Bar Exam Preparation
They say that overthinking happens when you don’t trust your gut.
You already know what to do. The problem is that you don’t trust yourself enough to do it.
Maybe you should learn to listen to your gut a little more instead of regretting it later in your most private moments.
What do you say when you’re not sure how to talk to a new person at a networking event (or holiday party)?
A script that worked well for me:
And then you’re off to the races.
If this seems too simple, that’s the point.
It’s not the perfect tactical wordsmithing that makes or breaks you. It’s the fact that you acted and short-circuited your approach anxiety.
The parallel here to bar prep is to not spend too much time agonizing over which supplements to use, which newsletters to follow (mine of course)…
When you factor in the time spent overthinking about different options, they no longer become the fastest, best, or easiest.
Continue reading “Holiday Motivation for Bar Exam: 3 Ways to Keep Going During Bar Prep”Here’s a compilation of top tips from stories of FOUR different July 2025 bar exam passers.
They’re a mix of repeaters and first timers, and those who took the California Bar Exam and the UBE. Something here will work for you too.
Think about what lessons you’ll take into 2026.
Continue reading “2025 Bar Prep in Review: Strategies That Will Work in 2026”No wonder this person posted anonymously because I see at least 3 things I could critique in this comment:
You know what, it’s my fault for reading social media.
Before every exam, a handful of people come out of the woodwork and shamelessly ask about which subjects will appear on the upcoming bar exam.
“Does anyone know the essay predictions?”
“What do you think will be tested?”
“I don’t think ____ will appear on the exam.”
“Anyone think ____ will be tested?”
“I know we’re not supposed to listen to predictions, but…”
“What are ____’s predictions?”
“Here are my MEE predictions!”
Whose speculations are you going to listen to?
If you’re like many bar takers, or if you’re a repeater, you say: “Haha of course I’m not going to rely on the predictions. I shall adequately study all the subjects. You should too!”
And then you panic and look at the predictions anyway.
Did you want me to tell you, “Aww poor baby, don’t worry. It’s normal and happens to the best of us 🥺”?
You SHOULD worry if you’re secretly tempted to rely on predictions… because this kind of thinking is entirely predictable and avoidable. Sweating about predictions is NOT a good place to be and requires intervention.
Also, remember when subjects actually leaked for the California exam in 2019 and people got mad over it? Do you want to know the subjects ahead of time or not? Make up your minds!
Maybe you’re too young to remember ancient history. I’ve been dealing with you people for too long.
Here’s why you should look toward essay/MEE predictions for entertainment value and morbid curiosity only:
(and 3 things you can focus on instead to take control over your studies)
Continue reading “Predictions for the Bar Exam (What to Focus On for Efficient Study)”“I need to know all the law first!”
What were those three years of law school for? Never mind.
There’s this strange concern in the atmosphere floating around.
A concern that if you don’t know it all, then you won’t be prepared to solve the problems… The thought that all you need to do well on the bar exam is to “have the information”…
So you sit there, fold your arms, and wait for osmosis. Maybe your soulmate will suddenly come knocking on your door, too.
And then when you finally flip open that essay after weeks of “studying”…
You stare at the blank page.
In front of you, a blank canvas ready to be filled but only reflecting an uncomfortable stillness.
The cursor blinks at you, urging you to fill the awkward silence.
Cold sweat squeezes out of pores you didn’t even realize you had on your body. 😓
“…”
You decide to hit the books and videos again. Maybe you just need to study a little more…
You’re mostly grasping the material, but then when you take a practice exam it’s like everything you know is out the window.
WTF? Why didn’t it work?
Continue reading “Two Biggest Fears of a Bar Exam Taker”