Are you a 3L and getting ready to start thinking about the the bar exam? Are you planning on taking that exam in Michigan? Well great news, you’re in luck!! I had the (dis)pleasure of taking the Michigan bar exam in July and survived the two day ordeal! Meaning, I can tell you everything I know to help you get yourself psyched up for the bar exam!! Personally, bar prep and the bar exam were the most stressful times of my life. I hate to be such a debbie downer but that is the reality of such an important and difficult test. I would study all day at my desk while the world was spinning around me. And if I took time to do something other than practice tests, lectures, and obsessively highlighting my outlines, I felt like I wasn’t doing enough or that I was going to fail. But, like I just said, I SURVIVED IT! [Read more…] about Breaking Down the Michigan Bar Exam
Bar Exam Toolbox Blog
Podcast Episode 68: Handling the Bar Admission Process
Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re talking about the ins and outs of the bar admission application process, some requirements you may not be aware of, and common issues that can arise during your application.
In this episode we discuss:
- Making sure you know what the rules are where you’re applying
- Some specific state requirements you may run into
- The importance of starting early, because the process does take time
- The fact that you may need to do some digging to recreate your address and work history
- Reading each question on the application carefully and thinking about what you need to report
- Talking to an ethics lawyer or the bar hotline if you have doubts about a question
- Don’t let the bar find something you didn’t report!
Thanks for listening!
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Why I Packed My Own Lunch For The Bar Exam (And Maybe You Should Too)
When I took the California bar exam (long enough ago that it was still three days), I packed my own lunch each of the three days. I don’t remember what I took each day, but I do remember the first day was (1) a peanut butter and jam sandwich on whole wheat bread; (2) a bag of fresh blueberries; (3) a cookie; and (4) a bottled sugary sports drink. I also took a couple of energy gels as snacks for before the exam started, the ride home, or whenever else I might need them. [Read more…] about Why I Packed My Own Lunch For The Bar Exam (And Maybe You Should Too)
Is Studying for the Bar Early a Good Idea?
It is not quite time to sign up for the July 2020 bar in most jurisdictions, but if you’re a 3L, you’re probably thinking about what next summer will look like as you begin studying. Many students sign up for commercial bar prep courses and wait to begin bar prep when those are released, but that is not the only way to approach the test. Some law schools also include bar prep as part of the curriculum, and if yours does, that would be something to take into consideration before committing to an extended study plan.
What works for most students will never work for all students, however. Now is a good time to evaluate your lifestyle to see if an alternative study plan would be better for you.
[Read more…] about Is Studying for the Bar Early a Good Idea?
Podcast Episode 67: Developing Attack Plans for the Bar Exam
Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re talking about why “attack plans” are important to develop and memorize during your bar study, and how to use them on exam day.
In this episode we discuss:
- Thinking about each subject as a universe of topics
- Why attack plans are so critical, specifically for the California bar exam
- An example of an attack plan for criminal law
- How can you use attack plans on exam day?
- Where to find attack plans and how to start developing your own
Thanks for listening!
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Staring Down the Barrel of the Florida Bar Exam
So you’re thinking about taking the bar exam in Florida? Well, me too. The idea of having to take another bar exam is absolutely terrifying to me. I write for Bar Exam Toolbox, Law School Toolbox, and A Girl’s Guide to Law School mostly on the topic of being positive in the face of stress. But, I have to say, just thinking about sitting for another bar exam, gives me actual, visible, hives. [Read more…] about Staring Down the Barrel of the Florida Bar Exam