Bar Exam - Full Court Press

If my math is right, then the February Bar Exam is right around the corner. If that's the case, then there are probably scores of very stressed out recent law school graduates who are really feeling the pressure right now.

Let me reassure you for a moment. This is a stressful test. It's a difficult test. You will question many of your answers, even the ones you think are very simple. But - this test is not impossible. Average pass rates over 80% for most schools over the previous 3 exams should attest to that. What you need to remember is that this test goes over basics. It's pretty simple - use your IRAC, issue spotting is going to be easy with the essays. If you don't know the rule, make one up - you'd be surprised how often common sense gets you very close to the rule (practice this with your yellow book essays).

With the multiple choice, the best advice I can give is - don't think too long. If one answer jumps out at you, look at the question again to make sure you understood it, and if so, then go with it unless you know otherwise. Make certain you read all the answers, though - you'll surprise yourself at how often you neglect to do this.

The test is designed to stress you out. It's not designed to fail you - the state gets no annual dues from you if you don't pass, so they're rooting for you, too.

At the end of the day, you'll be fine.

And don't bring your books to study during lunch. If you don't know it by then, odds are highly against you learning it between sessions.

And for those of you testing in Houston, try not to think about how close you are to where the manure from the HLSR gathers during the stock show - unless you want to remember that you're not the only one who's filled that room with BS...