Anyone take the bar exam again, in a different state, after practicing law for years? I’m about to do this and I’m in a weird place with regard to mentally preparing to study. Would appreciate any advice or insight.

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Took it two years after—I bought someone else’s prep materials and studied the differences, and just passed. Felt good!

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Figure out when your power hours are. It yiu retain info better before work, shift your schedule to get up at 5am. Imagine failing--that always motivated me.

Use leansheets and critical pass bc you can BS the essays if you understand high level rules.

GL!!!

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I sure did. A decade into practice I took the hardest bar exam! Passed on first try. I recommend BarBri and a 4-6 month study plan if you are going to keep working FT while studying. Good luck!

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Also took it two years after. It was a huge pain to study while working but I think it went well and felt easier than the first time (just took it a couple days ago).

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Waited 3 years. Oof. I just took it a few days ago too. Find the best time for you and work something out with your work if you can. Keeping it a secret isn’t helpful.

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I took my second state two-and-half years after my first. I was working full time (as a government employee so not too demanding) and did not have nearly as much time to study but it actually seemed easier. I remember thinking I should have spent more time at the beach the summer following law school when all I had to do was study for the bar exam.

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Yup. I’ve taken it 3 times States without reciprocity. My suggestion. Relax. You’ve got this

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Passed my second bar exam four years after the first. The new state didn’t offer reciprocity. Studied at night after I got off work and on the weekends. It was a grind but you can do it. If you have a partner or spouse you should talk with them beforehand and come up with a schedule. Be on the same page and don’t neglect them or your own mental/physical health.

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My story is similar: took another bar five years later. Barbri at night, studied weekends, and took a week off of work. The second time will be easier for you because 1, you learned most of it before and now it's refresher, and 2 - and this is key - you're already a lawyer and you've passed before, so there's less intimidation/fear. Best of luck, and I'm sure you'll do fine. RAP hasn't changed much...

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I did it 9 years into my practice. Was client driven and we were in the middle of ramping up for potentially hundreds of trials. Fortunately the firm gave me a month to study but extricating myself for that month was difficult. Did virtual Barbri. It sucked. It worked. I passed. Biggest mistake I’ve seen colleagues make is not taking enough time to study. Agree that focusing on the unique areas of the jurisdiction’s law is the way to go.

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Took the CA bar after practicing for 7 years. Didn’t take any prep course, just buckled down. You have a work ethic and know how to write. You’ll be good but you have to devote the time. I would spend every day from 5pm-midnight studying for like 2 months. And would pick one day to do 8 hrs on the weekend. Then the other day I wouldn’t look at anything. You’ve got this.

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I took and passed one of the hardest bars 5 years after passing one of the easiest bars. My boss was incredibly supportive and permitted me to take 3 weeks off to prepare. I probably needed 2, but that focused time was, for me, invaluable. If you can’t take time off, see above about power hours and support from loved ones. I went with a cheaper prep course that had online lectures I could do at my own pace, and focused on the lectures about areas of law that were different from where I was already barred, largely skipping lectures about stuff I knew or were the same as the state I was barred in. I found the emotional prep much harder than the mental prep 2nd time around

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I wrote California bar last week. I was previously practicing for several years in Canada. It was A LOT for me because I started at a new firm and started studying at the same time. My advice would be to take a good chunk of time off if you can so you can solely focus on the exam. One challenge I had was balancing my focus on studying and work. If that’s not possible, make sure you allocate a month or two extra for studying because it will take longer to get through the material if you have to work at the same time.

Also, I would highly suggest enrolling in a course. I had no idea where to start because I hadn’t studied in so long. The course told me exactly what to review and what practice problems to do every day, which was extremely helpful. I’m not sure what jurisdiction you are in, but I used Themis and it was great.

Finally, be prepared to be exhausted and stressed during this time. Just know that it’s only for a short limited time and then you can resume your regular working life. The exam I wrote was last week already feels like it was forever ago.

Good luck :)

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I did, taking WA two years after CA. I used Themis to watch videos and do practice questions and essays. Having been barred in CA under a 3-day exam, the biggest challenge was learning to write the essays and PTs in half the time.

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I did, about a decade after I passed my first bar with flying colors. Failed it! Twice!

I would say focus on all the things about your state law that are either different from what’s typical, or are wholly unique. Beyond that...I dunno? I got hit with a double dose of negotiable instruments and secured transactions, which is conveniently the only C I ever earned in law school and one subject I’ve just never been able to wrap my head around. So I guess consider your weaknesses and hit them hard.

Yes. I practiced for 5 years in CA, then took the UBE in NY while working full time, and 2 years later moved to NY and now practice in that state. The bar exam was not as difficult, but I still prepped the same. I took Barbri online, but looking back I probably didn’t need to. I also bought one of those apps for the MBE questions and I feel that helped tremendously. Good luck!

Took my third bar exam (got licensed in 2 northeast states the first time I sat for the bar after law school) a little over 5 years post law school - my 2 years of judicial clerking did not count as “active practice” in order to waive in. It was rough, not going to lie, and I procrastinated hard on starting to study.

I bought the online Kaplan study course and just started knocking it out every night and good portions of each weekend beginning the last week of December but really focused once January hit (took the February bar). I’d work until 5:30 or 6 each day, go home and eat, and put the kid to bed then study until at least midnight (combo of the classes, reviews, practice questions). On weekends I went to a local library to study from about 8 until 1. Then I’d study again in the evening (7 or 8 to midnight). I tried to focus on the areas of law that were different from where I’d practiced (common law instead of separate property, oil and gas, etc.) and do a lot of practice tests. I also took off work the full week before the exam to just cram but I passed.

It’s not fun, but it’s doable. It helped that the partners I worked with knew I had bar prep to deal with so they were awesome about running interference for me if needed.

I did after 7 years of practice. Took a prep class for a month. Don’t think I could have made myself study otherwise. Good luck!

Took it two years after. Used a commercial prep course both times - didn't want to leave too much to chance. The prep courses are nice in that they develop the study schedule for you.

I’ve passed four bar exams, one 12 years into my career. You have to study, obviously, but you’ve already done it once so you know what you’re in for. Make a calendar of days you are going to study each subject, do lots of practice questions, and cram the last week or two. I took a class for the first one I took and the last one I took, but used other people’s notes and outlines for the 2nd and 3rd. Good luck!

Took my very first bar 15 years into practice (diploma privilege originally). I don’t know what all the fuss is about. It’s a pain to study but necessary. Because the bar is about the bar and not the practice of law.

I did and went into it feeling like I totally has not prepared enough even though I had given it all that I could, but then ended up passing. I think a big part of the initial bar study was learning how to take the test and you don't lose that part. Plus you're likely a better analyst now.

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