What? Me Worry?

We've all heard of those people who could only take the last week or three off right before the exam to study.  We've mostly heard these stories in relation to the wonderment of how they did this awful thing but still managed to get a passing score.  Well, I'm apparently aspiring to do just that. 

I'm in this position because I have to pay the mortgage.  All of the supplemental financial resources I relied on during previous bar exam attempts are depleted.  I have no choice but to accept any and all work offered to me.  Well, that's not exactly right.  I am declining some work.  But for the most part I'm taking it all and that leaves little time for study.  I've had to abandon the illusion that I could keep paying all of my bills while I did this bar exam thing (hey, who really needs a 750+ credit rating anyway?) 

When I say "work offered to me" I'm of course referring to my judgment recovery business, but I'm also doing process service.  I became a registered process server in November of 2008 as a safety measure in case I didn't pass the July 2008 exam.  In hindsight, that was an excellent move.  I've been staying busy doing serves for some of my buddies who have passed the exam as well as other people in the judgment recovery business. 

I haven't been posting here because I've been very busy, and, as I've said before, I think I've said about all there is to say about the bar-exam-taking process.  I don't enjoy talking just to hear myself talk and, contrary to what a few people think, this is not an ego trip for me (that should be painfully obvious).

Actually, I am getting a little studying done here and there.  I'm mostly focusing on the PTs.  My plan is to become very good at the PTs and at the same time not lose my traditional edge on the MBEs and my recently acquired proficiency on the essays.  Despite the fact that I haven't been able to practice as much as I'd like, I still have a pretty high level of confidence that I'm going to pass this time.  Delusional?  Perhaps.  I prefer "Optomistic".  Remember, I'm a glass-half-full kinda' guy. 

I encourage everyone out there to keep their noses in the books.  When I'm not reading I'm listening to lectures, which helps me stay current on the rules.  And most important, I believe, is practice.  One of the most consistent pieces of advice I've heard during the time I've been doing this is to practice writing as much as you can - essays, PTs, short outlines for memorization.  That's what I'm trying to do now.  In the next few weeks it's what I'm going to be spending the bulk of my time doing. 

Cheers, all.   Continue to endeavor to persevere!  (;-)>

The New Phone Books Are Here! The New Phone Books Are Here!

Actually, the July 2009 released answers are, uh, ...   released.

Happy New Esquire, Everybody!

Of course, I mean Happy New Year, but I'm also wishing those of us taking the bar exam (again?) a Happy New Year that includes the letters "Esq." behind our name.  (;-)>

I haven't posted much lately because I've been working and studying.  I'm trying to keep the lights on at home, not to mention the mortgage paid, and that's taking a lot of my time and focus.  When I'm not doing that, I'm trying to maintain the household and to find time to study.  It's a crazy balancing act! 

But I'm getting it done. As, I'm sure, are all of you. Keep on keeping on, or "endeavoring to persevere"!  We'll get this thing done in February (of 2010!)

Merry Christmas To All ...

... And to All, A Good Study Session!

Okay, just kidding about the study session thing. 

Merry Christmas, everyone.  May our next Christmas be cheery and bright (with a brand new license hanging on our wall!)

(;-)>

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today, I'm thankful the California State Bar gives us unlimited chances to pass the Bar Exam, even though I'm only going to need one more of those chances.

Now, for those of you who have heard me say this before, please hold your laughter; I'm going to pass the February 2010 CA Bar Exam. Okay, technically, I haven't said that before. I've said that I'm going to pass some other administration of the exam. But there's something about the way I'm feeling about it now that's different than before. Way different. In a good way.

And that's all I have to say about that, today.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Especially, again, to my family, which is spread far and wide. This has been a tough ride. If you'll just hang with me for a little longer, we'll have something to be truly thankful about by this time next year.

Brian
aka GP

I've Decided To Skip ...

... the Ontario Exam Center this time. (Hah! Gotcha!)

On my application for the February 2010 exam I listed Pasadena as my first choice of locations with Ontario as my second choice (San Diego third).

My mail just arrived. I got into re-read for the first time. My raw scores on the first read were, (drum roll please) ...

• Essays: 60, 65, 60, 50, 70, 55
• PTs: 55, 55
• MBE: 134

On the second read ...

• Essays: 60, 65, 60, 50, 60, 65
• PTs: 50, 55
• MBE: 134 (no change, obviously)

Scaled written = 1342. Scaled MBE = 1504. Total Scaled = 1398

So, I brought up my average essay scores, I blew huge chunks on my PTs (as usual), and I failed to maintain my edge on the MBEs.

And that's the rest of the story.

The Good News Is That I Will REALLY Know The Law When I Pass

The bad news is, I won't be able to use it in a court of law until next year.

The good news is, I can really focus on my judgment recovery business for the next six months or so.

The bad news is, I'll have to manage my time between that and bar prep for February 2010 for a few months.

The really good news is, I sincerely feel like my chances on the next exam are better than they've ever been.

And there's nothing bad about that!

Cheers, all. It'll be Groundhog Day for just a little while longer!