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    VIDEO

    Bar exam prep: 30 tips to survive the marathon study schedule

    Thomas E. Kim, Meredith Parnell, and Avigayil Pearlman

    May 23, 2019

    27 min view time

    Advice Mentoring & Advice Professional Development

    Studying for the bar exam is a marathon, not a sprint. Start conditioning so you can achieve your best performance. New lawyers who successfully prepared for and passed their bar exams will share tips on:

    • Study Schedule
    • Mindset and Attitude
    • Practice Tests
    • Exam Week
    • Exam Day

    The webinar is sponsored by the ABA’s Section of Litigation, Young Lawyers Division, Career Center, and Law Student Division.

    The Tips

    Study Schedule

    1. Create a schedule
      Create a schedule early. Understand that it can change as you go – so be flexible.
    2. Study Style
      Everyone has a different study style. Do what works for you.
    3. Make Time For You
      Include time for yourself in your schedule. Eat healthy and work out regularly. Bad lifestyle changes will affect you quickly.
    4. Coordinate Bar Review Schedule
      Make sure you incorporate the Bar review course schedule into your personal schedule.
    5. Decompress
      Build in a few “decompression days” to accommodate the unexpected and to let your brain process information.
    6. Study area
      Have a study area that allows you to be most comfortable.

    Mindset & Attitude

    1. Commit to Pass
      From the very beginning, commit yourself to doing everything you can to pass the Bar.
    2. Stay Positive
      Just remember you have the ability and the skills to pass!
    3. Be Yourself
      Do not compare yourself to your friends – we all have our strengths and weaknesses.
    4. Face the Task
      We can face a task in one or two ways: either as something we have to do or something we get to do. Think of how many people don’t get accepted to law school… how many burned out in their first year. You are the elite. You don’t have to take the Bar exam – you get to take the bar exam. It’s an opportunity, so make the most of it.
    5. Keep Practicing
      Don’t get discouraged if you test poorly on some of the practice exams. Just keep practicing.
    6. Ask for Help
      Ask your Bar review instructors for help. Also consider asking classmates to form a discussion group.

    Practice Tests

    1. Take Many Tests
      Take as many practice tests as possible. Become proficient with multiple choice and essay questions.
    2. Determine Strengths and Weaknesses
      Use practice tests to determine your strengths and weaknesses. Focus on your weakness and maintain your strengths.
    3. Memorization
      One key part of taking practice exams is to help you memorize the materials. Make flashcards, acronyms, songs, etc., to help you retain the information.
    4. Review Everything
      Always review the answers on your practice tests, even those you answered correctly.
    5. Research Essay Questions
      Find out what Bar examiners are looking for on the essay portions of the exam.
    6. Prepare for Everything
      Don’t think you can pass the exam by doing well on a certain number of subjects. You need to be prepared for anything.

    Exam Week

    1. Brush Up
      This last week should not be a cram session. Look over subjects you want to brush up on.
    2. Confirm Logistics
      Finalize day-of-exam logistics. Confirm parking, directions to the exam site, nearby restaurants etc.
    3. Get plenty of rest
      The Bar is as much a test of endurance as it is a test of knowledge.
    4. Take More Tests
      Do more practice tests. If possible, take advantage of any mock Bar exam sessions provided by your Bar prep course.
    5. Make Condensed Outlines
      At this point, using review books and long outlines will waste time.
    6. Stay Focused
      Don’t let yourself get burned out or distracted in the last week.

    Exam Day

    1. Dress for Success
      Dress comfortably, in layers, because the room may be hot or cold.
    2. Make Educated Guesses
      If you don’t know the answer to something, make an educated guess and move on.
    3. Don’t Freak Out
      Freaking out about the test won’t help at this point. Go in with a relaxed mindset and just do your best.
    4. Arrive Early
      Arrive at the exam early; be completely prepared with everything you need; follow the rules about what you can bring.
    5. Watch the Clock
      During the exam, watch the clock. Being cognizant of how much time you have is important.
    6. You’ve got this
      You followed through the schedule, put in the time and, though you don’t know everything, you know enough to pass. And passing is all that really matters.

    The webinar is a partnership with the ABA Section of Litigation, Young Lawyers Division, the ABA Career Center, and the ABA Law Student Division.