By: Brandy Brown, Esq., Regional Director, Helix Bar Review
You finished 3L exams, graduated law school, and are ready to start bar prep. This is an important moment! You may be wondering where to begin and what, exactly, that will look like. You have a lot of ground to cover in a short period of time, so thinking through some best practices beforehand will give you a leg up.
Before you start bar prep, do these five things to be more prepared!
Familiarize.
First, understand that while bar prep draws on the skills and methods you learned in law school, it’s a very different experience. Bar prep is more streamlined. You have to know a variety of subjects that can be tested in a few different formats, so you can’t get too far into the weeds on any one topic.
The best place to start is to familiarize yourself with exactly what will be tested in your jurisdiction, what the test days will look like, and how your bar prep course functions. Check out your jurisdiction’s website or the introductory materials in your bar review course to find the details. This will give you a big picture view of what you need to do and how you are going to work towards that.
Prioritize.
Once you are familiar, you need to prioritize your bar prep experience and make a plan to complete your studies. If you will be working, know your hours so you can prep around your work schedule. Account for any events or family engagements you want to attend over your bar prep period so you can make up the study time another day. Finally, create a list of activities and routines that will keep you mentally and physically healthy, like getting enough sleep to keep your brain functioning at a high level.
Schedule.
Create a functional schedule for bar prep and factor in your list of priorities. Think through what study strategies and memorization methods have worked for you previously and incorporate those alongside the dedicated prep course. Do you work best in the early morning or at night? Do you like to study alone or in a group? Do you prefer to study at home or at a coffee shop?
After pondering these questions, write down a rough daily schedule that you think will work. Try your best to stick to it, while also leaving room for flexibility to make adjustments as you get into your groove. A bar prep course that provides responsive study plans that adjust to your schedule can be a huge help here. That’s why every Helix Bar Review course includes adaptable study plans – in addition to one-on-one coaching with an Attorney Director (like me!) to help you get back on track if needed.
Adjust expectations.
Bar prep is a unique experience that can be exhausting, stressful, and isolating. It’s normal to feel anxious and like you will never get everything done. It’s normal to struggle with some concepts. It’s normal to have to say no to family dinner to get in more practice.
If you are able to adjust your expectations and focus on your bar prep course, priorities, and schedule, you will be able to move through the process more confidently.
Get to work!
Remember that bar prep won’t last forever. It’s time to grind and be laser focused. Keep your schedule streamlined, be ruthless with your time, and remember that anything you don’t have time for now, you can likely revisit once you’re on the other side of the exam. Put in your best effort each day! As long as you follow your specific bar prep course to at least 75% completion (ideally 100%) and work hard, the odds are in your favor that you will pass the bar on your first try and be able to put this experience behind you.
Now it’s time to settle in and do the work. You got this!
Ready for more tips and support from the experts at Helix Bar Review®? Check out Your Productive Study Space! and How to Effectively Study for the Bar While Working.