• Three Simple Ways to Manage Stress While Studying For the Bar Exam If you are currently studying for the bar exam, there are ways to do more than just outlive the stress you are experiencing. In fact, a few simple practices can help you successfully minimize its impact on your studies, your exam performance, and your physical and mental health. Here are three you can try right now:

• Click here for more bar exam stress management strategies

HELP FOR THE BAR EXAM SIGNIFICANT OTHER

• Supporting the Bar Exam Studier in Your Life Your child, spouse, significant other, or best friend is studying for the bar exam. Maybe it’s their first time studying, or maybe they’re a repeat test taker. No matter the situation, studying for the bar exam can be incredibly stressful and you don’t want to add to that stress. Here are a few ideas for ways you can make your bar exam studier’s life a little easier.
• So Your Friend Failed the Bar Exam You planned the celebration. You had trepidations, but you knew the results would be good news. Then the time came, and the name was not on the pass list. You felt confused, saddened, and a little scared, but it wasn’t your name in contention, it was your friend’s.
• Dealing with the Bar Studier in Your Life You may think you’re prepared for a little stress after supporting a person all the way through law school, but the bar exam will likely push your bar studier to a new level of anxiety. So how do you deal with the bar studier in your life?
• Are You Living With a Bar Exam Studier? Here’s How to Cope! The bar exam study period is not only difficult for the exam takers, but also for the people supporting them. In this post we share our tips for supporting and coping with a bar exam studier!
• Are You and Your Significant Other Studying for the Bar Exam Together? We’ve heard many stories about how challenging it is when two people are going through bar exam prep together. Is this you? If so, we have some suggestions about how to handle the final weeks of bar prep together.

• Click here for additional advice if your significant other (or child) is studying for the bar exam

HELPING YOUR CHILD PASS THE BAR EXAM

• Dos and Don’ts for Parents of Bar Preppers After three years of law school, there is still one very big hurdle for your child to jump before she becomes a lawyer: the bar exam.  They will usually take all the help they can get, so if your child will be preparing for the bar exam over the next several weeks, here are some dos and don’ts to help you support their efforts.
• How Can Parents Help a Child Who Failed the Bar Exam? After someone fails the bar, they need all the support they can get, especially from their parents. In this post we answer an email from a concerned parent wondering how she can help her son after he failed the bar exam.
• Parents of Bar Studiers: How to Best Support Your Child During the High-Anxiety Weeks of Bar Preparation Your adult child has officially graduated from law school. However, as you probably noticed, the excitement and celebrations abruptly came to a close as he or she almost immediately shifted to preparing for the biggest exam of his or her life – the bar exam. Make no mistake about it – even though your child persevered through semester after semester of really tough exams in law school, the bar exam really is the toughest exam your child will ever face.
• How to Survive Studying for the Bar Exam at Your Parents’ House If you’re facing graduation and don’t have a job lined up after law school, you might be stretched thin for money. If you can’t afford monthly rent payments near your law school, you might be looking at a move back home to your parents’ house for bar season. Here’s how to survive studying for the bar exam while rooming with your parents.

Got questions about the bar exam? Please don’t hesitate to contact us!

We look forward to hearing from you.