The Middle of the Bar Prep Tunnel

We're heading into the stage of bar prep that feels like you are in the middle of a long tunnel. When you enter the tunnel at the start of bar prep you know it's long but the sunlight is behind you and the radio signal still works. Then there's no more radio signal. You can't...

Creating a Workable Study Schedule

The first week of bar prep is a lot like the first week of law school- everyone tells you it's hard but you don't really understand what that means until you experience it first-hand. It's REALLY hard. . It takes hours to read a few pages and your case briefs are as long as the...

The Prep Before Bar Prep

Most commercial bar prep company programs launch in mid-May and although you don't need to start studying before then, there are a few things you should do now to make the transition a smooth one. Get your finances in order. Even if your employer provides a stipend (don't forget to deduct taxes), you don't want...

Getting the Most Out of Your Final Days of Bar Prep

Chances are you're reading this post because you've been searching the internet for last minute study tips for the bar exam. There are still things you don't know, MBE questions you're still missing, and your timing on the MPT is still a little off. If you don't know it by now, you're not going to...

Controlled Practice in the Last Two Weeks Before the Bar Exam

With two weeks to go before the bar exam, it's common to feel a sense of urgency. It's natural to want to be as ready and prepared as you possibly can but that doesn't mean you should step up your intensity. In fact, studying more hours is more likely to have a negative impact on...

Stress a Little Less

A high-stakes test is one that has important consequences and passing has huge benefits. The bar exam is definitely a high stakes test and it's also why your stress level is pretty high. Not all stress is bad and controlled stress is the adrenaline that fuels our motivation and positively impacts our performance. However, too...

Boost Your Brain Power

Studying for the bar exam is demanding, even when your brain is in peak condition. Just like you want to fuel your body for physical activity, you want to fuel your brain for mental activity. The food you eat can effect how well (or not) your brain functions. Studies show that choosing foods from the...

Balance During Bar Prep

Studying for the bar exam is not easy when it's the only thing you have to do, let alone if you have to study while balancing other responsibilities. 'Balance' might not be the best word because that implies things are equal. Bar prep is time consuming and exhausting and can easily take over our lives....

(Re)Studying for the Bar Exam

If you've taken the bar exam before, this is not the first time you have encountered most of the material so your starting point is not to re-read outlines or re-watch the lectures. We tell ourselves we need to do this because we don’t remember anything or we need to review before we get started....

When Bar Prep Isn’t Your Full Time Job

The bar exam is supposed to be a test of competency but since it became standardized in the early 1970s, it has been a test of resources: Can you afford to purchase a commercial bar prep course? Do you have enough money to pay for 2-3 months of basic necessities like rent, food, utilities, car...