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Mark Livingston

About Mark Livingston

Mark earned a B.Sc. in Criminology and Sociology from Ball State University, a M.Sc. in Criminology from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and a Master of Philosophy in Russia, Central, and Eastern European Studies from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Mark earned his JD at Valparaiso University School of Law in May 2019 and passed the Indiana Bar Exam in July 2019. Mark worked for more than ten years in state and local government in the areas of emergency management, law enforcement, and probation. Mark is a veteran of the United States Army Reserve. Mark is a family law attorney at a firm in Zionsville, Indiana, just outside of Indianapolis.

You’re Halfway Through: Keeping the Bar Prep Momentum Going

January 15, 2020 By Mark Livingston Leave a Comment

You’re Halfway Through: Keeping the Bar Prep Momentum GoingBar prep is not enjoyable. When you tell non-law-school graduates about the challenges of the two months of full-time study, many will respond with, “at least it’s only two months!” Nothing propels a bar exam studier to rage and resentment faster than that careless comment. Anyone who has completed bar prep appreciates your pain. This article is designed to provide a little recharge for the second act of the most awful play you’ll ever be a part of. [Read more…] about You’re Halfway Through: Keeping the Bar Prep Momentum Going

Changing Course: How to Adjust When Practice Exams aren’t Going Well

December 2, 2019 By Mark Livingston Leave a Comment

Changing Course: How to Adjust When Practice Exams aren’t Going WellWhen you say to people, “I’ll be doing bar prep full time for two months,” it’s not uncommon for them to respond with something like, “that doesn’t seem that bad.” Um…not that bad? Anyone engaged in bar prep now, or who has survived bar prep in the past, will tell you that it is not just bad, it’s awful. When struggling through bar prep, there is nothing more painful than getting a low score on one of the several practice tests you’ll take. Despair not, my friends, there is time for course correction and redemption before the big show. [Read more…] about Changing Course: How to Adjust When Practice Exams aren’t Going Well

Being a Parent During Bar Prep: The Ultimate Test in Multitasking

September 9, 2019 By Mark Livingston Leave a Comment

Being a Parent During Bar Prep: The Ultimate Test in MultitaskingBeing a good parent under normal circumstances is not easy. Having just completed the bar exam, as a father of two girls (one 12, the other 1), I can say that being a parent during bar prep is a challenge unlike any other. To say that I nailed it as a dad would be a lie. On the other side of my journey, I offer these thoughts to help those who follow after me. [Read more…] about Being a Parent During Bar Prep: The Ultimate Test in Multitasking

The Bar Exam Is Coming! How to Memorize It All

July 10, 2019 By Mark Livingston 1 Comment

The Bar Exam Is Coming! How to Memorize It AllI am feeling overwhelmed. Not by the prospect of the exam. Not by the hours and hours of lectures, note taking, and reading. I am overwhelmed by the volume of material that I have to memorize in order to pass the bar the first time. Honestly, I am not certain that the human brain has the capacity to absorb and retain all of the terms of art, Black Letter law, and nuances of the law. Hopefully, by the end of this article we will all feel less anxious because we will be armed with a few critical tools to make memorization for the bar exam easier. [Read more…] about The Bar Exam Is Coming! How to Memorize It All

Get In The Zone For Bar Prep – Setting Up Your Study Space

June 12, 2019 By Mark Livingston Leave a Comment

Get In The Zone For Bar Prep – Setting Up Your Study SpaceAs I plunge neck deep into bar prep, I have given a lot of thought to my study space needs. There is a need to find that place in which distractions fall away, life responsibilities can be placed on hold, and no other distractors are vying for your attention. The problem with this kind of post is that there is a high probability that my ideal study space and yours will bear no resemblance. Frankly, a lot about your bar prep space that makes it work for you will depend on the type of learner that you are. Here are a few ideas that might help you get your perfect study pad set up and ready to go. [Read more…] about Get In The Zone For Bar Prep – Setting Up Your Study Space

Juggling Bar Prep and the Rest of Your Life: Don’t Be a Fool!

May 8, 2019 By Mark Livingston Leave a Comment

Juggling Bar Prep and the Rest of Your Life: Don’t Be a Fool!As you know, bar prep is no joke. There are countless studies and statistics that demonstrate that a failure to complete most of your bar prep course significantly reduces the likelihood of passing the bar the first time. Not passing the first time is not the end of the world, but no one wants to take the exam twice. Bar prep lasts two months. We have to learn how to cope with the competing demands of life while maintaining laser focus on the task at hand: one and done on the bar exam. It is just like juggling. We have to learn to “cope with adroitly balancing several activities,” simultaneously. [Read more…] about Juggling Bar Prep and the Rest of Your Life: Don’t Be a Fool!

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Want to pass the bar exam? Of course you do! We’re here to help. You’ll find lots of helpful free content at Bar Exam 101, in the Bar Exam Resource Hub, and on the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast. For more hands-on help, take a look at our courses and workshops and bar exam tutoring options. Please get in touch with any questions!

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