There are three things I remember clearly from the day before I sat for the bar exam. I remember committing to a half day of study so that I would not overwhelm myself with too much material before the big day. I then remember overwhelming myself with essentially all my notes on Wills and Trusts, as I aggressively tried to force all the material in my brain, as this was one of my weaker topic areas. Finally, I remember speaking with a friend amidst my throes of panic who put me at ease with one question, “did you know that Michelle Obama failed the bar?” The answer to this question was no. I had no idea that this brilliant, exceptional, Harvard-educated woman, whose advocacy for education, global nutrition and poverty awareness throughout her life’s work and her initiatives as First Lady, failed the bar exam. My first thought at the time was, this can’t be real, but after a Google search confirmed my friend’s statement, I felt peace. [Read more…] about So You’ve Failed the Bar Exam? Here are Four Lesser Known People Who Failed but Survived
Mindfulness
Being a Parent During Bar Prep: The Ultimate Test in Multitasking
Being a good parent under normal circumstances is not easy. Having just completed the bar exam, as a father of two girls (one 12, the other 1), I can say that being a parent during bar prep is a challenge unlike any other. To say that I nailed it as a dad would be a lie. On the other side of my journey, I offer these thoughts to help those who follow after me. [Read more…] about Being a Parent During Bar Prep: The Ultimate Test in Multitasking
How Yoga Prepared Me For The Bar Exam
Preparing for the bar exam requires more than an understanding of legal principles like murder vs. manslaughter or UCC vs. common law. Preparing for and taking the bar exam is an exercise in focus, endurance, and mental toughness. To some extent, those characteristics are developed via a rigorous law school curriculum. After all, completing law school requires the same kind of qualities as taking the bar exam. But, it was yoga that helped me prepare for the mental challenge of taking the bar exam more than any other study aid. Here’s how: [Read more…] about How Yoga Prepared Me For The Bar Exam
Post Bar Exam Depression – Join the Club
There are probably a million ways I could start this post. But if you are reading this, the only appropriate opening is a congratulations! You finished the bar exam.
While a congratulations is a nice thing to hear, the words may fall flat in the weeks after completing the bar exam. But why? The world is full of congratulations, and I can’t remember the last time it wasn’t music to my ears after completing something I had spent countless hours working towards – a sporting event, a musical performance, even just at graduation after completing my law school career. So why does it feel like one of the biggest feats in your (or my) life not worthy of such recognition? [Read more…] about Post Bar Exam Depression – Join the Club
Podcast Episode 57: Using Mindfulness Techniques in Your Bar Exam Preparation
Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Mindfulness is a common buzz word these days, but the reason it’s so popular is that, for a lot of people, it really works. Today, we’re discussing various mindfulness techniques to help you stay calm and collected while preparing for the bar exam, and beyond.
In this episode we discuss:
- How Alison and Lee got introduced to mindfulness
- Why should you give mindfulness a try?
- Common exercises that can help with forgiveness, procrastination, worry, anxiety, and sleep
- Different apps and courses to guide you in getting started with mindfulness
- How long does it take to create a new habit?
Thanks for listening!
[Read more…] about Podcast Episode 57: Using Mindfulness Techniques in Your Bar Exam Preparation
What to do With the Break Between the Bar Exam and Starting Your Job
The first thing I’m going to urge you to do, now that the bar exam is over, is to take a deep breath. You did it! No matter the outcome, you poured your heart into your studying for the last 8+ weeks, you did your best on the exam, and now it’s over. Now, hopefully, you have some time off between this crazy endeavor and starting your job. If you don’t, no worries. Keep breathing and jump right into your new career! This is what it was all for.
When I took the bar the first time, the only thing that got me through was knowing I’d have at least a month off between the exam and starting my job as a communications specialist. I planned to travel on an extended road trip with my best friend and really relax. In fact, just before the afternoon session on the second day of the exam, I jumped at the opportunity to head to New Hampshire for a weekend of boating and relaxing with said friend. It really helped the tension of the afternoon slip by and remind me that this was just an exam. It did not decide my worth, it was simply a test. [Read more…] about What to do With the Break Between the Bar Exam and Starting Your Job