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5 (Or More) Blog Posts That Will Help You Survive Bar Review

By William Peacock, Esq. on May 20, 2014 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

At least until 2015, the bar exam is the bar exam. What's left to say that hasn't been said before? Very little, which is why we're not trying to top our previous brilliant forays into tips for not having a stroke during bar review season. (Tip #1? Stop snorting caffeine pills.)

That being said, our previous surviving the [bar] times posts have focused on singular aspects of the experience (cram sessions, stress management, scheduling, etc.). Here is your all-in-one guide to the Big Freaking Test (BFT).

5 Tips to Stay Sane

Should I take a bar review class? Will I pass? Do I really need to do all 1.5 million prep questions and essays that my bar prep course recommends? What music should I listen to while studying? We get a lot of intelligent questions about bar review and the BFT, and in this post, we answered many of them while commiserating with your pain.

5 Serious Tips for Repeaters

Not your first rodeo? It's time to "change the game plan." Gabriella shares her five tips for those who are taking a second stab at the BFT.

Preventing Panic

At some point during bar review, you will have the "Oh ****, I'm going to fail" moment -- we all do. It's the biggest test of your life (no pressure). These feelings are normal, even if they aren't at all helpful. How do you minimize panic sessions? We've got a few ideas.

The 100 Hour Plan

Operating under time constraints? Though we'd recommend spending far more than 100 hours on the bar exam, we recapped legal startup entrepreneur Blake Masters' 100 Hour Plan™. He tackled the most difficult bar exam in the country in 100 hours of studying by focusing on the objective MBE portion and memorizing bar outlines. The Masters plan requires excellent memorization, pre-existing writing skills, and nerves of steel, which is why it definitely isn't for everyone, but for those taking a second bar, or who are operating on a time crunch, it's certainly an option.

Cheating Isn't Worth It

Have you ever been tempted to fake a disability to get extra time on the exam? Have you ever continued writing after the proctor said "pencils down?" Or are you the old-school type, who cranes her neck to read her neighbor's answers?

These are all terrible, terrible ideas. Not only is it likely that you'll be caught, but when you are, you'll probably be denied admission to the bar, even if you do pass. In fact, one of these cheaters scored a zero on an essay as a sanction, still passed, but got red-stamped by the Character and Fitness board. And if you Google any of these folks, the top results scream liar! Cheater!

That's it for today's roundup. Again, if you find yourself in a panic, or have a question about strategies or courses, do tweet us @FindLawLP.

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