With these tips, you don’t have to kill yourself doing so. I’m not saying it’s not hard, but it’s not a venture to the coal mines either.
I’m probably not supposed to tell you this, but studying for the bar is a lot easier than studying for finals. For one thing, you know exactly what will be tested. For another, no one hides the ball.
And if you choose an online bar prep program, you are truly the master of your schedule: no more schlepping to an early lecture, struggling with parking and asking permission to use the bathroom. It’s just you, your laptop and a bunch of highlighters.
So, yes, it’s possible to study for the bar in — dare I say it? — a relaxed manner. (This is dependent on you not working a full-time job while studying. If so, yikes! I feel for you…)
I took an online bar prep course for the flexibility it offered, and my schedule looked like this: Wake up about 9 a.m., study from 9:30 till noon. Take a lunch break (and watch a cooking show) from noon to 1:30 p.m., then return to studying from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Cook dinner about 5 p.m., and review notecards before bed. Rinse and repeat.
It sounds like a long day, but I allowed myself to take breaks when I was frustrated, and I never forced myself to study when I knew I wouldn’t be effective.
What follows are some practical study tips you can use to make the transition from law student to attorney easier. Some are common, some are custom and a few are even controversial. Take these with a grain of salt, and maybe even a shot of tequila.
Take breaks, lots of ’em.
It’s ironic that my first piece of advice for studying for the bar is to stop, but it’s God’s honest truth. The thing that has saved me and countless others from bashing our heads against the desk is the fact that we stopped, stood up and walked away. You can too.
There are going to be days when you wake up and think, “Nope. I’m not doing this,” and head back to bed.
I’m here to tell you that’s OK. You’re allowed to take time off. (In moderation, of course.) If you want to go to a summer wedding, go. Want to take a graduation trip with your friends? Great, I’ll meet you there.
You don’t need to justify time off to me or anyone else as long as you are making consistent progress, understanding the material and getting through the program.
If you’ve gotten this far — graduated from law school — it’s safe to say you’re a responsible adult and don’t need to be told what to do as long as you keep going. The mitochondria might be the powerhouse of the cell, but motivation is the powerhouse of the bar prep program.
Metacognition.
Thisis the process of thinking about how you think, reflecting on what you don’t know and finding holes in your skill set. Early on in your bar prep process (even before you receive your books and materials) make a list of areas you need to improve in.
It doesn’t matter the reason. Maybe you didn’t pay attention in torts or you’re horrible with timing and taking exams. You just need to call your weakness what it is and be frank with yourself. Honesty is truly the best policy.
Eat right and exercise.
I know I sound like a “Forks Over Knives” advertisement, but what you put in your body can drastically alter how you feel. I get it; stress eating is a thing. Who hasn’t shamefully eaten an entire cake while waiting for an important email, text, etc.? And isn’t mindless eating the perfect accompaniment to mindless studying? No, it’s not.
If you spend 12 weeks of your life hunched over a desk all day eating Cheetos, it’s safe to say you’re not going to be in peak physical condition when the bar rolls around.
There are a variety of approaches you can take. You can do meal prep ahead of time, subscribe to a meal kit delivery service or even order your favorite (healthy) takeout foods. By planning ahead, you can make a late night McDonald’s run a treat rather than the norm.
Apply this same logic to the importance of exercise. Block out specific times in your study schedule to get your move on. Find a form of exercise that makes you happy and do it — often. You can have your cake and eat it too as long as you get up and exercise afterward.
Know when to look for help.
About six weeks in, I realized I was in trouble. Big trouble.
When I first started prepping, I spent an hour or two each night diligently creating flash cards full of definitions and required elements. I even color coded them.
The novelty wore off really fast. I realized I was spending way too much time on something that barely served me. It was time to find an easier solution.
Since I’m someone who takes pride in doing things myself (and not spending money when I don’t have to) it took a lot for me to go online and purchase supplemental MBE (Multistate Bar Exam) flash cards, but it was one of my best decisions.
During the time I would have spent laboriously writing note cards, I was now able to review and study the ones I had purchased. Even better, the cards came with a phone app, so I could study while I waited at the doctor’s office, on long car trips or even when someone annoying was talking.
There’s no shame in reaching out for help. You can buy additional materials, clarify a question with your bar prep provider or even reach out to an old professor. There are a variety of resources out there to help you. Use them.
Only do what serves you.
I’m going to be completely, disgustingly honest with you: I didn’t do a single timed practice exam or full written essay. Not one. Zilch. Nada.
Early on, I adopted the mindset of only working on what needed improvement, and while there was a plethora of topics I was clueless about, time management and writing skills weren’t among them.
By evaluating your skills and creating a personal game plan early on, you can end up focusing your efforts on what truly matters. It may feel good to get 100% on a contracts quiz or family law essay, but if you understood those topics already, you’ve done yourself a disservice.
Use bar prep to advance your knowledge, not just to show yourself what you already know. Practical tip: You don’t have to do everything on your bar prep’s study plan. Skip over what you know and use the extra time each day to focus on a less familiar topic.
Go it alone.
This one might be controversial, but I believe bar prep study should be a solo adventure. The only things that will be allowed when you take the exam are you, your laptop and your will to live. (You can’t even bring a water bottle. Don’t get me started; it’s like being on “Survivor.”)
By studying with others, you can inadvertently lean on their knowledge instead of your own. Or, even worse, study sessions may turn into social gatherings and you may not study at all.
Think about it: When you meet with a “study group,” do you really study? You’ve probably heard the saying: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” But it doesn’t apply to the bar exam.
While it’s important to get out and socialize, don’t mistake talking for actual progress. Take time to check in with your fellow studiers. Ask them how they’re doing or how far along they are, but don’t get into the weeds on any specific topic. You might just confuse one another.
Final thoughts
The bar itself is difficult, but preparing for it doesn’t have to be. By thinking ahead, checking in with yourself, only doing what serves you and taking breaks, you can put yourself in the right state of mind to state the right answers.
In the end, your weeks of study will pass more quickly than expected, which is good, because we all just want to MBE done with this.
Alexandra Sumner is a graduate of Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. She passed the July 2019 Indiana bar.
