When 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
About Mark Livingston
Being a Parent During Bar Prep: The Ultimate Test in Multitasking
Being 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
I 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
As 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!
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!
Manage Expectations Before Bar Prep Begins: Keeping Friends & Family on Your Side
Although the journey through law school sometimes feels like one you’re making alone, the truth is, everyone who cares about you has a vested interest in your success (and failures). The one part of law school that is truly yours, and yours alone, is bar prep. Now is not the time to succumb to the pressures of family and friends. Be a wolf pack of one. [Read more…] about Manage Expectations Before Bar Prep Begins: Keeping Friends & Family on Your Side