I am about to begin my last semester of law school. Over my winter break, I have tried to move the pieces into place to make the bar exam application a bit easier. In this article I have described my process; the tips and suggestions may not apply to everyone in every state, but hopefully they will help. In my former career, it was necessary to secure a secret clearance from the federal government. At this point in my bar exam application journey, I think this is at least as grueling as my clearance application in terms of volume and depth of information. [Read more…] about The Bar Exam Application: Where to Begin?
Bar Exam Toolbox Blog
Take a Walk During Bar Prep
Preparing for the bar exam sometimes feels overwhelming and all too often takes over every waking minute of the day. But, if you’re able, consider taking a walk every day for a half an hour or an hour. It’ll make you smarter. I might be a bit biased about this topic because my wife’s family takes a walk together every day and they are the smartest people I know. Or, you know, I could be biased about this topic because I walked across the United States.
But there’s science to back me up! One half an hour or an hour walk every day or two can help improve memory, improve creativity and critical thinking, strengthen mental health, and improve physical well being. And it’s cheap! [Read more…] about Take a Walk During Bar Prep
Why Practicing for the Bar Exam is So Important
While there are some who have the ability to work while studying, the vast majority of us treat studying for the bar exam as an all-consuming endeavor, at least the first time. If you failed that first time however, there is a temptation to reduce the amount of time spent studying for the next bar exam claiming financial necessity or mental exhaustion.
One of the things that bar-takers might consider cutting back on are practice exams, including multiple choice tests, taken under timed circumstances. They might justify this pared down approach for the following reasons: [Read more…] about Why Practicing for the Bar Exam is So Important
Podcast Episode 29: Taking the Bar Exam as a Foreign-Trained Attorney
Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast. Today, we’re talking about how the bar exam poses unique challenges to foreign-trained attorneys.
In this episode we discuss:
- When and how you should start learning substantive law
- Why it’s important to only take the bar exam when you are ready
- Why traditional bar exam preparation courses may not be enough for foreign-trained attorneys
- What resources you can use to supplement traditional bar exam preparation and simplify your approach
- The extra challenge of reading and writing in a foreign language, and how to handle it
- Why you must learn to write in the style the bar graders expect
- How to approach multiple-choice questions (hint: with TONS of strategic practice!)
- Why you can’t ignore the performance tests, and how best to approach them
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 29: Taking the Bar Exam as a Foreign-Trained Attorney
Why Exercise Should Be Mandatory During Bar Prep
Studying for the bar exam is one of the most taxing experiences law students will have to endure. It can cause anything from severe, crippling depression and extreme panic attacks, to basic FOMO (fear of missing out) in everyday life. It’s hard on the mind and the body, as sitting for hours each day can end in achy joints, terrible posture, and lethargy that can take months to shake off.
But simple movement throughout the day can ease the symptoms of bar prep burnout and boredom, and the ailments associated with long periods of sitting (i.e. increased blood pressure, increased blood sugar, poor blood circulation, and anxiety and depression). [Read more…] about Why Exercise Should Be Mandatory During Bar Prep
The Best Memorization Methods for the Bar Exam
Passing the bar exam requires an intimidating amount of memorization. There are no shortcuts and no two people learn in the same way. But techniques developed over thousands of years can help you memorize all that you’ll need for the bar. Here are a few methods that work for memory champions and that worked for me when I studied for (and passed!) the bar. [Read more…] about The Best Memorization Methods for the Bar Exam