ITT: Working full time and taking the bar Forum

[Bildungsroman]

This sucks dick.

[NonTradHealthLaw]

5:30am comes early. 11:30pm comes late.

[duskfall]

This sucks dick.

when i worked full time and studied for the cal bar, I had to wake up 3am every morning and studied about four hours before I headed to work. i also listened to lectures on my phone whenever I was on the go (i.e., walking to get lunch, working out at gym, driving home, etc.).

[Scarletlady]

Just checking in to see how the other full-time workers are holding up. Also, I'm curious about others' study schedules and law school experiences.

Personally, I went PT through school, so I have been trying to stick to my 1L schedule of studying 7:30-8:30am, an hour at lunch, and 6:30-11:00 pm, M-F and racking up another 15-20 on the weekend. I'm hitting BarBri's targets, but I can't shake off the feeling that I could be doing more if I wasn't working (sadly not an option), adding more stress to what already is pretty terrible.

[sparty99]

i've given up...way too behind. Focusing on the feb test....

[ph14]

Is anyone doing a pre-clerkship SA? I heard that some firms pretty much just let you study all day while you're at work and don't give you any assignments. I was wondering whether that was true or not?

[hous]

This sucks dick.

when i worked full time and studied for the cal bar, I had to wake up 3am every morning and studied about four hours before I headed to work. i also listened to lectures on my phone whenever I was on the go (i.e., walking to get lunch, working out at gym, driving home, etc.).

You studied for the bar more than I am and I'm not working!

[nygrrrl]

I've gone full on PT at this point and I've already given notice that I won't be working the last 2 weeks of July.
Cannot imagine how the FT people are doing it.

[Bildungsroman]

I've gone full on PT at this point and I've already given notice that I won't be working the last 2 weeks of July.
Cannot imagine how the FT people are doing it.

I am very lucky to get the last two weeks of July off, but I am still working full time until then. Basically I keep getting further behind and am really counting on making efficient use of those two weeks.

[nygrrrl]

I've gone full on PT at this point and I've already given notice that I won't be working the last 2 weeks of July.
Cannot imagine how the FT people are doing it.

I am very lucky to get the last two weeks of July off, but I am still working full time until then. Basically I keep getting further behind and am really counting on making efficient use of those two weeks.

Hey, Bilds!
How are you ??
I had a drink tonight with my law school mentor (a big firm partner I've known for years) and I asked him about this. He said to take it with a grain of "it was a couple decades ago" salt, but that he worked FT up until the last two weeks and then SLAMMED. He said it was the worst two weeks of his life, but he pulled it off... and I (we) can, too.
I'm doing Barbri and I realized fairly early on that I wouldn't be able to keep up with their schedule AND work (even PT.) Which course are you doing?

[andythefir]

I'm doing Kaplan and have been able to (more or less) keep up with the lecture schedule. I've been scoring 60-70% on the practice questions, and from what I can tell I need to get in the 65% range. Kaplan's content ends more than a week before D-day, so I'm hopeful I can use that time to catch up.

The toughest thing for me is knowing that my friends have nothing to do but study. And seeing them complain about bar prep on Facebook. On the other hand, I'd rather be in this position than have to look for work.

Has anyone actually talked to their employer about what happens if you don't pass? It's insane to put us in this position and then punish us if we aren't able to pull off a pretty nifty trick.

[sparty99]

I think if you take the last 2 weeks off and if you finish all the lectures by first week of July, you should be in decent shape. It's the videos that are holding me back. They take forever. That's why I'm focusing more on Feb. Debating if I should show up for the July test just to get a feel.

[LAWYER2]

How is everyone holding up?

I requested the last two weeks off prior to the exam, however I will not get paid for it. So it'll literally cost me 2 grand to do so. I only work part-time, and generally have the liberty to study while at work (lectures, Online MBE's & outlining). I'm debating if should cut it back one-week off so I won't have to take such a financial hit. Any input?

[Scarletlady]

How is everyone holding up?

I requested the last two weeks off prior to the exam, however I will not get paid for it. So it'll literally cost me 2 grand to do so. I only work part-time, and generally have the liberty to study while at work (lectures, Online MBE's & outlining). I'm debating if should cut it back one-week off so I won't have to take such a financial hit. Any input?

I just took this past week off and will back to FT through exam week, it honestly felt like enough for me, but I thrive under pressure.

Maybe negotiate with work for 1 week that may extend into 2 depending on how you feel?

[JCougar]

I did this last year while working volunteer clerking for a FedGov ALJ for ~30 hours a week. I tried to go to the library after work, but when I did, I was usually too tired to focus. By the time the fourth of July rolled around, I had only gotten through like 4 of the 19 subjects, and hadn't even started on the MBE. I ended up taking 3 weeks off before the exam and basically did 15-hour study days.

I passed, but it was Illinois, which is kind of a joke bar exam. 90% pass rate for first-time takers.

[sparty99]

How is everyone holding up?

I requested the last two weeks off prior to the exam, however I will not get paid for it. So it'll literally cost me 2 grand to do so. I only work part-time, and generally have the liberty to study while at work (lectures, Online MBE's & outlining). I'm debating if should cut it back one-week off so I won't have to take such a financial hit. Any input?

I would take the two weeks off. Maybe when you come back you can make up the hours, but it's much more important that you pass.

[Bildungsroman]

So extremely behind and jealously snorting at the complaints of people who had unlimited free time over the past two months to study.

This is a problem of my own making but it's still a problem. Thank goodness for the MBE.

[LAWYER2]

So extremely behind and jealously snorting at the complaints of people who had unlimited free time over the past two months to study.

This is a problem of my own making but it's still a problem. Thank goodness for the MBE.

IKR! I've been taking the posted complaints with a boulder of salt, thinking to myself about the grown folk problems I have as well. (work, family, bills, etc).
The MBE is my money shot, although I've been going over the essays with a fine tooth comb, I have nothing memorized, but can put together coherent rule statements when the rubber meets the road.
I took this week off work, and praying that I've been using my time wisely.

[sparty99]

How did it all go for y'all?

[LAWYER2]

How did it all go for y'all?

Seemed pretty straight forward for me, but hearing everyone else complain about how tough the MBE was both worried and gave me hope. I was back at work this morning. It was good to be surrounded by people who all went through the same thing at some point. Can't wait till Oct. 4th, till then, back on the grind!

How'd you feel about it?

[deadpanic]

I worked full time while taking a second state bar exam. It was a bitch but I passed. I also didn't have to take the MBE or I may not have made it. Also, to be fair, I got 5 days off before the bar exam to really cram, so that probably helped too.

It can be done--you just have to study smarter. And if you're doing BarBri (I self-studied for the bar I took while working full time) then you should know it is impossible (and pointless) to keep up with their schedule even without working.

[sparty99]

How did it all go for y'all?

Seemed pretty straight forward for me, but hearing everyone else complain about how tough the MBE was both worried and gave me hope. I was back at work this morning. It was good to be surrounded by people who all went through the same thing at some point. Can't wait till Oct. 4th, till then, back on the grind!

How'd you feel about it?

I think it wasn't too bad. Prepping to take another state's bar in February starting Sept 1.