The Bar Exam for Dummies

by Atty. Analou Sazon


PRELIMINARIES

This should be the jumping board to psyche up for the momentous task ahead. Even this preliminary would need careful planning. But more than the efficiency factor, its better to be effective, therefore, always plan your trip around the pragmatic horizon.

1.

Brief. - Bring only things you really truly honestly need for the pre-week. Never overload. Prepare for a to-each-his-own scenario in the airport or port. You should never assume that someone would be there to meet and help you carry your luggage. Also, it’s good to trim down your materials to the most basic ones. You won’t have time to go over annotated books during the bar month. Go for codals instead and maybe reviewers and answers to bar questions. Also, outlines and notes will do. In this way, you will be constrained to limit yourself to these materials and avoid spreading yourself out too thin.

2.

Family Home. – Be it airline or vessel reservations and lodging places, be sure to confirm your billeting. Make sure the landlady or the manager of the condo or dorm personally confirms your reservation. Don’t be hesitant to ask about amenities and furnishings. The last thing you will need during the entire bar month is an uncomfortable lodging place.

3.

Grace Period. – Schedule your departure for Manila around a practical and comfortable time. Calculate the number of days you will need to process your permit and visit the Bar Confidant’s Office among other things. Also, allow yourself reasonable time/days for settling into your new place. You will need at least a week to allow the place to “grow on you” so that you will not shock your system and risk having to adjust yourself within the bar month. Pre-week reviews may help.

4.

Bill of Particulars. – Be sure everything is complete for the processing of your bar permits. Ask around and confirm the completion of the requirements before leaving for Manila. Inquire at the Bar Confidant’s Office from time to time.

5.

Adjust your body clock. – Months before the Bar, make sure you train yourself to wake up at 5 am and stay wide awake and alert till 5 pm. This will simulate the examination schedule. Also train yourself to eat a fast but full lunch. This will require a very good technique. Lastly, as a very popular reviewer would suggest, “run the marathon”. Practice answering Bar questions using the exact same sign pen you will use during the bar within the exact bar examination time. That is 8am-12pm and 2pm-5pm. This will train your hands to write continuously for 4 hours.

6.

Support Pendente Lite. – Take your vitamins, eat healthy, and drink lots of water. Never forget physical activities, you need that to keep your brain running smoothly too. If you have to try some new supplements, do so months before the bar so that you can monitor your body’s response.


Of course, you should have imbibed the 4L’s (law, logic, language, legible handwriting) in your system by now.



THE FIRST SATURDAY

This day should not be taken lightly for it is as nerve-racking as the first Sunday itself, especially for first time bar takers. The “fear of the unknown” will occupy position number one. Be weary of possible apparitions courtesy of early childhood traumas and fixations. You can never tell…

1.

Do lots of calming exercises. Panic attacks and anxieties will be in overload on this day. Be sure to catch yourself and not waste your energy on useless worries. Pray a lot.

2.

If possible, visit DLSU and find your assigned building. Familiarize yourself with the place and go through the anticipated routine. This will at least ease your nerves at some level. “Knowing thy enemy is winning half the battle”

3.

Limit your review to codals. Pace yourself and do not overdo it. You are already expected to be finished with deep studying during the past 5 days or so. This is the time to relax a bit.

4.

Attend the Bar Ops mass. – You will need God’s blessing as well as a break from studying. Fresh air outside the four walls of your condo or dorm will do you a lot of good. It will clear your head. Also, this is the time to break away from the monotony of legal provisions and indulge your weary brain in some good old “tsismis” of what’s and who’s.

5.

Savor the fellowship and the moral support given to you by your well wishers. They will be overflowing during the first Sunday but you will sorely miss the action after they abruptly become invisible during the 2nd and 3rd weeks. So get a load of them while they are still there.

6.

Call or talk to someone who inspires you.

7.

TRY to get enough rest. (or sleep if you’re one of those who can)



THE FIRST SUNDAY

THE first Sunday is the height of the pendulum. In the rollercoaster play of emotions that Bar takers would surely experience this whole month, the first Sunday will be the peak.

1.

Ab Initio. - You should have set your alarm clocks the night before to make sure you don’t over sleep. Literally jump out of bed and do some physical movements and stretching. Read tips if you have, to rouse your sleepy brain. Just read, don’t study them. More importantly, welcome the day like a meeting with an old lost dear friend. The Bar is not something to conquer. Befriend it.

2.

Pace yourself. Give enough time and provide for personal necessities. Re check things to bring and make sure you don’t forget your permit and pens. Survival kit is essential. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. (it’s advisable to make and keep a list according to your individual needs)

3.

Damages. - Instead of “tagip-TIPS”, rely on your personal preparation. Yes, you cynics! YOU CAN PASS THE BAR WITHOUT THOSE TIPS. Need testimonials? You won’t need to look very far.

4.

Subpoena. - Call someone who inspires you.

5.

Summons. - Call your family.


THE MOMENT

The make or break nature of this examination is not debatable but the good news is, we have the opportunity to make it lean more on the “make” side. Of course, it is expected that you have done your share of studying and preparation. This is the moment of truth.

1.

Remember your 4L’s.

2.

Be conscious of the time but don’t let it get the better of you.

3.

Calculate the minutes you would want to spend on a question to make sure you finish on time.

4.

Remember the techniques in formulating your answer. The pyramid or the inverted pyramid will be very helpful.

5.

Call to mind that the MOST minutes an examiner would spend on your booklet is 10. MAKE SURE HE GETS WHAT YOU MEAN IN TEN MINUTES. I’M TALKING ABOUT ALL 20 QUESTIONS. TEN MINUTES.

6.

PRAY.

7.

Think of someone who inspires you.


DURING THE PRE-WEEK

This is still crucial and you can’t let your guard down just yet. The days in between will need genius planning and technique because you can’t waste a single day and lose it to an ill-prepared schedule. Remember, every minute counts. Smart studying is the key.

1.

Destierro. - However, Mondays should be reserved for recreation and insanity. Off limits to books and review materials. Go out. You have the best excuse to have the audacity to indulge your most sinful desires and go zany. Just make sure you stay within the limits. Go malling, eat out or do something insane as a release. Just make sure you don’t tarnish La Salle’s immaculate reputation by doing something foolhardy. “Use sound discretion, after all, we are all of legal age.”

2.

Motion to Dismiss. - Do things that are not related to the bar. In a word, Un-law it!

3.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERRORS: Berate yourself if you feel that you want to give in to your penchant for discussing answers. NEVER DISCUSS ANSWERS OR TALK ABOUT THE PAST EXAM. Consider it fait accompli, moot and academic. You’ve done your part. Get over it. It will help ease your nerves, as in “nerbiyos”.

4.

Contract of Adhesion. - Tuesday onwards, back to serious business. Study, Study, Study but pace yourself. Prioritize subjects but rest when your body calls for it. Smart studying is the key. Don’t just study everything randomly. Chose more important topics to dwell on and disregard likely insignificant ones. Trust your instincts. “See the forest and not the trees” as one of our professors would say.

5.

Postponement. - And if you lose the passion, pause for a while and think of the reason why you are here in the first place.

6.

Subpoena. - Call someone who inspires you.


Getting Through the Rest of the Week

By the third week, you will feel the gradual but very pronounced loss of excitement, enthusiasm and energy. The enemy at this point? Giving in to self-pity and defeat because of the toll the bar brings physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. But hold on, dear Bar taker, just the fact that you have come to this point only tells you one thing. You are here because you deserve it. You’ve earned it. Now is the worst time to give up. Here’s a little inspiration : “ …you can never tell how close you are; it may be near when it seems afar; so stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit; its when things go rough that you must not quit.” Sustain your buoyancy. Keep floating.



HAPPY ENDING

Nothing beats preparation and passion but after all is said and done, you will walk out of La Salle’s gate soaked in beer feeling proud of yourself. You’ve gotten through the bar in one piece. It will be hard but you have to admit, it will also have its moments. Physically and emotionally, it will be a growing experience and not many people have the opportunity to claim that. That will constitute your BRAGGING RIGHTS.

Enjoy! Treat yourself. You deserve it. But before you go paint the town red, don’t forget to pay your courtesy calls. Give out your thank you cards. Gratitude is never an outmoded virtue.



THE FORMULA

“WORK AS IF NO PRAYER WOULD HELP,

AND PRAY AS IF NO WORK WOULD HELP.”

PREPARATION + PASSION and INSPIRATION + PRAYER
AND NEVER FORGET TO ENJOY THE WHOLE BAR EXPERIENCE!