monali8

I don't know why I failed my bar exam. I studied hard, I took a day off before the exam, and I still failed.... Why Why Why Why????

johndiu

I just passed the Texas bar exam on my third try. I don't know if there are any "magic bullets," but I'll tell you how I studied and what I think I did wrong on the first two tries and right on the third try.

Attempt #1 (July 2005): After graduating from my Pennsylvania law school, I moved to Texas and settled into my new home. I attended the live BarBri lectures and used the Pmbr books in the evenings. I didn't attend the Pmbr classes; just read over the outlines and answered the questions. My preparation was very scattershot; I allowed myself to be distracted and didn't put in enough focused time. In retrospect, my study for the first attempt was very superficial. It wasn't at all surprising that I failed the first time. I was nowhere NEAR passing the first time.

Attempt #2 (February 2006): I used MicroMash, both MBE and state review, and also reviewed my BarBri notes. I increased my MBE score by only 14 points, which was rather disappointing because I felt MicroMash really helped. Because I went for the pass guarantee, I spent so much time on the MBE questions that I only had two weeks to study the Texas subjects, which was certainly not enough. The MicroMash state review was worthless. I did all six practice essays and sent them to my mentor for review, but it really didn't help me learn the law. I'd recommend the MicroMash MBE program, but not the state review. I allowed myself to get distracted by the Winter Olympics (can't help it - I love the Olympics!)

Attempt #3 (July 2006): Knowing I had to make some changes if I wanted to pass, I made several. Rather than study at home, with all its distractions, I'd ride into Dallas with my husband each morning. He'd drop me off at the Southwestern library and go to his office. I didn't take my computer; just my books, so I was forced to study for 8-9 hours without distractions. This time I used the Conviser mini-outline and the long BarBri outlines. I spent the month of May on MBE subjects, reviewing the BarBri outlines and answering about 35-40 questions per day. I spent June studying the essay subjects. I'd cycle through the subjects, spending 3 days on each. I didn't write out any answers to the old questions, but outlined a few, and mostly read the questions and answers very critically, as you really learn the law that way. In the evenings at home I'd continue answering 35-40 MBE questions, writing down any rules of law I had trouble remembering. In July I spent a week revisiting the MBE subjects, then revisited the essay subjects, still doing MBE questions in the evenings. I spent only a few days on the Procedure and Evidence questions, as well as reading over MPT samples. I purchased the "Finz Multistate Method," which teaches you to mark answers as true or false and therefore narrow down the answer choices accordingly. I didn't use it very much, but it did provide a useful technique for answering the MBE questions. Another thing I did differently was invest in some hypnosis and subliminal CDs on test-taking anxiety and skills. I'd listen to an overcoming test anxiety hypnosis CD at night while going to sleep and to the subliminal series while studying. I don't know how much they helped, but they certainly didn't hurt! Finally, although I only live 16 miles from the testing site, I stayed at a hotel nearby during the exam so I wouldn't have to waste time fighting traffic. I also like to study in the evenings, although they tell us to take the evenings off during the exam.

I think for me the difference this time was that I spent enough focused time on each subject. I remember noting things in the Conviser that I never remembered reading before! It also helped to eliminate or at least minimize distractions. BTW, I only got a 128 scaled on the MBE this time; I must have done really well on the essays and other stuff. When you pass, they don't break down the scores; they just tell you your total score and your MBE score. I was afraid I'd get another low MBE score and that that would kill me, but wonder of wonders, I passed!

I hope this helps someone out there. Believe me, I know what it's like to fail this beast, but I'm living proof that it can be slain! YOU CAN DO IT!!!! Don't let the bastids get ya down!!
Source: "Formerly Irritable in Irving" - a nice guy online

Kate33

To all who have failed the bar, I offer this lifeline of one of history's (and law's) most spectacular "failures": Abraham Lincoln

He failed in business in 1831.
He was defeated for Legislature in 1832.
His second failure in business was in 1833.
He suffered a nervous breakdown in 1836.
He was defeated for Speaker in 1838.
He was defeated for Elector in 1840.
He was defeated for Congress in 1843.
Again, he was defeated for Congress in 1848.
He was defeated for Senate in 1855.
He was defeated for Vice President in 1856.
He was defeated for Senate in 1858.
He was elected as President in 1860.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!

mgill

It really sometimes depends on HOW you studied, not how much time you put into it. There isn't one study technique that works for all people.

Think really honestly about how you studied, I'm talking details. Think about what worked and what didn't. Somtimes you need an outside person to help you figure that out - a friend that pased, a one on one tutor, or someone else that you trust.

Just remember not to do the SAME thing twice, and remember that plenty of successful attorneys were unsuccessful on their first attempts.

__________________
Vice President, LawTutors, LLC
Tutor, Emanuel Bar Review
Adjunct Professor, Southern New England School of Law

va2008

I thought I'd share my own 3 Strikes and You Pass story. I took the VA bar exam:

1st Attempt: I went to the BarBri classes and did all the practice questions. Even during the class I wasn't scoring the needed score on the practice essay questions to pass the bar. I was close but I never got the needed score. When I took the exam, I put the question 5 in the wrong book, realized my mistake at the last minute and didn't have enough time to correct the mistake and it wasn't scored. I missed passing by the bar exam by 4 points.

2nd Attempt: I made my second attempt the followinf February. I was in a very bad place in every way. I was mentally and physically drained by a job I hated and from which I was laid off of 2 weeks before the exam and I was in a pretty bad relationship. Remember the advice they give you about not making any major changes while studying for the bar? Well, they weren't lying. I managed to study every day but I wasn't as devoted to it as I should have been. Looking back, I didn't know the material as well as I should have known it. Again, I missed passing by 4 points.

Well, it's sad not to pass once, but really sad to fail the second time. I was determined not to fail again. I decided to take a break from the bar. I knew I needed to be able to focus on it completely and that meant that I had to be in a better place mentally. The first step was to get rid of the bf. The next step was to find a new job. I did both in pretty rapid succession. I then focused on how to do better on the exam. I spoke to a Bar Examiner and he helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses. He gave me some great advice and I used it during my studying. I actually used my Finz Multistate Method book to practice my MBE questions instead of just owning it (I didn't use my BarBri book because I had pretty much memorized the quesions). I practiced writing full essays every day. They were pretty bad at first but it helped my identify which areas I needed to review. Closer to the exam date, following the advice of the Bar Examiner, I bought practice questions from the MBE administrators (I forgot the company's name) and that helped me improve my MBE review. Most importantly, this time around, I decided that the studying for the bar exam would be my #1 priority. Once I made that commitment, everything else fell into place.

3rd Attempt: As I posted on here, I blanked on the very first essay question. I had no clue what to say. After reading the other essay questions, I decided that my time would be better spent getting the maximum number points on those questions than wasting time on that one essay that I ws clueless about. Once I made that decision, I didn't look back. I never doubted my decision and I didn't think about it in the afternoon session or the next day. Of course, I freaked out about it after the exam but I realized that I did what I could. I was sure that I had failed yet again and began saving money to take the exam again the bar exam. I mean, who ever hear of anyone completely not answering an essay question and still passing, right? Well, I did pass! I couldn't believe it. Sometimes I still look at the list just to make sure that my name is still on there.

The lessons I learned are: Truly make studying for exam your priority; Practice MBE quesions, practice essays, practice everything, every day (ok not in the beginning but you get my drift); Know your strength and weaknesses; and not matter what, don't give up even when you think you don't know anything.