I hate studying

Have I said that already? I really do not like it. I've never been much of a studier anyway. In high school, I was one of those who got good grades despite minimal effort. In college, I got by, though I definitely partied more than I studied. In my last year of college, I did see that my grades were better if I studied. Go figure. Law school wasn't too much different, but I justified my lack of studying with the fact that I was working full time. I studied enough to get a good enough grade.

Studying for the bar exam the first time around wasn't so bad, mainly because all of my classmates were in the same stressed out boat I was. And, I knew that I only had to know enough to pass. It was only a test of minimal competency. Well, obviously I either didn't learn enough to *just* pass it or I'm not minimally competent.

This time, honestly, has been pure hell so far. One thing that is different is that I don't have that same support group that I had last time. The other thing is that more people are telling me what I should do differently to pass. While I know their intent is good, I have to bite my tongue so as to not remind them that, in actuality, there may have only been 1 point separating us, so their way likely isn't going to be the magical salve to my success this time around. I am tweaking some things and doing some things differently (writing out answers to multis, reading outlines out loud, etc.)

I have completed Con Law and Crim Law/Criminal Procedure. I will tackle Evidence this weekend. As for NC subjects, I'm down to Civ Pro and the remaining MBE topics (Torts, Contracts, Property). I am only a day behind on my schedule, which will still leave me 3-4 days to "review" and write essays ad nauseum.

I hate studying. Hate it. Have I said that already?

Con Law Done!

The good thing about Constitutional Law is that there's not really a NC-specific set of laws that are different than the majority.  So, in other words, if Con Law comes up on the NC essays (which it usually does), then most of the knowledge about Con Law needed for MBE will be sufficient to, at least, get by on the NC essay.  That's different that some of the other MBE topics because there are substantial variations in NC law that conflict with (or distinguish us from) the majority.

So, topic tally:  Con Law, Agency/Partnerships, Corporations, Wills, Trusts, Liens and Suretyships, Professional Responsibility, Family Law.  Not bad, at least not for the second time around.

While I was studying tonight, I was thinking about how much different the study of law probably is from other disciplines.  The laws are always changing.  Sometimes, no sooner the ink has dried on a new textbook, the SCOTUS hears a case and rules in such a way that invalidates half of the case law you've just read.  I can't imagine the study of science would involve such variance in principles and basic fundamentals.  I mean, a plant is a plant, right?  I doubt one day you're learning about chlorophyll and then you get a news bulletin announcing that the highest ranking biologists have now decided that plants don't have chlorophyll. Studying for the bar exam and for any law school exam means knowing the current law, in addition to the common law, minority law, and the majority (which may or may not be the law in your state).  And just when you think you've got that all figured out, you wake up and read the news to see that SCOTUS has ruled a bit unexpectedly, like they did the other day in Oregon v. Ice.  At least I can feel sigh of relief that that new twist on the law will not be on the bar exam in 5 weeks.

5 weeks?  Seriously???  Where's my wine?

Monday Morning Progress Report

I had another nice weekend, but I fear it might have been the last one of that intensity until after the Bar exam. It's not so much the partying and drinking that is harmful, but rather the general malaise that results the next day. But, to my defense, it is important to relax when possible while studying for the Bar exam. I had to take advantage of the some of the last winter seasonals (beer) before the spring seasonals start rolling in. I also enjoyed celebrating a 40th birthday with a friend. The bar exam IS important, but learning how to balance other important things in life is one of the lessons learned during crunch-time.

So....I finished up Wills and Professional Responsibility. I've also gotten about about 25% of Con Law done. This week, I'll tackle some smaller NC topics, like Mortgages, Trusts, and Agency. I will also finish Con Law.

Another thing I will do this week is work on getting to bed a bit earlier and doing about 15 minutes more of cardio while at the gym (that helps me go to sleep). While I can generally get away with 6 hours of sleep each night, by the time the weekend rolls around, all I want to do is sleep in. Unfortunately, that gives me a late start on a prime day for studying.

Lastly, I will try to stake out a good place to study in the evenings. I'm not sure if it will be a coffee place or a library or a combination of both, but I will have to get out of my house at least a few nights a week if I want to get anything done.

6 full weeks left....where did the time go??!?!

Objectives and Outcomes

This is where this blog might get quite boring.  Crunch time is here.  Sigh....

My undergraduate degree is in Foreign Language Education.  One of the most helpful things I learned was how to set goals, define objectives, and measure outcomes.  Our lessons plans couldn't just say "teach present tense conjugation of verbs ending in -ar."  Instead, we were forced to write "students will demonstrate understanding of present tense verbs ending in  -ar by demonstrating 80% accuracy in conjugating 10 common verbs."

The past month has been a warm up for me, but now the fun really begins.  This week, I will tackle NC Wills and finish up Corporations and Professional Responsibility.  I will also do at least 36 MBE multis and write out the answers.  I will start tracking my progress here so that I can make sure I am meeting my own goals.

So, tonight I learned (and can write at least a 6 point essay about):

• Attested, holographic, and nuncupative wills
• Basic requirements for a will to be admitted to probate
• Revocation of wills
• NC lost wills statute
• Dependent Relative Revocation

I also demonstrated 100% accuracy on making a mean mac & cheese and a tomato basil soup to go along with it.  However, this past weekend, my objective of catching at least one fish was not met.  I was able to cast out with about 50% accuracy and was also able to eat a yummy cannoli with 100% accuracy.  If it were not for the bar exam, I would venture to say that accuracy in cannoli eating is a much more useful skill than knowing about nuncupative wills.  Well...unless someone wanted to give me a cannoli on their death bed...I don't think the cannoli would last until probate though, so I would have to have a witness write it down that the cannoli was intended for me.

Alas, the legal fog is setting in and soon my life will be reduced to hypothetical situations....again.

Pass the Bar Exam

That's MY New Year's resolution.  In a way, achieving other resolutions are secondary and dependent on passing the bar exam.    Reducing the amount of time I spend online will happen as I study more to accomplish my main goal of passing the bar exam.  Getting more exercise will happen as I take study breaks or as I do multiple choice questions while on the treadmill (yes, I did that the other night and found it to be a surprisingly effective study practice).  

Last night, as I toasted to the New Year, I think I surprised myself by saying that 2008 was a great year for me.  Yes, I failed the bar exam, but otherwise I had a great year.  The happiness, love, and satisfaction that I felt as a result of the other events of the year made failing the bar exam seem minimal.  Generally speaking, life is pretty good for me and I have much to be thankful for.

So, on that note, I resolve to pass the bar exam in February. I have been studying half-heartedly for the past month, but I feel like I am making progress.  Studying will really kick into high gear this Monday....after I go fishing.  I will do 4 hours of studying each day through January and up to 8-10 hours a day in February.  The good thing is that I am not learning this stuff for the first time and much of it seems like review.  

When I pass the bar exam in February, I will be able to start working on achieving other goals that I have set for myself....visit new places (South America, Canada....), start my own business, volunteer more, and hike with my dogs more.

But, as my supportive sig other says....first, I have to pass the bar exam.  Then, the real fun will begin :)

Balancing One Point

I have started studying again and am often asked how my studies are going. Depending on the day, my answer will vary. Sometimes I feel confident, especially when I find that I still remember the characteristics of a join tenancy or the rules regarding piercing the corporate veil. Other times, I feel overwhelmed, like when I realize that I've hardly made process on typing up my corporations outline.

One point is my hurdle, but I have to be certain to study just as hard as I did the last time. I admit that this second time around is much harder to get (and stay) motivated for. The material still looks familiar. I am still getting about 60-70% of my MBE multis right. I can still recite the elements for strict liability.

I am finding that I can run 3-5 miles easily on the treadmill when I have my BarBri outline with me. So, though I am not really progressing on typing up new outlines, I am reading the ones I used this summer and reading the big BarBri book. I have some "Law in a Flash" cards that a friend graciously gave me and those have been helpful, if not for the sole reason that it is a new format.

In other news, I am up to about 6 miles that I can run at one time. My marathon junkie of a brother will take me out on Sunday for a long run (for me...it will be an "easy jog" for him). I am looking forward to seeing my progress on achieving that goal of mine in February.

The good thing about studying so much during the winter is that it is much easier to cozy up on the couch with some hot tea, a kitty on my lap, and a Barbri outline when it's dark and cold outside. But, in all honesty...I look forward to cozying up on my couch next winter with a memoir instead of a bar prep outline.

December is for Studying

Or so I tell myself.

Last week was wonderful. Family and food are among my favorite things in life and Thanksgiving combines those two things very well. Since I'm not in school anymore at night, I've been able to bake more than in years past. I made an eggnog quick bread with rum soaked raisins, a classic pumpkin pie, and an experimental apple pecan chess pie. My sig other's birthday was yesterday, but I decided to hold off on baking his gingerbread spice flan cake until later, considering we had already stuffed our faces plenty over the past week. I need to start taking pictures of these baked goods so that I can blog about them along with a gazillion others who already have food blogs.

One thing I enjoy about entertaining out-of-town guests is having an excuse to go out to nice places to eat. Since the guests (sig other's family) came from Philly, we decided that Southern food would be a nice bet and hence, ventured to Watt's Grocery. Everything we gnoshed on was delightful. If any of y'all have not been there, try to make time to do so. The menu is seasonal and changes often, so it's hard to get bored (though I do wish the deviled ham were on the menu year-round).

This December will be marred by Bar exam study for me. It's a good thing I don't like shopping. In fact, I almost detest shopping during the holiday season. On Black Friday, we went to a beer event/fundraiser at Triangle Brewing Company in Durham. There were 15 casks of NC beer, including my contrasting favorites---Duck Rabbit Coffee Porter and TBC's Habanero XPA. It was a wonderful event and a great way to support a few good causes all at once (cystic fybrosis, supporting local businesses, and supporting NC breweries).

So, now it's officially back to the study grind. The break was good while it lasted. I am going to do a little bit each night through the month of December. Starting off with Suretyships last week was not a good idea. So far, Corporations has been easier going and I know it will be tested. I actually did quite well on the Corporations essay in July, though I doubt piercing the corporate veil will be tested again in February. I'm speculating something about shareholders and mergers. Hmmm....

I haven't had any panic attacks yet about the bar exam. Mainly what I am struggling with is being patient (there are things I want to do now that have been put on hold until March) and staying motivated (sometimes hard to see how a bar license is a benefit when I see my licensed colleagues having difficulties landing gainful employment). I have to remind myself that good things do come to those who wait and that yes, being a licensed attorney will provide me with more opportunities than I have now.

Patience and motivation...can I get a pint of that, please?