It takes a combination of persistence, self-confidence, fortitude, and of course a lot of hard work, to pass the bar exam. While you may start bar prep brimming with these positive qualities, maintaining that same level of motivation throughout 2+ months of intense (and, let’s be honest, usually boring) studying isn’t easy. Every student preparing for the bar will experience moments of self-doubt, anxiety, and fatigue leading up to the exam. If you’ve had a series of low scores on practice questions or are really struggling to stay on schedule, the negative feelings may be even more acute. For those times when your motivation is lacking or your confidence is waning, you have to find a way to refocus your energy so that your study plans don’t get derailed. A proverb from the Talmud states that “a quotation at the right moment is like bread in a famine.” When you’re struggling with bar prep, a meaningful quotation might be just the pick me up you need. Here are a few of my favorite quotes to help you stay motivated during bar prep: [Read more…] about Quotes to Keep You Motivated During Bar Prep
Mindfulness
5 Ways to Maintain Your Job Search While Studying for the Bar
While some students secure their first post-graduate job before graduation, many are still looking after all the pomp and circumstance is over. Although it may feel like you’re the only one in the latter category, this definitely is not the case. The good news is that there are always some students who find employment between graduation and the bar exam. The bad news? If you’re hoping to be one of them, you’ll have to find a way to balance a job search and bar prep. This may seem like a daunting task, but there are several things you can do to manage it successfully. [Read more…] about 5 Ways to Maintain Your Job Search While Studying for the Bar
How to Proactively Develop Good Mental Health Habits During Bar Prep
Mental health. Just saying those two words gives me a sense of anxiety. I know it’s something that’s extremely important, but even in 2018, mental health remains a taboo topic. Mental health continues to be something that’s more comfortably whispered in the shadows, and, as a result, something we’ve learned to be ashamed of and ultimately ignore. However, when it comes to the topic of mental health, ignorance is not bliss. Ignoring this issue will only result in inevitable consequences for yourself and around your personal relationships. Furthermore, if you’ve chosen to become an attorney, ignoring this issue will only result in consequences for your clients and the possible downfall of your legal career.
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5 Things to Do After Finishing the Bar Exam
It’s finally over! You finished the bar exam. Take a deep breath and savor the feeling of completing what will hopefully be the last test you ever take. If you gave bar preparation your all, you’re probably feeling a little (okay, a lot) of burnout right now. After devoting countless hours, days, and weeks to bar prep, you may also be wondering what you’re supposed to do with all of your free time now that you don’t need to study. With the exam over and done, it’s time to step out of the bar exam bubble and re-enter the real world, but what should you do first? Here a few suggestion of some things you may want to accomplish as you wait for results over the next few weeks. [Read more…] about 5 Things to Do After Finishing the Bar Exam
Podcast Episode 129: Self-Care During Bar Exam Prep
Welcome to the Law School Toolbox Podcast! Today, we’re talking about something that’s incredibly important for everyone who’s preparing for the bar exam: self-care. Let’s face it, studying for the bar exam is stressful and so is legal practice. Working on self-care during your bar exam study period is one thing that will probably help you pass and also help you in your legal career.
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What to Do the Week Before the Bar Exam
So it’s here. Some may call it the week in which you will experience the most anxiety of your lifetime. Whereas others may call it the last seven days that you have to create an exit strategy. I mean is it really worth it to become a lawyer after three years of law school and months of preparing for the bar? Well, in all reality this is the final week before the bar exam and yes, it is completely worth it to follow through after all the sacrifice you’ve put in! So how about changing your entire outlook on this final week? The week before the bar exam doesn’t have to be as dreadful as you anticipated. This is the week in which you get to show yourself how prepared you really are to take on this monster. These are the seven days in which you get to dot all your “I’s” and cross your “T’s” in ensuring you have a complete grasp on all the information you already know. This is the week in which you can ultimately begin the wind down process on what has been several months of focus and dedication, and you can begin looking forward to the product of your hard labor, finally becoming an attorney!
Now if you’re going to change your outlook on how to best handle this week, there are a few things you must do to avoid falling into the trap of nerves, anxiety and cold sweats that stereotypically get the best of bar exam takers. Try applying the tips below and then don’t be surprised when you confidently sashay into both days of the exam.