Law Students

Bar Study Begins

By Andrea

The Massachusetts bar exam is in 10 weeks and 2 days. Today was my first day on the job.

The BAR/BRI classes don't start until next week, I think, but today I cracked open Dan's 2006 Conviser Mini Review and started reading the criminal law and procedure outlines. This may seem anal, but it isn't when you consider that I take care of a baby by myself 9-10 hours a day, and so don't exactly have the ability to make bar study my full-time job. I'm going to be lucky to get in 3-4 hours a weekday (that is, less time than you'd spend just sitting in the lectures) and can probably fit in 4-5 hours a weekend day. I think.

I'm both intimidated and optimistic. This isn't the kind of thing I can write badly sourced but reasonably articulate papers for and get away with. I have to actually learn more than a dozen subjects, although only a few (Corporations, Agency & Partnership, Wills & Trusts, MA Procedure) are truly unfamiliar - the rest I've got something to hang onto. Right. And I feel just fine about skipping the class and using Dan's old stuff - looks like plenty to work with to me.

It's going to take a lot of discipline, organization, and creativity to get me to the passing point while still being with the baby all day. I'm going to record some of the really short outlines in Garage Band so I can listen while taking Becca for a walk on nice days. I'll be doing practice MBE questions when she naps and reading outlines while walking around wearing her in the Moby (nothing new - I'm actually wearing her right now while I finish this post.) 8-9 pm will be Bar Hour, and Dan will play with Becca while I study. Moms make it work.

But I'll probably whine a lot. Just so you're ready.

Full post as published by Peanut Butter Burrito on May 19, 2008 (boomark / email).