5 Bar Exam Study Tips That Will Keep You From Driving Yourself Crazy

Panic may be starting to set in, but don't allow yourself to lose track of your goal: passing the bar exam.

studyingDear graduates of (insert the name of your hallowed law school here), congratulations on completing your quest! You did it! You may now safely throw your cap into the air as you celebrate graduation and enjoy the day!

Oh, sorry.  That was yesterday.  It’s now time to study for the bar exam.

Most graduates believe that studying for the bar exam involves the following:

  1. Attending a bar prep course. This may or may not involve watching videos of people who might be deceased by now, discussing things that are in your books but that you’re too much in a panic to know because OMG I fell asleep what did he say?????
  1. Studying the books. You will receive from your bar prep course a treasure trove of information. You will stare at the words on the page. You will then find an excuse to organize your cupboard, feel guilty about it, and then panic.
  1. Taking timed tests. As you complete your timed test and score your results, you notice that your thought is “OMG, I’m going to fail! Fail! OMG, all that law school debt for nothing!” You might even go find the correct answer, and then think about what you did wrong. However, in the back of your mind you are thinking, “OMG I’m going to fail.”

The common theme: Panic.

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There are things you must continue to do while studying for the bar exam to assure that you minimize this panic. Preparing is one part, but being in the right frame of mind is another.

  1. Set a schedule. Not just a study schedule, but a schedule for doing ordinary things. If you really need to clean out your cupboard, schedule it for a fine evening. Your most productive hours will be in the morning, so schedule your most energy-intensive studying then. Schedule time to have fun, to work out, and of course, to take practice tests. Do not deviate from the schedule.
  1. Avoid the crazy. Avoid drama llamas, people whose sole purpose is to inject you with toxic vibes. As an example, I had a friend who was very set against me studying. There was always some problem with life, something going dreadfully wrong, always some way my friend failed as an adult. My friend needed a shoulder to cry on, ignorant of my need to study.
  2. The key here is that my friend’s perception of life was wearing me down and invading my own perception of my chances of success studying for the bar.   Instead, to the extent you socialize, pick people who are cheering you on and want you to win, not people who want to suck you into their drama.

    The worst drama llamas are fellow bar exam takers. Do not talk to colleagues about the bar (unless you are studying in a group). If they are studying for it, they will certainly be studying for it in a way that will be different than yours.  You’ll compare notes about study routines, and panic. Avoid this.

  1. Sleep, eat healthy, and exercise. These are the things that start to go out the window first as desperation and panic sets in. However, they are all equally important in assimilating information and minimizing panic. Sleep helps you process information. Not having a reasonable amount of sleep will assure that you don’t process the information you just tried to learn and won’t be able to learn the new information you’re undertaking because you’re too tired.
  2. Exercise mitigates anxiety. Thus, if you are frustrated about your inability to grasp a topic, the best thing might be to walk away from it for a bit (perhaps literally walk, jog, whatever exercise you do) and then return to it. Your mind will be more willing to accept that information.

    Pick foods that give you energy. Sure, you could order pizza for lunch to study more, but you’ll pay for it in the afternoon when you want to crash and sleep.  There are many websites devoted to information about stress-reducing foods. Surprisingly, one such stress-reducing food is chocolate (in moderation), so that’s another good reason to exercise.

  1. When you do take timed practice tests, don’t just focus on the wrong answers. Focus on the answers you guessed at as well. Don’t just look to discover the correct answers, but learn the material behind it as well. In other words, actively search for that which you do not know. Avoiding it or “humming past the graveyard” will assure that you won’t master that which you need to master, and will increase that anxious feeling.

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  1. When you study, study. I know this seems obvious, but allow me to describe how I started studying for the bar. Okay, about to study. Well, I need coffee first. Hmm… let me sort my highlighters. This pen might run out of ink. I should get another one. My pencil isn’t sharp enough…. We can agree that none of that is studying. Instead, I was avoiding the most important thing that happens when you study: The learning. That requires focus and attention.

Good luck! We’re all counting on you.


LawProfBlawg is an anonymous professor at a top 100 law school. You can see more of his musings here and on Twitter. Email him at lawprofblawg@gmail.com.