Overcoming Adversity (Some Self-Imposed) To Pass Another Bar [Archives]

One of reasons that Emma had a birthday celebration in Erick in July 2003 was that Holly took the kids to Oklahoma in the middle of that month so that I could prepare for the Texas Bar Exam at the end of that month. (Note: Taking two bar exams is the absolute height of stupidity and poor planning.)

Unlike two years before where I’d had the entire summer to prepare for the Ohio Bar Exam, here’s I was working, spending time in Gatlinburg, etc., In fact, only 10 days before the Texas Bar did I really began the prep process in earnest, which is why Holly took the kids to Oklahoma for a week.

I recall coming home to an empty house that Friday afternoon committed to the work at hand. But after playing one game of NCAA Football on the Playstation. And then one game begat another and then another and then I had to recruit for the upcoming season, etc., until–I kid you not–I noticed a ray of sunshine peaking into upstairs gameroom. Holy crap, it was now 7 a.m. on Saturday! I had played through the night instead of studying! And I was now too exhausted to study until I’d slept most of Saturday. Needless to say, I mentioned this inauspicious start to my studying until after I learned (spoiler alert) that I passed several months later.

I believe I spent the rest of that week studying, and Holly and the kids returned sometime on the weekend before the Tuesday start of the exam. On Sunday or Monday, Holly convinced me to take the kids to the community pool where I could study as they swam. I got a serious sunburn that prevented me from getting any sleep through the end of the exam on Thursday. Way to go, Holly! (Clearly, my sunburn was Holly’s fault.)

And while I certainly sweated out the next two months waiting for the results, you’ll be surprised at how meeting and observing your fellow testtakers can help soothe your anxiety. Only about 20% fail, and you can pretty much pick out 10-15% that are in serious jeopardy on the first day. My table mate for the exam made it clear to me that he had nearly no idea what he was doing. Quite a system we’ve created for licensing lawyers.

Anyway, two months later, my sunburn had healed (painfully) and I got my passing grade. I was now a licensed lawyer in two, count ‘em, two states and my poor study habits had become a funny anecdote rather than a tale of woe.

[Originally posted April 23, 2011]