I am pleased to be able to bring you an interview with attorney Joshua Merkel about how he used visualization and mindfulness to help him pass the California bar exam.
I worked with Josh for a year when he was with my law firm. Josh now runs his own estate planning law firm in San Diego.
He is a great guy and kindly agreed to let me interview him about his bar exam experience.
Without further ado, here is the interview:
Where and when did you pass the bar exam?
I took the California bar in February, 2007 for the first time, and passed.
What review course did you take?
I took a review course run by Dr. Dennis Saccuzzo, in San Diego. I had the option of taking the traditional Bar-Bri prep class but decided against it. In addition to being an attorney, Dr. Saccuzzo is a licensed psychologist, and uses a fresh approach to bar study – in addition to the necessary memorization, the course stressed the importance of visualization in preparing for the test. I’m sure that without that aspect of the course, I would have had a much smaller chance of being a first-time bar passer.
How did you incorporate mindfulness/visualization into your bar exam prep?
I incorporated mindfulness/visualization into my study routine in a variety of ways. One major way was visualizing myself as a first-time bar passer and affirming the same. Something as simple as taking a deep breath and repeating silently to myself “I will pass the bar,” worked astonishingly well. Once you truly believe that you will pass the bar, you gain the ability to do whatever it takes to accomplish doing so.
Do you think mindfulness/visualization was helpful? How so?
Mindfulness and visualization absolutely helped me prepare for and take the California bar exam. By using visualization techniques, I was able to retain more raw information, quickly recall that information, and as importantly, be calm and confident in a room full of very tense and nervous energy.
Would you recommend people try mindfulness/visualization with their bar exam prep?
I would definitely recommend using mindfulness/visualization as part of your bar prep routine. Preparing and sitting for the exam is very stressful, and for me, I wanted to take advantage of every technique that could make the process easier. If you want to get an advantage over everyone else taking the bar, actively engage in visualization. It’s simple, effective, and in my opinion, 100% necessary.
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Thanks, Josh!
If you would like to know more about Josh, be sure to check out his estate planning blog and follow him on Twitter.
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P.S. -- Want a FREE copy of my Bar Exam Mind audiobook?
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