Bar Exams

Taking The Bar Exam In 2018? Here Is What You Need To Know Now

15 tasks you can get started on today for bar exam success.

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Whether you are taking the bar exam in February or July of 2018, there are things that you can and should be doing right now to start getting prepared. There are a million little logistical details that go into sitting for the bar exam. A really bad reason to not become a lawyer is that you failed to meet deadlines or hand in paperwork. Get as many of these tasks done as you can before you actually have to start studying for the test.

1- Decide which bar exam(s) you will take

Before you can start compiling documents or calendaring deadlines, you have to figure in which state you will take the bar exam. If you already have a job lined up, take the bar exam where you will be practicing. If you are not sure where you will be working, take the exam in the state in which you hope to practice. Even if you can transfer your score (which isn’t allowed everywhere and all states have their own rules on transfers), it is expensive and you only want to do that if you must.

Back in my day, (said in my very best grandpa voice) many of my classmates and I sat for two bar exams at the same time. With the increase in the use of the Unified Bar Exam (UBE) (it is now in 28 jurisdictions), taking multiple exams is becoming less common. However, if you intend to practice law in more than one state, research to see if it is possible.

2- Sign up with a bar review company

Yes, you must enroll in a bar review course! Before you sign up for one, do your research. All the “big” bar review companies will give you the law you need to pass the bar exam, but find the one that works best for you and your learning style. Make sure you ask them to give you a demo of the course so that you really understand the product you are buying. Also, read the fine print before you sign the contract, as you are about to become a lawyer after all.

3- Register for the bar exam(s)

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If it is too early to register, make sure you know your registration deadline. Some jurisdictions have very early deadlines or only allow you to register in one specific month, while others remain open later but the cost of the application increases every few weeks.

4- Find out if there are any prerequisites or supplemental tests

Even if you are testing in a UBE jurisdiction, you may have other requirements to sit for the test. For example, do you have to pass the MPRE? Is there a pro bono requirement? Is there a state specific portion of the exam? Some of these tasks may have to be completed before you take the test, and others can be completed after the test but before you are admitted.

5- Look into character and fitness requirements

Find out if you need to apply for character and fitness before or after the exam. If the application happens before, make a checklist of requirements and start compiling the materials you will need as soon as possible and practical. Character and fitness is a long and tedious process in most jurisdictions (think “compile your addresses for the last 10 years” type of tedious). Don’t put this off until the last minute, because you will regret it.

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6- Sign up for any supplemental bar programs or workshops offered by your law school

If your law school offers a bar preparation class, workshop, or program, you must attend. I wish I had some way to enforce this, because these are often amazing resources (and usually free) that can get you started with bar review on the right foot.

7- Figure out how you will manage your expenses during bar review

You don’t want to work during the bar exam unless you absolutely must. Budgeting ahead of time can help you avoid that.

Here are some costs to consider: bar review course, bar exam registration fees, accommodations (hotel, airfare, etc.), supplies (pens, pencils, index cards, etc.), regular monthly expenses (rent, utilities, gas, food, cell phone, etc), child care, and anything else that is specific to you.

8- Create a self-care plan

You are about to embark on an extremely stressful experience. Taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being is critical for success. Take some time to think about how you will manage your stress and carve some time out to take care of you.

9- Arrange child care/ parent care

Life goes on while you study for the bar exam. If you are the primary caretaker for someone, it is important to come up with a plan for alternate support during bar review.

10- Discuss boundaries with friends & family

Your time is going to be extremely limited during bar review. Make sure you discuss this with the people closest to you beforehand. Keeping communication open will help to limit friction later.

11- Find a bar exam mentor

This is an important part of stress management during bar review. A good mentor can help give you feedback on your study plan and help you during moments of panic, which are inevitable. Good sources for mentors: professors, alumni, and even your bar review company representative.

12- Plan a post bar exam reward for yourself

Bar review will be a tiny bit more bearable if you have something fun to look forward to when it is all over.  It doesn’t have to be big or expensive, but take some time to think about how you want to celebrate completing the bar exam. Full blown vacation? Mini weekend trip? Week long nap? (I opted for choice 3).

13- Book accommodations

As soon as you know your testing location, book any accommodations you may need (hotel, airfare, etc) — the closer you can stay to your testing location, the better.

14- If you are not a morning person, start to become one.

The bar exam starts in the morning, people! Now is the time to start waking up earlier (I suggest in 15 minute increments) until you get to the proper wake up time for test day. The last thing you want to do is oversleep or be so groggy that you can barely function on test day.

15- Calendar any important deadlines

Make sure you put all of the important deadlines, such as registration, laptop registration, testing accommodations, character and fitness, etc. in your calendar.

Kerriann Stout is a millennial law school professor and founder of Vinco (a bar exam coaching company) who is generationally trapped between her students and colleagues. Kerriann has helped hundreds of students survive law school and the bar exam with less stress and more confidence. She lives, works, and writes in the northeast. You can reach her by email at info@vincoprep.com.

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