The Bar Exam review season is when reviewees try to conjur everything they have learned in law school and condense everything into neat mental folders easily retrievable when needed. Doing so requires focus, concentration, determination, and wise use of resources, particularly time and money.
Now this is where it gets tricky: often, law graduates and Bar reviewees invest too much time, money, and emotions reviewing for the Bar Exams, so much so that they become convinced there is no other acceptable outcome in the Bar Exams other than success.
Consequently, they get too hard on themselves: they review from sun up to sun down; they leave no time for relaxation and leisure; they condemn themselves when they fail to read at least 100 pages of review materials in a day; they block family and friends off; and they get too immersed in the minutiae of legal concepts and principles that they tend to overlook the bigger picture.
In other words, they do not enjoy the process, focused as they are on the end goal and not on the road going there.
Is there a way to make the Bar Review season more bearable? Yes, but doing so requires a change in perspective.
Here are a few things Bar Exam reviewees may consider during this difficult period in their lives:
- Set up a schedule. You do not necessarily have to study in all of your waking hours to fully master legal concepts; doing so is going to suck the life out of you. Instead, it's all about making the most out of limited time. When you know you have only this much time to review in a day, you train yourself to budget your review materials and spread them out over the duration of that period without sacrificing both your mental and physical well-being.
- Stick to the basics. As seasoned lawyers would tell you, it's all about studying smart. The key to answering questions in the Bar Exams is knowing the foundational concepts and logic behind legal rules. While it is no doubt mentally enriching to learn about the exceptions and exceptions to the exceptions, the Bar review season might not be the best time to devote too much in these because at this point you'd rather spend your time reiterating and regurgitating the basics.
- Leave time for rest and relaxation. This goes without saying. After all, your mind would not be able to absorb much of the information your are reading if it is exhausted beyond measure. See, the brain is a wonder by itself, especially when it is in a healthy state. So learn when to drop your books and review materials when you feel like taking a breather.
- Acknowledge your privilege. Being at a point where you are actually reviewing for the Bar Exams to become a full-fledged lawyer is not something everybody will get to experience. The fact that you hurdled law school and are now on your way to becoming a lawyer should serve as a potent reminder that you are infinitely lucky to be afforded this chance. So while the Bar review season might mean frustration, anger, and stress on your part, do not forget to step back, learn to be more forgiving to yourself, and be grateful for being at a point many would die to have.
- Have a Plan B. Let's face it: not everybody will pass the Bar Exams. That may include you. It is great to be optimistic at something, but this optimism must be balanced with reality. If things do not go as planned, have a Plan B ready so that you are not caught unawares. This leads us to the next point.
- Prepare for the worst case scenario. In case you failed the Bar Exams, or in any episode of failure in general, it is best to be mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically ready to deal with it. Taking the Bar Exams is a planned occurrence, so there is plenty of chance for you to prepare for either of only two outcomes: pass or fail. Passing the Bar should not be too difficult to deal with. The same thing cannot be said when you fail. How are you going to take in the bad news? How will you break it to your family and friends? Will you retake the Bar? Conditioning your mind to prepare for the worst case scenario allows you to accept it more easily, move on faster, and be more rational in your next moves.
In all, passing the Bar Exam is not, and should not be, the end all and be all of life. Learn to enjoy the Bar Exams review process. Take things one at a time. Refrain from being overwhelmed. Most importantly, breathe.