Thread: How does anyone pass the CA bar?

Holy crap! I started studying on my own and have been doing so for the past 3 weeks. I will be taking Barbri in January so I'm hoping that will make a difference. So far I can't see any way in hell that I could possibly pass, this stuff is rediculous, and there is so much material! I've done over 1000 MBE questions and I still can't get over 55% average. Has anyone had a similar experience? Any advice? I'm starting to think this was the dumbest idea I've ever had - I took time off from work to study for this and it seems impossible even if I'm at it 8 hours a day.

I just passed it. Here's my cent for it: first stop whinning and focus. Make your study schedule 8-10 hours disciplined. Go with black letter (annotated materials) and take MBE practice slowly by understanding how you got it right or wrong. Make notes, have a notebook for each subject and jot every thing you come to encounter during your review. Follow the barbri schedule.
And yes, the first few weeks it didnt make sense to me too and I was getting the same averages in MBE as you are. But the final 2 weeks prior, am batting 75-80%. (I did about 7000+ MBEs before I reached that level) It will all fall into its right places as you progress.
Just be disciplined on your schedule, be determined to pass and pray.
I had my legal education abroad and passed it the first time. So much more for you! Goodluck

Passing the bar requires 3 things:
honesty
diligence
practice

Honesty-- when you say you are studying 6 hours a day, are you really? time spent playing solitare or checking your gmail doesn't count. Being honest with yourself is extremely important.

Diligence-- have a study plan, stick to it as much as is honestly possible, don't throw days away by sleeping till 11 or crying about if you are going to pass or not. don't waste time.

Practice -- people who read outlines for hours and hours a day generally do not pass the bar. MBEs daily, PTs and essays regularly (reading and outlining or fully writing answers, reading as many essays as possible -- past exams or barbri samples, etc.) and working with mnemonics or rule statement memorization are all key parts of a plan to pass.

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