There are times when surprises can be fun and exhilarating, but the bar exam is not one of those times. As daunting as bar prep might feel, many aspects of the study period, and the exam itself, are quite predictable. Here are some tips to help you minimize surprises so you can maximize the points you need to pass the exam.
Develop a plan of attack.
Come up with a daily schedule and routine that is manageable for the entire study period. As with anything, there will be good days and bad days — hills, valleys, and plateaus. Having a routine will help keep you on track. Also, remember to include proper rest, nutrition and exercise. When you start to feel overwhelmed (and you likely will!), take a break, go for a walk, breathe, then get back to it.
Practice before you feel “ready.”
You may be reluctant at first to begin practicing multiple-choice questions and essays because you don’t yet have a solid grasp of the doctrine. The purpose of practice is to “test” yourself, especially in the beginning. Through practice questions, you will learn how bar examiners test various doctrines and learn to contextualize the doctrinal rules, helping you develop a strategic approach to your learning.
Start preparing for performance tests now.
Performance tests, a component of the Uniform Bar Exam and many state bar exams, evaluate your ability to understand and apply general legal principles and follow instructions — skills that you already have from law school. Because of that, it may be tempting to put off practicing performance tests. However, the time constraints for this component of the bar exam can be particularly difficult. You should develop a clear and meticulous approach to the performance test and use that plan to practice under timed conditions at least once a week.
Be thoughtful and deliberate.
Your primary goal for every task during bar prep is to learn. If you are racing through review or practice just to check a box, you are doing yourself a disservice. Engage actively with the material and then reflect on the experience. Review answer explanations for your practice multiple-choice questions making sure you understand why you got the answer right or wrong. Take time to review your written assignments and compare them to the grading materials provided to ensure you are not only addressing the issues, but also organizing your answers properly.
Manage your time.
Although the bar study period may, at times, feel like an eternity, your time is limited. You won’t be able to cover everything as deeply as you hope to. When you feel that inevitable time crunch, it is important to be strategic and efficient. You cannot predict exactly what will be tested (and you should resist any urge you may have to do so). However, you can use available test frequency data to help prioritize and allocate your time among the various doctrinal areas. (See the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ Subject Matter Outlines for the Multistate Bar Exam and Multistate Essay Exam.)
Be prepared to see something you don’t know.
You already know a lot and you will know even more by exam day. You can still expect to see something on the bar that you don’t know. Remind yourself that missing a question or forgetting one rule does not mean that you will fail. Try not to dwell on those moments during the exam. Instead, focus on what you do know and don’t waste valuable time spinning your wheels about something you think you should know. Use your general understanding of the law coupled with the facts presented in the question to develop a rule, work through an analysis, and reach a conclusion. And then move on!
Remember the fundamentals.
It can be tempting to jump to the specific sub issue tested in an essay, but don’t forget the basics and leave easy points on the table. Define terms of art. Make sure to articulate a precise conclusion for every legal issue you analyze. Be explicit and direct and follow a clear, consistent structure. Even if you are less than certain about the law, a cogent, well-organized response shows the bar examiners that you know how to think and write like a lawyer.
You will be ready!
Believe that you will be ready by exam day. It might be hard to imagine that moment now, but it is the truth. Stick to your plan, practice, push forward, and you will get there!
Matthew Main is manager of in-school programming and grader services at Helix Bar Review by AccessLex℠. After creating a free account, free lessons and a worksheet are available on Ask EDNA! – The Education Network at AccessLex: Preparing Yourself for Bar Exam Success, Writing Strategies for the Multistate Performance Test (MPT)), Assess Your MBE Performance.
