Many of you have contacted me regarding what to do next and are in a rush to sign up for something and start studying. My advice is to refrain from rushing the process. You will make better decisions as to what to do next if you wait until the emotional upheaval has subsided. Why? Because once you have dealt with the feelings associated with not passing, your “objective” mind – the one that looks at a problem from all sides – can take over and make a decision based on the facts. Decisions made while emotionally distressed often are not the best.

On or about November 28th, begin the process of deciding when to take the test again (now or wait and take the July exam). If you decide that you will re-take it in February, the next step is to determine what to do to prepare. A big bar course? A small seminar course? An online course? A tutor? On your own? There are a number of options and the choices can be overwhelming if you are not clear on what you need.

The first step in determining what you need is to read your score sheet carefully. Are the performance test scores low? Is the multiple choice score low? Or maybe all scores are low. What is the difference between your overall scaled score and the passing scaled score of 1440? Is it 10 points? Is it 50? Or is it a 100?

After you have read the score sheet, you might consider conferring with a reliable, expert source, such as a bar exam instructor or counselor at your school, to confirm your findings and advise you on how to proceed.

Namaste,

Rosemary

To those who were unsuccessful in their attempt to pass the bar exam, lick your wounds, rest, play, get support from friends and family and put it out of your head for a week or so. You need some time to mourn before moving on. It is a necessary part of the process so don’t skip it. (You might also read and re-read my Nov. 18th blog entry.)

How do you put it out of your head? All you need to do is notice that you are thinking about it. Don’t try to change your thoughts. Don’t try to push them away. Just notice them. “Oh, look. I’m thinking about the bar again.” If you have to notice a hundred times, a thousand times, fine. This exercise will speed up the mourning process and help you gain the perspective necessary for making good decisions about what to do next.

Check back soon for my advice on how to proceed.

Namaste,

Rosemary

I want to congratulate those of you who passed. Please celebrate your accomplishment. And if you are willing, reach out to a friend or two who wasn’t as fortunate. (You can verify whether a friend passed or not on Sunday by searching the publicly released list.)

Every year students who were unsuccessful suffer greatly. They often isolate themselves. Many feel depressed, hurt and ashamed. Sometimes they have parents who say things like “You’re lazy. That’s why you didn’t pass” or “Don’t bother coming home for Thanksgiving.” (These are actual statements reported to me by former students.)

So when you get a chance, please reassure them that they too can pass, that you believe in them and support their efforts to try again. Encourage them to do things that will shift their perspective such as contacting a mentor from school and, of course, reading my blog. Your friends will appreciate it.

Thank you,

Rosemary

I sincerely hope not. These thoughts are destructive, defeatist and unhelpful. The first five are untrue and the rest are angst statements born from these untruths. Instead, remind yourself that plenty of people re-take the exam and are successfully practicing law today.

I’ll close with a true story. On a Friday such as this one not so long ago, a former student of mine was informed that she was unsuccessful in passing the California bar exam. She was mortified, ashamed and depressed and did not want to return to her job as a law clerk. However, she needed the money. So the following Monday she rose early and arrived at the office before anyone else was in. She then closed her door and vowed not to leave until everyone had gone for the day. A funny thing happened though. As she hid in her office, one by one partners and associates stopped by to tell her that they too had failed the first time. By the end of the day, she gave up her self-destructive thoughts and set about planning her next attempt.

Please remember this should you find your name missing from the list.

Namaste

Rosemary

As I’m sure you all know, on November 18 at 6 pm, bar results will be available on the state bar website.

“But that’s three weeks away,” you might say, “Why are you writing to us now?”

Ah.  Good question.  I am writing to you now in the hopes of minimizing the anxiety that some students experience when the date changes from October 31 to November 1.  Over the years, students have reported that from November 1 until the results are published they have trouble sleeping, eating, and concentrating.  Some report obsessively worrying.  Still others decide they must have failed and start studying for the February bar exam.

I am always saddened by such suffering.  Here is my offering to you to minimize your angst during this time:  remind yourself everyday that no matter what the outcome, you will still be alive and breathing and able to make choices for yourself that will help you accomplish your goal.

As always, I am here to support you.  Please feel free to email me at rosemary@rosemarysreview.com or leave me a message on facebook.

Be well.

Rosemary

I am grateful to all who wrote me during the study period.  Thank you for sharing your experience and for asking such good questions about the process. 

I am also grateful to all who read my blog during the study period.  I really enjoyed writing it and I hope you found it helpful.

Now that the test is over, go have some fun and forget about it for awhile.  Tune in here again at the beginning of November when I will be blogging about the wait, checking the pass list and the results. 

Be well.

Professor Rosemary La Puma
 P.S. Would love to hear what essay subjects were tested today.  Also, the assignment and subject matter of the performance test. 

Congratulations on finishing your first day.  Now walk a bit, eat a good dinner, hydrate and sleep.

A note on tomorrow:  When I talk to students who didn’t pass, I tell them to schedule an appointment to look at their multiple choice scantron sheet.  I tell them to look for patterns of missed questions. Often they find that they missed the first 5-10 questions in the morning and afternoon sessions and/or they missed the last 5-10 questions at the end of the morning and afternoon sessions.  Obviously, missing the first 10 is caused by nervousness, the last ten, tiredness. 

So to quell your nerves you might consider doing what I did.  I took three or four multiple choice questions sitting in my car before the beginning of the morning and afternoon sessions.  Consider it a warm up.  As for tiredness, be sure to hydrate.  And feel free to get up for a minute or 2 every hour or three minutes at the half way point. 

Good luck. 

Rosemary

You are ready.  Get some rest tonight so you can do your best tomorrow.  You know where I am should you need to talk to me.

If you feel up to it, I ‘d like to hear what was tested, in particular the subjects of each exam and what they asked you to do on the performance test.  I would also like to hear how you felt about the multiple choice.  Were they like the practice questions? 

If you don’t want to post to the comment section of my blog or to facebook, you can always send me a message on facebook or write me at rosemarysreview@sbcglobal.net.

Final words:  When you feel like you don’t know something or you don’t know what to do or you are running out of time, please remember to breathe.  It will help clear your mind to take a few very slow breaths in and out. 

Good luck. I’ll be sending you good thoughts.

R.

I’m really frustrated with my multiple choice scores.  I can narrow to two answers, but between the two I always pick the wrong one.  I’m even considering picking the choice I don’t think is correct to compensate for this problem.  

Dear Student,

I’m sorry you are frustrated.  I know the feeling.  This happened to me when I was taking multiple choice. However, I drastically improved my score by analyzing why the correct answer was more responsive to the call than the answer I chose. Then I would write down why I chose the wrong answer (my reasoning) and then why the answer I didn’t choose was the correct answer further cementing my understanding of the problem. After doing this for several questions in each subject, I started to see patterns in my reasoning and in the questions. And I started choosing the correct answer more often than I had previously.
 
You still have time to improve.  Try it and see if it helps.  

Rosemary

If you feel this way, take a break.  Four or five hours away from the desk isn’t going to matter one way or another.  You need to revive yourself for the last push.  The break will do this for you.  Got o a matinee.  Go for a hike.  Get a mani-pedi.  Play basketball with your friends.  Engage in some retail therapy. 

I mean it.  I give you permission to take a break.  When you come back you will feel refreshed and ready to study again.