The more popular bar exam review courses are designed to take advantage of your rote or short term memory and therefore usually start about eight (8) weeks before the exam. If you are fortunate enough to not be working and can dedicate yourself to studying without distractions or interruptions for 8 weeks then these programs will work with one disclaimer. You MUST do the work as assigned, NO EXCEPTIONS!! Failure to follow instructions and failure to do all the work as assigned and on schedule will increase your chances of failure.
If you cannot dedicate uninterrupted 8 weeks of your life to prepare for the bar exam then you must start earlier. In my personal opinion, if you can allocate some additional time to begin reviewing rules and substantive law before you begin practicing then you will benefit from the additional study time. Plan for distractions and interruptions because they will most likely happen.
If you allow more time to prepare, you can and should prepare your own study outlines and flash cards in lieu of buying or using others. It is not the outlines that makes the difference but the work you do in preparing the outlines.
Anyone who made it through law school can pass the bar exam if you are honest with yourself and do the work!!!! Read, and then take practice tests to reinforce what you just read.
You will succeed!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
When to begin studying for the July 2011 Bar Exam?
I remember the first time I began studying for the Bar Exam. I was following the BarBri 8 week schedule and half way into the course I remember thinking I should have started two months before that.
The most useful tool you will have in preparing for the bar exam is the set of outlines you make yourself. If you get in a time crunch, commercial outlines can help but the process of creating your own outlines is far more helpful. Count the number of subjects and you realize that there are in most jurisdictions more than 16 subjects that can potentially be tested on the bar exam.
Allow yourself one week per subject to adequately study the material and prepare the course outlines. If you leave yourself no less than two weeks before the exam to review your outlines you get the idea. In my humble opinion you should start studying for the bar exam no less than four months before the exam and earlier if possible.
If you started now preparing for the July 2011 exam you will have approximately 16 weeks between March 1 and June 30 to study and prepare your outlines. I cannot over emphasize the importance and value of preparing your own outlines.
To add to the time issue, is the need to practice essays, MBE exams and MPT exams. Second to the importance of preparing your own study outlines is the essential task of taking practice tests and grading your own performance. You should begin taking practice exams even if you do not believe you know the substantive law. Consider them an assessment if you need to understand why. Your exam results will reveal your strengths and weaknesses and this will help you structure your study plan.
Take the bar exam seriously, turn off the television, dedicate yourself the task at hand and you will pass the bar exam.
Best of luck!
The most useful tool you will have in preparing for the bar exam is the set of outlines you make yourself. If you get in a time crunch, commercial outlines can help but the process of creating your own outlines is far more helpful. Count the number of subjects and you realize that there are in most jurisdictions more than 16 subjects that can potentially be tested on the bar exam.
Allow yourself one week per subject to adequately study the material and prepare the course outlines. If you leave yourself no less than two weeks before the exam to review your outlines you get the idea. In my humble opinion you should start studying for the bar exam no less than four months before the exam and earlier if possible.
If you started now preparing for the July 2011 exam you will have approximately 16 weeks between March 1 and June 30 to study and prepare your outlines. I cannot over emphasize the importance and value of preparing your own outlines.
To add to the time issue, is the need to practice essays, MBE exams and MPT exams. Second to the importance of preparing your own study outlines is the essential task of taking practice tests and grading your own performance. You should begin taking practice exams even if you do not believe you know the substantive law. Consider them an assessment if you need to understand why. Your exam results will reveal your strengths and weaknesses and this will help you structure your study plan.
Take the bar exam seriously, turn off the television, dedicate yourself the task at hand and you will pass the bar exam.
Best of luck!
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