Starting early versus bar trip/broke and lazy summer Forum

[Anonymous User]

Can't remember if I asked this before, but if so I apologize!

I'm having so much trouble trying to decide if I should ask my firm whether I can start early or not. I won't be taking the bar this summer, so I could theoretically start full-time as an associate at the end of June. The money would prevent me from having to try to get a private loan in the next couple of weeks before my advance kicks in (plus, obviously, saving up a lot of money to pay loans with), and would mean I could afford to pay rent in the city during the summer rather than bouncing around from friend to friend with my cat. My friends will also be studying for the bar in July, so we could keep similar schedules and I would have something to do during the day/evening/all of my time. The firm might not even say that I can, but I don't want to ask unless I'm sure that I would do it if possible.

BUT, this would mean I miss out on a bar trip, since I probably won't be able to get the time off after working for only a couple of months. Most lawyers I meet seem to have cherished their bar trips and one partner even told me that he thinks about that time in his life every day, especially when things get hard at work. I feel like I might be sacrificing an experience I wouldn't fully appreciate the value of until I am working. WWYD?

[JenDarby]

I suppose it depends on your circumstances. I am starting work immediately after I graduate (the day after my last final and I have worked 15-25 hours a week all year). I will also be working part time during bar prep. A few of the attorneys I work with think I am crazy for this, but I am perfectly happy working and would rather make money. I had a few years in between UG and law school so maybe the break would matter to me more if I was K-JD, I'm not sure. Also, I took a trip during spring break with my bf. He can't go on another trip during that period and most my friends doing bar trips are going with their SOs, so I would rather work and make money than travel alone or sit around doing nothing.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I didn't take a bar trip, and I really wish I had - but only because of how I felt after actually taking the bar. It was really hard to get out of the "omg omg I have to study what are the elements of battery" mindset, so I spent the couple of weeks after the exam really feeling at loose ends and fairly miserable. It was always nice to realize, wait, I actually DON'T have to study any more, but I was more burned out than I had expected. So for me, at least, the value of the trip would have been getting entirely away from the study mindset and dealing with the burnout. If I hadn't take the exam and had the post-exam letdown going on, I wouldn't have cared. So if I were in your position, I would much rather try to negotiate with my firm to take a trip after I actually took the bar (though I realize that might not be feasible) than start later to take one this summer.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks so much for your input, guys!

[NYSprague]

Why aren't you taking the bar? Why do you need a bar trip if you aren't taking the bar?
You sound like something is off in your thinking here. Why would you do nothing and take an advance instead of working, just so you can have a trip that you can't afford.

[Anonymous User]

Why aren't you taking the bar? Why do you need a bar trip if you aren't taking the bar?
You sound like something is off in your thinking here.

Is there? Like what? This is exactly the kind of reality check I need - thank you. ETA: your point above is totally valid and exactly what I need to hear. Everyone else I know is planning and stuff and it's easy to get sucked into it all.

After graduation, most of my friends will be traveling and I am thinking that this might be the last time we all have the opportunity to do something like this together. Work and life gets in the way. I don't need a bar trip, which is why I'm having this dilemma, but I've heard it's sort of a rite of passage and something that I might regret not doing in the future. Ultimately, this isn't a huge deal or anything, but I wanted to get opinions on the choice. Also, I recognize that this is a nice problem to have, so I hope this question isn't upsetting anyone.

(FWIW, I've already taken the bar before law school because of a foreign law degree, so I won't be taking it in the future either).

[JenDarby]

Honestly the people who make a big deal about their bar trip probably never took a real trip before that. So if you have never traveled abroad or done anything like that (but foreign law degree...?) than this may be the time. I'm sure it's a ton of fun, but nothing about a trip after graduation should be inherently more life changing than a trip you took on spring break or winter break or whenever, IMO. If you're working big law you can afford to take a trip. So if you want to take one than take an advance and do it.

I get two weeks vacation and we have 11 holidays throughout the year. I won't be working insane hours and really will be able to take all my vacation with no problem. In biglaw it probably won't be so easy to actually get away, so if that concerns you than enjoy a week before working the rest of your life.

There's no right or wrong answer here, do what will make you happy.

[NYSprague]

Why aren't you taking the bar? Why do you need a bar trip if you aren't taking the bar?
You sound like something is off in your thinking here.

Is there? Like what? This is exactly the kind of reality check I need - thank you. ETA: your point above is totally valid and exactly what I need to hear. Everyone else I know is planning and stuff and it's easy to get sucked into it all.

After graduation, most of my friends will be traveling and I am thinking that this might be the last time we all have the opportunity to do something like this together. Work and life gets in the way. I don't need a bar trip, which is why I'm having this dilemma, but I've heard it's sort of a rite of passage and something that I might regret not doing in the future. Ultimately, this isn't a huge deal or anything, but I wanted to get opinions on the choice. Also, I recognize that this is a nice problem to have, so I hope this question isn't upsetting anyone.

(FWIW, I've already taken the bar before law school because of a foreign law degree, so I won't be taking it in the future either).

I would find out if I can start early and ask for vacation the weeks you would want to be gone. If you have a great trip you want to take with friends, I don't know why you shouldn't take it.

Maybe you could clerk part-time if you don't want to start full-time yet.
What exactly would you do with your summer otherwise?

I didn't understand you are already licensed.

[NYSprague]

I suppose it depends on your circumstances. I am starting work immediately after I graduate (the day after my last final and I have worked 15-25 hours a week all year). I will also be working part time during bar prep. A few of the attorneys I work with think I am crazy for this, but I am perfectly happy working and would rather make money. I had a few years in between UG and law school so maybe the break would matter to me more if I was K-JD, I'm not sure. Also, I took a trip during spring break with my bf. He can't go on another trip during that period and most my friends doing bar trips are going with their SOs, so I would rather work and make money than travel alone or sit around doing nothing.

I worked too. I recommend a couple of weeks off to just study before the exam.

[TTRansfer]

I didn't take a bar trip, and I really wish I had - but only because of how I felt after actually taking the bar. It was really hard to get out of the "omg omg I have to study what are the elements of battery" mindset, so I spent the couple of weeks after the exam really feeling at loose ends and fairly miserable. It was always nice to realize, wait, I actually DON'T have to study any more, but I was more burned out than I had expected. So for me, at least, the value of the trip would have been getting entirely away from the study mindset and dealing with the burnout. If I hadn't take the exam and had the post-exam letdown going on, I wouldn't have cared. So if I were in your position, I would much rather try to negotiate with my firm to take a trip after I actually took the bar (though I realize that might not be feasible) than start later to take one this summer.

What was your study schedule like if you don't mind me asking? I'm trying to gauge just how much I should be studying for the bar and when to actually start studying.

[Old Gregg]

There are two strategies. One is doing nothing until July 4 and then studying like crazy. The other is consistently putting in 4-5 hours of solid studying every day from May 1. I did both ways and passed each time. I much preferred the latter, but it really takes dedication to consistently put in those 4-5 hours every day.

[TTRansfer]

There are two strategies. One is doing nothing until July 4 and then studying like crazy. The other is consistently putting in 4-5 hours of solid studying every day from May 1. I did both ways and passed each time. I much preferred the latter, but it really takes dedication to consistently put in those 4-5 hours every day.

I'll probably be starting around May 20th (moving in between the end of finals and such).

[Old Gregg]

There are two strategies. One is doing nothing until July 4 and then studying like crazy. The other is consistently putting in 4-5 hours of solid studying every day from May 1. I did both ways and passed each time. I much preferred the latter, but it really takes dedication to consistently put in those 4-5 hours every day.

I'll probably be starting around May 20th (moving in between the end of finals and such).

That's fine. I wasted the first 20 days studying a subject that was highly unlikely to end up on the exam.

[JenDarby]

There are two strategies. One is doing nothing until July 4 and then studying like crazy. The other is consistently putting in 4-5 hours of solid studying every day from May 1. I did both ways and passed each time. I much preferred the latter, but it really takes dedication to consistently put in those 4-5 hours every day.

People really wait until July 4th? My bar prep classes start May 28th and I will also be working around 15 hours a week. I plan to take the two weeks before the bar entirely off.

[Old Gregg]

There are two strategies. One is doing nothing until July 4 and then studying like crazy. The other is consistently putting in 4-5 hours of solid studying every day from May 1. I did both ways and passed each time. I much preferred the latter, but it really takes dedication to consistently put in those 4-5 hours every day.

People really wait until July 4th? My bar prep classes start May 28th and I will also be working around 15 hours a week. I plan to take the two weeks before the bar entirely off.

I started a week after July 4. But yes, a lot actually study beginning July 4.

[A. Nony Mouse]

What was your study schedule like if you don't mind me asking? I'm trying to gauge just how much I should be studying for the bar and when to actually start studying.

I took Barbri and actually went to the live class every day (it's totally not necessary, it just worked for me), so I pretty much followed the Barbri schedule. I stopped reading the massive outlines pretty early because that was pointless. I think that probably fits the 4-5 hours solid studying every day that zweitbester mentions, from about Memorial Day, which was when my course started. Not so much on the weekends, though we had class on some Saturdays (including my birthday, which I spent doing a 100-question mock MBE, grr.)

I did go into crazy study mode/higher gear from about July 4, though - that was the point when the exam was close enough that I could start memorizing stuff and not forget it again by the time the exam rolled around. I probably should have started memorizing a little earlier, though. (For me, rote memorization was pretty key to the exam, even though I hate it, and it was totally cramming and I'd forgotten it all within a month or so.) So I can see the "study like crazy after July 4" method, too. I could have worked part-time or traveled a little or such before July 4 without it interfering with studying too much. After, not so much.

Also, I took Barbri pre-AMP, so I think it looks kind of different now. I'm convinced, though, that their method is to scare you to death, in part by grading harder and harder as the course goes on, so that you get terrified and study a ton and then credit it all to BarBri when you pass.