7 Tips to Pass the Bar Exam if You Are a Foreign-Trained Lawyer or Graduate

Succeeding in the bar exam may seem like a pipe dream, especially if you are a foreign-trained lawyer or graduate. The road may be uphill, but it is not an unattainable goal.

These are the 7 tips I followed to succeed at the bar exam:

1) Set up a routine and stick to it

Try to organize your days so that you can have time for regular meals, and breaks, not just study. Don’t skip breakfast or have just fast sandwiches for lunch and dinner. Eat healthy food and give yourself time to rest. Last thing you want is to burn out.

Normally, I woke up around 7 am, had breakfast, studied from 9 am to 1 pm, had at least 1 hour off for lunch, studied from 2 or 2.30 pm to 7 or 7.30 pm, with a 30-minute break around 4.30 pm, had at least another hour off for dinner, and studied from 9pm to 11pm or 11.30 pm, if needed.

I scheduled to keep my Saturdays and Sundays off to rest or catch up if I had other commitments from the previous week. It took me almost 5 months to prepare for the exam, but I followed the described schedule only during the last 3 months; I spent the first two creating my notes.

If you want to focus on studying, consider our outlines. Topics generally tested on the UBE are visually organized to enhance the memorization process. No need of spending time or creating notes; just dive into and maximize your efforts.

2) “Recharge your batteries”

If you have a bad day, take the day off. Spending hours on the books is counterproductive. You don’t advance in your studies and don’t rest. In that situation, it’s just better to take the day or a portion of it off and relax. Be prepared to catch up the following day or study during the weekend so you avoid the avalanche effect.

3) Memorize

Memorization is fundamental. There is no knowledge without memorization. Understanding is crucial but not enough. Understanding and memorization are two sides of the same coin, i.e., knowledge. Simply understanding the hearsay concept will not help you pass the exam nor be an effective advocate. You need to memorize what it is, when it is used, and which exceptions it involves. Only when you have understood and memorized these aspects will you be able to recognize and use the hearsay concept properly. How do you know when you have really understood and memorized? When you can explain a concept to a lay person with closed books. For my study plan I used the CARMA method.

4) Focus your studies on the mostly tested topics

There are several bar exam prep materials available, and you may need to buy different types before finding the one that fits your studying method. Be careful not to spend precious time just reading or listening to rules and concepts. I recommend that you start memorizing as soon as possible. Also, some materials are so exhaustive or overwhelming that you may risk wasting energy on aspects that are rarely tested. Stay focused on the mostly tested topics, which generally are those offered in LL.M programs tailored for the bar exam. If you are still scouting for prep materials, our outlines are focused on topics mostly tested in the UBE jurisdictions. They present visually organized concepts and rules that you need to know if you want to increase your success rate.

5) Adopt the American perspective

As a foreigner myself, I know how easy it is to translate into our native language. Unfortunately, sometimes our mind seems to work against us as it translates automatically. How many times have you watched or read something in English and have had no problem to talk about it in your language but have found yourself unable to do the same in English? Probably, you have already experienced this while studying for the bar exam. Once you have understood a concept, you must switch to English and memorize it in English. There is no time for translation during the exam. Also, you need to look at concepts and rules from the U.S. perspective. Your common knowledge, based on your country’s rules and traditions, may lead you astray. This is why understanding and memorizing is essential. If you try to apply “your logic”, you may be wrong more times than you believe, regardless of how similar your country’s legal system is to the U.S. one. So, put the American hat on. That said, especially for multiple-choice questions, do not leave any question unanswered. If you really don’t know the answer, roll the dice. At that point, if you guess, you still have a chance to answer correctly. If you leave it blank, the answer will certainly count as wrong. So, you have nothing to lose and all to gain.

6)  Take mock tests in simulated exam conditions

Try to take a couple of mock exams. This will help you understand where you stand and which topics you need to focus on. It will help with time management, as well. Completing the exam on time is the goal. If you cannot, chances to pass it are drastically reduced. This is why you cannot translate, cannot spend too much time on a single question, and must guess when you do not know.

It’s important you mimic exam conditions, while taking the practice exam(s). So, wear a proper outfit, be able to check periodically a watch or clock, calculate snack and/or restroom breaks, keep the books closed, and don’t use notes. For me, taking 3 mock exams was very useful: it helped gauge my preparation and boost my confidence regarding finishing on time.   

7) Don’t get discouraged

The path can be full of pitfalls but with the right study method and materials, you can do it. Afterall, you have completed law school in your country and, perhaps have already passed the bar exam there. This means you have all the tools in your belt; you just need to pick the right ones and maybe adjust them a bit for this task. Good studies!