It’s a retaker struggle feeling like your life is defined by bar exam administration cycles, which are few and far between! When does the preparation end? If you feel like your life must be on hold every time you prepare for the test, these tips may help you through it.
About Zoila Sanchez
Why is the Bar So Challenging?
Elle Woods from Legally Blonde has a famous line about going to law school, “[w]hat, like it’s hard?” Well, if you’ve taken the bar exam then you know how hard it can be. The bar exam does not come easy for many of us, and it is not just a feeling—it is backed up by the research.
How Law School Differs from the Bar Exam
By the end of your three years at law school, you finally have mastered the art of taking and passing law school exams. As 1Ls prepare for their new semester, you likely are an incredible resource for them, equipped with outlines and tips to excel in your courses.
Applying to Jobs Without a Law License
The bar exam came and went but the relief and occasional doubt remain! Understandably, you may still feel exhausted and not feel ready to take the next step without results.
If you have decided it is a good time to start applying for jobs, then you likely are having mixed feelings when you read legal job qualifications. For example, the role may seem great, but they are looking for licensed individuals with post-bar exam legal experience such as one to two years of licensed practice. Seeing some of these positions can be discouraging.
If you are experiencing uncertainty around job-seeking while you wait for your scores, then here are some tips for applying to positions when you are not yet licensed. [Read more…] about Applying to Jobs Without a Law License
Bar Exam for the Long Haul
If you took the July 2022 exam, CONGRATULATIONS! YOU MADE IT! As much as you may want to move on, without your scores it is hard to know whether it’s a good idea to officially throw out your notes or keep on reviewing slowly and steadily. The results may come out as late as November, which seems like a painstakingly long time to sit around and wait for results.
You may have received your scores already and have decided to take the next exam. Perhaps you skipped the last administration and are having a tough time getting started.
Wherever you may be, it is understandable to be struggling. The thought of continuing to start the bar exam may seem exhausting, daunting, and impossible. [Read more…] about Bar Exam for the Long Haul
Dealing with Exam Day Surprises
Unfortunately, on the bar exam and in life, we cannot account for every possibility. We can do everything we can to prepare for all outcomes but sometimes we still cannot capture all the things that the exam throws at us.
I recently watched an episode of “Edge of the Earth” on HBO, where some of the best athletes describe their most challenging experiences. A major takeaway for me was how snowboarding and mountain climbing require you to be able to adapt to the things that the mountain and weather may throw at you. Similarly, for the bar exam we are often spending time preparing for curveballs and adapting to them and responding quickly and with the preparation we have acquired over weeks or months under our belts.
If things do take you by surprise, here are some things you can do: [Read more…] about Dealing with Exam Day Surprises