The Cold Truth about the Bar Exam

It’s the final countdown—the bar exam is one week away. Despite reassurances from your mom that you’re “definitely going to pass,” the truth is…you might not.

And. That’s. Okay.

Your friends won’t judge you, and no one will think less of you. Anyone who has had the unfortunate pleasure to sit for a bar exam knows that the line between passing and failing is as thin as a page in your Barbri review book. The bar exam is hard, people are supposed to fail. 

While the February bar exam may seem eons a way, the time passes quickly and you will be better prepared and no longer suffering from the fear of the unknown. Although a minor setback, failing the bar exam won’t completely derail your legal career, just look at Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo and former BigLaw associate Michelle Obama. It’s just six months.

Accepting that failure is a real possibility, and that your life won’t be over, can actually work to your benefit. You won’t psych yourself into panic mode or paralyze yourself with fear, giving yourself a better chance at passing. Take a deep breath and type those essays. Keep it together, think rationally and give it your best shot. You can do this, you can pass.      

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Last Minute Bar Exam Dos and Don’ts
Overview of the Bar Exam
7 Tips for Surviving the Last Month of Bar Exam Studying
Ten Tips for a Successful Bar Exam
Does the Bar Exam Make Law School Graduates Better Lawyers?