This is the time of year that people start thinking about studying for the July bar exam.
To help you focus your thoughts, I wanted to compile a list of some important study tips for the bar exam.
First, and most important, be confident that you will pass the bar exam. There will be ups and downs and overwhelm, but you will pass.
Second, make sure that you think about any situations in your life that may interfere with your ability to study for the bar exam. Take the time to address those issues now so that you do not have to waste mental and physical energy on them later.
Third, find bar prep materials that you believe in. This can be an expensive commercial bar exam course, used bar prep books, bar exam outlines, a bar exam tutor, or maybe a course offered by your law school. In the end, there are many ways to get the information you need to pass the bar exam; what matters is that you believe the information contains everything that you need to pass.
Fourth, be sure to spend at least as much time practicing as you do memorizing. Practical application of information is how we can assure ourselves that we understand the information. This is why you need to spend lots of time writing practice essays, performance tests, and taking practice MBE questions.
Fifth, make sure that some of this practice is done under test-like conditions. This means that you take the time to do practice tests under timed conditions and less than optimal conditions.
Sixth, make sure you take study breaks from time to time. This means that you should take a day off each week and be sure that your studies are fit into a good schedule and routine. There is no point in burning yourself out studying and running out of energy to take the actual bar exam.
Seventh, if fear or anxiety start to creep up on you, remember to do something about it. You can use visualization or other techniques to help you conquer these problems.
Eighth, remember to have fun. The bar exam is the culmination of your three- (maybe four-) year odyssey to becoming a lawyer. You are about to complete your quest. Celebrate that and enjoy!
Good luck on the bar exam!
P.S. -- Want a FREE copy of my Bar Exam Mind audiobook?
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