The rapid spread of the novel coronavirus (or COVID-19) led many law schools to temporarily close their campuses in recent weeks. For some law students, this meant an abrupt loss of on-campus student housing. This unprecedented scenario has forced many law students to reconsider their plans for the summer, including where they will study for the bar exam. [Read more…] about Change of Plans? How to Study for the Bar Exam at Home
Bar Exam Toolbox Blog
Podcast Episode 81: Initial Thoughts on COVID-19 and the Bar Exam
Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re talking about how the coronavirus epidemic could impact the July 2020 bar exam, and the fact that you may need to adjust your bar study schedule for unexpected demands.
In this episode we discuss:
- Our opinion on the likelihood that the July exams will go forward as scheduled
- How the exam format could change
- Using the lockdown to get ahead on studying if you can
- Having a Plan B in case the exam is canceled or postponed
- Looking for flexible, on-demand study options
- In what situations it might be a better idea to delay taking the exam
- Paying attention to overall stress and anxiety during this unprecedented situation
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 81: Initial Thoughts on COVID-19 and the Bar Exam
Write, Read, Rewrite: Using Model Answers to Game your Essays
When the email notifying me that my grader had submitted feedback for my first MEE practice essay arrived, I was eager to see what they had to say. I felt good about the subject and thought I had a reasonable handle on the formatting.
I scored a measly 48%. I was shocked and confused.
I skimmed the feedback and then I read the model answers for the essay. I was dismayed: the models were comprehensive and elegant. By comparison, mine was clunky with large knowledge gaps. I couldn’t imagine going from that dismay to test ready within mere months. I put the essay away and moved on to another subject. [Read more…] about Write, Read, Rewrite: Using Model Answers to Game your Essays
Podcast Episode 80: Lessons from Learning a New Language that Apply to Bar Study
Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, we’re sharing five lessons we’ve learned while trying to study another language, that could be applied to bar exam study as well.
In this episode we discuss:
- Picking your program carefully
- What if your progress is not satisfactory?
- Do you need a combination of multiple study methods?
- The true value of a one-on-one tutor
- Learning to play the long game
- Creative ways to study and memorize as you’re going about your day
- A reminder to start studying well in advance of the exam
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 80: Lessons from Learning a New Language that Apply to Bar Study
How to Sign up for the Bar If You Aren’t Sure Where You Want to Practice
When I was in law school, I felt like information on the bar was this mirage in the distance – and not necessarily a mirage I wanted to become acquainted with. It was hazy, unattainable, and confusing. Professors would explain pieces of the exam to us, I knew how long the test would be and the basic parts, but mostly information on the bar was used as a scare tactic to force us to fear our exam periods. “If you can’t get a B on my test, you have no hope of passing the civil procedure portion of the bar exam in any state.” This is not true, of course, because after your 1L courses, you have two more years of law classes to take. Two more years to figure out your learning style, implement healthy study habits, and buckle down for the bar exam.
So I got to my third year of law school knowing very little about the bar exam. I didn’t know how to study or prepare for it – in fact, I’m comfortable saying, I didn’t know how to prepare for the bar exam until the second time I sat for it, and that was mostly due to my amazing tutor. I most certainly did not know which state to take the exam in, nevermind which state I saw myself practicing in. Which is why I find myself having a hard time finding a job in Florida with a New York bar license.
Below I’m going to outline the steps I wish I had taken prior to signing up for the bar exam that I think would have made this process easier.
[Read more…] about How to Sign up for the Bar If You Aren’t Sure Where You Want to Practice
Fidget Your Way to Test Day Focus
We’ve all seen them – fidget spinners, fidget cubes, special play putties. These have risen in prominence over the last few years, but for many, they’re not just for play. Occupational therapists have long known that fidgets help people concentrate. Fidgets allow your brain to filter out sensory information so that you can hone in on important tasks. This can help relieve anxiety and nervous energy while promoting deeper concentration. [Read more…] about Fidget Your Way to Test Day Focus