For those of you who worked FT and studied for another bar exam at the same time, please send some advice and tips on how you balanced everything. Starting to feel the pressure (bar prep course starts Monday) and I still have four more billable hours to go tonight. :( Thanks!!

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You need to write your essays in the format the bar wants, not like a lawyer. Stay formulaic. That way, even if you get the rule wrong, between issue spotting, proper format, and analyzing facts to your rule statement, you get the bulk of the points.

The real play? Memorize the intro paragraph to the essay tested topics. If your first 4 lines are perfect, it lulls the grader to sleep, your answer looks like a passing score, and coupled with the above you’ll cruise to a pass.

likesmart

You’ll never ever see a bar essay that says “list the elements and defenses to all 7 intentional torts.” So why study that way? This is Moneyball; you just need to pass; to pass you need to score points

This was pre-UBE, so I’m not sure how much has changed. I kept a fairly strict schedule and used an online course that didn’t have live instruction so that helped with scheduling. I was a lateral from a different state so my partner was really supportive of making sure I could leave the office at a decent hour to cram.

Weeknights I left the office by 6, home for dinner and bedtime (I had a kindergartner at the time); study from 8:30/9 until midnight (sometimes a bit later to get to a stopping point), wake up and repeat. Sometimes I’d listen to a lecture on my drive in/home. I did not end up listening to all the lectures. I focused on practicing the problems to get back into the bar exam mindset, and learning the real differences between where I’d been practicing for several years and the new state. I also tried to review the stuff I hadn’t looked at since law school.

Weekends I went to a nearby library from 8-1 or 2, then came home for time with the family and (only if absolutely necessary) get some work done. Study at night after my kiddo went to bed (8/8:30) until midnight.

I probably should have started earlier. I didn’t start studying for the February bar until after the new year, but I wasn’t trying to get the highest grade - just pass. It was a crappy 6-7 weeks, but I just powered through.

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Wow 6-7 weeks! This is helpful. I also found a UBE podcast I can listen to on my drive to work. Thank you!

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I sacrificed hours and then made them up after the bar. As it got closer, I worked less hours and studied more. Weekends were also full study days.

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If your course has lectures, those video lectures are to be watched once to (1) explain the gist of a rule and (2) to also sprinkle in tips and tricks for the exam. Don’t waste your time rewatching lectures over and over. You’re better off doing as many practice questions as you can and then ensuring you know why every wrong answer was wrong.

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Studied for the CA bar while working FT in NY biglaw. Passed.

I sacrificed sleep and free time for good 3 months. Work hours had to suffer a bit too, but passing the bar was more important to me personally. I reviewed lectures and outlines in the morning before work. During lunch, I did practice MBE questions using Adaptibar. In the evening, I outlined essays and reviewed questions I got wrong. Saturdays were full study days. I gave myself a break on Sunday afternoons and evenings.

Try to figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are for test taking and budget your time accordingly. You won't have time to review everything completely, so prioritize certain subjects over the others.

You can do it!

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You remember more than you think! The knowledge comes back faster the second time :) Focus on your weak areas and study to the test—do more practice essays and questions, especially on the weekends.

helpful

I was clerking for a judge while studying, so not the same work stress, but I also didn’t get any days off to study and was going through a personal issue which made it hard to focus. Since it was my second state, I didn’t take the full prep class, I just bought the used books from the previous exam from my former classmate and worked through them. Mostly I focused on timed practice essays and reviewing model answers from prior years. This helps you understand what are likely topics too. Getting good at the bar exam formula, like someone else said, is key and I definitely benefited from it because I know there was at least 1 essay that I was squishy on all the exceptions to the rule.

likehelpful

I did it while at a firm years ago. I studied for the NY bar before it became the UBE while practicing in CT. I would dedicate one hour every night in bed to listening to the lecture and, quite honestly, I parked myself Saturday and Sunday in the Starbucks near me, popped on my headphones and just slogged through it. It’s not fun, but it’s a finite amount of time, so it makes it easier to do. Good luck!

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Thanks ! Planning on studying a lot during the weekends. Ughhhh...but I know I'll thank myself later.

Watch the state specific lecture topics and just read the condensed MBE outlines. Do as many practice essays and MBE questions as you can, but no need to go overboard. In my opinion, people overstudy for the bar exam and freak themselves out. If you can write a coherent essay and have learned the MBE question structure, you’re good—just make sure to write something on the essays so you get points.

helpful

Thank you!!

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