5 Tips to Self-reviewing for the Bar Exams

The 2017 Philippine Bar Exams results will be released soon and I am sure,  the thousands who took it are all excited to see the outcome of their labor.

It is inspiring to hear stories of bar passers who made it through sheer hard work and perseverance despite the odds.

Last year, one new lawyer used to work as a janitor in a government office. Another is the story of a father dad who self-reviewed and passed the bar at the ripe age of 69 which brings me to the topic of self-review. This post is all about that.

If you chose to self-review, these 5 tips might be helpful.

1. Make a study plan and stick to it

Get an overview of the bar exams coverage by checking out the Bar exams syllabus.  Make an inventory of your resource materials and create a timetable to serve as your guide.

It is hard to put everything into writing but believe me, putting a time period will give structure to your self-review schedule.

Set weekly and monthly goals depending on the time left before the Bar exams. Reading 10 -15 hours a day is possible but prevent burnout. Set aside a fix number of hours each day to read a book, codal or any other review material.

It is hard but if you really want to reach that goal of passing the bar, your commitment to set aside time to read each day is very important. Make and stick to your self-review study plan.



2. Rent a place near a (law) library 

Be as near as possible to a  law library,  one where you can just access on foot or one ride away. Considering the traffic in the cities today,  you would be well-advised to stay in a location which would help maximize the efficient use of your limited time and resources.

Rent a room or condo share with similar bar reviewees. It is better to have a separate room for yourself. Having a place all to yourself where you can read in abandon without disruption is a great strategy to having a successful bar self-review.

3.  Pace your reading

Don't burn yourself during the self-review, pacing is your ally so put this in your study plan. If you find yourself too motivated during the initial phase of the review but later on lose steam along the way, you are in danger of a review burnout.  Allow breaks and relaxation days to prevent yourself from losing steam.

Prevent from over-stressing and overworking yourself.  Never force yourself to study when your mind refuses to take in any new material. You know that moment when you keep on reading the same phrase 5 times and it is still not registering in your brain. It will be counterproductive.  It is better to take time to release and relax your mind by taking minute breaks during the daily reading plan.

Give yourself a day in a week to just forget about the review altogether. Go out, linger and stroll in a mall, watch a movie, see your friends, have a day at a beach to take the stress of bar review off your mind. It will do great for the long term success of your review.

4.  Pool funds from all sources beforehand

You don't want to start your review only to give up due to low funds halfway through it.  Enlist the help of everyone including your family to gather all funds that will support until you finish the review. If needed, get passive income to help out with your review.

I write for an online platform since 2010.  It is not big but it has given me a steady of income for awhile now.  Getting your bar license can break your bank but if you have saved and prepared for it beforehand, the better.

Save as much as possible and pool all your resources before deciding to do your self-review.

5.    Online review may be an option

I hear you, I am writing a post on self-review BUT if you have access to an online review course just to update yourself of new materials, then do it. An online review course will be a good source of updated materials and will definitely not take away time from your self-review.

This way, you will be updated with new cases to read but still have control of your time to review the videos and lectures the course provides. I heard this local online review center will start by May 2018 so sign up now. This will be a great supplement to your self-review.

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You might want to read...

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5 Why's You Quit Law School

I left law school many times but only to return when the humdrum of my daily work-home routine gets too predictable.  I love the challenge of being pressed for time when I am studying (not really ;P).

I am sure, if you are a law student who at one point thought of quitting would identify with any of these 5 reasons.

1. Change of heart

At one point, you might feel that becoming a lawyer is no longer a path you want to take. You might have another passion you are just dying to pursue. This happened to me at one point.

When this happens, it helps to take a break for the meantime rather than push through with it only to give up permanently after you have spent so much money, time and effort.

After working as a legal assistant, there was a time when I told myself I don't want to do this kind of work for the rest of my life. I had a burnout that time so I took a semester off.

After a while I missed law school and came back. It is like a love and hate relationship for me. If you change your mind, don't worry it is free to change your mind again. Just don't do it after you have finished all your academic units (short of graduation).

2. Family 

Being in law school is already hard when you have nothing else to think about.  When you have a family and work on the side, it becomes an ordeal.

If your partner does not understand how demanding law school can be, it will put a strain on the relationship. Suffice it to say,  breakups are common for many law students.  Nursing a heartbreak while studying law is not something I would wish on anyone. I had experienced it and it was a struggle just to finish the semester.

In an ideal world, it would be nice to study law while you are still single with no other worries (or even heartbreaks) to think about.  In real life however, you have to deal with family and relationship mess ups while maintaining your grades and trying not get kicked out of law school.

3. Work priorities

While there are law students who are able to finish law school while doing full time or part time work, there are some jobs that will be difficult to handle while one is studying law. You might be working part time while studying and your boss can no longer accommodate your school schedule.

It will come to a point when one has to choose between continuing law studies and giving up the job. For most of us, this is not doable especially for those who are self-supporting their studies, so when that time comes, you haven't got a choice but to prioritize your work.

It might be a delay to your dream of becoming a lawyer but if you are really bent on pursuing it, you will be able to go back at it in the future when the circumstances are more favorable.

I worked while I was in my 2nd and 3rd year in law school and it was really hard. I slept at most 4 hours per day just to survive. When I think about it, it was an awful time in my life full of challenges but I managed to do it with black under eye circle to boot.

4. Stress

This is one of the major reasons why some people quit law school and I believe this is the most serious. I personally think it is a wise decision for anyone to take a breather once the  rigors of your law studies become too much.

Having a healthy mental state can be compromised when a person is unable to handle stressful situations in a proper manner. Being a law student subjects you to a different kind of mental and psychological stress.

Most who are unable to handle it can go insane and worst, commit suicide. Mental issues and stress should therefore not be taken lightly if you are in law school. Try to have other activities or if it is really needed, take a break from your studies.

5. Limited funds

Going to law school is very expensive. You have to factor in your tuition fees, living expenses, daily expense and yes, those costly law books can definitely cause a dent in your budget. Unless you are filthy rich, going to law school can be a drain on your family's finances.

Just some of the reasons why people quit law school. If you feel like I have left out some important points or that you might be in the same situation, feel free to leave a comment below.

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