First timers might be frustrated seeing advice from people who retook the bar exam and passed.
It’s true that repeaters start from experience. That’s their advantage.
Repeaters can afford to skip at least some of the lectures (as they should if they already watched them before). They can go straight to practice and review.
Meanwhile, first timers are juggling lectures, outlines, AND practice. Or at least they FEEL compelled to stick to The Plan.
First timers are also seeing the material for the first time, so they feel compelled to “get all their ducks in a row” before moving on while feeling increasingly crushed by the time pressure of the exam looming closer.
That’s understandable. Bar review courses latched onto you on your first day of law school.
So when first timers see advice like “take breaks” or “try different things” or “do what works for you”…
How are they supposed to do that?
I sometimes borrow insights from retakers as a “crystal ball” to show common pitfalls to first timers. What could first timers avoid and how can they shortcut the bar prep process?
But just because first timers are aware of these pitfalls doesn’t mean they have the ability or willingness to avoid them. Some may think they’ll be fine bulldozing through the program. And they may very well come out fine on the other end!
Even though retakers start from experience that you may not, some foresight is better than none.
A lot of the pitfalls for first timers come down to the sheer overwhelm of diving into bar prep for the first time.
Here are some of those common pitfalls of first-time bar takers and my recommendations for what to do instead.
Pitfall: Leaving memorization for the last two weeks
Not sure why this is the default norm. If you cram at the end, you leave less room to grind and practice right before the exam when what you learn from practice will be freshest.
- Recommendation: Try to remember things from the start. It’s the frequency of attempts (including failure) to recall that is the basis of memorization.
- Recommendation: Focus not just on rules but also on the issues. Rules have nowhere to go if you don’t know what the issues are.
Pitfall: Trying to “complete” the course over doing what helps you learn
This can be a symptom of overly relying on the course. But completing the course is NOT the point of bar prep.
Completing the course doesn’t mean you’ve completed your preparation.
Courses are designed for the common denominator. The cookie-cutter schedule is given to fresh grads and people juggling work or family. Does that make sense? Not to me.
- Recommendation: Faith in the system can also work. But be very deliberate and intentional about how you’re using the course. Don’t let it use you. Don’t go through the motions for the sake of completing the course.
- Recommendation: This may be retaker privilege, but develop your own schedule catered to your needs. You are in control of the process.
Pitfall: Neglecting performance tests
Naturally, being fixated on MBE and essays and trying to memorize the material can result in neglecting those pesky performance tests.
- Recommendation: At least look at a PT and sample answers every week. The PT counts for a substantial amount of the score. You know it’s going to be there.
Pitfall: Blindly relying on predictions (LOL)
Or paying for predictions (not so funny…don’t let desperation take over).
How are you supposed to know who to listen to and whether it’s going to be right this time?
- Recommendation: Focus on things that will appear, such as PT and MBE subjects (which are also covered in essays). Or focus on YOUR weak areas; these are low-hanging fruits that will boost your overall performance. These are things you can control.
Final comments
The cure is to figure out what is moving the needle for you—what is helping you learn and retain.
Trust the process—the right process for you. The right process is one that helps you understand and retain the material and answer questions correctly.
I realize that this insight may only come after a failure and reflection of your previous attempts at the bar exam…
But as a first timer, why not reflect on what you’ve done so far in your prep? Can you also look to your law school days to see what kind of approach to learning worked for you in the past?
Hint: It’s not sitting through lectures or reading outlines all day because you’ll forget 99% of it unless you lock it in via active learning.
If learning means you follow the course curriculum exactly, go for it! If you’re trying that and it isn’t helping you and you’re still panicking, then maybe consider other options…
If you feel tempted to deviate from your course, it’s not uncommon even for first timers to eventually do that. Realize that the bar review course is but one supplement to your self-learning endeavor. The course can certainly be used to your advantage if you use it properly (like any tool).
Ultimately, bar prep is personal. You are the dean of your own studies. Don’t try to compare yourself to others either (or feel better that other people are also struggling…you’re still struggling and not in the company you want).
This also means that none of this may apply to you. I simply notice and relay the things that have worked for retakers (including myself) who have course corrected toward successfully passing the bar exam.
Consider these, take what you like, and leave the rest.