Studying for the California Bar Exam: How Much Is Enough?

Can I take weekends off while studying for the California bar exam?  Is it true that I don't need to start seriously studying for the California bar exam until July?  How many hours should I study for the California bar exam per day?

These types of questions really miss the point.  Below the jump I offer my thoughts on these questions and the real concerns that should be addressed as you begin your studies.

During law school you're  juggling multiple classes and other commitments (e.g., student organizations, journals, externships), so you must figure out how to keep all of the plates spinning.  That is, you must figure out just how much is enough to satisfy each of your different commitments.

Right now you should only be worried about passing the California bar exam.  Thus, it's not a matter of figuring out how much is "enough," but of giving it your all.  Your goal should be to only have to take the exam one time.  If you do not study enough, I guarantee you that you will have regrets when you see that your name does not appear on the pass list.  I do not know a single person who regrets studying too much and passing.  Don't think of this as your typical summer (i.e., do not pity yourself for not running off to the Caribbean or spending your weekends drunk by the pool).

You should study as much as is personally necessary to retain the information and hone your testing skills so that you pass the California bar exam.  Some subjects or portions of the bar exam may require more work than others.  We all have our different strengths and weaknesses.  Some friends may need to work much longer hours while a simple 8-7 routine may be enough for others - do not let what others are doing distract you.  Your focus should always be on yourself, your personal progress, and your needs.

You should watch and follow along with each lecture.  You should not be distracted while doing so (i.e., no chatting, texting, or internet searching).  You should be actively engaged, thinking about what's being said and whether it makes sense to you.  Note anything that requires a little more reading later.  You should try do do all of the practice essays and MBE questions that are assigned to you.  This won't always be easy and there are some short-cuts that I will discuss later, but you should make a good faith effort to perform all of the tasks assigned to you.  Trust that everything is assigned for a reason.  You should generally plan on working from morning until bedtime.  You should factor in breaks for lunch, dinner, a workout, and a few stress-reducing breaks.  You should guard your time carefully - do not waste time on tasks that do not help you learn, reduce your stress, or put you in a good mood (i.e., steer clear of Facebook).  You should plan on going to bed at a reasonable hour each night, generally between 10 and 11 p.m.  Crafting a routine that works for you is a key stress-free success; I will elaborate more on this in another post.

You should treat your preparation for the California bar exam like training for a marathon.  Sure, it's a cliche, but it's one for a reason.  This is not the type of test that you can cram for the night before.  With most commercial bar study programs, the first few weeks are all about the "big 6" subjects - the subjects tested on the MBE which can also show up as essay subjects.  Yes, these are classes that you took your 1L year, but that was a long time ago and you likely learned the information in a different, more complex manner than is necessary for the bar exam.  Why slack off until July and miss out on a refresher course on these major subjects?  Just start out slow and steady from the beginning.

On a similar note, pace yourself.  Work hard and put in the hours, but guard your mental and physical health.  Get plenty of rest.  Engage in stress-reducing activities (e.g., go for a run/swim, call a loved one, take a walk break) so that you maintain a clear, focused mind.  A small amount of stress or anxiety can be helpful to stay motivated, but you do not want to have so many negative thoughts racing through your mind that you cannot focus or feel drained.  See the forest through the trees - you have a long road of studying ahead of you and much information to retain.  If you are feeling totally drained or upset, take a break.  Step away for a minute.  If you really can't calm yourself down, don't be afraid to call it a night.  You're allowed to do so every now and again; just be sure to keep yourself in check.