Mindset/Psychology | Make This Your Last Time

January 18, 2025January 20, 2025 - 12 Comments

Passive Learning and Distractions vs. Active Learning: DOING Is the Best Form of Thinking

Dude, I feel you… This shit exhausting.

You don’t want to take this exam or SEE another question EVER again. You want nothing more than to pass this stupid bar so that you can move on with your life.

You can see the One Outcome on the horizon. So close yet so far.

So close yet so far to end of bar prep — (Is this reference outdated? Oh well)

But you can’t escape this endless cycle. You’re not allowed to. Not yet.

Wake up, then crash your face into the pillow. Hope and despair, rinse and repeat. It feels like you’ve been preparing for this bar exam your whole life.

It doesn’t even feel real anymore. But this exam is the realest thing in your life right now.

Maybe you turn to unimportant fiction to get your mind off it. All the constant news in bar world, about how many questions other people are doing, whether others are feeling just as behind or panicked as you, whether they’ll abolish the bar exam, remote testing issues…

Feels great to have some drama in your life. Something OTHER than Civ Pro to vent about!

January 11, 2025January 16, 2025 - 14 Comments

Enjoying Bar Prep: 6 Ways to Make Studying for the Bar Exam More Fun and Effective (Visual Guide)

Is it possible to enjoy bar prep?

It’s one of the dryest things a person can do on this planet. (Don’t invite space tourists to try this.) But we retain more and pay more attention when things are enjoyable.

The default, typical, boring approach to bar prep involves sitting still like a statue watching people in a suit drone on as you fantasize about throwing yourself out the window (not your computer though…you already paid the exam laptop fees).

If you’re especially masochistic, you’ll pause the video and make sure to fill in all the lecture notes because you think your Barbri books will be a fine addition to your future library.

This is all surprisingly exhausting.

As a bonus, you’ll also forget 99% of what you listened to. I’d rather watch water boil because at least I’d have something to show for it, like edible pasta. (Did you know the singular form of spaghetti is spaghetto?)

Something people forget to tell you is that you don’t actually have to follow the default.

“Just complete the course! Do all the things! Play it safe and you’ll be fine!”—The National Association of Barbri (probably)

It feels good because you can’t get anything wrong when you just absorb information. You won’t taste defeat, but you won’t taste victory either.

January 10, 2025January 8, 2025 - No Comments

Passing the New York Bar Exam After 20 Years (15 Attempts)

“L” graduated from law school 20 years ago. He finally passed the New York Bar Exam with a 271, enough to waive into any UBE jurisdiction.

Wow!

💬 “I’ve been waiting years to write an email like this.”

You don’t need to be a legal rockstar. It’s possible to pass the bar exam even if you’re a C student.

💬 “I graduated with a C average and was told that statistically, passing the bar exam would be very difficult for me.”

💬 “I am happy, proud, and relieved.”

Here’s how L made it happen.

January 4, 2025January 4, 2025 - 11 Comments

Predictions for the Bar Exam (What to Focus On for Efficient Study)

Before every exam, a handful of people come out of the woodwork and shamelessly ask about subject predictions for the 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)

January 3, 2025January 5, 2025 - 1 Comment

Passive Learning = Anxiety

Joe passed the 2024 July California Bar Exam on his first attempt. I got on a call with him to talk about how he pulled it off.

Like most people, he started off with a big bar review course.

Then he saw that the thing that was supposed to hold his hand through the process was actually giving him anxiety.

I think it’s important to recognize the ups and downs that come with this process. So I made sure to ask about the emotions involved in studying for this exam.

Of course, as always, I’ll pull out practical bar prep advice based on his success story.

Here’s a breakdown of my 33-minute interview with Joe. We talk about how he passed the bar exam by tailoring his bar review course, shifting to active learning, and maximizing his understanding of key areas.