By Elika Morris
San Diego Public Defender’s Office
The bar exam can feel like the most daunting task for law students and recent law school graduates. Yes, it is a trying test, but it is not impossible to pass. I took the October 2020 bar exam, when circumstances uniquely challenged the state of the world—namely in the months leading up to the bar exam with the COVID-19 pandemic, racial tensions, protests, the presidential election, political impact of major shifts in the United States Supreme Court, and not to mention the first California online bar exam ever administered!
On extra difficult days while studying for the bar, I returned to my “10 reasons why” list, which I made right before bar prep, to remind myself of the 10 reasons why I decided to move forward with the bar exam. I encourage others who plan on taking the bar exam to create their “10 reasons why,” so they can refer to it when they need that extra push and encouragement.
Typically, the average time allotted to study for the bar is roughly 2-2.5 months post-graduation. However, because of the unprecedented circumstances in 2020, the Supreme Court of California postponed the bar exam to be administered online on October 5-6, 2020. Stress. This was a nightmare and in direct contrast to the perceived benefit of “having extra time to study.” More like extra time to forget!
Here are some tips for preparing for the California bar exam, drawn from my own experience as a 2020 bar exam taker. You can also see these tips and more in my 10-part YouTube Becoming Esquire series, in which I documented my own bar prep experience in 2020 and offer tips, feedback, advice, opinion, and real perspective on what was happening in the world around us at that time.
- Work and Finances.
Whatever you decide to do—work or not work—plan ahead so that your plan is sustainable.
- Family & Friends.
I will tell you what my mentor and good friend told me when I graduated law school: “Between now and taking the bar exam, nothing (except your health) is more important. Tell your family and friends that you are not available.”
- Exercise.
Exercise is critical for memory and productivity levels. On days when I really didn’t feel like working out or felt sleepy while studying, I’d do a few jumping jacks and be right back to productive learning. The bar exam is a memory game for points, so you have to be strategic about how to promote your memory.
- Track your studies.
Those who plan on taking the bar exam should keep record of the time they spend on each subject. Keeping track of your study time in this way will help you recognize which subjects need more attention or take you longer to digest, etc. Apps like Clockify, FocusTimer, and Toggle can be used to track study time. Discover which works best for you and stick to it.
- Trust the process.
Studying for the bar exam is not the same as studying in law school. The pace is not the same, so your study habits and techniques need not be identical. Trust and embrace the process of what it takes to sit for the bar and succeed, and you will be okay. For instance, when your assignment is to write essays on subjects you haven’t memorized yet, do the best you can to recall the legal issues anyways. This technique promotes memory. You have to practice writing the essays while learning the material simultaneously to earn the memorial benefits. Trust the process and go with it.
- The bar online.
If you will be taking the bar online like I did, be sure to form your study practices online too. Practice essays by typing them out on the computer, practice MBE questions online from your computer, and outline your Performance Test (PT) on a blank screen from your computer. Also, practice writing the PT while you are reviewing the materials (the client file/library) to save time, as opposed to beginning to write the answer after reviewing/outlining the materials.
- Protect/maintain good mental health.
During bar prep, your mental health is extremely vulnerable. While studying for the bar, be very intentional about protecting and maintaining good mental health. Effective ways to do this include: meditating (i.e. 3-5 minutes between breaks, in the morning, or before bed), keeping phones/devices on Do Not Disturb (DND) to avoid distractions, and avoiding TV, news, and social media at all costs. Stay focused in the meantime. It will pay off.
Remember the bar exam is a memory and points game. Form your study habits with this in mind. If you fall off your study plan, don’t feel bad. Just do your best, apply yourself, and effectively study as best you can. You can’t give more than the best you’ve got. So do your best for this little bit of time, and your best should be good enough.