Category: California Bar Exam

Posted on - 1 Comment on How a Busy Big Law Partner Passed the Bar Exam

How a Busy Big Law Partner Passed the Bar Exam

A big law firm partner passed the 2023 July California Bar Exam while juggling a busy practice and a family life with children and a spouse.

“C” had no prior knowledge of California law, and it had been 20 years since C’s last bar exam.

💬 “I am an equity partner at ___ who took and passed the July 2023 Attorneys’ Exam in California … almost 20 years after I last took a bar exam.  As a partner with a busy practice, kids, and spouse; with no real ability to take time off before the exam; and who did not go to law school in California and knew no CA law, studying for the bar was about the last thing I wanted to add to my schedule.”

Sure, you could say, “It’s because C literally works at the #1 law firm (according to Law360) and knows what they’re talking about!”

I get it because the mentor my law school issued to me was top 5 in his class and his overwhelming academic talent was wasted on me, the bottom 11%er.

But I still think you should listen to C’s advice. And not just because it parallels mine (you can question my grades, but you can’t argue with my readers’ results).

Continue reading “How a Busy Big Law Partner Passed the Bar Exam”
Posted on - 3 Comments on Redditor Goes from “Negative, Anxious, and Depressed” to Passing the Bar on 3rd Try

Redditor Goes from “Negative, Anxious, and Depressed” to Passing the Bar on 3rd Try

A Redditor (who wants to be anonymous) passed the 2023 July California Bar Exam on her 3rd try.

She was going through a difficult period in her life where people around her were passing away, and she had no money or job.

On top of that, she was being dragged down by her own negative thoughts about herself and from the past.

But she reframed obstacles and overcame her self-doubt. And with a proper approach to learning and retaining—and conquering her mental and emotional blocks—she finally blew the exam out of the water!

Despite her anonymity, she sent me a juicy story 🙏🏻 So let’s get right into it.

Continue reading “Redditor Goes from “Negative, Anxious, and Depressed” to Passing the Bar on 3rd Try”
Posted on - No Comments on How Abel Taught Himself to Pass the California Bar Exam

How Abel Taught Himself to Pass the California Bar Exam

Abel passed the 2023 July California Bar Exam on his first try, after he’s had enough of his bar prep course.

I’ll keep this one short since you have eggnog to drink and I’m in Cancun on vacation.

But this success story still emphasizes important messages for your success on this exam.

Continue reading “How Abel Taught Himself to Pass the California Bar Exam”
Posted on - No Comments on Taking Ownership of Your Bar Prep to Pass the Bar Exam

Taking Ownership of Your Bar Prep to Pass the Bar Exam

Jared passed the 2023 July California Bar Exam on his first try, despite being in a panic in the last month of bar prep, while juggling family duties and working full-time.

💬 “I was in a ‘I have to pass!!!’ panic the last six weeks prior to the exam. For context, I spent four years doing law school at night, I have a family, and I work full-time.”

💬 “I had a mini-panic a month before the exam, because I just didn’t think the material or schedule was working for me.”

I like this story because it once again emphasizes the lesson of pivoting from “trust the process” to “trust yourself.”

💬 “My strategy was idiosyncratic and focused on what I needed to do to pass.”

Continue reading “Taking Ownership of Your Bar Prep to Pass the Bar Exam”
Posted on - 1 Comment on Dominating the Essays: Organize Issues and Prioritize Rules to Know on the Bar Exam

Dominating the Essays: Organize Issues and Prioritize Rules to Know on the Bar Exam

Ever wonder how you’re supposed to juggle everything in your head? How do you prioritize the rules to know for the bar exam?

How are you supposed to learn all this when time is tight? How do you tackle the massive body of rules to know?

How do you know you’ve completed the essay in full? Did you even talk about the correct issues? Are the graders going to give you the points? Are they even going to read your prose?!

You’d love to start practicing essays but feel like you just haven’t learned enough law yet. It’s overwhelming to even begin.

At least the answer is right there in MBE questions… If you’re a bar taker struggling with coming up with what to write, essays are the bane of your existence. Your rambling paragraphs start to blur.

Let’s breathe. We can simplify the essays and make them less scary…

Key takeaways:

  • Issues: Learn not just the rules but also how to present and organize the issues (with examples below)
  • Rules: Highest-priority issues and rules are those that have appeared in the past (there are two other priorities)
  • There are efficient and effective ways to hit both of the above at once
Continue reading “Dominating the Essays: Organize Issues and Prioritize Rules to Know on the Bar Exam”