Congratulations, you did it! You survived the bar exam. It may have seemed like all of the preparation and studying was endless; so endless that you probably haven’t even thought about what you are going to do now that it’s over. Not to worry! The Bar Exam Toolbox experts share some thoughts on how to relax, decompress and enjoy your time after the bar exam.
Before you read the tips, meet the individuals who are sharing advice with you.
Lee Burgess
Lee Burgess is the co-founder of Bar Exam Toolbox. She graduated cum laude from the University of San Francisco School of Law, was a TA for Contracts and Torts, and was the Managing Editor of the USF Law Review. Lee left her law firm job and became a private California bar exam tutor and law school tutor when she realized her passion for helping students pass the bar.
Alison Monahan
Alison Monahan is the co-founder of Bar Exam Toolbox. She graduated from Columbia Law School in 2006 as a Kent Scholar, a Stone Scholar, and a member of the Columbia Law Review. She was also a Civ Pro TA. After law school, Alison clerked for a federal District Court judge and worked as a patent litigator in a large law firm in San Francisco. She eventually left to start The Girl’s Guide to Law School®, which is a leading resource for individuals embarking on a legal career.
Ariel Salzer
Ariel Salzer is a California bar exam tutor for Bar Exam Toolbox. She has taught everything from conjunctions to calculus on four different continents. As a student at the University of San Francisco School of Law, Ariel tutored Torts and led 1L workshops on time management, exam preparation, legal writing, and outlining. After practicing law as a product liability litigator in California for a number of years, Ariel found her way back to teaching and now enjoys helping students find success in their law school classes and on the bar exam.
Ben Nelson
Ben Nelson is a California and Oregon bar exam tutor for Bar Exam Toolbox. As the oldest child of two professors, he realized from an early age that he wanted to strike out on his own. He eventually settled on law school and graduated from Columbia in 2014 as a Kent Scholar and a Stone Scholar. When he is not tutoring, Ben is a legal fellow for Earthjustice in Denver, CO where he works to protect the iconic American Southwest and Rocky Mountains from overuse.
What Should Students Do to Decompress After the Bar Exam?
Lee’s Advice:
I took a trip with my now-husband and we left the day after the exam. I was so tired, I don’t really remember traveling to our destination! Our first international stop was Ireland, but I do remember how great a Guinness tasted after the bar exam and some travel. Whether or not you take a big trip, do something to decompress. Get out of your house and visit friends, go camping, or even spend some time hiking outdoors. Do something completely different than studying. It will take a week or so to feel like yourself again, but you absolutely will. (If you do take a big trip, though, I would try to give yourself a day or two before jumping on a flight to get some sleep.) My last tip is to put away all of your bar exam materials. You don’t want to look at them on a regular basis. What is done is done! Pack them up and stick them in a closet until results come out.
Alison’s Advice:
- Take a trip! The time-honored approach, but it’s still a great idea. If a long trip isn’t feasible, even a long weekend with friends or loved ones (or by yourself, if that’s your style) can help you reintegrate into the world, after the months of bar prep misery.
- Get a massage. You’ve earned it! If there’s ever a time to splurge on some nice bodywork, this is it. If funds are low, check out any nearby schools, to see if their students need to practice. Or, if you’re into acupuncture, you’ll often find low-cost community centers with sliding scale treatment options.
Ariel’s Advice:
- Spend time with the people you like who you had to avoid while studying non-stop.
- Get in shape.
- Read some non-law books. Relax. Take care of yourself.Go abroad!
- Re-vamp your social media presence and resume so they are ready to go when you start the job search.
Ben’s Advice:
Don’t study. Hang out with other friends who are taking the exam and don’t talk about the exam. Watch TV. Do something mindless.
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Did you find this post helpful? Check out some other great articles:
- What Are You Doing Post-Bar Exam? Low Cost Ideas to Get Your Life Back
- 3 Things to Do After the Bar Exam
- The Waiting Game: Bar Exam Results
- Job Hunting While Waiting for Bar Results
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