Should I work while studying for the Bar Exam?

Final exams are finished and you have graduated law school!  Congrats!  Time to relax, right?  Unfortunately, the answer is not yet (although relaxing by the pool and studying is not the worst thing in the world).  As everyone knows, the grand prize for graduating from law school is sitting for a grueling two day “minimum competency exam” called the Bar Exam.  Now you are faced with a choice: should you try to work while studying or dedicate all of your time to the exam? Every person is different, and our office cannot decide for you which is best, but we can offer some advice when making your decision on whether to work.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when deciding whether to work while studying for the exam:

First, how disciplined are you?  By now, you should know how much time you will need to devote to studying. Ask yourself: will I need to study full time in order to pass the exam?   Will I be able to devote half a day to studying and half a day to work? Will I be able to take a few days off to work and study full-time the remaining days?  If you know that no matter what you do, you will have time to work on the side, it might be worth splitting your time.  Not only will the experience be beneficial to you later (particularly if you are working in the legal field), but it can serve to take your mind off the exam and be a stress reliever.

Second, will it hinder how you study? If you choose to work while studying, it is likely that you will be doing a lot of studying on your own.  You will need to be self-motivated and disciplined.  Investigate the different bar preparation options.  Can you take the materials and study them on your own or do you need to be in class?  Do not force yourself to study alone if you are better in a group setting. There are a variety of bar preparation materials available in many different media (including video and audio), so the options are out there if you look for them.

Third, would you be foregoing an opportunity if you do not consider working over the summer?  If you have a job offer or a job prospect that would require you to work over the summer, seriously consider working while studying.  The primary purpose of your last three years of study has been to prepare for a legal career, so do not foreclose a good opportunity just because you need to study for the exam.  Discuss your options with your potential employer and determine whether you believe you will be able to succeed at your job and your study simultaneously.

Each of these questions should help you better decide whether working and studying is an option for you. While working and studying has its advantages, the priority is the Bar Exam, so don’t sweat it if working is simply not feasible.

If you want additional tips for working while studying for the bar exam, check out Solo Practice University’s 10 Tips for Working and Studying for the Bar Exam.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the CSO.

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