Some of you are experiencing this summer taking additional classes or working in legal internships. But many of you are spending the next five weeks studying for the bar exam. If you’re someone who has finished law school, take a look at these six things to do this summer leading up to the bar exam.
1. Find a place to study that best suits your learning style.
Many people are influenced by their surroundings. Maybe you learn best in a quiet library, or perhaps an unfamiliar location without distractions. If that describes you, then look for a place that will help you learn. If studying on a beach in Mexico makes the most sense for you, then do it!
2. Find a bar exam study tool if you’re struggling with a particular area.
You may already be knee-deep in a bar exam prep course or working with a tutor. But if you find yourself struggling with a particular area, find a study aid or program to help you. There are several tools that can help enhance your studying. For example, if you need some extra practice for the MBE, consider using a product that focuses specifically on that portion of the bar exam.
3. Stick to a study schedule and daily routine.
Hopefully you already have a bar exam study schedule written out. You don’t want to simply wake up and decide that day what to study each day. If you don’t have a plan yet, develop one that details the subjects you’ll study on each day, and what days you will take a full-length practice exam. You should also develop a daily routine, which includes waking up a specific time, when you’ll eat your meals, break and exercise times, and when you’ll stop studying for the night.
4. Take care of yourself.
We cannot stress this point enough! If you want to be successful in your studying, you need to take breaks, sleep and take care of yourself. You can’t study 24/7 and be successful. Sleeping helps your brain process all the information you’re learning, so don’t deprive it from doing it’s job. Make time in your routine to exercise or practice yoga. These may seem like little things, but they’ll go a long way in your studying successs.
5. If you’re feeling stressed, get some help!
One thing that many students don’t consider is that anxiety or fear of failure could have been standing in the way of their bar exam success in the past or may be standing in their way for the future. If this sounds like you, consider talking to a therapist. There are many counselors who specialize in law students taking the bar exam and test anxiety. Can’t afford a therapist? Try these four things to help relieve stress.
6. Start thinking about the practical bar exam matters.
Once you’ve developed your study schedule and are well on your routine, you’ll want to think about the elements of the bar exam that don’t involve memorization and writing. This includes determining where you’ll stay during the bar exam days; getting your computer ready and testing exam software; plan your meals during test days; and finalizing any transportation needs. Don’t want to wait until the last minute to think about these tasks. Studying for the bar exam is one of the most stressful parts of a person’s life. Use this time before the test to take care of yourself, understand your study habits, and get help if you need it.
Check out tons of helpful bar exam posts here on our Bar Exam Study Tips 101 page.
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And check out these helpful posts:
- How to Use Your Summer to Jumpstart Your Job Search
- Making the Most of Your Summer
- Can Meditation Help You Be More Productive and Effective?
- What is the Right Mindset for Studying?
Looking for some help to do your best in law school? Find out about our law school tutoring options.
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