Haters will say it’s impossible:
I’m not saying the haters are right.
I’m just saying…maybe…it’s not about mindlessly stacking assignments and being too busy completing them to absorb what you’re doing.
Maybe…you don’t actually have to do everything they tell you. Why are you acting like you read every case and footnote back in Con Law class?
(I did, but that’s beside the point because I got a B-. Knowing the “information” but not knowing how to take the exam will do that.)
The only thing I remember from law school is my negotiations professor saying this in class randomly (and giving me an A because, what can I say, I like practical things I use IRL):
“Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.”
Is bar preparation worth doing? Then it’s worth doing right. Doing it intentionally. Being an overachiever without being a tryhard.
After all, you’re the dean of your own studies. And we know that enjoying the process creates sustainable momentum (not just fixating on the goal of passing the bar).
Just as what’s enjoyable is personal, bar prep is also personal. Your study plan and schedule—and even the materials you use to support your prep—are personal.
There are many reasons your schedule will look different from everyone else’s:
- You might be working while studying for the bar exam and have 3 hours scattered throughout a workday.
- Maybe you live in your parents’ basement and have every day free. Your mom shakes her head as she sees you shitposting on Reddit instead of studying.
- Or maybe you only have certain hours of your day free while the kids are at school.
Meanwhile, your bar review course hands you a cookie-cutter schedule that packs in an overwhelming number of tasks that turn into “self-study” sessions where you have no direction on what to do.
Does it make sense that you get the exact same study schedule for every scenario above? Not to me.
Is there a smarter, more effective plan that would serve your needs more and improve your odds of passing?
Yes, one that’s customized to you. It should work for you and serve your needs, not the other way around.
While I encourage a bespoke study plan, I suggest adhering to a few ideas when starting to plan your bar prep. Here are some immediately actionable guidelines for your study schedule.
Continue reading “You Need a Personalized Study Plan: How to Make Your Own Bar Prep Study Schedule”
