So we have all heard about the bar exam...but what was it actually like? How was it? And is it as bad as people think/talk about? Well I'm about to answer all your questions because I didn't know until I did it.
What Is It?
The Bar Exam is a test that law school graduates take during the last week of July. Different states participate in different versions, but most states participate in the UBE, soon to be changed over to the Next Gen Bar Exam, which we won't get into here because I didn't take that one. The Bar Exam is a two day test that test takers spend approximately three months studying for. Test takers do not find out the results of the exam until late October to early November. Only when they pass can they be granted their license to practice law.
What Is Tested?
The exam tests on a multitude of subjects. All first year of law school courses are tested like: Torts, Contracts, Property, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and Civil Procedure. In addition, Partnerships, Corporations, Agency Law, Criminal Procedure, and Gratuitous Transfers are also tested. Within each topic there are thousands of rules to memorize and then apply to a variety of fact patterns. Smaller topics that come up frequently are mortgages, trusts, wills, co-tenancy, claim preclusion, the Dormant Commerce Clause, and the Rule of Perpetuities.
How Is The Test Structured?
There are three different parts to the test. The first day is all about essays. Each session (morning and afternoon) is three hours long. The first morning session is 2 MPTs. These are closed universe questions, fact pattern, and an adjoining library of law with the goal of seeing if the test taker can make draft something that looks like a lawyer would. These could be memos or letters to clients or in weird scenarios, contract clauses or jury instructions. The first afternoon is then 6 MEEs. These are short essays, each with approximately 3-4 subparts. They provide a fact pattern and ask a couple questions. The test taker will then need to provide the applicable rule and apply the facts to reach a conclusion. The second day is dedicated to multiple choice, 100 in the morning and 100 in the afternoon.
What Was It Like Studying For The Test?
I started studying the day after I graduated. Many of my peers waited a few days, but I was nervous. My days started around 6-7 hours and on some days that number rose up towards 10 hours. It was kind of the luck of the draw. I used Themis and I swear by it. You start by watching lecture videos and then doing some practice questions until you learn all the topics. Then the course shifts and you start to really focus on review and mainly do practice questions. I knew that for me, drilling practice was going to be key. I liked to wake up super early and dedicate my morning and early afternoon to bar prep and then have the rest of my day for me. I felt that was the best schedule for me, but I know a lot of people who slept in and woke whenever and then did bar prep. It's really just figuring what works better for you. I also took Sundays off completely so I didn't burn myself out. And there were times where one day off was not enough for me and so I took two days off. I really tried to not beat myself up during this process and made sure I took care of myself. I made sure I walked outside every day that I could and did bar prep with my best friend. We held each othr accountable and made sure the other was taking care of themselves. I also went to the library every day. For me, it was good to separate my apartment from the stress of bar prep. And while bar prep is all consuming, my apartment was kind of a sanctuary.
What Was The Test Days Like?
Test days were stressful but okay. I went early, like super early. and that was definitely the right move. Security lines take up a lot of time and my testing center was a convention center with over 1,500 test takers. That is a lot of people to process, go through a metal detector, sign in, and get settled. Most people were sat in a giant convention center with small desks. I was lucky and was in a separate room with probably over a hundred people. The proctors know that this is a stressful process and are all very nice. You have to rewrite a pledge that states that you are in compliance and are doing the work honestly, and that you understand that if you don't you could face criminal prosecution or a lifetime ban from bar acceptance. Its very serious. The have one clock in the front of the room and if you are typing after time is called, even to finish a word, they will invalidate your test. Many people had such bad anxiety that they were throwing up in bathrooms throughout the test. Many people's test was invalidated and many people quit after the first day. I brought a nausea essential oil stick and that helped my anxious stomach.
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