***For Alli_esq, and anyone else studying for the NY BAR Exam***

[hisdiamondgirl]

Hi Alli,

Like I said in the other thread, I''m a new lawyer practicing in NY for the last three years (corporate litigation) and I figured I would start this thread to provide some support to you and anyone else studying for the NY Bar. I''ve been through the ordeal fairly recently so feel free to ask me any questions you may have, and I''m sure other lawyers will chime in too!

Good luck!

 

[alli_esq]

How awesome are you?! Thank you so much! I know I''m not the only one in this boat...

Any tips for staying sane? Or STARTING to be sane (since I have my doubts that I am to begin with? hehe)

 

[alli_esq]

btw, I''m going into matrimonial (if anyone will hire me!! hehe)...not sure if anyone else wants to chime in about their field...

hisdiamondgirl--do you work at a *big* firm?

 

[Gypsy]

Good luck everyone! Most helpful thing for me during the bar: The night before the exam when we were in Manhattan, I was going INSANE torturing myself with last minute cramming and my fiance took the books out of my hands, asked me to get dressed then took me to a FABULOUS (and long) dinner, we walked around 5th Ave and Madison afterward window shopping and just bonded. I went to sleep relaxed and actually SLEPT, wrapped in his arms, knowing everything would be okay no matter what. Then during the three days (I did NY and NJ) he had taken the time off and took incredible care of me... got me cut up fruit and would place it in front of me, would force me to take breaks, go swimming, or relax in a hot tub, take a bubble bath. I am NOT a relaxer by nature... so I would not have been able to do that without him.

So my advice, if you KNOW how to relax... the night before and during the duration do so. Or take along someone who can take care of you and force you to relax with them.

 

[isaku5]

Date: 5/8/2008 1:13:16 PM
Author: Gypsy
Good luck everyone! Most helpful thing for me during the bar: The night before the exam when we were in Manhattan, I was going INSANE torturing myself with last minute cramming and my fiance took the books out of my hands, asked me to get dressed then took me to a FABULOUS (and long) dinner, we walked around 5th Ave and Madison afterward window shopping and just bonded. I went to sleep relaxed and actually SLEPT, wrapped in his arms, knowing everything would be okay no matter what. Then during the three days (I did NY and NJ) he had taken the time off and took incredible care of me... got me cut up fruit and would place it in front of me, would force me to take breaks, go swimming, or relax in a hot tub, take a bubble bath. I am NOT a relaxer by nature... so I would not have been able to do that without him.

So my advice, if you KNOW how to relax... the night before and during the duration do so. Or take along someone who can take care of you and force you to relax with them.

This wouldn''t have been our perfect John, would it?

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 5/8/2008 1:44:01 PM
Author: isaku5

Date: 5/8/2008 1:13:16 PM
Author: Gypsy
Good luck everyone! Most helpful thing for me during the bar: The night before the exam when we were in Manhattan, I was going INSANE torturing myself with last minute cramming and my fiance took the books out of my hands, asked me to get dressed then took me to a FABULOUS (and long) dinner, we walked around 5th Ave and Madison afterward window shopping and just bonded. I went to sleep relaxed and actually SLEPT, wrapped in his arms, knowing everything would be okay no matter what. Then during the three days (I did NY and NJ) he had taken the time off and took incredible care of me... got me cut up fruit and would place it in front of me, would force me to take breaks, go swimming, or relax in a hot tub, take a bubble bath. I am NOT a relaxer by nature... so I would not have been able to do that without him.

So my advice, if you KNOW how to relax... the night before and during the duration do so. Or take along someone who can take care of you and force you to relax with them.

This wouldn''t have been our perfect John, would it?

Yes. That was one of my favorite, and most touching, of his perfect moments. I think I''ll remember that dinner and that walk along 5th forever.

We had checked into a hotel we booked through priceline (note, do not use priceline before bar), the hotel was under construction and our room was just below the jackhammer being used on the ceiling. The next day after my multi-state exam I couldn''t get a cab back as it was too busy from the Javitz center so I walked and had blisters all over my feet, got home to the jack hammer. John went down, complained about the noise and it stopped, drew a bath for me and my feet... left me to soak then went accross the street for food and fruit. We had dinner on the bed, and just talked. Then he let me cram.

I really think I passed the bar because of him. He''s my heart.

Okay well, he AND THE CATS are my heart. But, you know what I mean.

 

[alli_esq]

Aw, too sweet, Gypsy!!!

I told my FI long ago that he is going to have to up the sweetness factor during bar-time. During my first three rounds of law school exams, he was awesome--cooking for me, rubbing my back, doing whatever he could to make me comfortable and supported. Now he just sort of gave up! Haha...he says I''m used to the pressure exams bring

in any case, he says he''ll be sweet over the court of the next several months--I hope he can manage it...I know I tend to be a bit of a monster during periods of high stress

we are going away for a long weekend starting Saturday to celebrate my last weekend of freedom, since BAR/BRI starts next week (I actually have a paper due that I''m not working on right now, obviously, but oh well)...and I''m hoping to use this weekend as an opportunity to reconnect with him--we really haven''t had much time to do that since we got engaged, since he proposed almost 3 weeks ago when I was first starting to study like crazy for finals!

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 5/8/2008 2:01:21 PM
Author: alli_esq
Aw, too sweet, Gypsy!!!

I told my FI long ago that he is going to have to up the sweetness factor during bar-time. During my first three rounds of law school exams, he was awesome--cooking for me, rubbing my back, doing whatever he could to make me comfortable and supported. Now he just sort of gave up! Haha...he says I''m used to the pressure exams bring

in any case, he says he''ll be sweet over the court of the next several months--I hope he can manage it...I know I tend to be a bit of a monster during periods of high stress

we are going away for a long weekend starting Saturday to celebrate my last weekend of freedom, since BAR/BRI starts next week (I actually have a paper due that I''m not working on right now, obviously, but oh well)...and I''m hoping to use this weekend as an opportunity to reconnect with him--we really haven''t had much time to do that since we got engaged, since he proposed almost 3 weeks ago when I was first starting to study like crazy for finals!

I have yet to meet anyone who is anything but a bit of a monster during the stress of bar study. It''s par for the course. Just prepare him and let him know you need and appreciate his support. He sounds wonderful, so I think you''ll be fine.

As for this last weekend of freedom. I personally stress at the thought of enforced and structured ''reconnecting and rebonding'' time. Which is to say the least counter productive. So if I may, I''d advise you to not think of this weekend that way, and instead just think of it as time to relax with your best freind, and have some fun. The reconnecting and rebonding will follow. I know you guys are going to have a blast.

Ups and downs, especially in times of stress are normal... try not to stress about them if you can. ((HUGS)).

 

[LegacyGirl]

OH NO!!!! No bar talk on Pricescope!! AWWW Now where can I go to get away??? LOL

<-- Fl Bar here

I hate the studying it''s killing me. Good luck everyone!

 

[alli_esq]

Oh, I hear ya about the bonding, Gypsy! I probably didn''t word that the way I really think of it--
we''re actually going away because my little brother (who''s not so little...haha) just turned 21 on Tuesday, and we''re going with him and his friend to our family''s cabin the middle of the woods, and just partying and sleeping and eating BBQ and playin poker

It''ll be loads of fun--it always is whenever we go away with my bro!

Thanks for the advice, though--it''s all very appreciated

 

[hisdiamondgirl]

So I finally am able to check back in...glad you found the thread alli!

And sorry Legacygirl

, but now you can come here for support too if you need it!!!

About reducing the stress, I found a few things that were helpful. I am not sure whether you are going to be studying at home or somewhere else, but I would HIGHLY recommend studying at a library somewhere. You might not want to do it at your school library because people are likely to be freaking out there and that certainly doesn''t help, but any public library is fine. The important point is to keep the place where you are going to be going to sleep at night FREE of bar-related stuff. I found that, for me, this really helped me calm down and really just relax at the end of the day.

Also, I don''t know how bar/bri does it because I took Pieper, but he really mapped out for us exactly what we needed to be doing each day and I really tried to keep up with his schedule. I may have fallen behind a day or two, but I never let myself fall behind more than that, even if I had to study for a few more hours than usual on any given day. If he said do 50 MBE questions, I would do 50 questions no more, no less. Although you might be tempted to want to do more sometimes, I would really just keep whatever pace bar/bri tells you to keep...they know what they''re doing! On a similar point, I''m not sure if bar/bri puts time off in your schedule, but Pieper did (he would give us afternoons, evenings, or whole days off!!!) and I made it a point to force myself to actually take the time off. So do it, take the time off, you''ll need it!!! I remember specifically that he told us to take the entire 4th of July off and I thought he was crazy but I forced myself to do it (although I did carry around flash cards in my purse all day, but did not look at them at all!!!!), and was able to head into July feeling a little refreshed!

Gypsy -- how sweet that your FI was so supportive during this whole process. God knows I could have used some peace and quiet, but unfortunately, my BF''s ex decided to go psycho and stalk us while we were BOTH studying! It was not pretty!

I will keep thinking and let you know if I think of any other advice!

 

[hisdiamondgirl]

Too late to edit, but I forgot to answer your question alli...yes I''m at a *big* law firm, and it honestly hasn''t been great, but could be a lot worse from what I hear goes on in other places!

 

[Ms.Lola]

Hi Ladies,

Just wanted to join in the convo and wish all you studying for the NY bar good luck! I know it''s going to be hellish, but in a way I''m so jealous of you cuz I''m just finishing up my 2L year...knowing I have one year left is so....exhausting. And of course I''m in Pricescope instead of finishing my last papers. I''m in NYC too, so I''ll be in your shoes next year!

 

[LegacyGirl]

Ali as for jobs right now I work for the Chapter 13 BR Trustee and I swear it is such a posh job. I would love to be a staff attorney here.

I did my concentration in Children and Family Law and after working here I can't imagine doing anything but BR work.

 

[LegacyGirl]

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!#$^^%*&%$^&^^*(*%$t^#$%@#%&*($#%@#$@!!!!!!!!


Ok I feel better now. Back to the books...

 

[Layney]

I''m not writing the NY bar, but I am in the middle of the Ontario bar exams - I wrote the barristers last week and the solicitors exam this week

. Unfortunately, I don''t have any suggestions for managing the stress, but I did want to wish everyone else good luck.