How to Survive Barbri and Studying for the Bar Exam

Most people who attend law school have a certain personality type-- go-getters, motivated, hard-working, competitive. In short, "A-type" personalities. Failing is not an option. So when bar applicants face the prospect of the humiliation of failing the bar exam, their first instinct is to formulate a plan to ensure that failure is impossible.

Ironically, some of the very actions that frenzied bar studiers take in an attempt to study "perfectly" are the very things that sabotage their chances of doing their very best.

What to DoWhat

• Barbri tells you to do. For the first month, do what Barbri tells you. Not more, not less. Stick to their plan: they know what they're doing. Many bar applicants think they can create their own magical and superior study format, but deviating significantly from Barbri's carefully-laid plans can result in disaster.
• Don't add more work than there already is. In that first month you'll be tempted to create flashcards as you're reading, despite the fact that you can barely keep up with the reading. Wait until the second month to start with flashcards, if that's a study tool you think will help. Barbri is building you up to the memorization stage, so wait until they tell you it's start time to memorizing, and then break out the flashcards.
• Don't over-study. Yes, there's too much of a good thing. You brain can only consume so much before it starts snoozing on you. Take regular breaks, get up and walk around for a minute when you find your mind drifting. It's okay to do a little reading ahead if you find yourself with a second wind, but don't push yourself to go above and beyond the assignment when you can tell you are tapped out for the day.

What Not to DoDisregard

• Barbri's study plan. They're not perfect, but they have been doing this for quite some time and they've learned a few tricks and strategies. Trust in the system. You paid them a lot of money for their expertise; utilize it.
• Skip lectures. You learn lots from lectures that you won't find in the study books. Being in the classroom and listening to the lecture helps keep you engaged in a way that reading for hours won't. Also, many of the Barbri instructors are gifted in making a difficult concept seem relatively easy. Skipping lectures will hurt you.
• Go into caffeine overload. Stick to your regular caffeine habits. If you drink two cups of coffee in the morning, adding a Red Bull and an iced cafe mocha to your regimen is not going to provide any benefit. It will likely lead to increased edginess and anxiety.
• Forget to eat and exercise. Yes, it's hard to justify going to the gym or taking a jog when there are so many hours of studying ahead of you, but the stress relief you'll experience from increasing your endorphin level is of greater benefit. Maybe you need to reduce the hours you spend in athletic physical activity, but don't cut it out entirely. Similarly, don't get into bad overeating or undereating habits. Eat healthy, small meals and snacks to keep that metabolism and energy level constant, and resist the temptation for take-out or drive-thru foods "to save time" when you're worrying about wasting time you could be studying. Eating fatty, empty calories does nothing for your energy level, and you need your energy now.
• Cut your sleep schedule. This is important: you need your sleep. Your brain needs adequate time to process and rest. So does your body. Sure, it's unavoidable that you'll be cramming near the end, but until then, try to keep your sleep schedule as regular as possible.

It's a race, yes, but it's a marathon and not a sprint. Pace yourself, try to keep your "injuries" to a minimum, and you'll find yourself crossing the finish line with a relative lack of stress and anxiety-- not to mention a better chance of getting that gold medal: a passing score.