Saturday, January 24, 2009

Bar Review, the Sober Kind

Everyone at law school jokes that they have obsessive compulsive tendencies or have super Type-A personalities. I almost wonder how you could be in law school and not have these characteristics.

It seems like in this world, you have to be this way, ready for things months in advance. Your first year you look for summer jobs before your first semester grades even come back. During the summer after your first year, you are already applying and interviewing for jobs for after your second year. During your second year summer, many people try to impress their bosses to get an offer to come back over a year later, after the bar exam. And during January of your last year of law school, you are filling out applications and signing up for classes for the bar exam in July.

Today I went to my first bar exam information panel, where they gave us general advice about mentally and physically surviving the test. Here were some of my favorites:
  • Pack an extra pair of earplugs just incase someone near you throws up. Then you can stick them in your nose. (I swear, I am not making this up).
  • If you see someone breaking down and crying, just keep walking unless it's your best friend. It sounds horrible, but you have to take care of yourself that day.
  • Do not wear a leopard print suit to take the Virginia bar, which requires courtroom attire. They turned away a woman from New Jersey who did so.
  • If you ever lose confidence in your ability to pass the test, just go down to your local courthouse to see some lawyers in action. You will realize that if they could pass the bar, so can you.
Despite the horror stories, everyone on the panel survived. And nearly 90% of our school passes the bar so I am not really stressing out about failing. It's just a matter right now of getting through the 20 page character and fitness application right now. Anyone want to be a reference for me?

1 comment:

Lauren said...

I'll be your reference! Knowing each other for 5 years provides a pretty solid basis for evaluation, non?