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Tackling Anxiety During Bar Exams

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published January 24, 2013

By CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search left

The discipline you have been developing in shifting your mindset about the bar exam, organizing your life, planning and scheduling your activities, and creating a study routine, is the same discipline that you will bring to the exam itself. But before you open an exam booklet, you will have to call upon that discipline to help you overcome another challenge.

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Exam Anxiety

In theater, it is called "stage fright." Opening Night is approaching and you panic. You can't force yourself to go on stage. You can't remember your lines. You just want to go home. That kind of fear can cause similar behavior the closer you get to exam day.
 
Tackling Anxiety During Bar Exams

You tire easily but can't sleep. Your appetite is gone or you sleep and eat too much. You easily lose your concentration. You can't remember legal principles. You just want to stay in bed.

While a little anxiety is not a bad thing in that it helps to keep you working and motivated, too much may cause you to shut down. To keep this from happening, find your balance again.

Know Yourself.

You are no stranger to anxiety. Having made it through school, by the time you begin the preparation period for the bar exam, you will have experienced exam anxiety enough times in your life to anticipate it. Use that knowledge to meet the anxiety and to dispel it.

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If you tend to react physically to stress, prepare yourself for it well before the exam. One of my student's asthma would flare up as she approached exams. She knew to see her doctor beforehand to get the necessary opinion (that she was alright) and any needed medication. This way she would ease her mind and remove a potential distraction. Another student would develop a "tightening" in his chest. He knew this time that he need not go to the emergency room (again) because he was having an anxiety attack, not a heart attack. When symptoms occurred, he knew it was time to take a break, relax, visualize (the positive results) and then return to the routine. If, however, you experience new or prolonged physical symptoms, go see your doctor. It may be a symptom of something other than anxiety, which would be better addressed earlier rather than later.

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Reflect upon those times when you were anxious. Know the signs and prepare to meet them. When you get anxious, take a break. Go to the movies. Jog around the reservoir. Do deep breathing. When I get anxious, I break into a rash. I don't eat or sleep much. On the day of an exam, I tend to perspire heavily. I know that I'm about to freak out when I feel that one cold bead of perspiration roll down from my underarm along my side. My ankles get weak and I can't seem to catch my breath. At this point, I have a choice: I can let the panic mount, consume me and become hysterical (losing precious time and points). Or, I can get to my seat quickly, close my eyes, catch my breath and begin chanting or praying while I breathe deeply. I choose the latter. By the time the exam booklets are passed around, I will have forced myself into composure, fixed my sights and unleashed my creative juices. The discipline we have been developing allows us to make the right choice.

Know the Law.

There is a one-to-one relationship between exam anxiety and the extent of your legal knowledge. The less law you know, the more anxious you will become. The greater your preparation and resulting legal knowledge, the lower your anxiety. Given the 45-50 minutes you might have per essay or the 1.8 minutes per MBE question, you will have precious little time to waste trying to figure out the law. Writing concise, complete answers is a function of an ability quickly to IDENTIFY THE ISSUES and to APPLY THE RELEVANT LAW. Knowing the law cold will help you stay within the time constraints, and knowing the right law cold will help you increase your scores.

Know the "Right" Law.

The bar exam tests more than the "black letter" law, those legal principles you learned in your first year of law school. If that were all that were tested, then just about everyone would pass. The bar exam also tests more than just the exception to the "black letter" law, although you must be able to identify applicable exceptions. More often than not, the bar exam tests an exception, to the exception, to the "black letter" law, which is usually that shade or nuance of the law that further defines rights and obligations.

Consider, for example, a fact pattern which involves oral and written contract provisions and modifications in a commercial context. An aspect of the law that you would need to know is whether the Statute of Frauds (SOF) applies. Another level of knowledge required is whether there are applicable exceptions. The third level is knowing whether there are exceptions to this exception. You may get a point after noting the SOF's applicability. You will increase points by discussing exceptions or defenses to the SOF. You will gain even more points by identifying the applicability of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) and its provisions on contracts and contract modifications. The more levels of knowledge you display, the more points you can earn.

Now, if you became just a little anxious at the terminology and analytic issues presented above, you can begin to appreciate the interplay between exam anxiety and how much law you know. Eliminate anxiety connected to ignorance—learn the law cold!

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About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

  • Immigration law
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Insurance defense
  • Family law
  • Trusts & estates
  • Municipal law
  • And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

  • Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
  • Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
  • Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
  • Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

  • Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
  • Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
  • Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

  • Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
  • Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
  • Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
  • Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

About LawCrossing

LawCrossing has received tens of thousands of attorneys jobs and has been the leading legal job board in the United States for almost two decades. LawCrossing helps attorneys dramatically improve their careers by locating every legal job opening in the market. Unlike other job sites, LawCrossing consolidates every job in the legal market and posts jobs regardless of whether or not an employer is paying. LawCrossing takes your legal career seriously and understands the legal profession. For more information, please visit www.LawCrossing.com.
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