Stress Management for the Bar Exam Blog: Page 7

Practice Makes Perfect

By rosemary on May 31, 2011

Dear Students,

In my youth I played the violin in the school orchestra. The conductor, Mr. VanderArk, started every rehearsal by saying “make big mistakes.” And he was right. He wanted us to make big mistakes in rehearsal so that we could identify them and correct them before the final performance.

This theory applies to studying for the bar exam as well. Attached is an article published this year in the New York Times entitled “To Really Learn Quit Studying and Take a Test.” The article summarizes a recently published study, also attached, that found that the most effective way to learn is to actively review or “map” material and then test yourself.

By now you will have reviewed approximately three subjects. Its time to start taking exams on them. “But Professor, I can’t possibly take a practice exam yet,” you might say to me. “I need to review and memorize the law first.”

As state above, this approach is ineffective. In addition, there isn’t time to accommodate it. Bar exam courses have apportioned the review of 14 subjects between now and shortly before the exam. Thus, the two-day Evidence lecture was your review of the law. Now it is time to take exams. You can take them with your outline open, but you still need to take them. If you wait until you “know the law” you won’t get to them.

And let’s not forget what the bar examiners are looking for on the test itself. The following is quoted from the The State Bar of California Committee of Bar Examiners/Office of Admissions Description and Grading of the California Bar Examination pdf.

“An applicant should not merely show that he/she remembers the legal principles, but should demonstrate his/her proficiency in using and applying them.”

If you don’t practice applying legal principles to law, you won’t be able to do it well in the actual exam. Thus, as uncomfortable as it is to practice exams, do it anyway. Practice now. Make big mistakes now. This is the time of rehearsal where you learn from your mistakes and correct them. The bar exam is the final performance.

Too Much To Do In Too Little Time

By rosemary on May 26, 2011

For those of you studying for the bar exam for the first time, you might consider the following when you feel like you have too much to do and not enough time to do it all.

a. The Barbri/BarPassers study schedule can be overwhelming. So use your best judgment about what assigned homework you should do and what you might skip. For example, when they suggest you write an essay and turn it in, you should do this. When they say review the contracts outline, maybe you read the table of contents only. The point is not all assignments are of equal weight and if you have a limited amount of time you need to make good choices in how you use it.

b. You may find it difficult if not impossible to keep up with the schedule as written. To counter the anxiety that this raises, you might set aside three hours a week of “make-up” time. Thus, let’s say Barbri spends three days on Torts, but you are not finished with the Tort homework. If you continue on Torts until you are done, chances are you will fall behind by at least one or more subjects. Instead, move to the next subject and keep a running list of all the assignments you want to come back to. And when your scheduled make-up time arrives, take the item you most dread and are the worst at and do it first.

Stress Management for the Bar Exam

By rosemary on May 26, 2011

Dear Students,

Last year at this time, at the request of my students, I joined Facebook. And to my surprise I loved it. I could address all of you at once nipping negativity, depression, overwhelm and procrastination in the bud.

The only problem with Facebook is it limits me to 420 characters. And as you know, I sometimes have a lot to say. Thus, this year I’m writing a blog. Please feel free to visit for advice and soothing and perspective.

Be well.

Rosemary