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Bar Exam is Tomorrow! Find Food, Shelter, Transport, and Booze

By William Peacock, Esq. on July 29, 2013 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

There was once a man who was on his way to take the bar exam for the third time. He decided to stop for coffee and unfortunately locked his keys in his car. He never made it to the exam, not that day, nor at any point since then.

That, my friends, is the worst case scenario. But don't worry. You needn't fret over possible nightmares and complications. You'll be prepared. Here are a few things you can do, today, to de-stress and to ensure that complications over the next two or three days are minimal.

Lodging

A good friend of mine was taking the California bar exam with me. She lived in Long Beach. I lived in Pasadena. Fortunately for me, the test was in Pasadena.

If you've ever been to Los Angeles, you know that there is traffic 24/7, though it gets especially bad during peak commuting hours. In the early morning, it can take hours to make the thirty mile jaunt from Long Beach to Pasadena, especially since the route goes directly through downtown. For her, a hotel near the test site was absolutely necessary.

Transportation

For me, because parking near Old Town Pasadena is indescribably bad (and expensive), driving and parking was not an appealing option. Fortunately, I was mooching off of family during bar study, so they graciously gave me rides back-and-forth during the three-day testing marathon.

If you haven't already done so, locate your testing center now, and figure out the parking and traffic scenarios. Will you have time to make it there and park in the morning? Do you want to deal with road rage and traffic stress before taking the Big Freaking Test?

Meals

Another reason to scout out your testing center is to ensure that there will be food available during the mid-day break. For those of us in Pasadena, there were many options within walking distance. According to Above the Law, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center on the West Side of Manhattan, there is apparently nothing, other than prostitutes and cab drivers, neither of which will help you to find food in an efficient manner. This year, however, they're bringing in $20 sandwiches.

Stop Studying

Easier said than done, right? If you want to skim your short outlines today, we won't fault you. But cram sessions, each night of the test, will do little more than stress you out. Cram sessions are great for single-subject tests. For the bar, there is way too much to remember (or review) in one night. Relax, watch a movie, and go into the exam well-rested and well-fed.

Post-Bar Plans?

For your long-term health, it might be a good idea to plan post-bar relaxation, libations, or vacation. Spend some time with family, drink a full yard of chocolate lager, and pass out on a beach. Don't worry. Unemployment will still be waiting when you get back.

From all of us at FindLaw, good luck! And please, stop writing when they call time!

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