The ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP) and the ABA Law Student Division are here to support you while you study for the bar exam. During this challenging time, we want to encourage you to take care of yourselves and continue to focus on all aspects of your well-being. Your physical and emotional health are critical to your success in life . . . and on the bar exam. Review the following essential wellness resources for bar exam prep.
The ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP) offers a list of mental health resources for the legal profession to assist in understanding and prioritizing our mental health, well-being, and recovery in these challenging times. View the special dedicated mental health resources for the legal profession.
Each state has a Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) that is dedicated to confidential counseling for law students, lawyers, and judges around issues of substance use and mental health. You can locate the LAP in your area with this Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) directory.
The ABA CoLAP has produced a podcast series for law students available on the CoLAP website or most podcast platforms called Path to Law Student Well-Being. We highly recommend the following relevant podcasts:
Enjoy these and other inspirational podcasts to keep you positive and focused on your mission for this summer.
The ABA Section of Litigation produced a podcast about staying calm during bar exam prep. It focuses on learning how to suppress your fight-or-flight response during extreme stress – like the bar exam.
You can also listen to these wellness episodes of the Law Student Podcast:
Now more than ever, physical activity is an important step you can take to maintain your health and wellness. We encourage daily socially distanced exercise as an essential part of your bar study routine, whether you run, walk, or participate in online classes for yoga.
If you're nose-deep in studying and find it difficult to carve out time to work out, staying physically active in shorter windows of time is also possible. There are several mobile apps designed to help you train from the comfort of your home, such as Nike's Training Club app, or stay physically active next to your desk with short-burst, HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) activities using mobile apps like Tabata. The trick is to keep moving. Science tells us that physical and mental health are closely interconnected.
Even walking will benefit you during this time. Take advantage of the many health benefits walking offers and use it to build mental endurance as you progress toward your next goal.
There are many helpful apps designed to provide you with tools to cultivate greater emotional well-being and improve academic performance. These include Headspace, 10% Happier, Waking Up, and Calm, which offers a free two-month trial. WellTrack includes relaxation exercises, simulated situations to deal with specific anxieties (including public speaking), and a course on resilience specifically designed to help manage and gain perspective on COVID-related emotions (membership required).
Student Lawyer magazine also has several articles about stress and mental health:
Recent graduates are encouraged to seek alternative coverage well before the termination of their current plan. You should confirm when your current coverage through your law school (or other source) ends. You may want to consult with your alum association or state bar for local referrals for short-term insurance coverage.
The ABA Law Student Division and ABA Insurance Program have created an excellent guide to health insurance for law students and recent grads.
Additional resources are available at:
Students are encouraged to have a financial plan when they sit for the bar, including a safe and affordable place to live. Many law schools have shared information about bar study loans. AccessLex has provided emergency funds to law schools nationwide and offers many valuable resources, including webinars and one-on-one coaching for students and graduates.
Find additional financial wellness resources in Student Lawyer magazine. Here is a short list:
