Four years ago around this time, your girl graduated from law school. Graduation day was bittersweet. I was extremely excited about receiving my diploma, but that excitement quickly faded away when I got home and saw my Barbri prep books waiting for me by my door. No lie, I was stressed and terrified by this next phase of life because I knew I was going to spend the next two and a half months studying for one of the hardest bar exams in the nation – the California State Bar Exam. It appeared to be a beast – 3 days long, 18 hours of testing, 14 subjects, $800 for testing fees, $700 for hotel fees, a 55% passage rate, and rumors of sleepless nights.
I was pressed and stressed as I approached preparations for the bar, but it was the grace of God and a few daily practices that got me through the bar exam. I promise this test doesn’t have to be anxiety-filled or stress-inducing. Laying the right foundation and staying on track is crucial to beating the bar. So, I am sharing seven things that helped me past the bar the first time around.
No. 1 – Tell Your friends and family that you need support and space over the next two months
Set boundaries in the beginning because no one wants or needs distractions during this period. Alert your friends and family ahead of time, so that they don’t get surprised, offended, or report you missing because your phone is going straight to voicemail or you aren’t returning anyone’s texts. Tell them that you will be MIA for next couple of months. That way they know what to expect (or not expect) from you.
Secondly, tell your loved ones, friends, and family members you will be preparing for one of the most important exams of your life. Tell them that you need their support (i.e., prepared meals, groceries, wellness checks – if that’s your jam, care packages, laundry services, or whatever help you think you will need). People underestimate how helpful friends and family can be in this department during this study period, so when your loved ones ask how can they help, be honest – tell them exactly what you need!
BONUS: PUT YOUR PHONE ON AIRPLANE MODE OR TURN IT OFF WHEN YOU ARE STUDYING. MOBILE NOTIFICATIONS ARE DISTRACTING AND CAN BE ENEMIES OF PROGRESS DURING THIS PERIOD.
No. 2 – Create a study schedule that works for you and stick to it
All test prep companies provide a study plan, but I recommend making a study schedule that works best for you. When you create your schedule, think about your learning style, your weak subjects (or subjects you didn’t take during law school), and what you want to accomplish at the end of each day and week. I modified the Barbri prep schedule because I wanted to take a bunch of practice exams before sitting for the actual bar. My goal was to outline and analyze every single bar exam that was released. I wanted to be strategic and practical, so I created a schedule that allowed me to achieve that goal.
During the first two and a half weeks, I front-loaded the Barbri lectures by watching two (sometimes three) lectures a day – one early in the morning and one in the afternoon – depending on the length of the lectures. After each lecture, I would quickly outline my answer to a practice problem or answer multiple choice questions related to the lecture I watched. Then, I outlined the subject – creating rule statements and attack plans. By the end of the first two and a half weeks, I completed all of my lectures and outlines. From that point on, I focused on writing practice exams, practicing multiple choice problems, reviewing the answers, and memorizing rules and attack plans.
Everyone is different, so please please please figure out what works best for you and commit!
No. 3 – Give yourself a nice mental break every single day
Your brain needs a break, or you will go crazy. I gave myself a few different types of breaks:
- Food breaks: 30-minute breaks for meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- Workout break: 1 -1.5 hours to work-out or do yoga
- Driving breaks: two 15 minute breaks spent driving to my study spot and back home
My most important break was my workout break because it helped with stress management and served as a natural energizer. I either went to the gym or did yoga almost every single day, except for the weekends. If I didn’t go to the gym, it was because I watched a soccer game during the day. Yes, a soccer game because I was studying for the bar the year the world cup was in Brazil.
No. 4 – Eat right and drink healthy
Eating right and keeping hydrated will keep your mind functioning, give your body the fuel it needs to sustain you through this period, and help you process and retain all the information you take in. The last thing anyone wants is an unplanned day off because you are sick or burnt out stemming from a lack of food. No matter how stressed you are, do not skip meals. Your body needs it!
No. 5 – Get sleep (between 6-8 hours is best)
Get as much sleep as you can because being well rested is key to making it to the end of this phase. Remember: Bar prep + the bar exam is a marathon and not a sprint.
No. 6 – PRAY and have FAITH (i.e., BELIEVE)
Praying is the most important practice of them all. The bible says:
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24
My prayers are the REAL reason I passed the bar the first time around. I experienced a few setbacks during my bar prep period – I’ll share my full story in a video at a later time – but I prayed for peace, guidance, understanding, endurance, and success every single day. And, success was what I received. You have to be GRATEFUL, you have to ASK, and you have to BELIEVE that God will deliver on what He put in your heart – in this case, the bar exam- and it will be delivered.
My advice to you is simple:
- Ask God to guide you through this process. Ask God for a passing score when you sit for the bar. Tell God you do not what to take this exam twice and that you know with Him anything and ALL THINGS are possible.
- Put in work like passing this test depends on you. That means, memorizing rules, doing practice questions, outlining and so forth. God has to see that you are willing to meet Him halfway before He does His part.
- Purge all limiting beliefs or feelings of doubt from your mind and your heart. Remember God can only give to those who believe.
- Remain in constant communication with God. If you feel anxious, ask for peace. If you don’t understand something, ask for understanding. Whenever I hit a roadblock, I would have a quick chat with God – the same kind of convo you have with a close friend – and boom; I would get a solution.
So, give it to God, do your part, and let go. You got this!
No. 7 – Put those bills on autopay!
If you haven’t already, put all your bills on autopay because it will be the last thing you think about during this period. You don’t want to get played because you forgot to pay for something.
Thank you for reading another post in my career chronicle series. As you know, I am always happy to speak about my experience. Please let me know if there is anything you would like me to talk about or if you want me to film my full bar story and post it here.
Until next time, xoxo!