Bar candidates across the Gulf South, Midwest, and nationwide are working hard to prepare for the February bar examinations. As one of the final steps before becoming licensed attorneys and practicing law, the bar exam represents a critical moment for aspiring legal professionals.
Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith added ten new attorneys to our team in the fall of 2024, and these recent law school graduates successfully passed their state bar examinations. As the bar exam was fresh in their mind and experience, we asked them what guidance helped them the most during their preparation, what surprised them about the process, and what advice they’d give themselves now having passed and practicing law for Galloway.
Advice Pays Off
Advice from a cherished mentor or seasoned attorney can assist bar candidates in their preparation. Their experience gives peace of mind during a stressful time. Tess Layton, an Associate in Galloway’s Dallas office and graduate of LSU Law, said she was told not to stress over “finishing” the bar prep course. “Most people don’t finish 100% of the course, me included. You know yourself best and know what and how much you need to study, and you know a lot more than you think you do.” Tess added.
Hannelore “Hanny” Saab, Tess’ Texas colleague in the Houston office and graduate of South Texas College of Law, echoed those sentiments. “Truly focus on what works best for you and not compare yourself to others,” Hanny said. “Everyone has their own approach and timeline, so don’t get caught up in how other people are studying. The goal is to do everything you can to prepare so that when you sit for the exam, you can feel confident that you gave it your all.”
For Sanjay Das, an attorney in New Orleans and a graduate of Tulane University Law School, establishing a consistent routine and sticking to it was significant. “It sounds straightforward, but having a daily schedule, even if it’s a loose one, made all the difference. That being said, I really appreciated when people reminded me not to beat myself up for missing a day here or there.
Balancing study with enjoyable activities was key for Rachel Grimley of Galloway’s Tampa office and a graduate of Levin College at the University of Florida. “Whether that is having dinner with friends, taking an afternoon of studying off to go to the beach, or watching your favorite shows, you cannot make the most of your study time if you are burnt out from studying 24/7.” She added, “If you find balance, your study time will be more productive.”
Productivity can lead to prospective. For Nicki Villarrubia, an Associate in Gulfport and a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, she found that examining the why and how of the exam questions was a pivotal piece of advice. “When practicing, don’t simply accept that you got an answer wrong – figure out why you chose the answer you chose and why it’s wrong.” She found that developing a strong answer intuition helps tremendously, not only in answering faster, but “in having a greater chance of answering correctly.”
Taking The Test
When it came time to sit for the examination, Rachel was surprised that she had seen some version of the topics and questions during her bar prep course. “While there are certainly curveballs, following the pace and plan of your course allows you to have some exposure to a vast majority of what was on the test.
Tess was also surprised by the test itself, encouraged by the focus of those around her. “You are in a large room with hundreds of other people. It’s intimidating but also helpful to really focus and get in the ‘test taking’ zone.”
Echoing Tess, Sanjay was surprised by the sense of community that came with the test. “Everyone studies and takes tests differently, but having a network of people I could reach out to whenever I had a question or needed a mental break just to chat was important.”
Nicki surprised herself, overcoming her exhaustion and her anticipated lack of confidence. “I didn’t expect that I actually felt prepared once I opened my exam booklet. At some point toward the end of bar prep, all of the subject matter and rules suddenly seemed more digestible.”
Hanny agreed – “the most surprising part was realizing just how much information my brain can hold. During prep, it felt like an overwhelming amount of material, but somehow, you get to a point where it all starts to click, and you can retain and recall a lot more than you initially thought possible.”
Paying It Forward
Advice to the former selves can be helpful to those sitting for the examination in February. Here is what they would share based on their experience:
- “Be patient. Bar prep is a marathon, not a sprint. Every day might not be perfect, but it all adds up in the end. Be kind to yourself and trust the process.” – Hanny
- “Focus on taking past exams. You can know the material like the back of your hand, but if you don’t understand how the examiners like to approach the various topics, the essay questions can catch you off guard.” – Sanjay
- “You’ll never feel 100% prepared, and that’s okay. This test is about minimum competency, and if you study hard and try your best, you will be fine. You have already completed three difficult years of studying and exams, you can do this.” – Tess
- “Focus on what is most commonly tested. The key is to really master the subjects that are guaranteed or very likely to come up.” – Rachel
- “What matters more than the number of hours you study is consistency. If you aren’t consistently doing practice questions, reviewing material, and actively listening, you will end up doing more work in the end. There are no shortcuts in bar prep!” – Nicki